The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PUBERTY SUPERSTITION

LIVING IN A FARM COMMUNITY, W E BOYS ALWAYS WENT
SWIMMING IN THE NUDE. THE OLDER BOYS, NATURALLY, FILLED
OUR HEADS WITH SOME STRANGE IDEAS ABOUT SEX. WE WERE
TOLD (WE BEING THE BOYS APPROACHING THE AGE OF
PUBERTY) THAT RUBBING CIGARETTE ASHES IN THE PUBIC
AREA WOULD ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF BODY HAIR. SINCE
WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS
THIS LET TO AN INCREASE IN SMOKING, AT LEAST WHEN WE WERE
WITH THE OLDER BOYS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH

Date learned: 00-00-1942