It's not the catchiest name, but it's crystal clear: the Pajamas-Inside-Out, Spoon-Under-the-Pillow-Snow-Day Ritual. According to high school English teacher Mark Dursin, his students fervently believe that by wearing their PJs inside out and placing spoons under their pillows on nights with a chance of snow, they can magically conjure a snow day. Around here, we don't get snow days -- the news doesn't stop, so we don't either -- but I really could've used this tip back in my day! I'd heard of the pajamas inside out part, but the spoon's new to me (and could explain the utter ineffectiveness of the PJ part in my experience). Do you have any snow-day-conjuring rituals?
Blog of the Nation
I just make a wish; and either will it to happen or let it go.
At my son's high school in a Rochester NY suburb, the principal tells the kids that in order to get a snow day they have to wear their pajamas inside outside, sleep with their heads at the foot of their beds and put their planner books in the freezer. We rarely have snow days, so maybe that is really anti-snow day advice.
While I praise Mark Dursin for bringing the "Snow Day Superstition" to our attention, I must challenge him for categorizing this phenomenon as an instance of, in his words, "magic and wonder." Please, Mr. Dursin, do not mistake superstition for wonder. The two are distinct.
I think Gabby is totally missing the point here. The essence of Mr. Dursin's profound look into the mind of the adolescent psyche (usually a bleak and harsh climate) brings up the fact that it's filled with wonder and fascination. Mr. Dursin, I applaude you for championing adolescent innocence; Gabby, how dare you sir?
POBS
I told my 11 year old son last night about the npr article snow day superstition. He talked my wife into trying it last night since there was a snow storm coming there way. He couldnt talk his older brother (14) into it. I work out of town so I wasnt a part of it. It at least gave my yongest son an exiting thought.
My 11 year old twins have to put their PJs on inside out and flush all the toilets in the house at exactly 9 p.m. (There is no spoon involved in their ritual). Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I am wondering if all the kids in Alaska tried this, we could get fresh snow on the polar ice caps and save the polar bears :-) Maybe you could discuss that on Science Friday
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