Old Wive's Tales and Sayings from the South

Growing up in the foothills of the north Georgia Mountains, I spent the majority of time with my grandmother, who only lived one house down. We used to sit and string beans, peel potatoes, and gather pecans from the yard. She taught me how to make every kind of casserole you could think of and we had "Poor Boy's" cornbread at every meal.

During our days spent together, I remember her stories and tales of when she was my age and the glow it would put into her eyes. I am going to share with you some of the "old sayin's" that I grew up with, and must admit, a lot I believe, still.

Stopping Blood

We grew up a strong, southern Baptist family. My Grandmother told the story over and over of her Aunt that could "stop blood". When I was older, I asked her what she meant. Supposedly there is a verse from the Bible that can be passed down, and when read a loud, it stops bleeding. She told me her Aunt had died before passing the verse to her and she never was able to identify it. It wasn't until just a few months ago, I was telling the story to my husband's step-mother. She knew exactly what I was talking about and she gave me a copy of the verse to carry with me.

It reads: "And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live." Ezekial 16:6

Mockingbird at the Window Means Someone is going to Die

I have heard this from several people, not only growing up, but still to this day. Story says, a mockingbird will come to your window and sing all day and night, for at least three nights. There is nothing you can do to get him to go and stay away. He is an angel or messenger trying to notify someone of a death in the family. As I was telling a good friend of mine this, she also had heard of the mockingbird, but she was informed if you tie a white sheet to the window, it would then leave. Supposedly, it would then know that you understood what it was there for.

Dreams Meaning Death

If you dream of a wedding, someone is going to die. If the couple were strangers, then it wouldn't be in the family. If you dream of a birth, it actually means there will be a death.

Teeth Dreams

I used to have a dream that my teeth were falling out all the time. When I say falling out, I mean I could actually feel them loosening and I would try to screw them back in. Now this is supposed to mean that you have said something that has hurt someone. If you dream of swallowing a tooth, then it means you will soon eat your words.

A Cricket in the House means Good Fortune

On many occasions, I can remember a cricket being in the bathtub of my grandmother's house. She would never let me kill it because she swore they brought good luck. She would scoop them up very carefully, and then replace them when I was done bathing.

There are many, many more I can recollect from my child hood. Don't sweep over someone's feet or they will never get married. If a bee flies in the house, you are going to have company. I am sure that there are many people who can remember their own family's tales and superstitions and also bear in mind how adamant they were on believing they were true.

Who knows where things originate from, but I know for myself that some things are true and I will pass them down to my children. As for other ones, they are always great for a smile!