Monkey’s Wedding
As to why these phrases are so common across so many disparate cultures around the world, I think there are several factors. Sentient animals are, of course, common in folklore, and thus, along with gods, devils and the like, have often figured in folk explanations of natural phenomena. But even in cultures where folklore persists only as a cultural memory, beliefs once taken seriously are often offered as jocular answers to inquisitive children. I remember my mother telling me, when I was very young, that thunder is the sound of giants bowling in the sky. She wasn’t serious, of course, and even then I didn’t really believe her, but in telling me that she helped preserve a charming fable. It would have been cooler, however, if she’d said it was giant monkeys bowling.
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Topi:
September 20th, 2011 at 5:37 am
I’ve heard, and use, in finnish as “ketut kylpee”, that’s foxes are bathing.
Linda:
September 4th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Can someone please enlighten me as to where the expression “monkey’s wedding” came from. I know, from what I was taught it represented “rain and sunshine”. However, I would dearly like to know where this originated from! If there is anyone out there who is able to shed light on this subject please let me know.
Regards
Linda
sami:
July 23rd, 2014 at 1:40 am
its origin is from South Africa
Jean:
February 27th, 2017 at 7:07 pm
The only explanation I can offer is when I went to Mala Mala Game Reserve near the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
We were taken on a night-drive in an open Landrover and made our way down to the river where a leopard had been seen. By means of spotlights held by the trackers we spotted the leopard and then followed it up the riverbank to a huge tree. Again with the spotlights we were able to see the leopard climbing the tree but soon realised there was a baboon further up the tree when it made a barking sound. As the leopard climbed higher we suddenly saw this spray of glistening rain and were mystified until the game ranger told us the baboon had wet itself in fright. You can imagine we quickly shut our gaping mouths!
Limonezz:
March 16th, 2018 at 8:53 am
Small correction on the Bulgarian one – the bear is getting married, not the fox. Otherwise, cool article.