The Chivaree

I bet if you asked your kids or grand kids what the word "Chivaree" meant, they would have to look it up in the dictionary! In fact, my spell checker didn't even know the word! And what they find in the dictionary doesn't tell them the full impact of the word:

"Noun: chivaree - a noisy mock serenade (made by banging pans and kettles) to a newly married couple."

What a lame word description is that!?

The chivarees that I remember and those that my mother told me about, were far from lame! The newly weds would hardly get in the door and get settled in their new home before they were surprised by family and friends who really did make lots of noise, play instruments and shout and sing, then invite themselves in to hide things and do things like putting sugar in the salt shakers, sprinking pepper under the pillows, taking the labels off of cans in the cupboards and generally making a nuisance of themselves. The ones I remember were done in good fun and did no harm to the new couple. In fact, presents were brought that the couple could well use to get started with their housekeeping.

Traditionally, the chivaree began with the french who would play romantic music for the couple on their wedding night. It progressed into a night of making noise and keeping the couple awake to stealing the bride and riding off with her, and other pranks at the couples expense.

What got me remembering about the Chivaree was the note Dallas wrote:

Days gone by -- when a newly wed couple thought they were settling in to a nice lively-hood life, low and behold, did they get a surprise!! A chivaree party of about 10 to 15 people would shortsheet the bed or pour itching powder in the sheets, would haul the couple away in a wheelbarrow or other surprises. Folks must have gotten awfully bored to seek out entertainment on the unsuspecting newly weds!

If you want to read more about the tradition of the Chivaree, visit this website:
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1032538