[darlingfordgirl]

OK everyone knows the song right? Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony, stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni.

MACARONI???? WHY??? Am I missing something?

Anyone have an answer? Or have any other questions dumb as this? LOL.

[ponypotion]

hahaha I've always thought the same thing

[Jess!]

Why did Yankee Doodle call his hat a pasta?

He did not! He called it Macaroni. Big difference.


The 18th century saw the degeneration of European fashion into utter decadence. The centres for haute couture in that age were France and Italy; Macaroni referred to the fancy and overdressed style of Italian clothing the British imitated, as well as the dandies who adopted this style of dressing. Ridiculously elaborate headdresses were the In Thing for the women and the men's headgear was only slightly less ostentatious. Of course, the colonists, being pioneers, barely had time for themselves, let alone to adhere to the latest fashion – which was why they were still fashioning three-cornered tricorne hats long after the high-crowned beaver hat had replaced them in Europe10. The pompous British made fun of these relatively backward colonists by joking that only a New Englander could stick a feather in his tricorne or coonskin hat and fancy himself to be as spiffy as the European fashionplates.


The first line of the chorus, 'Yankee Doodle, keep it up' further drives in this point – go on, Yanks, keep up the pretence of being even remotely fashionable.

[darlingfordgirl]

Originally Posted by Jess!

Why did Yankee Doodle call his hat a pasta?

He did not! He called it Macaroni. Big difference.


The 18th century saw the degeneration of European fashion into utter decadence. The centres for haute couture in that age were France and Italy; Macaroni referred to the fancy and overdressed style of Italian clothing the British imitated, as well as the dandies who adopted this style of dressing. Ridiculously elaborate headdresses were the In Thing for the women and the men's headgear was only slightly less ostentatious. Of course, the colonists, being pioneers, barely had time for themselves, let alone to adhere to the latest fashion – which was why they were still fashioning three-cornered tricorne hats long after the high-crowned beaver hat had replaced them in Europe10. The pompous British made fun of these relatively backward colonists by joking that only a New Englander could stick a feather in his tricorne or coonskin hat and fancy himself to be as spiffy as the European fashionplates.


The first line of the chorus, 'Yankee Doodle, keep it up' further drives in this point – go on, Yanks, keep up the pretence of being even remotely fashionable.

haha--too funny. Its funny how many people sing songs or say things and have NO idea what it means.

[cowgurly02]

Originally Posted by Jess!

Why did Yankee Doodle call his hat a pasta?

He did not! He called it Macaroni. Big difference.


The 18th century saw the degeneration of European fashion into utter decadence. The centres for haute couture in that age were France and Italy; Macaroni referred to the fancy and overdressed style of Italian clothing the British imitated, as well as the dandies who adopted this style of dressing. Ridiculously elaborate headdresses were the In Thing for the women and the men's headgear was only slightly less ostentatious. Of course, the colonists, being pioneers, barely had time for themselves, let alone to adhere to the latest fashion – which was why they were still fashioning three-cornered tricorne hats long after the high-crowned beaver hat had replaced them in Europe10. The pompous British made fun of these relatively backward colonists by joking that only a New Englander could stick a feather in his tricorne or coonskin hat and fancy himself to be as spiffy as the European fashionplates.


The first line of the chorus, 'Yankee Doodle, keep it up' further drives in this point – go on, Yanks, keep up the pretence of being even remotely fashionable.

LOL! Interesting!! I had no clue! Thanks!

[CJ]

You mean Macaroni wasnt the name of his horse? Im so crushed....

[tbtrainer]

Wow, I always figured they needed something to rhyme with Pony...

And now folks, I have reached my brains learning capacity for the day... LOL

[BklynCwgrl]

Originally Posted by CJ

You mean Macaroni wasnt the name of his horse? Im so crushed....

That's what I always thought! LOL

[cowgurly02]

Originally Posted by BklynCwgrl

That's what I always thought! LOL

Hehehe me too LOL!

[SuperLope]

I've always wondered this!! thank you Jess!

Fun fact:
this is Connecticut's official state song!