Honey, What's That Noise?

WHAT IS IT WEDNESDAY/ JULY 15TH, 2020

Welcome back everyone! Today we are going to be looking at one of the artifacts that can be found in our Carpenter Shop here at O’Hara! The artifact that we will be focusing on today is a wooden noisemaker, which has quite the story behind its use!

This large wooden noisemaker was made for use at a shivaree.

What is a shivaree you might ask? Well there are many different types! They were often a form of parade or noise making that happened after weddings. It is said that in some cases it was a sign of protest against the newly weds. However, our understanding of it in the case of communities such as Madoc, is that over 100 years ago this noisemaker would have been part of a very interesting custom!

The local community would stand outside the bedroom window of the newly weds on their honeymoon, banging pots and pans, and using these very annoying wooden noisemakers to interrupt their sleep!

That would definitely be very annoying on one’s honeymoon!

That’s all for today, come back tomorrow for some interesting family history!