Ye History of Ye Throwing of Ye Olde Pun-Frog

[eredien]

Wow. It's really scary what one finds on the internet. I just found the origin of the Bryn Mawr tradition of lobbing frogs at people who make bad jokes, and it's even older (and odder) than I would have thought at first glance.

And it's in the wierdest place. The FAQ for the newsgroup of author David Weber, who I had never heard of before this.

Go to section 14, 'Frogs and Buzzards and Tortoises, Oh My!'

Comments

[thespooniest.livejournal.com]

Well now; that's kinda frogged up, wouldn't you say?

[batshua]

... Wait. Does this cover balled-up paper napkins, too?

... How on EARTH did you find this?!

How I Found This

[eredien]

Google. Like everything else in the universe, Google.

Specifically, typing "DoubleStar Bryn Mawr" into the search engine brings this up.

Re: How I Found This

[batshua]

Ah. Cool!

holy smoke...

[signy1.livejournal.com]

I should have known. Kate- that's _the_ Kate. I could not believe it when I saw the name on that post. Who else. Who else!?! Good grief, I hadn;t heard from or about her in years...

And, for the record- I could have told you the frog story if you'd asked. I thought I _had_. Folklore like that shouldn;t be forgotten.

Re: holy smoke...

[eredien]

It's okay. I would love to hear it from you in person sometime, though. It's probably better than some old FAQ.

Ooh, for reference: Masquerade Ball. 26th October. Meep?

Re: holy smoke...

[thespooniest.livejournal.com]

Are you saying that's when you want to have it, or it's supposed to be that day already?

It's the day before Lantern Night, so I don't know if that's really the best timing...

Re: holy smoke...

[eredien]

That's the day it's supposed to be.

Re: holy smoke...

[(Anonymous)]

yes, of course it's _the_ kate. who else?

and i found it a while ago (and already knew the story.... thank you nightengale....)
thought i'd passed the link and the story on before as well.....

gess you and should have our memories checked, eh, shadowdancer?

gallian

[trifles.livejournal.com]

And for weird future reference...

David Weber writes the Honor Harrington series (Baen Books) -- very popular militaristic space opera. He's also done other stuff, and worked with other people (like Eric Flint, on the alternate history/time-travel stories 1632 and 1633).

Sorry. Will go hide now...

Hello.

[eredien]

Hi. Thanks for the information. I figured out Baen published his stuff from the FAQ, but didn't quite know what it was that they were publishing.

I've seen you on my friends list and wondered who, exactly, you were....so it's nice to see you make an appearance.

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

Sweet Goddess. I feel like such an unconscious part of an ongoing thread of tradition and culture that started before I was even born. This is weird. If I were an Anthro major, as opposed to Cities, I'd do an ethnology on us. As it is, I will resist the urge, and comment merely that 1) we ought to get a stuffed frog and 2) I think the older generation would be proud of us. I mean, I can just see the motto we could come up with: 'Backsmoker Diaries: 20+ Years of Ongoing Insanity'. Except that ought to be in Latin, or Greek, or both.

I am too tired to translate it. Anybody?
Lila

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I included a small stuffed frog among the presents at the Sassafrass winter holiday concert (the last one I sang in) for just that very purpose. I think Sei Shonagon wound up with it . . . I also thought that all the Backsmokerites knew the story (I was not there, but had it told me) -- apologies, Eredien. But clearly, amphibian-providing needs to be done again. :-)

-Dyrne

[thespooniest.livejournal.com]

I thought it was Signy who got the frog, not Sei.

[(Anonymous)]

That may be, I don't remember. But in any case (as far as I know), the frog is in the possession of an alum, and not a current Mawrtyr.

-Dyrne

The story of Frogging

[(Anonymous)]

What a surprise to find this, and glad to know the Frog custom is still extant.

People who haven't heard the story in person needn't worry they're missing the flavor: Kate Verleger in writing is about as characteristic as Kate Verleger in person. And since she's the one who told me about the frog in the first place. . . 1995ish.

Do Backsmokerites still play "King Frog?"

Nightengale

(If you don't know who I am, ask Gallian or Signy)

Re: The story of Frogging

[eredien]

Gallian? Signy? :)

Re: The story of Frogging

[kagomeshuko.livejournal.com]

Now, I think when my sister tells a bad joke (which she does constantly), I'll tell her "Frog!" I won't tell her this story, so she'll get confused!

Stein Auf!
Bridget