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Old Sayings and The Possible Reasons Behind Them

 

 

This is for you if you’ve heard any of these sayings growing up, or still do. Back then, I never really thought much about it, just thought it was some things I was supposed to follow it came from my elders and they know better.

But, then, it got me thinking, the possible reasons with old times that these old sayings.

Do not cut nails after dark

This was very common to hear growing up. I never asked the reason for more than a couple of years. I just knew that I should not cut my nails if we are nearing night time. Much later, my mother told me that back then, there was no proper electricity in Nepal, this could be why nail cutting in the dark was forbidden so that you would not cut or hurt yourself. Yet, time and again, I still hear this saying even though we have proper electricity, now.

Do not sweep floors after dark

In most parts of Nepal, it is practice to sweep the house, the patio and the courtyard first thing early in the morning. People do not sweep floors in the evening as it is a morning thing to do. But this is not the reason why the above statement comes into limelight. This could be yet again because of the lack of electricity in Nepal, back then, If you dropped something valuable or lost something valuable and the floors were to be swept, you would not know and you would not find it.

Do not enter the kitchen when you’re menstruating

This is something girls follow to this very day.  The idea was that girls are impure or ‘not clean’ during that time of the month and so they were forbidden/ and are still forbidden in several parts of the country. I see two potential reasons for this one: the first being that sanitary pads or napkins were not used back them, at most, females used pieces of clothes at the time or even nothing before that. It could be that they were not allowed in the kitchen so that the place where food is prepared does not get dirty. The other reason I can see is for the well being of the girls. During this time of the month, they are more exhausted and majority experience cramps. They could also be told not to enter the kitchen for rest during the time period.

Do not leave slippers/shoes turned

This one, I got a lot of scolding over as I flipped over many slippers in my haste. The supposed act would you bad luck they say. But I also suppose that turning slippers over could trip someone, which is why it is considered a no-no.

Do not whistle at night

I always thought that I was told against whistling at night so that I would not disturb other people who could be sleeping or resting. Of course, when I first learnt to whistle, it got me very excited and I barely acknowledge the time when I did so randomly. They always say that night time is the time that thieves approach. But we know, now that that is not always the case. They can approach anytime, if the motive is wrong. Nevertheless, I heard a lot of times growing up that I should not whistle at night as this is something only thieves do.

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