November 13th is Sadie Hawkins Day. This folk event originated with Al Capp’s comic strip, Li’l Abner, which ran from 1934 to 1978. In the comic one of the founders of the town of Dogpatch, Hezekiah Hawkins, had a homely daughter that he wanted to marry off, so he created a foot race that included all the bachelors of Dogpatch. Sadie ran after them and the one she caught became her husband.
The comic strip story inspired the Sadie Hawkins Day events that occur on many school campuses during the month of November each year. The Sadie Hawkins Day event requires that the ladies ask the gentlemen to be their dates in a reversal of the traditional boy-asks-girl scenario.
In my upcoming January 2015 book from Love Inspired, SECOND CHANCE REUNION, my heroine takes a page out of the Sadie Hawkins Day celebration, even though it isn’t November. Here is a snippet from the book.
“Losing Kara and Spencer was a turning point for me. I had to get help Forgive me again?” Annie held her breath.
“I should’ve told you from the beginning.” Ian shook his head. “But I never thought we’d come to a point where we wanted to be together again. Where do we go from here?”
Her heart thudding, Annie finally breathed. “I don’t want to waste any more time being apart. I love you, Ian Montgomery. Kara told me you said you’d marry me and be a daddy to my kids if I asked you. So I’m asking. Will you marry me again?”
Have you ever attended a Sadie Hawkins Day event?
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
Brave woman asking man to marry her, I couldn’t do it. story sounds like a great read. Agatha
Thanks, Agatha. I hope you’ll look for Second Chance Reunion when it comes out in January.
Looking forward to reading this one! I’m glad the books finally found you! ;)
I’ve never participated in any Sadie Hawkin activities. Interesting to hear the “story” behind the day! I’d love to win a copy of your books :)
This book is the first in the Village of Hope series. I’m having a fun time with these characters at the Village of Hope.
When I was in high school, they always had a Sadie Hawkins Day dance.
Interesting info on Sadie Hawkins Day. We had Sadie Hawkins dances in junior high. Not sure why I thought it was in Feb though. I never asked a boy to these dances but I asked my ex to marry me. Does that count? Looking forward to reading your book.
Never attending a Sadie Hawkins event………sounds interesting though.
May I wish you a terrific, wonderful God-blessed week?
God bless you
chris G
My high school did a Sadie Hawkins Dance, too, but my family didn’t go to dances, so…
Oh, I can’t wait to read this one! I never attended a Sadie Hawkins event, although I think it would have been a lot of fun!
Dawn, I believe you may be thinking of Leap Day, the 29th of February, a day when women can propose.
Thanks, Chris. Blessings for you also.
I never had the nerve to ask a boy out, even for Sadie Hawkins.
Yes I was but was also thinking that Sadie Hawkins was 2/29. Maybe that’s another reason why my marriage failed – I didn’t ask on the day I was supposed to. LOL
LOVE this story already – I DID participate in a Sadie Hawkins Day event, back in high school, the summer of 1979 – LOL – when I was in a summer theatre presentation of Li’l Abner!
I remember the first time I asked a guy out – petrified!
Felicia. thanks. Your comment made me think about the guys who are just as petrified about asking a girl out. :)
I remember Lil’ Abner and Sadie Hawkins Day. Would love to win and read your book
I never even heard of Sadie Hawkins until I moved to Arizona. Maybe I just lived a sheltered life??? I loved Hometown Promise and can’t wait to read this one too!
I remember the Lil Abner comic strip. I always loved reading it in the Sunday Comics! In real life? Not! However, I would l love to read Second Chance Reunion.