Sadie Hawkins Day is an American folk event and pseudo-holiday originated by Al Capp's classic hillbillycomic stripLi'l Abner (1934–1977). This inspired real-world Sadie Hawkins events, the premise of which is that women ask men for a date or dancing. "Sadie Hawkins Day" was introduced in the comic strip on November 15, 1937; the storyline ran until the beginning of December.[1] The storyline was revisited the following October/November,[2] and inspired a fad on college campuses. By 1939, Life reported that 201 colleges in 188 cities held a Sadie Hawkins Day event.[3]
In Li'l Abner, Sadie Hawkins was the daughter of Mayor Hekzebiah Hawkins, one of Dogpatch's earliest settlers and the "homeliest gal in all them hills". She grew frantic waiting for suitors until she reached age 35 and was still a spinster, and her father was worried about her living at home for the rest of her life. In desperation, he called together all the unmarried men of Dogpatch and declared it "Sadie Hawkins Day". A foot race was decreed with Sadie pursuing the town's eligible bachelors. If Sadie caught one of them, he would be forced to marry her. She was specifically interested in a handsome boy named Adam who was already in a courtship with Theresa, whose father was the area's largest potato farmer. Unlike Sadie, Theresa had a number of courtship offers.
As the event became a tradition in the comic strip, Capp added more story elements. Each year, the Sadie Hawkins storyline begins with a prophecy by Old Man Mose, who gives Li'l Abner a cryptic clue about the end of the storyline, which always comes true in a roundabout, surprising way. The storyline sometimes also includes the Sadie Hawkins Eve Dance which is held on the previous evening, when the young women wear hob-nailed boots and stomp on their partners' feet, to make the bachelors run slower during the event.[4]
Impactedit
Inspired by Capp's satiric race in which eligible women chase down terrified bachelors for the purposes of wedlock, the event reverses the cultural norms of men as the romantic pursuers. Arthur Berger says that the day "represents a fertility rite and awakens an awareness of the relationship between the American courtship and more "primitive" rites."[5]
Dateedit
The date for Sadie Hawkins Day most commonly reported is November 13, two days before the first appearance in the comics.[6] The date has on occasion been confused for February 29 (Leap Day),[7] the date for Bachelor's Day according to the original Irish tradition of women being allowed to propose marriage.[8]
Al Capp finally set the date for Sadie Hawkins Day as November 26, in his last Li'l Abner daily strip on November 5, 1977.[9]
"Some Fun Is on the Way — Sadie Hawkins Day Is Near", The Pittsburgh Press (Oct 19, 1940)
"On Your Marks, Girls! Sadie Hawkins Day Is Nov. 9", The Jackson Clarion-Ledger (Oct 20, 1946)
"Al Capp Tells How to Conduct a 'Sadie Hawkins Day'" by Paul F. Kneeland, The Boston Sunday Globe (Nov 6, 1949)
"Carbon Carbonettes to Sponsor Annual Sadie Hawkins Day Events Tomorrow", The Price Sun-Advocate (Nov 23, 1950)
"Sadie Hawkins Day comes and goes: Tradition used to empower women diminishes as society changes" by Matt Katz, The Camden Courier-Post (Feb 26, 2004)
December 15, 2023
sadie, hawkins, american, folk, event, pseudo, holiday, originated, capp, classic, hillbilly, comic, strip, abner, 1934, 1977, this, inspired, real, world, sadie, hawkins, events, premise, which, that, women, date, dancing, introduced, comic, strip, november, . Sadie Hawkins Day is an American folk event and pseudo holiday originated by Al Capp s classic hillbilly comic strip Li l Abner 1934 1977 This inspired real world Sadie Hawkins events the premise of which is that women ask men for a date or dancing Sadie Hawkins Day was introduced in the comic strip on November 15 1937 the storyline ran until the beginning of December 1 The storyline was revisited the following October November 2 and inspired a fad on college campuses By 1939 Life reported that 201 colleges in 188 cities held a Sadie Hawkins Day event 3 Sadie Hawkins Day1944 reenactment of Sadie Hawkins Day raceGenreFolk event and pseudo holidayDate s November 13thLocation s United StatesActivityWomen ask men for a date or dancing Contents 1 Comic strip 2 Impact 3 Date 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingComic strip editIn Li l Abner Sadie Hawkins was the daughter of Mayor Hekzebiah Hawkins one of Dogpatch s earliest settlers and the homeliest gal in all them hills She grew frantic waiting for suitors until she reached age 35 and was still a spinster and her father was worried about her living at home for the rest of her life In desperation he called together all the unmarried men of Dogpatch and declared it Sadie Hawkins Day A foot race was decreed with Sadie pursuing the town s eligible bachelors If Sadie caught one of them he would be forced to marry her She was specifically interested in a handsome boy named Adam who was already in a courtship with Theresa whose father was the area s largest potato farmer Unlike Sadie Theresa had a number of courtship offers As the event became a tradition in the comic strip Capp added more story elements Each year the Sadie Hawkins storyline begins with a prophecy by Old Man Mose who gives Li l Abner a cryptic clue about the end of the storyline which always comes true in a roundabout surprising way The storyline sometimes also includes the Sadie Hawkins Eve Dance which is held on the previous evening when the young women wear hob nailed boots and stomp on their partners feet to make the bachelors run slower during the event 4 Impact editInspired by Capp s satiric race in which eligible women chase down terrified bachelors for the purposes of wedlock the event reverses the cultural norms of men as the romantic pursuers Arthur Berger says that the day represents a fertility rite and awakens an awareness of the relationship between the American courtship and more primitive rites 5 Date editThe date for Sadie Hawkins Day most commonly reported is November 13 two days before the first appearance in the comics 6 The date has on occasion been confused for February 29 Leap Day 7 the date for Bachelor s Day according to the original Irish tradition of women being allowed to propose marriage 8 Al Capp finally set the date for Sadie Hawkins Day as November 26 in his last Li l Abner daily strip on November 5 1977 9 See also editSadie Hawkins danceReferences edit Capp Al 1988 Li l Abner Dailies Volume Three 1937 Kitchen Sink Press p 156 ISBN 0 87816 043 4 Capp Al 1989 Li l Abner Dailies Volume Four 1938 Kitchen Sink Press p 134 ISBN 0 87816 052 3 Schumacher Michael Kitchen Denis 2013 Al Capp A Life to the Contrary Bloomsbury Publishing p 89 ISBN 9781608197859 Retrieved 8 July 2020 Schreiner Dave 1988 1937 Sadie s First Run Li l Abner Dailies Volume Three 1937 Kitchen Sink Press p 8 ISBN 0 87816 043 4 Berger Arthur Asa 1970 Li l Abner A Study in American Satire Twayne p 97 ISBN 9781617034169 Retrieved 8 July 2020 The Ugly Truth Behind Sadie Hawkins Day Women You Should Know November 13 2015 Locker Melissa February 29 2012 Get Ready Ladies Leap Day Is Also Sadie Hawkins Day Time via newsfeed time com B A English Language and Literature How Did Sadie Hawkins Day Start ThoughtCo First and Last Li l Abner 29 October 2018 Further reading edit Some Fun Is on the Way Sadie Hawkins Day Is Near The Pittsburgh Press Oct 19 1940 On Your Marks Girls Sadie Hawkins Day Is Nov 9 The Jackson Clarion Ledger Oct 20 1946 Al Capp Tells How to Conduct a Sadie Hawkins Day by Paul F Kneeland The Boston Sunday Globe Nov 6 1949 Carbon Carbonettes to Sponsor Annual Sadie Hawkins Day Events Tomorrow The Price Sun Advocate Nov 23 1950 Sadie Hawkins Day comes and goes Tradition used to empower women diminishes as society changes by Matt Katz The Camden Courier Post Feb 26 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sadie Hawkins Day amp oldid 1172861779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
