# Five gooold rings: A postseasonal enquiry about a Christmas song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135 "2020-01-08T18:20:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/41 "2020-01-09T21:19:39Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Unfortunately, the only name I remember is “Turtletaub,” which really does mean “turtle dove” in Yiddish. I don’t think it was a professional chorus (at least not entirely). As I recall, the producers put it together by looking up people with appropriate names in the NYC phone book and inviting them onto the show. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/42 "2020-01-09T21:42:48Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I was the one who added the phrase “including at least one standard encyclopedia” to the Wiki article. > > Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Which one you you knuckleheads are claiming that it was “gold” then became “golden” later on that Wikipedia page? It’s been there since at least November, so not likely. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/43 "2020-01-10T03:43:54Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Which one you you knuckleheads are claiming that it was “gold” then became “golden” later on that Wikipedia page? It’s been there since at least November, so not likely. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > I was the one who added the phrase “including at least one standard encyclopedia” to the Wiki article. > > Which one you you knuckleheads are claiming that it was “gold” then became “golden” later on that Wikipedia page? It’s been there since at least November, so not likely. I was referring to the Wiki article on Smokey; not sure why you quoted me here. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/44 "2020-01-10T04:05:19Z")
Golden rings. I don’t recall ever hearing it any other way. And I’m fairly certain I would have noticed. I’ve sung the song in at least 15 choir concerts over the years; never liked it. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/45 "2020-01-10T05:32:20Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I was referring to the Wiki article on Smokey; not sure why you quoted me here. > > Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk Because it’s relevant to changing Wikipedia pages. I think you’re reading into it too much. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/46 "2020-01-10T06:53:18Z")
Under US advertising law, a “gold” ring would have to be made of gold, but a “golden” ring could just look like gold. Just as a “chocolate” bar must be made of actual chocolate, but a “chocolatey” bar might be carob, or worse. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/47 "2020-01-10T16:28:01Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Based on the oldest posters (not to mention what it says on his hat), he’s neither Smokey The Bear nor Smokey Bear. He’s just [Smokey](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SMOKEY_SAYS_-_CARE_WILL_PREVENT_9_OUT_OF_10_FOREST_FIRES%5E_-_NARA_-_515437.jpg). > [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Well now, you wouldn’t expect his hat to say Smokey The Bear, right? He obviously _is_ a bear. We don’t need to be told that. > > Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk It’s just “Smokey” because he doesn’t HAVE a last name. We add “the Bear” so as to distinguish him from every non-ursine Smokey running around (e.g., Robinson, “Joe’s” Cafe, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135/48 "2020-01-10T16:46:31Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It’s just “Smokey” because he doesn’t HAVE a last name. We add “the Bear” so as to distinguish him from every non-ursine Smokey running around (e.g., Robinson, “Joe’s” Cafe, etc.). The [xkcd from this week](https://xkcd.com/2252/) is somewhat fitting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-gooold-rings-a-postseasonal-enquiry-about-a-christmas-song/846135.md?page=2)