Boomers, Gen-Xers, and younger generations are likely familiar with the premise for National Sadie Hawkins Day, celebrated on November 13 each year. It’s a day for a bit of gender role reversal — and we acknowledge the antiquity of ‘traditional’ roles — where women become the pursuers of their crushes and ask men out on dates or for a dance.
History of Sadie Hawkins Day
The tradition stems from a plot line in American cartoonist Al Capp’s (1909-1979) comic strip, “Li’l Abner,” which, unlike most comic strips of the time, was set in the American South, and not Northeastern cities and suburbs. The story — one reviled by modern feminists — involved a rich man’s daughter named Sadie Hawkins in the fictional town of Dogpatch, Kentucky, who was so ‘homely’ that she was still unmarried at 35. Her worried father then gathered all the bachelors of the town together and set up a sort of race, with the men running ahead of Sadie. The one she finally caught would have to marry her.The original Sadie Hawkins “Li’l Abner” comic strips were printed in 1937 in many American and foreign newspapers. The readership was wide and varied in demographics. Al Capp did not intend for his plot device to gain so much social momentum, but after he revisited the storyline in November of 1938, American college students started to honor the idea of gender role reversal by holding Sadie Hawkins dances and other events. By the winter of 1939, “Life” magazine had published a two-page spread with the headline, ‘On Sadie Hawkins Day Girls Chase Boys in 201 Colleges.’ Thus, the tradition was born.Under a barrage of fan mail, Capp went back to the Sadie Hawkins theme every November, regularly — going against his habitual loose storytelling timetable — and put a new spin on it each year. In one instance, there was a ‘Sadie Hawkins Eve Dance,’ where the women wore hobnail boots and stomped on the men’s feet, to make them run slower in the next day’s race so they’d be easier to catch and marry.As the years went on, Sadie Hawkins dances became commonplace, not only at colleges and universities but at high schools and junior high schools, with many — or most — young participants not even aware of the old comic-strip storyline.However, we concede to those expressing a feminist distaste upon the idea of a woman’s ‘needing’ to be married, at any age. It is a quite antiquated point of view, looking at it now, well into the 21st century. National Sadie Hawkins Day is not for everyone. But it is one of the holidays for November 13, and everyone is free to celebrate or denigrate as they see fit.
Sadie Hawkins Day timeline
Alfred Gerald Caplin — who would later adopt the pen name Al Capp — is born in New Haven, Connecticut to Otto Philip Caplin and Matilda (Davidson) Caplin.
The first “Li’l Abner” comic strip is published in daily American, Canadian, and European newspapers, with the color Sunday version to appear six months later.
The very first Sadie Hawkins story appears in Al Capp’s “Li’l Abner” comic strip.
“Life” magazine brings Sadie Hawkins into the national limelight with a two-page spread.
Sadie Hawkins Day FAQs
Why do they call it a Sadie Hawkins dance?
The Sadie Hawkins dance is named after the “Li’l Abner” comic strip character Sadie Hawkins, created by cartoonist Al Capp. In the strip, Sadie Hawkins Day fell on a given day in November (Capp never specified an exact date).
Was Sadie Hawkins a real person?
Sadie Hawkins was not an actual person. She made her public debut in cartoon artist Al Capp’s November 15, 1937, comic strip “Li’l Abner,” which was set in the fictional mountain village of Dogpatch, Kentucky.
Why was Capp so sardonic?
Aside from a natural irreverence, it’s been said that Capp’s loss of his left leg in a trolley accident contributed to the darkness of his humor. He is quoted as saying, “I was indignant as hell about that leg.”
How To Celebrate National Sadie Hawkins Day
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Become the pursuer
National Sadie Hawkins Day is the perfect time to work up your courage and ask out that person you’ve always wanted to be asked out by, no matter what your respective gender identifications are. The worst that can happen is they say no, and if they say yes, you’ve got a brand-new relationship!
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Write up some criticism
You’d be celebrating the day conversely, but that’s okay. Change only comes when we work toward it. Bang out a letter to the editor, or a social media post, or even a short story to serve as an allegory for why “traditional” roles are passé.
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Go to a dance
Are swing dance classes and contra dances still a thing? Go online and look up the venues in your town or city and find out. Grab a partner or go it alone, and hit the parquet with the intention of being asked to dance, and asking someone to dance. No need for politics or self-imposed strictures when the rhythm hits you.
5 Amazing Facts About “Li’l Abner”
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Do you like musicals?
In 1956, “Li’l Abner” was adapted into a Broadway musical — one that included a dance number called ‘The Sadie Hawkins Ballet.’
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On the silver screen
“Li’l Abner” was made into a movie twice — once in 1940 and again in 1959 — the latter of which starred names like Julie Newmar, Carmen Alvarez, and Jerry Lewis.
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All in good fun
There were many parodies of the “Abner” strip, like “Fearless Fosdick” — a strip within the strip — and “Jack Jawbreaker,” many of which are believed to have influenced Harvey Kurtzman when he created “Mad” in 1952.
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Ahead of the curve
At its peak readership, “Li’l Abner” reached 70 million Americans every day — and that’s when the U.S. population was only 180 million!
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Going out with a bang
Al Capp’s retirement was an event in itself, with “People” magazine running a feature, and the “New York Times” — which did not print comic strips — devoting a full page.
Why We Love National Sadie Hawkins Day
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It tells us about how things used to be
The fact that the basic premise of the Sadie Hawkins storyline is that a woman should be married to a man by a certain age, tells us how different things were 60 years ago. It would be outrageous today for a friend or family member to put that kind of pressure on a loved one. Today, we can recognize how far the fight for equality of all kinds has come, while at the same time acknowledging how much work is yet to be done.
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It’s a lark
There’s nothing wrong with mixing up the pot, within limits. It’s fun to think about asking someone out you secretly admire, and even more fun to be approached by someone who admires you, in a nice way. Sometimes when life throws you a curveball, you can still make a hit.
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It’s a part of sequential-art history
Comic-book fans can look at “Li’l Abner” and see the underpinnings and origins of the superhero books they love today. Sequential art has a rich history — one that’s worth investigating.
Sadie Hawkins Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | November 13 | Sunday |
| 2023 | November 13 | Monday |
| 2024 | November 13 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | November 13 | Thursday |
| 2026 | November 13 | Friday |
