Jolly Chicken Day!!!

Here’s a little true story. I think you’ll all gain insite into my upbringing through it. It’s about a holiday called Chicken Day.

Once upon a time, in a magical land called Vermont, there lived a girl named SwimmingRiddles. She had a couple of sisters, and both of her parents lived with her. The main character in this tale, however, is the ever adorable MommaRiddles.

MommaRiddles looks like your stereotypical Irish woman. Round face, tiny nose, blue, blue eyes. SisterRiddles spent a year in Dublin and kept being freaked out because she kept spotting MommaRiddles look-a-likes. This is important only because MommaRiddles thinks she’s Jewish.

You see, MommaRiddles had a Jewish Step-father. Therefore, MommaRiddles claims to be “culturally Jewish.” She bumps her head, and this Irish-looking chickie breaks out with “Oy, guvalt! Mein kauf!”

Many years ago, MommaRiddles was hanging out with her friend, Ann, who is legitimately Jewish. They collectively decided that there wasn’t a really good celebratory sping Jewish holiday. The Christians have Easter, but Ann only had Passover. Let’s face it: Passover isn’t that much of a party holiday. Sure, Easter is a bit of a downer, but Passover is about Angels of Death. Oy.

Ann also had chickens at the time. In the winter, chickens can not live in a chicken koop in Vermont. Their little tail feathers would freeze. So the chickens lived in Ann’s basement. Chickens smell. So Ann, quite justifiably, wanted to get those chickens out of that basement ASAP. But as chickens are not the most reliable of fowl, it’s not easy to convince them to get out of the basement. A large group of people is the best method for this. Thus, the two concepts (non-denominational sping holiday that Jews and Christians alike can celebrate, and get those damned smelly birds out of the basement) converged. Chicken Day was born.

We have our traditions. You must arrive at Ann’s house in costume. It must be chicken related. Chicken puns are always a hit. You can NOT eat chicken on Chicken Day. Omlettes, however, are alright. Homage must be paid to the Chicken Mothers, Ann and MommaRiddles. There are Chicken Carols. There are Chicken Games (Alaskan Chicken, involving a rubber chicken.) And the culmination of the day comes with the Chicken Question. It is an anonymous intellecutal duel. Questions are along the lines of “Why DID the chicken cross the road?” As it is an intellectual bunch, the more obscure and philisophical you can get, the better. The winner (by popular opinion) gets to stand up and collect the pride of winning.

And no, I am not making this up. As a child, I thought it was a real holiday. Actually, I thought it was a real JEWISH holiday, since the only difference between us and Ann’s family was that they were Jewish. And it is this Sunday. I think I’ll be a Chicken Couplet. Costumes can not cost more than $5 to make, so I’m thinking I’ll write a couplet with chickens as the subject, write it on a piece of posterboard, and hang it around my neck.

I just wanted to share the history of this proud holiday, and wish you all a Jolly Chicken Day. (I SWEAR I’m not making this up…) (ps: the rights to the story of Chicken Day are Copywritten. Don’t steal it.)

Great! We can combine it with Cinco De Meyo and call it “Cinco De Pollo”…

Inky.

At last! A Festivus for the rest of us!

I was sitting here gently giggling over Swiddles’ kind and loving description of this wonderful personal holiday she shares with family and friends.

Then I read Inky’s comment, and now I cannot stop laughing.

Good grief, is that how Passover is thought of in rural Vermont???

Not only is it one of the most important Jewish holidays, it’s a very happy eight days! Sure, we can’t eat leavened food items, but “angel of death”?

Judaism has a few days that are sad, but Passover certainly isn’t one of them.

We have some serious misinformation here. Please let this poor woman know she’s been badly misinformed about her heritage and help me steer her toward a greater appreciation for it, or at least a greater understanding of it.

And while you’re at it, have a Jolly Chicken Day.

Good sweet mosas, CK. It’s a ** joke **. Of COURSE we know how important Passover is, but the fact of the matter is that when you live through a Vermont winter, you want a BIG party. I can’t believe you read an entire post about a holiday celebrating CHICKENS and thought the Passover part was serious. For the record, I don’t think Easter is about Jesus flying around like Peter Pan, either. Sheesh.

Gee, I wonder if Ann’s family would be interested in adopting me? My credentials:

  1. they can boast of ‘my son, the doctor’
  2. veteran of the 'Pollo mission, an ill-fated effort [1] to land a chicken on the moon
  3. have snuck more chicks out of the basement door in my time than… er, nevermind
    [1] that I may chronicle, when the statute of limitations on 14 CFR 1211 runs out… if it ever does

SwimmingRiddles:

Sorry for taking it so seriously, but I’ve seen too many young Jews turned off to their religion because the only parts of it they’d been exposed to are the miserable parts (dying and not eating on Yom Kippur) and none of the fun parts (including Passover). I’m glad to hear that your statement was just a joke, but I’ve seen enough to know that it’s not a joke for everyone.

Chaim Mattis Keller

Swimmey, that is priceles.

Your OP belongs in Threadspotting.

How about it, Zotti?