In the days of my maternal grandmother Ruby, people used to shout "hello the house" when coming up to a rural house; but Ruby wouldn't let people through the gate unless they shouted "halo the house." Mom said she couldn't tell what difference Ruby was hearing in the "hello" and "halo." - Has anyone else heard of "halo the house," or do you think Ruby was making judgments by appearance, body language, etc.?

Tsyganka

I don't remember having heard of this custom before, but I can see its being desirable in a rural setting, where visits were infrequent, and the residents might need warning to avoid embarrassment. However, I can't imagine any important difference between "hello" and "halo". Too bad you never thought to ask

'However, I can't imagine any important difference between "hello" and "halo". Too bad you never thought to ask'

Both Mom and Grandmother Ruby are now dead, and Ruby died before I had a chance to know her. From what Mom told me, Ruby distinguished between pronunciations as "hello" (the greeting) and "halo" (the aura or nimbus). A "halo" greeting indicated a good person, and "hello" indicated a suspicious one. Mom couldn't hear any difference when visitors spoke these words (or, maybe, the one word). Also, I don't know of any southern Georgians pronouncing "hello" with a long A instead of a short E - so I wondered whether anyone had heard of "halo the house" as a greeting or whether Ruby was using body language or some other clue when she decided to let someone in or keep someone out. Ruby lived in the late 1800s-early 1900s.

Thanks,
Tsyganka

Dear Tysganka: I had a friend from South Carolina who warned me not to enter southern property unannounced. His words suggested very clearly that those who failed to announce themselves properly might find themselves wearing a halo, or in hell.

Max !

For those unfamiliar with military acronyms HALO is a term used by Paratroopers : High Altitude Low Opening ... the parachutists jump from altitudes so high they have to have oxygen masks and the "low opening" means a very small area they have to land in and which cannot be seen when they step off (usually) into the night.
Difficult. And as far as I know all US personnel in Airborne units have to qualify in HALO jumps.

As for the greeting ... it's very common among the Irish of certain generations but is often Haloooo the house. In Native American cultures it is polite stay in your vehicle awhile before alighting and approaching the house to allow the resident time to notice you (and perhaps tidy up a bit?)

Among Westerners who rode horses, it was not polite to dismount until asked to "step down."

Anyone else?

P>S> Interesting post Tsyganka, Welcome aBoard.

wow - I thought "low opening" referred to the height at which they opened their shutes - low to minimise the amount of time they were exposed to enemy eyes/detection systems....

Or am I missing something here.

How about a hello whilst executing a halo from a helo without the benefit of helos?

stales

Max and Stales : you are probably right ... forgot to ask My-Son-The-Major when he called with birthday wishes.
I will try to ask him as soon as I remember since he is Airborne qualified.
How is anyone to keep an uncluttered mind on one's birthday!
(The 73 years has nothing to do with it she said firmly!)

Thank you all for your PMs with good wishes. Most heart warming.
Aloha to you all.