It's snowing down south
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326823)
Rockingham, Australia
May 17, 2016 6:39pm CST
It's snowing down south – not literally of course. It would probably make the news if it snowed in our area. But the expression 'it's snowing down south' was often used in my day to mean that your petticoat was showing. Petticoats were worn under skirts and dresses and if they happened to be longer than the outer garment an glimpse of white (usually) would be seen peeping from under the hem of the skirt.
The photos show a half-petticoat of my mother's with a hand-crocheted border. Unfortunately she was allowed to wear it in the nursing home where everything was washed in the big commercial washing machines so it has become a bit ragged. The lace would have been made in the evenings by someone preparing their trousseau. The lace is over 100 years old. I'm not sure why I'm keeping it but someone else can make the decision on what to do with it when I'm gone.
So have you ever heard the expression 'it's snowing down south'?
35 people like this
38 responses
@allknowing (130292)
• India
18 May 16
We just said 'your slip is showing'. These expressions are no more necessary as inner wear is meant to be displayed as per fashions that are trending (lol)
5 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
18 May 16
true. inner wear is now outer wear. the key word nowadays is 'sexy.'
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (80210)
• United States
18 May 16
These days that pretty petticoat would be a skirt 
3 people like this
@antonbunot (11092)
• Calgary, Alberta
18 May 16
LOL . . I thought it was really snowing down under. 
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326823)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 May 16
Well, I guess some would be a bit embarrassed to be showing a bit of petticoat - but then people were embarrassed about showing a bit of ankle once weren't they? So it wasn't a major faux pas but you always hoped it didn't happen to you.
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
19 May 16
Nope i haven't heard at all and thanks for telling us about this.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
19 May 16
@JudyEv Yeah back in the 90s my sisters and I wore it under our uniforms. But in this hot country of ours, It's better not to. I guess that's why it disappeared. But some people in their 40s are still wearing it. In here we call it half-slips.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326823)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 May 16
Not too many people wear petticoats or slips nowadays.
@JudyEv (326823)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 May 16
@toniganzon I know them as half-slips too. I've kept a couple but rarely wear them.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 May 16
No it is not one I am familiar with but it does make sense. I haven't worn a slip in years and certainly not a lovely one like your mother's.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
21 May 16
@JudyEv I think they went the way of garter belts and silk stocking and these days very few people even wear pantyhose, it is very Scottish under skirts and dresses lol with maybe a thong for coverage!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326823)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 16
@BelleStarr I can't remember the last time I saw a garter belt!!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
18 May 16
how sad that they ruined such a treasured heirloom :( 'round here the nursin' homes wash e'erythin' 'n hot water'n then dry't with high heat - not much survives.
i'd be hangin' onto such myself. perhaps e'en takin' 't 'n some other treasures'n puttin' together a wall hangin' 'r somethin'.
i confess to ne'er hearin' the phrase, but sure like't better'n "yer slip's showin'", lol.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
21 May 16
@JudyEv yes ma'am, sadly so. but if'n yer handy with that sorta thingy i've not doubt that'cha can put't back'n order'n short fashion :) i've many crocheted items here that my mamaw made o'er the years. thankfully the daughter's a friend who's quite handy't fixin' those back'p. i bet i've o'er 100 doilies'f various sizes?? all the way'p to huge, lol. i've gotta put both leafs 'n the table'n order fer some not to hang too low that folks take't with 'em when they pull'p to the table. big hugs!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326823)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 16
@crazyhorseladycx It is hard to know what to do with these heirlooms isn't it?
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
18 May 16
it's the first time I have heard this expression
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
19 May 16
@JudyEv quite possibly, certainly likely among my burlesque friends as they use lots of vintage petticoats and corsetry
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 May 16
if you can find a crafter you might be able to have it made into a wall hanging or a pillow or something to save it!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 May 16
@JudyEv that would be cool if possible
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326823)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 May 16
I don't think too many people wear petticoats nowadays.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
18 May 16
I think I did and it meant that a woman's slip was showing- so same thing- petticoat here is kind of an old American saying.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
24 May 16
@JudyEv They probably got so they liked the way it sounded and thought it was funny.
1 person likes this
