Old Expressions - Sayings - Traditions

Flowers at a Wedding

Guests Got the Upper Crust

Old Expressions - Sayings - Traditions - Reviewed by Kidzworld on Dec 27, 2006

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old expresssions sayings too many cooks spoil the broth facts about 1500s origins of sayings traditions year bath wedding bouquet body odor bath throw baby out with bath water kettle peas porridge nine days bring home the bacon chew the fat bread upper cr

You know those weird sayings that everyone uses, like too many cooks spoil the broth? Have you ever wondered where they came from? Here are a few facts about the 1500s that could explain where some old sayings and traditions came from.

June was a popular month to get married because most people took their yearly bath in May. By June they didn't smell that bad, but still bad enough that brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.

Bathtubs were a huge tub filled with hot water. The man of the house was always the first to bathe, then all the sons, then the women, followed by the children. The babies were the last to be washed and by then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it, which is where the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water," came from.

Food was cooked in a big kettle which always hung over the fire. Every day they added food to the pot and lit the fire - mostly veggies. Then they'd eat the stew for dinner and leave the leftovers in the pot where it would get cold before they lit the fire the next day. Sometimes food was left in the pot for days, which is why we say this rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."

Whenever people could get pork, it was a big deal. People would hang it up to show off to visitors. It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would sit around with guests, cut off a bit of pork and "chew the fat."

Bread was given out according to status. Workers were given the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle and guests got the top or the "upper crust."

What do you think? Is this how these traditions and expressions started or are they just made up? Take our poll and let us know what you think or your thoughts.

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