Thursday, April 9, 2009

Are they peeling you EGGS or something?

This Theme Thursday's post-title is a phrase (my, funny, translation) we use quite often in Greece and its story goes way back in time. Let me take you to ancient Rome, one sunny May day...

Once upon a time, the Romans-in order to honor Aphrodite and Dionysus-used to celebrate by doing something that was both 'crazy' and odd. Every year, on May 15th, people would go out on the streets and squares and start fighting by throwing...soft-boiled eggs at each other! Thousands of eggs would be used that day--for entertainment purposes only--and people used to laugh their hearts out! All this laughter would go on and on for weeks after the event...

This little...celebration was for everybody, with no exception of social status or rank and hierarchy. Even emperors would take their turn to throw...an egg at their empress. For example, it is said that this 'egg fight' was one of Neron's soft spots. He would even throw eggs at his army officers without it being the 'egg fighting' day!

Today this custom is long gone and doesn't exist (we opt for eating the eggs rather than throw them at somebody:-). However there is one thing that reminds us it existed...the interrogative phrase: "Are they peeling you eggs?" (Avga sou katharizoune;). We use it when we see someone laughing for no apparent reason or cause...much like this little fellow :-)




Other Greek egg-sayings or proverbs:

1. "I would rather have the egg today, than the hen tomorrow" (a proverb from Cyprus)

2. Take the egg and 'cut its hair' (The literal translation of a Greek saying. The metaphorical meaning is "anyway...". We use it when something makes no sense, is weird or when we wanna avoid talking about something :-)

That is all for today. Happy Theme Thursday everyone lol

Peace and love
xoxo

27 comments:

Baino said...

Wow that's delightful. I wonder if that's where the expression 'egg on your face' came from too! (Glad they peeled them first!)

Brian Miller said...

wow. now i know what to do with all the easter eggs come monday! fun times. quirky quotes as well. good play. enjoyable.

Colette Amelia said...

Wonderful history lesson and such a lovely funny video!

Ronda Laveen said...

I am stunned that with thousands of eggs thrown, they were soft boiled. That means someone took the time to cook them before tossing. Why? Amazing! I love this post.

Pierrot said...

Ohoo what a gift this morning Marianna, still laughing as a baby :-)
Eggs down on you all!

Mrsupole said...

Oh I laughed so much, my granddaughter once took me to You Tube and kept showing me these kinds of videos, we laughed so much together. Thank you for reminding me of that fun night.

Loved the history lesson, I wonder if it hurt when the egg hit you. All I could think of was how many people could have been fed with those eggs. Must be due to the times.

Loved the sayings too.

Great post. Thank you.

PS...and please say thank you to honey too. Great job.

New Yorker wannabes said...

Baino: Could be. oh and I hope they peeled them otherwise...ouch lol

Brian: Ha ha...enjoy your very own 'egg fight' lol lol

Colette Amelia: Glad you liked it lol

Ronda: I was wondering that myself when I read the story...like "they must have had too many hens to start with" lol

Pierrot: I know...the baby is the cutest thing. sooo funny lol

Mrsupole: Glad it made you laugh :-) Yes it is strange (and wrong)...so much food gone to waste. But that was then and didn't last very long from what I recall reading :-)

Take care you all
Happy Theme Thursday
xoxoxo

Coffee Messiah said...

Nicely done!

I remember a neighbor when I was growing up, who, this time of year, would make a bread, that was "blueish" and had nickels in it. It was delicious, minus the nickels ; )

Cheers!

Candie said...

Great post Marianna!I'd appreciate the time travel!But yeah it's better to eat them than to throw them at people,lol.

Thanks for the lovely video too.My son has his moments like that,it's so funny!

Happy Easter!:)

Anonymous said...

And I thought "La Tomatina" looked gross. I can just imagine a full scale egg fight! Eeeeewwwww!

Reyjr said...

cut its hair? lol!

Tess Kincaid said...

Gotta go take this egg and cut it's hair...

New Yorker wannabes said...

Coffee Messiah: It is a strange time, the Easter one, when it comes to traditions eh? Always come across something new lol

Candie: Don't you just love babies when they laugh lol

subtorp77: I just pictured what you mean...ewwwwww! lol lol

reyjr: 'scalp' the egg lol lol

willow: it is a funny expression, isn't it? lol lol

take care you all
peace and love
xoxo

Wings1295 said...

Very interesting. I had never heard those sayings before, thanks for the little lesson! :)

tut-tut said...

I had never heard any of this! I've learned so much on Theme Thursday!!

Tom said...

what was that again, about giving your egg a haircut?
Strange...
Say, that baby is easily amused

Dakota Bear said...

Nice post! Thank you for the history lesson about your country.

California Girl said...

Love the baby video! We should all take such delight in such simple things.

tony said...

Some People Just Dont Know How To Take A Yolk.?
I had never heard those Greek-Sayings.Tis Good.The English dont have similar? Unless they have just been lost to the Culture?

mouse (aka kimy) said...

what a hoot! time to resurrect that custom!

enjoyed the history lesson and also more of the wonderful greek sayings!

New Yorker wannabes said...

Wings: Thank you for dropping by and it was fun making the post as well lol

Tut-tut: I feel the same way lol

Tom: that is the purpose of this whole sentence...that it doesn't make sense (or not to make sense lol)

Dakota Bear: Thank you lol

California girl: I am with you on that. We should take pleasure in the little things life has to offer lol

Tony: I am sure they do...so much history behind all the sayings and I guess they do kinda get 'lost' in time :-)

Mouse: Ha ha that would be something eh?

take care you all
peace and love
xoxo

DineometerDeb said...

Happy Theme Thursday! OH well,I am gonna go take the egg and cut its hair, bye!

sparkzspot said...

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Kris McCracken said...

I wish someone peeled my eggs.

meg said...

Fascinating post!.
Love the baby, he is just like my grandson was as a baby.

Reyjr said...

hahaha! scalp the egg is even more hilarious! (or is "egg scalping" common in Greece? lol!) oops.

New Yorker wannabes said...

sparkzspot: hello. Even though you are propably a computer generated comment...thanks for spamming by lol

Kris: heh heh...well egg peeling can be hard work lol

Meg: Hey Meggie. Have a great week. Your grandson must be one cute fellow :-)

reyjr: "egg sculping" lol lol Now we discovered a new 'trend' haha!

Take care all
peace and love
xoxo