Party song seen as having anti-Catholic overtones [The "Hokey-Pokey" - that's what it's all about!]

Catholic Culture ^ | December 22, 2008

[Alex Murphy]

Some Scottish Catholics have suggested that doing the "Hokey Pokey"-- or "Hokey Cokey," as it is sung in Great Britain-- should be banned as an expression of anti-Catholic prejudice. A spokesman for Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Edinburgh alluded to the "disturbing origins" of the children's song, which includes a parody of the words of consecration from the Latin Mass.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

Doing the Hokey Cokey 'could be hate crime' (Daily Telegraph)

[Alex Murphy]

Doing the Hokey Cokey 'could be hate crime' (Daily Telegraph)

Critics claim that Puritans composed the song in the 18th century in an attempt to mock the actions and language of priests leading the Latin mass.

Now politicians have urged police to arrest anyone using the song to "taunt" Catholics under legislation designed to prevent incitement to religious hatred.

Same story at other sources:
Hokey Cokey hocus-pocus
No rhyme or reason to shake up the Hokey Cokey

[gracie1]

Many seemingly innocent nursery rhymes and children’s songs have sinister beginnings. That said, we are a far cry from the 12th century and these pc wannnabe victims need to get a life.

[Salvation]

I’ve never heard of this. But going to the article and finding this explained why it might be so. Notice I said “might”.

**According to the church, the song’s title derives from the words “hocus pocus”.

The phrase is said to be a Puritan parody of the Latin “hoc est enim corpus meum” or “this is my body” used by Catholic priests to accompany the transubstantiation during mass.**

[Uncle Miltie]

What if Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?

[tlb]

The matter will remain in question until ultimately put to a final rest by Londo Mollari.

“Six thousand years of recorded history, a history that includes remarkable composers, astonishing symphonies, but what is the one song that half of them sing to their children generation after generation?

You put your right hand in; you put your right hand out.
You put your whole self in and you turn yourself about.
You do the hokey-pokey; you give a little shout.
That’s...what it’s all about.

It doesn’t mean anything. I have been studying it for seven days. I had the computer analyze it. I swear to you: it does not mean A THING!”

— Londo, “A Voice in the Wilderness I” (Babylon 5)

[RegulatorCountry]

This Hokey Pokey kerfluffle is destined to become the Catholic version of Jerry Falwell’s full frontal assault upon Tinkey Winkey.

I don’t recall the Reverend Falwell wanting any Teletubbie fans arrested for hate crimes, though.

Rather insidious for singing a children’s song of indeterminate origins, wouldn’t you say?

[Marie2]

Next time I do the Hokey Pokey, I’m going to do it with renewed vigor.

[PanzerKardinal]

You’d probably find the other favorite song of the Glasgow Rangers “The Famine Song” hilarious then.

(sing it to the tune of Sloop John B.)

I often wonder where they would have been
If we hadn’t have taken them in
Fed them and washed them
Thousands in Glasgow alone
From Ireland they came
Brought us nothing but trouble and shame
Well the famine is over
Why don’t they go home?

Now Athenry Mike was a thief
And Large John he was fully briefed
And that wee traitor from Castlemilk
Turned his back on his own
They’ve all their Papists in Rome
They have U2 and Bono
Well the famine is over
Why don’t they go home?

Now they raped and fondled their kids
That’s what those perverts from the darkside did
And they swept it under the carpet
and Large John he hid
Their evils seeds have been sown
Cause they’re not of our own
Well the famine is over
Why don’t you go home?

Now Timmy don’t take it from me
Cause if you know your history
You’ve persecuted thousands of people
In Ireland alone
You turned on the lights
Fuelled U boats by night
That’s how you repay us
It’s time to go home.

[xzins]

This is easily as stupid as the 12 Days of Christmas interpretation.

Who cares about validity....let’s just make some crap up and everyone will believe it.

The bigger the lie the harder they fall.

[Radl]

That cheer is just about as disgusting as the hsssing sounds made by Chelsea against “Jewish” Tottenham. One thing is certain If they all went home Scotland would lack a quality football team.

[Alex Murphy]

I’ve never heard of this. But going to the article and finding this explained why it might be so.

Check out all the sources I linked to. Note that this flap centers around Scottish/English soccer rivalries....

Supporters of Rangers FC have been banned from singing anti-Catholic songs at Ibrox stadium to taunt their rivals Celtic, a club with Catholic roots.

But fans of the club are said to be discussing on internet forums the possibility of getting round the ban by singing the Hokey Cokey at next week's Old Firm derby between the clubs.

Peter Kearney, a spokesman for Cardinal Keith O'Brien, said:

"This song does have quite disturbing origins. Although apparently innocuous, it was devised as an attack on and a parody of the Catholic mass.

"If there are moves to restore its more malevolent meaning then consideration should perhaps be given to its wider use."

Cardinal O'Brien is known to support Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. He's IMO using a dubious explanation of the "Hokey Cokey" song to escalate the rivalry into the political arena of the Catholic Church of Scotland versus the greater Anglican United Kingdom. This one comment IMO puts the Cardinal's dubious explanation to rest, however:

It was reportedly a Puritan backlash against Catholicism - hard though it is to imagine Puritans putting their right foot out and shaking all about.

[big'ol_freeper]

*Yawn*

[denydenydeny]

I imagine that Britain's Muslim residents would have a different interpretation to

You put your head in
You put your head out

[PanzerKardinal]

People here have no idea of the racism and sectarianism in European Football.

Can you imagine what would happen if NFL fans hang a gorilla doll with a noose around it’s neck anytime a black player came on the field, or even better throw banana peels and make monkey like noises.

Or mocking a player, who regularly makes a sign of the cross, with a banner that says “Voodoo No Worky”.

Or making the Nazi salute and throwing coins on the field when a jewish player comes on, or even better chanting “To the gas chambers, to the ovens!”

Or making slant eyes when a Japanese player appears.

It’s not about being PC, it about stopping seriously abusive behavior.

But I fear some here find such behavior prefectly acceptable.

[Aln Bill]

People on here certainly have little idea of the racism and sectarianism endemic in Scotland.

Celtic fans threw bananas onto the field at a black Rangers player (Mark Walters), in the worst case of racism in Scottish sport (checkable on Google).
They then spat at two of their own black players (Ian Wright and Regi Blinker) in their own car park.
Wright later described them as “vermin”(checkable on Google).

Rangers had Catholics playing for them before Celtic were even formed. Rangers have signed and played Catholics throughout their entire history, with that religion also beign at amanagement and board level(checkable on Google).

Celtic have never had a non-Catholic board member.
Indeed, not long after they were formed, they had to have a vote to see if they would accept non-Catholic players.

Celtic fans regularly support the IRA in songs — the same IRA that actively supported the Nazis in WW2. Celtic Park was closed down in 1941 for several weeks after the home crowd ... chanted in support of the Germans bombing Glasgow (checkable on Google).

Celtic fans mocked the deaths from the 9/11 tragedy by making aeroplane signs at the American captain Claudio Reyna (checkable on YouTube !!).

The hokey cokey was composed in 1940. No complaints were ever issued by anybody whilst a variety iof other clubs’ fans throughout the world sang this song (Including Scottish, Northern Irish ... and Celtic fans themselves towards a Rangers player !!).

But of course, when a Rangers fan sings it, it’s deemed sectarian and bigoted.

You decide who is bigoted.

[Iscool]

Next time I do the Hokey Pokey, I’m going to do it with renewed vigor.

Me too...And I'll be sure to think of the pope...

I never saw the connection before but now it's obvious...