Hokey-Pokey... And that’s what it’s all about! So yeah I was thinking about this kids song today (yeah I really am that weird sometimes) and was wondering what the origin of this song was, and if it had any other meanings. Like I know Ring around the rosy was written about the Bubonic Plague.
So after doing some research from several sources it seems there is no for sure answer to my question however there are two leading theories as to the origin/meaning of the Hokey Pokey.
The first theory is it is based on an old song and dance preformed by the Shakers, as songs describing the actions of the dance have been found in various Shaker text from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The second and more interesting theory is that hokey pokey comes from the words hoc est enim corpus meum... a Latin phrase meaning "this is my body" and related to the consecration of the host during the Eucharist (the point in which the bread and wine actually become the flesh and blood" and it was a taunt against Catholics of who’s belief in the transubstantiation the Puritans had a major problem. In this theory the crazy dance that we all know is the puritans way of making fun of the catholic followers who go through the motion of following the priest actions that they do not understand (because the mass was always given in Latin at the time, and they couldn't understand Latin so they were just going through the motions all together in what the Puritans thought was a silly manner.)
Bonus facts:
It's know as the Hokey - Corkey in England and the Hokey Tokey in New Zealand
In the United States it was first copy righted in 1950 by Larry LaPrise, Charles Macak and Tafit Baker.
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