Lord Ser Brightblade Posted August 4, 2005 Share Posted August 4, 2005 Dear Yahoo!: What is the history of clapping for entertainment? Roger Salem, Missouri Dear Roger: While it's impossible to pinpoint an exact origin, Take Our Word For It notes that clapping for praise has been around since at least the Middle Ages. Early mentions of the practice coincide with the advent of public performances, usually by traveling bands of actors in town squares. Metafilter says that folks have been clapping for joy since Biblical times. According to Yahoo! Reference, the word "clap" comes from the Old Norse "klappa." It's a classic example of onomatopoeia. Some believe clapping may have been inspired by the percussion instruments used in early public ceremonies, while others note the act appears to be an instinct in babies. In many cultures, however, clapping isn't necessarily associated with praise. In Tibet, it's used to shoo away evil spirits. And in other cultures, foot stomping is considered the appropriate response to a great performance. Now that we have that settled, we can get back to pondering the sound of one hand clapping. Any help is welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.