UK Cultural Question.

[not2late]

I'm a big EastEnders Fan. The only trouble is we're about 6 years behind the UK. This last month, Steve's mother died. Dan was found not guilty and vowed revenge against Phil and Steve. Little Mo reconcilled with Trevor, who's putting up a good-guy front. Pauline is butting into the Trueman's business. And Janine is trying to break up Terry and Margaret.

Anyhow, I was watching the programs I taped this last month and I noticed in one scene Billy and Paul were in the Square, when a hearst drove by. Billy and Paul grabbed their collars.

Obviously this is a sign of respect, but does anyone have any more insight to the origin of this custom?

[HarleyLady]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

i am totally lost here..... is the a soap opera you are talking about

[dotsamantha]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

I've heard of that. It's supposed to keep you or a loved one form being the next to die. Same for an ambulance. (I don't do superstitions) Some say that you have to hold your collar until a four legged animal passes you.

[not2late]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

HarleyLady, EastEnders is a British soap opera.

Dots, you have to wait until a four legged animal passes you? Eeeeeeee!

[dotsamantha]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

Very weird, lol. I remember when I was a kid I had a friend who would hold her breath every time we passed a cemetary.

[Richt]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

I'm a big EastEnders Fan. The only trouble is we're about 6 years behind the UK. This last month, Steve's mother died. Dan was found not guilty and vowed revenge against Phil and Steve. Little Mo reconcilled with Trevor, who's putting up a good-guy front. Pauline is butting into the Trueman's business. And Janine is trying to break up Terry and Margaret.

Anyhow, I was watching the programs I taped this last month and I noticed in one scene Billy and Paul were in the Square, when a hearst drove by. Billy and Paul grabbed their collars.

Obviously this is a sign of respect, but does anyone have any more insight to the origin of this custom?

As you know Megs, I am a britisher, yet I am not aware of such a custom. Maybe Brian (Labarum) will be able to help.

On a separate note, you are really quite a long way behind the episodes that are here now. More than one of those characters you have mentioned are now dead. (characters, not actors). I wont tell you which ones though, as I wouldnt want to spoil it for you.

Rich

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

I tried looking it up, I found lots of sites on British superstitions, but I didn't see any mention of that one. Kinda interesting though

http://www.whimsy.org.uk/superstitions.html

[*Emma*]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

Never heard of that one either... sorry

[Richt]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

Never heard of that one either... sorry

Indeed, and between me and Cinders, you dont get much more British!

[*Emma*]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

I like samanthas explanation of it tho... kinda rings true...

is it paul as in paul truman? - who died? i have a short memory

[not2late]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

Rich, I know we're really behind here with the EastEnders. The last episode I watched, Dan had kidnapped Mel. And he calls Steve to taunt him.

I watched the scene a couple of times. Steve's Mum's hearse drives through the Square. Billy Mitchell and Paul Trueman see it. Billy immediately grabs his collar with his right hand. Then nudges Paul to do the same thing.

So you and Cinders haven't heard of it.... Maybe it's something they made up for the program?

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

Very weird, lol. I remember when I was a kid I had a friend who would hold her breath every time we passed a cemetary.

LMAO my sister did that. And, I don't remember who was driving - but when we went past the cemetary and sister took a deep breath - the driver slowed the car down to a crawl. Lucky it was a small cemetary. I wonder if sis still does that. I'll have to ask her.

[Elizellen]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

I googled superstition, hearse and collar and got this page
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/u...2;t=000188;p=1

and this site with a lot of unusual (to me) superstitions including the hearse/collar one
http://www.dimaggio.org/Glasgow/Supe...ting_facts.htm

[not2late]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

That Snopes link was interesting.

oh well, that clears it up for me at least.

[presidentholmes]

Re: UK Cultural Question.

OH WOW!!!
That took me waaaay back.
The episodes you are watching now are when Eastenders was at it's peak and even i used to watch.
Oh it's so good at the moment and is gonna get better and better.
I've never heard of the collar thing, so must presume that it's a cockney, London thing.