BEFORE ALARM CLOCKS, KNOCKER-UPS HELPED PEOPLE
How These Early Morning Heroes Roused the Sleeping
Until the 1940s, alarm clocks were a luxury few people of the English working class could afford. Unfortunately, some of these devices could be unreliable and caused people to miss appointments or oversleep. This ultimately gave birth to “knocker-ups,” the human alarm clocks people hired to wake them up. Being a knocker-up became popular during the Industrial Revolution, especially in cities where technical innovation boomed, and many citizens were due at factory jobs before the sun came up. In some towns, residents set slate boards against their outside walls to write their weekly work schedule; this way, any knocker-up would know when to wake them. These boards became so common that people referred to them as “knocky-up boards” or “wake-up slates.” Knocker-ups were paid a few pence each week to wake their clients before work, and each knocker-up generally had a route full of clients to wake at different times. The thing is, they didn’t just stand at the door and knock. Knocker-ups became famous, even using poles to tap on clients’ second-story bedroom windows. Some even attached soft hammers or rattles to the ends of the rods to create a more startling sound when they tapped. Typically, this job was taken on by older men who were past their working age or women who needed income to support their families.
Police officers also considered this a good side job to earn extra money. Many of them simply completed their morning patrol, then stopped by to wake clients living along their regular routes.
However, the most famous knocker-up, and allegedly the last to exist, was Mrs. Molly Moore. Her mother was a knocker-up, and
Molly continued her mother’s legacy. This mother-daughter duo became known for their unique knocking methods; instead of long poles, the two used a rubber tube as a make-shift pea shooter and pelted clients’ windows with dried peas.
Whatever the method, a knocker- up wouldn’t leave until their client came out the door and headed on their way to work. While history may have long forgotten about these early-morning heroes, their reliability and commitment are what ultimately allowed thousands of employees to make it to work on time.
NEW YEAR, NEW PERSPECTIVES New Year’s Traditions Around the World 2023 has arrived, and it’s time to plan for the year ahead and set some resolutions. On Dec. 31, as the clock struck midnight, you likely celebrated the New Year with fireworks, parties, noise makers, the ball drop, music, celebration hats, and confetti. But around the world, not everyone celebrates the same way. Check out some of these traditions others use to ring in the New Year! COLOMBIA In Colombia, many carry an empty suitcase or two around the neighborhood, hoping to bless the coming year with many chances to travel. SPAIN In Spain, you may catch some locals eating exactly 12 grapes, one for each clock strike once midnight arrives. Each grape represents good luck for each month in the New Year. In larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, they gather to eat grapes together in the main squares. BRAZIL, ECUADOR, VENEZUELA, AND BOLIVIA In these South American countries, the New Year is celebrated with lucky underwear! The most common colors are red (intended to welcome love in the upcoming year), and yellow (which is said to bring about prosperity). GREECE If you were to visit Greece on New Year’s Eve, you might see onions — thought to symbolize rebirth — hanging on the front doors of every home. On New Year’s Day, parents wake their children by gently tapping them on the head with onions.
PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, people use round shapes to represent coins that symbolize prosperity for the upcoming year. Some even display round fruit, such as grapes, on their dining room table and, like people in Spain, will eat 12 at midnight. DENMARK To get rid of evil spirits, Danes will throw old plates and glasses against their friends’ and families’ front doors. Then to “leap” into the New Year with good luck, they stand on chairs and jump off!
What other New Year’s traditions are you aware of?
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