Does your town or local area have a unique or odd tradition or legend and what i

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   ChristinSposted 12 years ago

   Does your town or local area have a unique or odd tradition or legend and what is it?
   
   In our area for example everyone you meet asks you what high school you went to.  It's just a thing and it goes on way into adulthood.  I find it strange and unusual.  We also have a local "haunted town" that is allegedly one of the most haunted areas of the country - a LOT of legend and lore in Alton, IL.
   
   What traditions/legends make your local area stand out?

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2. 81

   dmopposted 12 years ago

   We have Canal Days, which is a week-end celebration in remembrance of the importance of the canal that once ran through the area. Than of course, there's the Legend of Cry Woman's Bridge, which is based around one of the wooden covered bridges in the area. If anyone reading this is from the area, I'd be willing to bet that they could guess with-in a few miles where I live. This would make a great Hub by the way.

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3. 68

   rickzimmermanposted 12 years ago

   One may be excused for seeing double at this annual gathering of those of multiple birth. read more

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4. 79

   NewHorizonsposted 12 years ago

   In Gozo, Malta traditions die hard.  Many people here still believe in the evil eye (as they do in many other places, I believe).  During the Lent season, which starts 40 days before Good Friday, many housewives still 'fumigate' their homes.  I do not know an exact word in English for this custom.  It is a kind of a little religious ceremony and many housewives kind of do it secretly, when they are alone at home.
   
   I used 'funigate' (suggest the actual word if you know it) because the ceremony consists of burning blessed olive leaves (from the previous Palm Sunday)  and bits of blessed candles in a small tin plate and going round the whole house intoning something like, "if there is an evil eye - leave this house" and reciting the Our Father and 3 Hail Marys.  The dry burnt olive leaves mixed with melting candle emit a lot of smoke and obviously a very unpleasant smell too.
   
   I remember my great aunt doing this and in Maltese we call it "tbahhar" (pronounced t-bah-ha-r).  You may read more about old Maltese (Gozo) customs and legends on my webpage.....http://www.gozo-malta-reality-tour.com/Gozo-Folklore.html

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5. 39

   ChristinSposted 12 years ago

   both of you shared some very interesting customs thanks!  I agree that local legends would make great hub ideas I may have to research some more in my area that haven't been done so much and give that a try.

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6. 81

   dmopposted 12 years ago

   The bridge is said to be haunted by her ghost to this very day, as she searches for justice from all of the town’s people who offered no justice to her. It is said that you can still hear her moan and scream if you listen carefully on a cold windy night, and that her ghost will take your children and drown them in the river if she ever finds them alone. She is forever; gruesomely connected to the Legend of Cry Woman’s Bridge. read more

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