Me, too. I'm doing a junkanoo-related logo, so I had to research it a bit. It's a costumed street parade in the Bahamas. Wikipedia says: "The word "Junkanoo" derived from a African slave master and trader named, "John Canoe" in the 17th century. These slaves were not allowed much freedom and would hide in the bushes when they had the chance. While in the bushes, they would dance and make music while covered in costumes that they made from various paints that they made and leaves that they found. This festival represented the slave's freedom from slavery."
If your first inclination is to think "That's not very retarded at all", I'm with you. I was ok with this whole origin story right up until the sentence "While in the bushes, they would dance and make music..."
I question the effectiveness of this type of hiding.
Here's 2 festivals I propose we celebrate:
Blanket Beating Festival
Every Spring the villagers come out with the blankets they've been using all winter to keep warm and trap farts and beat them in the street to freshen them. A parade is formed, and there are scented candles lit in each window. The parade ends with a feast on cold pasta and then have a tug-of-war with somebody's shirt.
Night of Enrico
Named after I guy I once knew, Night of Enrico is when all the women villagers get together and watch reruns of Will & Grace on TBS. They then make a pilgrimage to Appleby's, eat a sensible dinner and go eat the dessert at a different restaurant of their choosing. After the traditional poo-taking, the parade of women ends up at Dress Barn, where they try on clothes until midnight.
Any other festival ideas?
Posts
Tom Waits Festival
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with the singer. This is where we get Paul's brother in law and drop him off at what he thinks is a bus stop, but really it's just a corner somewhere. Then we tell him the bus will be there any minute and we go across the road to a park and watch him. We can eat roasted almonds if we feel like it.
Each April, high up in the mountains of Mexico, dozens descend on the small city of Monterey to partake in the traditional Boggins Festival. The main event is a game where a large throng of people try to push a 40-foot wheelchair (a "fool") full of cigarettes ("fags") towards one of the 4 plastic surgery clinics in town, where it will stay until next year's game. The day is wrapped in tradition dating back 320 years, and as such, it is imperative that competitors dress up like absolute numbnuts.
ReplyDeleteThe old "fool", loaded high with "fags", tends to sway drunkenly on its ancient wheels, so it often topples over onto a pile of participants, where tradition dictates that one small runty mexican at the bottom screams "get off, get off, I can't breathe! No, seriously guys!"
"I question the effectiveness of this type of hiding." HA!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I get all excited and go to a yawning festival.
ReplyDelete