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bumps
DCHP-2 (Nov 2012)
Spelling variants:the bumps, the Bumps, the birthday bumps, the Birthday Bumps
n. — also the birthday bumps
a birthday ritual where the celebrant is lifted by their arms and legs and softly lowered to the ground, once for for every year of their life.
Type: 2. Preservation — This term describes a tradition where the birthday boy or girl is "bumped" on the ground or in the behind for every year of his or her life (see the 2009 quotation). The expression the birthday bumps is most common in the UK and in Canada (see Chart 1) (see also COD-2, s.v. "bump" (5)). As noted by the DNE, this term could derive from the dialectal British term "bump", defined as 'to take a boy by the arms and legs and knock him against a tree or post' (EDD, s.v. "bump" v.1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "bump" (5), which is marked "Cdn & Brit. (in pl.)" and DNE, s.v. "bumps".
See also COD-2, s.v. "bump" (5), which is marked "Cdn & Brit. (in pl.)" and DNE, s.v. "bumps".
Quotations
1948
The silly part of it all is that people don't notice us half as much as we think they do. We once saw a fellow get picked up off his feet by a group of friends at a crowded dance and given the birthday bumps right on the dance floor. Not 50 people even knew it had taken place. (We know. The bruises are still with us!) That proves that not too many people stop what they're doing to gaze at ANYBODY.
1969
SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY On Sunday evening, Mrs. Ronald Reynolds was taken by surprise, when several of her relatives and friends gathered at her home to help her celebrate her birthday. The guest of honour received many nice gifts "and the traditional Birthday Bumps" and everyone enjoyed a good time of fun and laughter. Lunch was served and birthday cake enjoyed by all. Christine thanked everyone for the nice party and for coming to help her celebrate a memorable birthday.
1983
Suddenly, Oscar is ambushed. "The bumps! The bumps!," scream the kids and parents. Louise takes his arms, someone else his legs and they bump him 10 times on the floor. Oscar bounces up then, all bumped out, his face smeared with white doughnut powder and a smile. He's ready to go home.
1992
She did not expect to be put on a kindergarten teacher's knee and given the birthday bumps as about 25 cheering five-year-olds looked on.
1994
I know a young woman who teaches in the public school system. During a recent stint of playground duty she noticed some boys administering "birthday bumps" to a classmate. Unfortunately, on the last count, and when the child was still far from the ground, they released his hands and feet and watched him fall heavily to the cement playground, where he lay unconscious.
1998
[...] Chad will likely be running from birthday bumps along with about two dozen other children born on Canada's 131st birthday in hospitals across the region.
2001
Pals grab you by the arms and legs and repeatedly hoist your body toward the ceiling for the royal bumps, one for every year!
2009
Back in the '70s, torture was a legitimate form of expression among children. Hence the Bumps. The lucky birthday kid would be cornered at recess, thrown to the ground and have his legs and arms grabbed by the surrounding crowd. He was tossed into the air and then dropped, ever so gently, for every year of his life. When it was over, but before the kid had a chance to compose himself, he'd probably also get a "pinch to grow an inch" and other forms of bonus pain. I forget what they were called. "A punch to finish your lunch?" "A scratch to match the batch?" It was acceptable as long as it rhymed. The Bumps ended when you got too heavy, fortunately, which allowed you to have more birthdays. It's odd but the birthday kid felt special getting the Bumps. They made you the centre of attention. Far worse to be ignored. As they say, "the only bad publicity is no publicity."
2015
After school I had tried to deek [sic] out the emergency exit and make a break for home. No such luck; they spot me. Some ratfink ratted me out. In Coppermine this is the glorious tradition of birthday bumps! Some damned white man initiated the Inuit to this part of their culture and they expanded upon it! No one wants to acknowledge their birthday because of the trauma.
References
- COD-2
- EDD
- DNE
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