Bellings-Shivarees

BELLINGS-SHIVAREES were very common forty or fifty years ago. It happened every time a new couple was married. It was especially prevalent in the rural communities.

Most young folks could not afford the expensive wedding receptions of today Many times the event occurred after a wedding dinner or supper. But at an appointed time, all three neighbors, friends and relatives would gather to perform the belling. Often the picked spot was the home of the newly weds. They would be enjoying a peaceful evening by themselves. Suddenly all bedlam broke loose as all sorts of noises could be heard.

Any kind of noise maker that could be carried was brought along. Sometimes even those that could not be carried came along such as a huge bell usually mounted on a cart or wagon. If it made noise, bring it!! Cowbells, horns, dishpans or some pan that could be beat upon with a stick or a hammer or whatever. Another favorite was a huge saw that cold be blasted with a hammer to make unearthly noises. Men, women and children joined in the loud affair. Dogs, of course, were welcome, particularity if they howled with the noise making. Sometimes shot guns were fired off or perhaps some adventuress sport would setoff a dynamite charge fro a distance.

The bedlam would continue until the lucky (or unlucky) couple would come out on the porch. Many times, the crowd brought food and drink but sometimes the couple had to furnish it. More frequently a keg of beer was brought along.

Often a wheel barrow was brought along and the groom had to wheel the bridegroom around the yard in it. All in all, it was a night of fun and gayety to show love and expression for a new couple.

This old and popular custom has been replaced with very lavish and expensive wedding receptions. However, as is the case with many old customs, somehow the frilly receptions of today do not match the down home family traditions of a belling.

PLANTIN' TIME IN OHIO: Believe it or not, somewhere spring is coming. Thought you readers might get a giggle out of this scenario.

What we Ohio people calls th' "dark of the moon "is th' time frum full moon to th' new - or the shrinkin' of th' moon. Th' other half of th' season, frum th' new moon to th' full is knowed as th' "light of th'moon."

Now plants that grow underground sech as "taters, turnips, onions an' so forth had orta be planted in th' dark of the moon or they'll all "go to top." Beans, peas, tomatoes an' sech, that have their crops 'bove th' ground shuld be planted in th' light of th' moon. Taters had orta be dug in th' light of the moon or they'll rot.

Beans shuldn't be planted till after th' furst whippoorwill hollers, an' shuld be planted in the mornin' - not th' evening.' The best plantin' time for lettuce is 'bout February 14th. Cucumbers shuld be planted 'bout May 1st, watermelons 'bout May 10th and turnips 'bout July 25th.

MORE CAN YOU HEAR ME? (from the past):

* This is your last warning!

* What keeps those jeans of yours from falling off?

* You are a winner is you lose with a smile.

* Eat it? It will grow hair on your chest.

* Eat it whether yu like it or not.

* You can wish in one hand and spit the other; see which one fills up first.

* If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you?

* Stop crying or I'll give you a reason to cry.

* As soon as I lay down this mixing spoon, you are gonna to get it.

* When I was your age, I had to walk to school in 10 feet of snow up hill both ways.

* Just with until your Dad gets home

* You're gonna like it whether you like it or not.

* What do you think this is, your birthday?

* What part of no don't you understand?

* Didn't your teacher teach you anything?

* Hey, did you hear me talking to you?

* Am I talking to a brick wall|?

* Two wrongs do not make a right.

* Enough is enough!

* Don't make me stop the car!

* What did I just finish telling you?

* You know you're always gonna to be Daddy's little girl.

DO YOU REMEMBER A TIME WHEN:

* Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-moe"?

* Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening?

* It wasn't odd to have two or three "Best Friends"?

* The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was "cooties"?

* A foot of snow was a dream come true?

* Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute commercials for action figures?

* Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles?

* Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?

The lad loved to hunt

And also loved to roam. .

But did not like to

Carry any rabbits home.

*BURMA SHAVE**

(by Harold Lewis)