1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to Stuff You Missed in History Class, a production 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: of I Heart Radios How Stuff Works. Hello, and welcome 3 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: to the podcast. I'm Holly Fry and I'm Wilson and 4 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: Happy Holiday season, Tracy. Yes, it is after Thanksgiving, so 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: I feel okay about saying that. At least it will 6 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: be when this episode comes out. It's the last thing 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: we're recording before we actually have that holiday. Yeah, I don't. 8 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: I don't. We've talked about this, I think well back 9 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: when we're doing pop stuff, I mentioned I have no 10 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: calendar issues with people saying happy holiday greetings in July 11 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: because I grew up going to craft stores where the 12 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: holidays are always out. Sure, so I don't. I don't 13 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: have any concerns. And I my house is literally Halloween 14 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: three and sixty five days a year, so to me, 15 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: the holidays are a very fluid concept. But we are 16 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: officially in December, which is when most people would get 17 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: into the holiday spirit. And back in sixteen, we did 18 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: a series of three holiday episodes two sixteen that we 19 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: called the Crampus and Friends Holiday Special and we've missed them, 20 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: so this year we are bringing it back for a 21 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: part four just for expectations management. For any listeners who 22 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: were not listening back then and maybe haven't heard those episodes, 23 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: this episode does not feature Crampus. Crampus kicked off the 24 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: whole thing for us, and that's what we call it 25 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: Crampus and Friends. Uh So we covered him in part one. 26 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: You can go back and listen to that or to 27 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: all three if you really want to travel the world 28 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: of holiday traditions. But today we're going to have a 29 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 1: mix of Scandinavian and Japanese traditions as we cover the Nissa, 30 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: the Yule Goat, and the Seven Lucky Gods. So Scandinavian 31 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: folklore features a familiar looking little fellow who goes by 32 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: a slightly different name depending on what country you're in. 33 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: In Norway he's known as Nissa. In Sweden, he's Tempta, 34 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: and he's Tempted in Finland. They are pretty consistent, these 35 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: depictions and how they're characterized across those various countries. The 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: names are just a little different, and the word Nissa 37 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: is said to be a derivation of the name Nils 38 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: Nicholas essentially, and Tempta shares a route with the Swedish 39 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: word tampt, which is a land parcel or a homestead, 40 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: and the tampta or nissa is a solitary creature. It 41 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 1: turns both helpful and mischievous, and you will see why 42 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: it's tied to the concept of homes and homesteading. Nissan 43 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: are protective entities that help families, and they particularly help 44 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: with the farm homes to care for the livestock and 45 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: the land. There's a particularly strong affinity on the part 46 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: of nissa for horses, and he'll be sure to take 47 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: extra special care of horses, sometimes even braiding their manes 48 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: and tails to keep them looking their best. They're also 49 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: considered generally pretty lucky. If a nissa settles on your land, 50 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 1: he said to attract good fortune and to drive away evil. 51 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: And a nissa is a diminutive spray. He tops out 52 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: at about three feet that's about a meter tall, and 53 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: he dresses in simple farmer's garb of a tunic fitted 54 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: pants and boots, plus a cap on his head, and 55 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: he sometimes depicted as a little bit raggedy. Usually his 56 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: cap is red, but some depictions show the nissa with 57 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: variations in colors, although they're generally bright shades and red 58 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: is almost always the color of at least one of 59 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: his garments, and if you give a nissa new clothes, 60 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: that nissa might feel too fancy to do any works, 61 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: So definitely don't do that. As I was looking for 62 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: artwork to go with this episode, the depictions of nissa 63 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: reminded me of gnomes a little bit. They're very much 64 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: There's a reason that they have been appropriated into garden 65 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: sculpture because everyone wants one of these. If you have 66 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: a nissa, you have good fortune in a tidy home. 67 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: So yeah. So the face of the nissa is that 68 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: of an elderly man with a full beard full of 69 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: white hair, although in some places like Denmark, they might 70 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: have clean shaven chins. Where did the us to come from? 71 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: That is a little unclear, although some versions of the 72 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: folklore suggest that a nissa is the spirit of the 73 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: enterprising farmer who originally cleared and settled the land where 74 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: he lives, and that he remains on that land to 75 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: protect the generations of farmers that follow and ensure that 76 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: his work is not undone. But people who live in 77 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: cities might also have a tampton or nissa, and in 78 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: these cases they just hunker down under the floorboards during 79 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: the warmer months and then come out as the winter 80 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 1: holidays approach. Uh. Yeah, they come out at night. They 81 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: do some chores, they take care of you h And 82 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: in exchange for all of this kind help, the family 83 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: has its own side of the bargain to hold up. 84 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: It has to take care of the Nissa and show 85 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: their appreciation by leaving him a buttery bowl of porridge 86 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: to eat on occasion, and in recent times this offering 87 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 1: has come to be a Christmas Eve tradition specifically. And 88 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: you should absolutely not look for the Nissa because they 89 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: do not like to be seen and they will turn 90 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: invisible to avoid it. So also don't mess Vanessa. If 91 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: you don't fulfill your duties with the porridge provisions, or 92 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: if you behave in a way that he doesn't like, 93 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: including trying to see him or undoing the braids that 94 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: he's left in your horse's hair, you might incur his wrath. 95 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: And while you might delight in the Nissa doing chores, 96 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: don't ever interrupt him while he's carrying these duties out, 97 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: because if Vanessa is angered, he might bite, and there 98 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: is venom in that bite that can only be tempered 99 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: with a magical antidote. Yes, adorable and poisonous uh the 100 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: best of holiday things. You also want to make sure 101 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: that you do your part in keeping an orderly home 102 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: because that is what nissa like. And if you spill anything, 103 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: you have to give a yell to your nissa and 104 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: let him know so that he doesn't slip see above red. 105 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: Getting angry and uh and irritated Nissa might hide your 106 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: things or inactive bit of trickery in order to get revenge. 107 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: But there are some even scarier stories of nissan that 108 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 1: tell tales of them injuring livestock or in some cases 109 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: even killing animals if the farmer they belong to you 110 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: has acted poorly. One such instance of a nissa being 111 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: particularly cruel is from a legend about a servant girl 112 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: purposely trying to fold the household nissa. She hid the 113 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: butter in his Christmas porridge down at the bottom of 114 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,119 Speaker 1: the bowl instead of putting it on top, and thinking 115 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: that he had been stiffed on his butter, the nissa 116 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: killed the family's cow, but then went ahead and ate 117 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: the porridge, and then, realizing that he had been served 118 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: the butter just down at the bottom of the bowl, 119 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: he stole a cow from a neighbor to replace the 120 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: one he had killed, So kind of a mixed bag 121 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: behavior wise. Uh, your Nissa is great, but your neighbor's 122 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: Nissa you don't want any part. Yes, this is also 123 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: kind of a two wrongs don't make a right situation right, 124 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,239 Speaker 1: And this ties into some stories you'll occasionally hear about 125 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: Scandinavia during Christianization and how that impacted the Nissa's story. 126 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: The Nissas started to be viewed in some ways as 127 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: negatively and started to be associated by some extremists as 128 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: a servant or an associate of the devil. So welcoming 129 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: Enissa during this time when they were viewed with all 130 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: this suspicion was considered to be playing a very dangerous 131 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: game with the fate of your soul. And in this transition, 132 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: in some areas where they reviewed this way, success started 133 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: to be targeted as having some sort of sinister aspect 134 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: to it because Nissa must be involved, and that meant 135 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: that you were consorting with something that consorted with evil. 136 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: And this also ties into that Lord we just talked about, 137 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: that Enissa might steal from one farmstead to benefit the 138 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,679 Speaker 1: farmer that he lived with. The Nissa has evolved over time. 139 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: It was in the middle of the nineteenth century that 140 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: these sprites came to be linked to Christmas, and in 141 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: some areas a different entity branched off of the Nissa legend, 142 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: known as the Ulnissa, which is closer to a Santa 143 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: Claus entity. Yeah, there as there are with Nissa, where 144 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: you'll see them as Tompta or tom too. Uh. You 145 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: can see you Lenissa and their other uh sort of 146 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: Yule root names in different countries. But still this idea 147 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: of this gnome like home sprite persisted in Scandinavia. In 148 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: a one Swedish novelist Victor Roderberg wrote the poem Thompton, 149 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: which became very popular, and it also cemented the idea 150 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: of Toompton or Nissen as farm spirits in modern folklore. 151 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: That has also been adapted a number of times. You 152 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: can find modern storybook versions of it which are really 153 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: really sweet. And this also added to the lore of 154 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: Toompton and Nissen by characterizing these helpful spirits as being 155 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: philosophically thoughtful about the people that they watch over. Here's 156 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,719 Speaker 1: the translation of one of the stanzas, so he has 157 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: seen them sire and son year by year in that 158 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: room there sleep first as children everyone. But whence did 159 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: they come there? This generation to that was air blossomed, 160 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: grew old and was gone. But where that is the 161 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: hopeless burning riddle ever returning. This poem also established the 162 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: tempted as a nocturnal creature who watches over things while 163 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: the humans rest, and it concludes with the lines now 164 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: sinks the moon in night, profound snow on the furs, 165 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: and pines around, snow on the roofs is gleaming. All 166 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: but the goblin are dreaming. Coming up, we're going to 167 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: talk about goats and fire, but first we will take 168 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: a quick break for a sponsor break. Today. People that 169 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: are raised in the US probably think that You'll is 170 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: just a synonym for Christmas. I did for quite a 171 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: long time, But originally Ule was, of course a multi 172 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: day pagan winter solstice festival. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, 173 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: this celebration slowly transition to the Nativity feast and became 174 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 1: associated with Christmas rather than its origin point. And a 175 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: goat has played various roles and seasonal celebrations going back 176 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: to You'll, Although the precise origins of the goats presence 177 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: are un lear. There are a lot of different associations 178 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: with goats and Scandinavian legend and that could be part 179 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: of the origin of goats as a symbolic part of 180 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: winter holidays. For example, Thor's chariot is said to have 181 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,559 Speaker 1: been pulled by two goats in Norse mythology, and as 182 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: Father Christmas was adopted into winter celebrations and some Scandinavian traditions, 183 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: he rides a goat. Going back to the sixteen hundreds, 184 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: there was a tradition in Danish farming villages for one 185 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: of the young men in the area to dress as 186 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: a goat during Yule, complete with a goat skull on 187 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: his head, and go door to door, essentially bursting into 188 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: people's houses and creating sort of a fun havoc. This 189 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: havoc generally included throwing around some insults and gently overturning 190 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: some furniture maybe, but the goat could be placated with 191 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: beer and snacks and then sated, he would move on 192 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: to the next house to do some carousing there. A 193 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: less raucous and more benevolent version of this tradition involved 194 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: the village goats stopping by Yule parties and doling out 195 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: gifts to good children. Goats made out of straw or 196 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: other natural materials became holiday descor over time, sometimes with 197 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: an accompanying story that the goat was keeping an eye 198 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: on things and making sure holiday preparation was being handled properly. 199 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: Eventually they became available in all sizes, from ornaments to 200 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: massive centerpieces large enough to decorate town squares. Yes, some 201 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: people still like to play the game where you hide 202 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: a yule a small Yule goat in your neighbor's house. 203 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: The idea is like you're being watched and then it's 204 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: your job to then pass that goat onto someone else, 205 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 1: which is sort of fun. But speaking of that massive 206 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: scale that Tracy just mentioned, that is what has made 207 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: the Yule goat his his most famous in the last 208 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: half century. In nineteen sixty six, the town of Yavle, Sweden, 209 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: erected a giant goat in its castle square, and that's 210 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: something that the town has done every year since, starting 211 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: with the first Sunday of Advent, and that practice has 212 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,559 Speaker 1: taken on its own story, in part because of an 213 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: unofficial offshoot this that some citizens of the town have 214 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: adopted of setting the goat on fire that first year. 215 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 1: The Yavla goat was installed on December one, and at 216 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: the stroke of midnight, as the new year arrived, it 217 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: went up in flames. The goat arsonist was identified and 218 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: charged with vandalism. For a couple of years, the You'll 219 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: goat went up and lasted through the entire holiday season, 220 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: but on New Year's Eve of nineteen sixty nine the 221 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: goat was once again set on fire, although that time 222 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: the perpetrator was not identified. The goat erected in nineteen 223 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 1: seventy only lasted six hours. A new goat for the 224 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy season was quickly built and put into its 225 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: place in Castle Square, and the rest of the nineteen 226 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: seventies were frankly rough on the goat. According to the 227 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: Yavla tourism site, over that decade it imploded one year, 228 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: it was smashed two bits. On several occasions, it was 229 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: rammed with a car, and it suffered several unknown fates. 230 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,079 Speaker 1: It also burned again, once in nineteen seventy four and 231 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: again in nineteen seventy nine, when it went up in 232 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: flames before it was even put up. A second nineteen 233 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: seventy nine goat also destroyed throughout the nineteen eighties. The 234 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,520 Speaker 1: goat had a similarly precarious life. Even when it was 235 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: saturated with fire retardant materials, arsonists still managed to burn 236 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: it down. In nineteen eighty nine, the raw materials for 237 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: the goat were set on fire before it was even assembled. 238 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: The nineteen eighties did see the Yavlay You'll goat make 239 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the 240 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: largest straw goat in the world. Another development in the 241 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: nineteen eighties was the construction of two goats each year 242 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: that started in nineteen eighty six. Yeah, when the goat 243 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: tradition started in nineteen sixty six, it was originally the 244 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: work of the city's tradesmen, but after those first few 245 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: years of their work being destroyed, they just didn't want 246 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 1: to do it any longer. I cannot blame them, So 247 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy one, the Natural Science Society of Vazascotland 248 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: took over the annual building of the goat. But then 249 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: in nineteen the six the tradesmen of Yavla once again 250 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: started constructing giant yule goats, and at that point, as 251 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: a rivalry between the two goat building groups, began in 252 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 1: Both of the goats were set on fire eight days 253 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: after they were set up. The Tradesmen's goat was rebuilt, 254 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: only to be burned again. The same arsonist was found 255 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: to have set all three fires and was arrested. Another 256 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: interesting thing started happening in the nineteen nineties, and that's 257 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: some of the citizens of Yavla started setting up guard 258 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: details for the goats to try to deter these would 259 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: be arsonists and pranksters. The two thousands and the twenty 260 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: teens have seen a mixed bag of fires and survival 261 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: for the Yule Goat. In two thousand five, the Yule 262 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: Goat was besieged by flaming arrows, which were shot by 263 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: attackers that were dressed as gingerbread men and Father Christmas 264 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: in would be kidnappers trying to bribe the man who 265 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: was guarding the Yule goat into looking the other way 266 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: while they attempted to airlift it with a helicopter. That 267 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: guard could not be bought. Thankfully, the goat actually went 268 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: on a little trip. It traveled to China, where he 269 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: was visited by more than four hundred thousand people during 270 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: his time on display there. The Yavla Yule Goat has 271 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: become something of a celebrity and now has a webcam 272 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: which has been hacked by saboteurs at least once. It 273 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: also has a Twitter presence and an Instagram account and 274 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: a dedicated spokesperson so you can keep tabs on how 275 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: he's doing. While it is a constant battle to keep 276 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: this giant goat safe, it's also become a significant tourist 277 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: to draw in an economic driver for Yavla, so it's 278 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: unlikely that they will end this tradition anytime soon. Yeah. 279 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: I have seen multiple things online like in discussion or 280 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: comments on articles or the like why do they keep 281 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: doing this? It's he's expensive and like a pain in 282 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: the neck because it gets burnt so often. And it's 283 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: like if you look at Yavla's main like city website, 284 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: a lot of it is about tourism related to the goats, 285 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: so I don't think they want to give that up. Also, 286 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: it's beautiful, uh, and the goat has gotten bigger and 287 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: bigger over the years. His height at this point is 288 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: thirteen meters that's about forty two point six ft anyways, 289 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: three point six tons. It takes an estimated one thousand 290 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: man hours and an entire truckload of straw to build 291 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: the goat with the straw affixed to a metal frame base. 292 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: In and eighteen, the goat made it all the way 293 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: through the holiday season. Intact, here's to hoping in twenty 294 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: nineteen this will also be true. Hopefully, as of when 295 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: this episode comes out, the goat has not already been 296 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: set up and burned down. I'm not sure what the 297 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: schedule is, right, I hope not, because you know, as 298 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: we said, there's uh there are our webcams and people 299 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: protecting them now and it's apparently worked for a couple 300 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: of years, but you never know when a gingerbread man 301 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: with a flaming arrow might show up. There's also one 302 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: story of an American tourist who set him on fire ones, 303 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: which is embarrassing and horrifying. We are going to switch 304 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: away from your in traditions and kind of make our 305 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: way to the next set of holiday characters in another 306 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:06,959 Speaker 1: part of the world. But before we do that, we're 307 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 1: gonna pause for a word from one of the sponsors 308 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 1: that keep stuff you missed in history class going. We 309 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: are moving now to a slightly later point on the 310 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: yearly calendar and across the globe to Japan, and we're 311 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: going to talk about the seven Lucky gods that are 312 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 1: associated with the New year. These Chichi Fukujin are a 313 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: mix of deities and one historical figure who traveled together 314 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: in a treasure ship from heaven into the human world 315 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: and offer good fortune for the new year. And according 316 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: to tradition, you should place a picture of these seven 317 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 1: lucky gods under your pillow on New Year's Eve to 318 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: ensure that they bring you good fortune in the year ahead. 319 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: The first mention of these deities and their grouping of 320 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: seven together is in fourteen twenty when a procession of 321 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,639 Speaker 1: the seven Lucky Gods was staged. The first two gods 322 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: of this group that became popular were Ebisu and Daikoku, 323 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: and that's because the two of them are linked to 324 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: business prosperity. Since merchants are believed to have been the 325 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: first to adopt the seven Lucky gods, that makes sense 326 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: from there. The other gods were adopted by other groups 327 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,719 Speaker 1: of people who wanted some representation of luck that correlated 328 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: to their work. According to one legend, these gods were 329 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 1: selected at the behest of the showgun yamts Tokugawa in 330 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: the sixteen hundreds to correlate to the seven god like 331 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: virtues that were laid out by the Buddhist priest tank A. 332 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 1: Those virtues were fortune, longevity, honesty, amiability, popularity, fortune, and dignity. 333 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: Ibisu is tied to the fishing and food industries, as 334 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 1: well as the virtue of honesty. He'll often see images 335 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: or sculptures of him holding a fishing rod in his 336 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:51,919 Speaker 1: right hand and a fish in his left, although sometimes 337 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: it's also a fan. These accessories form a contrast against 338 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: his clothing, which is usually represented as brocaded courtwear. While 339 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: all the things these holding are more rustic, Visu is 340 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: unique and that he is the only member of the 341 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 1: seven Lucky Gods that is native to Japan, originating in 342 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: the Shinto religion. All of the others came from India's 343 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: Hindu belief system or China's Taoist Buddhist traditions. The Abesu 344 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: Co Festival is held every November. It's named for this deity, 345 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: and in the modern era, it's an event where merchants 346 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: pray for prosperity and good dealings. One origin story for 347 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: the festival, though, suggests that it was intended as a 348 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,199 Speaker 1: time when merchants sold their wears. It discounted prices as 349 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: a way to appease the god of fair deals for 350 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: their profitable transactions throughout the rest of the year. Daikoku 351 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: Dan or Daikoku has roots in India's belief system and 352 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 1: was introduced in Japan in the ninth century. Daikoku is 353 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: based on Mahawkla, a manifestation of Shiva, and in the 354 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: Japanese pantheon, he's a god of prosperity in wealth, and 355 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: he represents the virtue of fortune and is normally depicted 356 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: standing on a bale or sometimes two bales of rice 357 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: whole ding a magic mallet which can produce money when 358 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: it strikes an object, and he sometimes also carries a 359 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: bang that is filled with money as well. And Daikoku 360 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: is sometimes named as Abesus Father, although there is not 361 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: consensus on the matter of ABSs parentage. Other people believe 362 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,959 Speaker 1: that he came from a different set of circumstances. Bisha 363 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: Mountain appears in armor, which often leads to him being 364 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 1: described as the god of warriors, but really he's just 365 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: defending against evil and darkness, not a representative of war 366 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: or aggression. His virtue is dignity and he's usually depicted 367 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: as carrying some sort of a weapon, normally a spear 368 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,439 Speaker 1: or a sword, as well as a pagoda representing faith. 369 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: He's sometimes posed the top two vanquished demons. Bisha Mountain 370 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: hails from India and is also revered by doctors, police 371 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: and soldiers. Fukurokuju is a Chinese scholar and is the 372 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: god of happiness and wealth, and the virtue that he 373 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: represents is longevity. Fukurokuju, who originated in the Taoist Buddhist tradition, 374 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: is said to be able to revive the dead, that 375 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 1: is a power that only he has among the seven 376 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: Lucky gods, and true to his scholarly ways, he keeps 377 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: a scroll tied to his walking stick, and he's a 378 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: short man, but he has a large head. He's often 379 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: accompanied by a sacred creature that also represents longevity, such 380 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: as a tortoise, a snake, a stork, or a white deer. 381 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: Duro Jean has the visage of an old man, which 382 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: aligns with the wisdom that's his virtue and which he 383 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: bestows on those who pray to him. He's sometimes confused 384 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 1: with the Kurokuju, since both of them are depicted as 385 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: elderly and being accompanied by deer. But kurokujus dear companion 386 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: is white and duro Jean's can companion is black, indicating 387 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 1: that's older and wiser. Jo Jean also has a little 388 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: vice and that he loves to drink, and he'll bestow 389 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: some of his wisdom on people who offer him wine. 390 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: I like that aspect of him. It's charming. There is 391 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: only one woman among the seven Lucky gods, and she 392 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: has Benton, goddess of art and knowledge. She's associated with 393 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: the virtue of amiability. In modern writings, you will often 394 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: see her virtue listed as joy. Benton wears flowing robes 395 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,400 Speaker 1: and plays an instrument, usually a flute or the loot. 396 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: Like Bua, and Benton can be jealous, but she is 397 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: also compassionate. Musicians in particular have historically been very devoted 398 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 1: to Benton, with stories of some refusing to marry so 399 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: that she will not become jealous and take away their talent. 400 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 1: Hotel is the only one of the seven Lucky gods 401 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: that said to be based on an actual person, and 402 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 1: that's the Chinese monk Buddhai. This is the rounded, smiling 403 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:41,080 Speaker 1: Buddha that you've probably seen depicted in any number of places. 404 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: It's a jolly character who represents popularity and magnanimity. He's 405 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: the god of both happiness and abundance. He carries a 406 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: bag of fortune, which is said to contain all the 407 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: things that are needed by man. One of the lessons 408 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: of his that abundance comes from simply being happy with 409 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: what you have. We mentioned at the beginning of this 410 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: section that if you want the seven Lucky Gods to 411 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: grace you, you should put their picture under your pillow. 412 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: But that is not the end of it. The first 413 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 1: week of the new year, uh, there is a tradition 414 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: where families travel to the temples of each of the deities. 415 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: That's a practice that dates back to the Edo period, 416 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: and it becomes something of a pilgrimage as the shrine 417 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: for each of the seven lucky gods has to be 418 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: visited to ensure that all kinds of luck is yours 419 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: in the new year. So here's to hoping that all 420 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: of our listeners have beautiful holidays no matter what you're celebrating, 421 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: and comes with some good fortune for all of us. Yes, 422 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,679 Speaker 1: I hope, I hope. UM. For listener mail, I have 423 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 1: nothing to do with luck okay, but instead a fun 424 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:45,159 Speaker 1: story about traffic lights. UM. This comes from our listener 425 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 1: father Daniel. He writes, Hello, Holly and Tracy. I have 426 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 1: enjoyed your podcast for a few years now, and a 427 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: couple of recent episodes touched indirectly on some New York 428 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: state history which I think you might find interesting. There's 429 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: a traffic light in Syracuse, New York, on Tipperary Hill 430 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: which is upside down, with the green on top and 431 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 1: the red on bottom. And I put upside down in 432 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,920 Speaker 1: quotes because historically the Irish locals had seen the regular 433 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: arrangement of the signal read above green as a statement 434 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: about the supremacy of England read over Ireland green. Since 435 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: its installation in the signal was regularly vandalized, rocks were 436 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 1: thrown at it to bust the lights, and while it 437 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: was continually repaired, they needed a more permanent solution. Apparently, 438 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: a local alderman named John huck O Ryan was the 439 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 1: one who suggested putting the green on top and the 440 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 1: red on the bottom, which resulted in in the arrangement 441 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: of the only upside right traffic signal in the world 442 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: for color blind people, there is a sign warning that 443 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,640 Speaker 1: the light is inverted. But unfortunately, in order to understand 444 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: the sign, you would also have to not be color blind. Whoops. Uh. 445 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: And to commemorate this history of vandalism and civil disobedience, 446 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 1: there is a charming bronze statue at the intersection of 447 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: an older man teaching a few young boys to throw 448 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: rocks at the light. Uh. That is a fascinating story, 449 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: he said. Secondly, I would like to thank you for 450 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 1: the episode about the Black Sox scandal. To commemorate the 451 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 1: one anniversary, not so much of the scandal, but of 452 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: Honest Eddie's honesty, Honest Eddie Murphy's hometown of Hancock, New 453 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: York placed a bronze statue of him in the town 454 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: square the weekend before last, and his grandson Ed and 455 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: other family were present for this dedication. I have attached 456 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: a photo of the front page of the Hancock Herald 457 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 1: which covered the event. Father Daniel, thank you so much 458 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:31,120 Speaker 1: for those two tidbits. I um I uh am kind 459 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: of amused by the idea of busting a traffic light 460 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: as something to be commemorated with a statue. But you know, 461 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: every historical moment has its has its place in the 462 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: bigger story. So thank you so much for writing us. 463 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:46,719 Speaker 1: If you would like to do that, you can do 464 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: so at our email which is History Podcast at I 465 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,239 Speaker 1: heart radio dot com. Again, that is a new uh. 466 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: We used to be at a different address, so to 467 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:57,439 Speaker 1: switch it over to the new one if we're in 468 00:25:57,440 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: your address book, and you can also find us everywhere 469 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: on social media. That remains the same app Missed in 470 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: History That is also our website, Missed in History dot com. 471 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: You can check us out as subscribers. We love subscribers. 472 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: You can do that on the I Heart Radio app, 473 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:19,679 Speaker 1: at Apple Podcasts, or wherever it is you listen. Stuff 474 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: you Missed in History Class is a production of I 475 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: Heart Radios. How stuff Works. For more podcasts for my 476 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 477 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:29,879 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.