ScarletB wrote:I am just looking forward to reading the tailgating explanations!
Hmmmm ... ok, I'll give it a shot.
Tailgating began on the Island of Critter Key (IRoCK) back in the 17th Century. A complete history may be found
HERE. But a brief summary follows ........
ISLAND HISTORY
The island was discovered by a
French Capitaine Jean Luc Poirot, who claimed to be a French Naval Officer but was later tried and hung as a pirate.
He claimed the island as the
Isle du Poirot, and its capital, where the local tribe lived, he named
Poirotburg.
The island was inhabited by a tribe of
Carib Indians who welcomed their new friends. The tribe were a very friendly and outgoing people,
and were known for stopping work and throwing huge celebrations for almost any reason,
something the French crew enjoyed very much during their stay.
The French Explorers left after only a few months when word came that the Spanish Navy were coming for them.
According to Spanish records (the details are heavily disputed by the French), Poirot and his crew were responsible
for commandeering 2 sloops filled with rum which was destined for Havana. After taking the rum and other of the
ships’ cargo, Poirot’s pirates set the Spanish crewmen adrift in lifeboats and set their sloops afire.
When Poirot left the
Isle du Poirot, a few of his crew mutinied and hid on the far side of the island.
These crew members continued to live on their side of the island and trade with the tribe. They married
women from the tribe and had children.
One of the crew was an Englishman who was literate and started a school for both their and the tribe's children.
His name was Paul Crite'. While teaching the children English, names started to become Anglicized. What was once
Poirotburg soon became known as
Parrotsburg, and the local tribe that lived there started to be called
"the parrot people" by those that lived on surrounding islands. The village that
Crite' and the other mutineers
created soon became known as
Critterville and those that lived there became known as
Critters.
Things on the island went well after the Poirot left. On the first Anniversary of him leaving, May 24, 1659,
they celebrated. The mutineers brought out rum that was still hidden in a cave in the Highlands, and the locals brought
food and music, and wore customary skirts and bras, much to the amazement of the tribe.
Since then, coconut bras and grass skirts have become common for both men and women at all island celebrations.
It was also a custom of the tribe to put colorful feathers in front of their huts to let others know they were welcome
to join them for festivities. People would make their way around the town looking for tail feathers,
knowing that wherever the tail feathers were found, that identified the home as a gathering place for the festivities.
As the town grew and more modern homes were built, the feathers were left on the gates in front of their homes,
and soon the term "tailgating" was coined. that Bubba will be in the Philly area around June 11th!!!!
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