BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day

Subject: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Strick
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 07:24 PM

A folk custom for a folk forum. Prolly some songs about it, too.

For anyone not familiar with the tradition, February 29th is honored in some parts of the US as Sadie Hawkins day, the day when unmarried women are allowed to pick (or in the case of Lil' Abner, capture) the unmarried male of their choice and commit matrimony. An ancient tradition fallen on hard times since surely no one consideres it inappropriate for a woman to propose marriage these days.

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 09:19 PM

We were just remembering this today, I'd forgotten about learning about it as a kid, and being amazed, coming from a foreign background, that such a day would be required... how nice if it ain't so no mo'!

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Gypsy
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 09:32 PM

If'n a ladies lover declines, he owes her a silk dress, or 100 pounds sterling! Scared all the men with that one last night

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 10:43 PM

During HS I went to a Sadie Hawkins Dance. I invited a *friend* because I had broken up with my steady boyfriend. I dressed as "Mammy Yokum" and the two of us won the best dressed couple prize -- tickets to a concert which meant another date with him! I think it was rigged!

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 11:19 PM

I remember this from Lil Abner. I hadn't given it any thought, just assumed it started with Al Capp. I guess I'll have to go poke around for more information (unless someone else has it at the tip of their fingers).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Amos
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 11:33 PM

"November 13 - Sadie Hawkins Day. Not a typical holiday, Sadie Hawkins Day was the invention of Al Capp, creator of the "Li'l Abner" cartoon strip. Capp conceived of a day in Dogpatch, U.S.A., when all the unmarried ladies could pursue (literally) their men. If caught, the hapless bachelors were soon trudging down the aisle. This fictional world so captured people's imaginations that Sadie Hawkins Day passed into the realm of modern folklore. The first Sadie Hawkins Day took place on Wednesday, November 9, 1938, but it's usually celebrated on the nearest Saturday to accommodate all the "girls-ask-boys" school dances and other events.   "

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Amos
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 11:37 PM

Above was from http://www.almanac.com/redletter/redletter.1199/rl13.html.

Sorry.


A

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 10:14 AM

Look here for the full story of Sadie Hawkins Day;meanwhile, catch up with the lad himself every day -- SHD is about to dawn again in Dogpatch.

One of these days I really must do a proper study ofthe similarities between Dogpatch English and Black Country English; I know Wyatt Earp's father came from Tipton ...

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 12:26 PM

Thanks, Steve. There were a couple of movies made about the race also, and Al Capp was one of the writers. (This link is to the later one, with Leslie Parrish as Daisy Mae).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Mrrzy
Date: 28 Dec 13 - 05:11 PM

It tends to be celebrated 'round these parts (Central VA USA) on the 29th of February so this is an early one, not a belated one... I was wondering if the Mudcat would know where it was from, and indeedy do.

It's about asking out, not marrying, down/over here, also. Still relevant, sigh.

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 11:32 AM

I remember well reading Lil Abner and following the 'race' as the guys ran like scared rabbits and the gals pursued with.. umm... fervor. Abner always found a way to escape until one year.....

Subject: RE: BS: A Belated Sadie Hawkins Day
From: GUEST,gnu on laptop
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 01:58 PM

Poor bugger. sniff...