I am having the damnedest time tracking down the origin of that folk story where the woman's head is tied on by a ribbon (or a thread) and falls off when her loving husband ignores her warnings against untying it. I do not want to have to go all uber-scholarly and look up the folk story number on this one; I just want a general rough outline of its history.
Also (this is not why I am looking it up) I think this might be my Halloween costume this year, if the kids really insist on me dressing up. Easiest costume ever, scary as heck to children, win-win.
Also (this is not why I am looking it up) I think this might be my Halloween costume this year, if the kids really insist on me dressing up. Easiest costume ever, scary as heck to children, win-win.
There's another story called The Yellow Ribbon that I've heard of, I'm not sure of the origin. In that one a girl has a ribbon around her neck holding her head on.
Yes, it's "The Yellow Ribbon" and its variations I'm after. The one I read to the kids last night was a green ribbon; I've also seen it as a red thread. I bet there's a ballad somewhere, too. I just bet.
http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2009/08/the_yellow_ribbon.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=6HJwCRAlpioC&pg=PT52&lpg=PT52&dq=red+ribbon+urban+legend&source=bl&ots=EjhhlaUJGJ&sig=ujQ9AWBlgzFTOY6851Ujmxh4LlM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=mZDiU-fuGJH0oATs8oG4Aw&ved=0CGsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=red%20ribbon%20urban%20legend&f=false
http://dreadfuldreary.blogspot.com/2011/09/velvet-ribbon.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=S7QNAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA70#v=onepage&q&f=false
Of course, that story also has a bad infestation of "a woman need not do anything more than be beautiful in order for a man to fall instantly and deeply in love with her." Barf.