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

[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