Comments on: The Houndsditch Macaroni

By: Ronald McKenzie

Ronald McKenzie — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 06:13:40 +0000

Actually, in difference to Margaret’s comment, it wasn’t an American song initially. The British army, circa 1750-1755, made up the song about Yankee Doodle to poke fun at the Colonists. I hope that most people probably know that, at least in legend, the song and phrase “Yankee Doodle” were both created by the English to be derogatory and insulting to Americans.

Patty/NS has the words correct as the song evolved by the 1880s. The British army in the colonies made up the word “Yankee” as a derogatory term for colonists. It’s interesting to me that the Yankee term has outlasted the Macaroni one. While outside the U.S. “Yankee” or “Yank” is used to refer to any American. However, within the U.S. a Yankee is used to define only those who inhabit the northern citizenry in the New England area. This distinction has been in use since the Civil War of the 1860s. Again, it was meant to be a slur by those in the South. If you called a person from America’s South, a Yankee, they would correct you… “a Yankee is those idiots ‘up north.'”

For a great illustration and description of a “macaroni” and a generally accurate story about the song, “Yankee Doodle,” and an early broadside of the original name and words, go to the web address shown with my comments. I was especially amused at the music played by both sides during the British surrender at the end of War for Independence.

By: Patty/NS

Patty/NS — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 12:55:19 +0000

Love all your posts but this one is very interesting. Perhaps this is where the line in the song Yankee Doodle Dandy is explained – Yankee Doodle came to town, riding on a pony, stuck a feather in his hat and called him Macaroni. Such fun!

By: roger carr

roger carr — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 11:45:16 +0000

Curiously like the Spanish ‘maricon’ .

By: Natalie Koch

Natalie Koch — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 08:53:53 +0000

Thank you, Margaret, I’ve known that Yankee Doodle song for years and I’ve always wondered what it meant. Now I know! And thank you GA for yet another enlightening story. Whatever a day may bring, when I get your mail, I know there will be at least something interesting, moving, insightful, amazing and beautiful in it.

By: Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 08:05:01 +0000

Another one: in Sheridan’s ‘The School for Scandal’, the idiot poet Sir Benjamin Backbit (himself a bit of a fop) comes up with this masterpiece:
Sure never were seen two such beautiful ponies;
Other horses are clowns, but these macaronies:
To give them this title I’m sure can’t be wrong,
Their legs are so slim, and their tails are so long.

By: Margaret Chan

Margaret Chan — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 07:08:22 +0000

There is also, of course, this American song:

Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony;
He stuck a feather in his hat,
And called it macaroni.

Dating from the American War of Independence, I think it is supposed to suggest that the Americans were unsophisticated and thought just wearing a feather made them fashionable.