Oh what a circus!
Last night the 3 of us went to the circus. I am not going to get into the debate of how the animals are treated; I mean for a start they only had elephants. The rest was clowns and acrobats and some stunt motorcyclists.
What was strange was that before the show started, out came the ring mistress and sang the national anthem. I have never encountered this before, and obviously displayed my surprise because Jen asked afterwards “Where you not expecting that”? The answer is no. Never before in my circus going life (and I haven’t been to the circus for about 20 years) have I stood up and sang the national anthem. Jen went on to tell me that this is standard practice in America. At any event where there are numerous people, be it a theatre show, the circus, sports or even some concerts the Star Spangled Banner is played before any action takes place.
I want to know – is this a common practice in other countries? Having only ever lived in the UK and now the USA I want to know if this is a peculiarly American thing, or is it just Britain that has got it wrong. I know that at least 2 people who read this have lived in Australia, and another spent his best years in South Africa (that’s a joke Chris your best years are now!), Jon comes from Norfolk (ok technically not a different country but they are ….different there), and of course there is Jurg. So let me know. Is this common practice in other countries or is this strange?
My only experience of singing the national anthem with other people was at Twickenham before England played Italy, and I can understand it before international sporting events, but here it is done before American Football games between 2 American teams. It is even done at minor league base ball. This is the equivalent of singing the national anthem before watching Lancaster play Bamber Bridge in the Nationwide Conference North.
The circus itself was fine. I am not going to bash clowns as it has become a very popular thing to say that clowns scare people. The ones that scare me are the acrobats – what makes someone do that? What makes you take up being thrown around at over 30 feet up?
What was strange was that before the show started, out came the ring mistress and sang the national anthem. I have never encountered this before, and obviously displayed my surprise because Jen asked afterwards “Where you not expecting that”? The answer is no. Never before in my circus going life (and I haven’t been to the circus for about 20 years) have I stood up and sang the national anthem. Jen went on to tell me that this is standard practice in America. At any event where there are numerous people, be it a theatre show, the circus, sports or even some concerts the Star Spangled Banner is played before any action takes place.
I want to know – is this a common practice in other countries? Having only ever lived in the UK and now the USA I want to know if this is a peculiarly American thing, or is it just Britain that has got it wrong. I know that at least 2 people who read this have lived in Australia, and another spent his best years in South Africa (that’s a joke Chris your best years are now!), Jon comes from Norfolk (ok technically not a different country but they are ….different there), and of course there is Jurg. So let me know. Is this common practice in other countries or is this strange?
My only experience of singing the national anthem with other people was at Twickenham before England played Italy, and I can understand it before international sporting events, but here it is done before American Football games between 2 American teams. It is even done at minor league base ball. This is the equivalent of singing the national anthem before watching Lancaster play Bamber Bridge in the Nationwide Conference North.
The circus itself was fine. I am not going to bash clowns as it has become a very popular thing to say that clowns scare people. The ones that scare me are the acrobats – what makes someone do that? What makes you take up being thrown around at over 30 feet up?
posted by Nick at 1:55 PM
5 Comments:
In Australia they do it like the Brits, National Sporting events only, and not many no more than a few words of "Advance Australia Fair".
I have done my bit for Cornwall too, I have just launched the "Australian Cornish Liberation Independence Trust".
I don't know what the acronym is, but once I find it I will treat it with respect.
Monge
If they all stood up and sang the national anthem in a German tent, it would be a very different kind of circus...!
Unheard of, probably not legal...
Jurg
We used to sing Advance Australia Fair at every assembly at primary school, and I was made to sing Trelawney at various family gatherings!
M
Jurg
Understand. I believe the 1949 german banning all shows of patroitism is still in force, and a good thing too in your Munich Beer halls!
Ah Trawlaney - I only know the words about the fighting and how many Cornishmen want to know the answer - a bit like The Weakest Link.
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