Every year and all across the nation, the Sadie Hawkins dance puts a twist on the traditional boy-asks-girl formality of most high school dances. Rather than the male typically asking the female as done in Homecoming, Winter Formal, or Prom dances, Sadie’s gives the ladies an opportunity to ask their dates to the dance. Sadie’s, as it is more commonly known, is a less formal dance bucking tradition in favor of letting the women take the lead in choosing their dates.

Although many celebrate this enjoyable tradition year after year, does anyone really know where this old custom came from? During November of 1937, cartoonist Al Chap created a character named Sadie Hawkins who was featured in the popular comic strip, “Li’l Abner.” Hawkins was known as the “homeliest gal in all them hills,” and could not find a suitor, even at the age of 35. Her father, Hekzebiah Hawkins, feared that she would remain single for the rest of her life, so he declared a foot race where Sadie would chase after all of the town’s available bachelors. Whoever she was able to catch would be forced to marry her, or as Papa Hawkins put it:

“When ah fires [my gun], all o’ yo’ kin start a-runnin! When ah fires agin—after givin’ yo’ a fair start—Sadie starts a runnin’. Th’ one she ketches’ll be her husbin.”

True American literature indeed. The town’s single women decided that the race was such a success that they proclaimed Sadie Hawkins Day an annual event. If any woman caught a bachelor and dragged him across the finish line before sundown, he involuntarily had to marry her by law. Sadie’s Day was then continued in the comic for 40 more years, but there was never a specific day; it just came out anytime during November.

By 1941, around 500 colleges, clubs, army camps, and high schools through the U.S. hopped on the bandwagon and celebrated this trendy new event with a special dance. The main idea of the dance is simply of gender role-reversal. For this dance, the ladies ask their male counterparts to attend with them. This reversal is an integral piece in the tradition of both the comic and the dance.

From a simple comic strip came a dance celebrated nationwide. CHS has also participated in this trend, as the annual Sadie Hawkins dance will be held tomorrow. This year’s theme is “Splash of Color,” where one can wear their favorite color to the dance. Enjoy the night and remember the history behind this American tradition.