The passion of the Crickett

Weird....I was reading something this morning and the phrase 'Jiminy Crickett' was used i.e. 'Jiminy Crickett that was a close call!' And it struck me, for the first time, that the origins of the phrase have nothing at all to do with the beloved Disney character, but are, in fact a euphemism for Jesus Christ. The phrase is one of those roundabout ways the Puritans had of invoking the deity's name without actually using it and thereby damning oneself to hellfire. Jeepers is another one as is the inventive 'For Crying in the Sink' (For Christ's sake). I wonder if the folks at Disney had any idea that they had named a cartoon insect after Jesus Christ? Sort of puts a new spin on the cartoon doesn't it? Then again, maybe they knew exactly what they were doing. Jiminy is, after all, the conscience figure in the story. The moral voice that speaks to 'Pinocchio' throughout. Makes sense, although seems a little heavy for Disney. But what were they gonna do? Name the bug, Jesus Christ? That would've been a different cartoon altogether. And don't even get me started about what the 'growing nose' metaphor is all about. I think I have too much time on my hands.

Comments

[ron potter]

Loved this one Neil. Laughed out loud!