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Florida cracker

February 16, 2024

For other uses, see Florida cracker (disambiguation).

Florida crackers were colonial-era British, American pioneer settlers in what is now the U.S. state of Florida; the term is also applied to their descendants, to the present day, and their subculture among white Southerners. The first crackers arrived in 1763 after Spain traded Florida to Great Britain following the latter's victory over France in the Seven Years' War,[1] though much of traditional Florida cracker folk culture dates to the 19th century.

A Bit of Cow Country, by Frederic Remington, published in Harper's Weekly in 1895

Historical usage edit

The term cracker was in use during the Elizabethan era to describe braggarts and blowhards. The original root of this is the Middle English word crack, meaning 'entertaining conversation' (which survives as a verb, as in "to crack a joke"); the noun in the Gaelicized spelling craic also retains currency in Ireland and to some extent in Scotland and Northern England, in a sense of 'fun' or 'entertainment' especially in a group setting. Cracker is documented in William Shakespeare's King John, Act II, Scene I (1595): "What cracker is this same that deafs our ears / With this abundance of superfluous breath?"

By the 1760s, the ruling classes, both in Britain and in the American colonies, applied the term cracker to Scots-Irish, Scottish, and English American settlers of the remote southern back country, as noted in a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth: "I should explain to your Lordship what is meant by Crackers; a name they have got from being great boasters; they are a lawless set of rascalls on the frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas, and Georgia, who often change their places of abode."[2] The word was later associated with the cowboys of Georgia and Florida,[3] many of them descendants of those early colonists who had migrated south.

A folk etymology suggests that the name cracker instead derives from the cracking of cattle-drovers' whips.[4]

Cracker cowmen edit

 
A Cracker Cowboy (1895) by Frederic Remington, illustrating cracker Bone Mizell (1863–1921)

In Florida, those who own or work cattle traditionally have been called cowmen. In the late 1800s, they were often called cow hunters or cowhunters, a reference to seeking out cattle scattered over the wooded rangelands during roundups. At times, the terms cowman and cracker have been used interchangeably because of similarities in their folk culture. Today, the western term cowboy is often used for those who work cattle.[5]

The Florida "cowhunter" or "cracker cowboy" of the 19th and early 20th centuries was distinct from the Spanish vaquero and the Western cowboy. Florida cowboys did not use lassos to herd or capture cattle.[citation needed] Their primary tools were dogs and cow whips. Florida cattle and horses were smaller than the western breeds. The Florida Cracker cattle, also known as the "native" or "scrub" cow, averaged about 600 pounds (270 kg) and had large horns and large feet.[6][dead link]

Modern usage edit

Among some Floridians, the term is used as a proud or jocular self-description. Since the huge influx of new residents into Florida in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, from the northern parts of the United States and from Latin America, the term Florida cracker is used informally by some Floridians to indicate that their families have lived in the state for many generations. It is considered a source of pride to be descended from "frontier people who did not just live but flourished in a time before air conditioning, mosquito repellent, and screens" according to Florida history writer Dana Ste. Claire.[7]

Cracker Storytelling Festival edit

Since the late 20th century, the Cracker Storytelling Festival has been held annually in the fall at Homeland Heritage Park in Homeland, Florida. The year 2013 marked the 25th anniversary of the festival. The Cracker Storytelling Festival includes many storytellers from around Florida who come to share their stories with visitors. The majority of visitors who attend this event are students,[8] because storytelling is part of the Florida educational curriculum. The festival also incorporates local crafts and artwork, food vendors, a whip-cracking contest,[9] and living-history re-enactment of 19th-century homestead life.[8]

Notable Florida crackers edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Present State of the West-Indies: Containing an Accurate Description of What Parts Are Possessed by the Several Powers in Europe". 1778. Retrieved August 30, 2013 – via World Digital Library.
  2. ^ Clark, James C. 200 Quick Looks at Florida History. p. 189.
  3. ^ a b c Bennett, Jim (October 1999). "Bone Mizell: Cracker Cowboy of the Palmetto Prairies". Wild West. Weider History Group.
  4. ^ Howard, Vivian (May 1, 2020). "How Do You 'Cue? (Florida section)". Somewhere South. Season 1. Episode 6. @ approx. 20 minutes in. PBS. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "Florida Memory". Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  6. ^ Tasker, Georgia (February 6, 2007). . The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2007.
  7. ^ Ste. Claire, Dana (2006). Cracker: Cracker Culture in Florida History. University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-3028-9.
  8. ^ a b Schottelkotte, Suzie (October 7, 2010). . The Ledger. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  9. ^ "Cracker Storytelling Festival". 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.

Further reading edit

Fiction edit

External links edit

  • Cracker Cowboys, documentary film by Victor Milt
  • Florida Crackers: The Cattlemen and Cowboys of Florida (2011), documentary film by John Michie
  • Butch Harrison, Florida cracker storyteller 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine

February 16, 2024
florida, cracker, other, uses, disambiguation, were, colonial, british, american, pioneer, settlers, what, state, florida, term, also, applied, their, descendants, present, their, subculture, among, white, southerners, first, crackers, arrived, 1763, after, sp. For other uses see Florida cracker disambiguation Florida crackers were colonial era British American pioneer settlers in what is now the U S state of Florida the term is also applied to their descendants to the present day and their subculture among white Southerners The first crackers arrived in 1763 after Spain traded Florida to Great Britain following the latter s victory over France in the Seven Years War 1 though much of traditional Florida cracker folk culture dates to the 19th century A Bit of Cow Country by Frederic Remington published in Harper s Weekly in 1895 Contents 1 Historical usage 2 Cracker cowmen 3 Modern usage 4 Cracker Storytelling Festival 5 Notable Florida crackers 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 8 1 Fiction 9 External linksHistorical usage editThe term cracker was in use during the Elizabethan era to describe braggarts and blowhards The original root of this is the Middle English word crack meaning entertaining conversation which survives as a verb as in to crack a joke the noun in the Gaelicized spelling craic also retains currency in Ireland and to some extent in Scotland and Northern England in a sense of fun or entertainment especially in a group setting Cracker is documented in William Shakespeare s King John Act II Scene I 1595 What cracker is this same that deafs our ears With this abundance of superfluous breath By the 1760s the ruling classes both in Britain and in the American colonies applied the term cracker to Scots Irish Scottish and English American settlers of the remote southern back country as noted in a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth I should explain to your Lordship what is meant by Crackers a name they have got from being great boasters they are a lawless set of rascalls on the frontiers of Virginia Maryland the Carolinas and Georgia who often change their places of abode 2 The word was later associated with the cowboys of Georgia and Florida 3 many of them descendants of those early colonists who had migrated south A folk etymology suggests that the name cracker instead derives from the cracking of cattle drovers whips 4 Cracker cowmen edit nbsp A Cracker Cowboy 1895 by Frederic Remington illustrating cracker Bone Mizell 1863 1921 In Florida those who own or work cattle traditionally have been called cowmen In the late 1800s they were often called cow hunters or cowhunters a reference to seeking out cattle scattered over the wooded rangelands during roundups At times the terms cowman and cracker have been used interchangeably because of similarities in their folk culture Today the western term cowboy is often used for those who work cattle 5 The Florida cowhunter or cracker cowboy of the 19th and early 20th centuries was distinct from the Spanish vaquero and the Western cowboy Florida cowboys did not use lassos to herd or capture cattle citation needed Their primary tools were dogs and cow whips Florida cattle and horses were smaller than the western breeds The Florida Cracker cattle also known as the native or scrub cow averaged about 600 pounds 270 kg and had large horns and large feet 6 dead link Modern usage editAmong some Floridians the term is used as a proud or jocular self description Since the huge influx of new residents into Florida in the late 20th and early 21st centuries from the northern parts of the United States and from Latin America the term Florida cracker is used informally by some Floridians to indicate that their families have lived in the state for many generations It is considered a source of pride to be descended from frontier people who did not just live but flourished in a time before air conditioning mosquito repellent and screens according to Florida history writer Dana Ste Claire 7 Cracker Storytelling Festival editSince the late 20th century the Cracker Storytelling Festival has been held annually in the fall at Homeland Heritage Park in Homeland Florida The year 2013 marked the 25th anniversary of the festival The Cracker Storytelling Festival includes many storytellers from around Florida who come to share their stories with visitors The majority of visitors who attend this event are students 8 because storytelling is part of the Florida educational curriculum The festival also incorporates local crafts and artwork food vendors a whip cracking contest 9 and living history re enactment of 19th century homestead life 8 Notable Florida crackers editBone Mizell 1863 1921 the best known of the original Florida cracker cowboys made famous as the subject of a Frederic Remington painting 3 Ben Hill Griffin Jr 1910 1990 Cracker millionaire from Frostproof Florida 3 Al Burt 1927 2008 journalist at The Miami Herald and chronicler of contemporary Florida cracker subculture Lawton Chiles 1930 1998 41st Governor of Florida and self described Florida cracker from Polk County Florida See also editCracker term about use of the term as a slur Cracker Country a living history village at the Florida State Fair Florida cracker disambiguation lists things named after the Florida crackers architecture trail cattle and horse breeds etc Florida Western a film and novel genre set in 19th century Florida Georgia cracker the related subculture of the US state of Georgia just to the north of FloridaReferences edit The Present State of the West Indies Containing an Accurate Description of What Parts Are Possessed by the Several Powers in Europe 1778 Retrieved August 30 2013 via World Digital Library Clark James C 200 Quick Looks at Florida History p 189 a b c Bennett Jim October 1999 Bone Mizell Cracker Cowboy of the Palmetto Prairies Wild West Weider History Group Howard Vivian May 1 2020 How Do You Cue Florida section Somewhere South Season 1 Episode 6 approx 20 minutes in PBS Retrieved May 2 2021 Florida Memory Retrieved 5 November 2012 Tasker Georgia February 6 2007 Rancher preserves Florida s Cracker history The Miami Herald Archived from the original on September 29 2007 Retrieved February 21 2007 Ste Claire Dana 2006 Cracker Cracker Culture in Florida History University Press of Florida ISBN 978 0 8130 3028 9 a b Schottelkotte Suzie October 7 2010 Tellin Stories Take a Trip Back in Time at Homeland Cracker Storytelling Festival The Ledger Archived from the original on March 3 2016 Cracker Storytelling Festival 2013 Retrieved October 23 2013 Further reading editFiction edit Many works by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings South Moon Under 1933 Golden Apples 1935 The Yearling 1938 Cross Creek 1942 and numerous short stories are set amidst early 20th century Florida cracker subculture Strawberry Girl 1945 children s novel by Lois Lenski set in mid 20th century cracker Florida Seraph on the Suwanee 1948 novel by African American novelist Zora Neale Hurston and her only work that focuses primarily on white characters A Land Remembered 1984 a multi generational novel about a Floridian family from 1858 to 1968 by Patrick D SmithExternal links editCracker Cowboys documentary film by Victor Milt Florida Crackers The Cattlemen and Cowboys of Florida 2011 documentary film by John Michie Butch Harrison Florida cracker storyteller Archived 2009 03 27 at the Wayback Machine Archived 2009 03 27 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Florida cracker amp oldid 1175836498, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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