french Canadien Folklore

[Didacus]

Being french Canadien, I heard many short stories about 'legends' of warning to people who built the northern regions of Canada some 100 years ago (or older). Most of these stories are obviously tall tales that served to ward off certain behaviors, but I was always curious of the sound theology that might have insipred some of them.

One in particular was the story of a man who would not stop spiting.

[quote]He was in the bar and spitting on the floor and the priest of the village warned him that one day, the devil might catch his spit, and if he did he would bring the man to hell.

the man replied something like "Let him catch my spit if he can!" and he spat towards the ground.  Right there and then, the devil caugt his spit, and brougt the man to hell.[/quote]

You can obviously see how this is just a story intended to get people to stop spitting. But french folklore is full of stories like this. This particular one prompts me to ask:

Is there any sin related to spitting? The man in the story did not spit on anything in particular, he was just 'spitting', and was taken to hell for it.

maybe the elsson being not to disobey a priest? But the priest had warned him against spitting.

anyways, that is my quesxtion. Is spitting a sin?

I've never found any teachings against it myself, I suspect there might not be any and the stories intent was mainly a call to a certain decency that might have lacked at the time of the story's telling.

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
8/16 - St. Stephan of Hungary

Didacus,

There is no sin in spitting. Spitting on something holy can be sinful, as it is a sign of utter disrespect. Even though it's not sinful, it's incredibly socially uncouth. Just don't do it. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono