Run Boys, Run!
The legend of Sadie Hawkins is still around today, in spirit and dances, thanks to the popular cartoon Lil’ Abner by Al Capp (1934-74). The story goes: Sadie’s father Hekzebiah Hawkins, founding father of Dogpatch, waited for his daughter to marry and be out of his care. Unfortunately, Sadie was known as the “homeliest gal in all them hills,” and waited fifteen years for a young suitor to knock on her door. Finally, after getting tired of waiting, Mr. Hawkins assembled all of the single men of Dogpatch together and called it “Sadie Hawkins Day”. Hawkins then announced, “When Ah (my gun) fires, all o’ yo’ kin start a-runnin’! When Ah fires agin- after givin’ yo’ a fair start- Sadie starts a-runnin’. Th’ one she ketches’ll be her husbin’.” Girl power, right? From that day forward, the town of Dogpatch scheduled an annual Sadie Hawkins Day where all of the single women of the town would get together and chase bachelors around and drag them across the finish line (most likely kicking, screaming, and praying for their mothers). All of this information and more can be found at http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/12/sadie-hawkins-dance-named/ by Kathy Padden, who researched the origination of “Sadie’s”.
The tradition has surely changed since then, yet people all over still get excited to celebrate a Sadie Hawkins Dance. Nowadays, girls will cleverly create a catch-phrase or poem to ask boys to accompany them to a dance, also known as a “Ladies’ Choice” dance. It is southern-themed and includes country music, cowboy boots, and short, frilly dresses. It might not be the same hoot it used to be, but it is definitely safer and more fair to those poor boys! Enjoy your Sadie’s Dance, Taft High!
