Egluntyne Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Found this on t'internet and thought I'd share it . " Next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.. Here are some facts about the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children-last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it -- hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." Houses had thatched roofs -- thick straw -- piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof -- hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs." In England local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and take the bones to a "bone-house" and re-use the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer." ... And whoever said that History was boring?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 These strange but true facts are always so interesting aren't they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Thanks for that Egluntine, there's some really interesting facts there- I always find it interesting finding out where some of our more bizarre sayings originate from Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Thanks - I love facts like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
