- da Brooklyn Stoop

- Brooklyn Boardwalk

- Brooklyn Memories

Brooklyn Day

by Ken Thompson

     “How come you don’t write about Brooklyn Day?”

     “Whatta you talking about?”

     “You know… Brooklyn Day… when there were the parades by the Protestant church people. It was a big deal when we were kids. My Mom used to tell me it was “Children’s Day”.”

     Why Paulie was bringing this up in February was a bit strange but I had learned to accept such things from Paulie. His comment though jogged a memory area that had for a long time lay dormant and forgotten. There are probably a lot of things there and usually I just needed something or someone to be a breeze to blow the dust off tucked away Brooklyn Memories.

     A smile came to my face and Paulie saw that he had scored a gottcha.

     “Okay Paulie, whatta you remember about Brooklyn Day?”

     “Really not too much other than that we had the day off from school and you kids who went to Catholic schools didn’t get it off.” Note the bigger smile on Paulie’s face.

     I continued to look right at him forcing him to continue.

     “I remember that we had a parade from our church where the scouts marched and led the way with an American flag. Sometimes there would be a band or drums following. Next, all the church organizations in their finery joined in and the end of the parade was all the smiling and chatting Moms pushing decorated strollers and carriages and the kids riding bikes covered with colorful crepe-paper.”

     I didn’t let up my stare of expectation, forcing him to keep talking about his rememberances.

     “We’d always wind up back at the church for a short talk by the minister and then for lemonade and some vanilla ice cream. Oh yeah… we didn’t call it Brooklyn Day at church but rather Anniversary Day for some reason.”

     I challenged him. “Is that all you got? That isn’t too much to write about. How about doing some research and I’ll share the by-line with you on a piece called “Brooklyn Day”.”

     I thought Paulie would like to see his name in print and I was right.

     “Okay, whatta I hafta do?”

     “Simple. Use the web and locate all you can get on Brooklyn Day. Ask Sissy what she remembers. She stayed active in church longer than you did.”

     “Just email me what you get and I’ll put it together. We’ll mail it back and forth till be get it finalized.”

     “You got a deal!” Paulie announced and reached out to shake my hand.

     Now Paulie always meant well but he seldom completed anything he started. As an example he probably had over 200 college course credits in history, philosophy, landscape architecture, botany, French, political science, industrial design, romance poets and poetry, math, etc. without being able to qualify for any sort of degree.

     It wasn’t that he wasn’t bright; it was just that he was flighty and didn’t finish things. I was pretty sure I’d get something from him but I was VERY sure it wouldn’t be enough.

     By the way, Paulie was engaged, but never married, seven times since high school.

     I was right. A few days later Paulie sent me some info that Brooklyn-Queens day was officially celebrated on the first Thursday in June unless that week had Memorial Day in it in which case Brooklyn-Queens Day would be celebrated on the second Thursday.

     I emailed him back and gave thanks for the input and expressed that I was excited and looking for more info.

     Paulie was now under severe pressure and probably joyously onto other things. I haven’t heard from him since.

     It was about early May that I got a message from Sissy, Paulie’s younger sister, telling me that she could get info I could use about "Brooklyn Day" and wanted to know if I would use it. I told her I would and that she would get the byline promised Paulie if we published.

     Sissy was now a strong, independent "gurrl" and told me she didn’t give a damn about a byline and that all she wanted was for me to get something right for a change.

     I knew better than to mess with her since she beat me up in the fifth grade so I agreed, sheepishly, to her demands. We also agreed that she would give me three key points regarding "Brooklyn Day" and I would put the piece together. She was specific when she told me “Okay I’ll do it and you do the editing but don’t mess it up.” Not the most significant vote of confidence I ever received.

     So here’s what we were able to put together…

Point # 1 – Brooklyn-Queens day started off as a celebration by the Protestant churches in Brooklyn to honor the founding of the Sunday School Union, and Sunday School classes, in the very early 1800s. These schools were the forerunners of the Public School system. (This is the link to why the day is a day off for public schoolkids.)

While the day has had various designation and names, the common one was Anniversary Day and on Board of Education calendars the day is often noted as “Brooklyn–Queens Day (Anniversary Day)”

Point # 2 - Anniversary Day had direct ties to the Protestant churches and as Brooklyn became broader in “religious communities” (Jewish, Catholic, Buddist, atheist, etc.) these organizations weren’t thrilled to have to celebrate a day of another faith so rather than eliminate the day off the day was re-designated as Brooklyn Day. Even as this occurred, not all “religious communities” joined in to celebrate Brooklyn.

Queens, lacking originality, had the New York Legislature include them in the legislation and the day designated as Brooklyn-Queens Day.

Point # 3 - Brooklyn-Queens day is a day off from school for public school students in both boroughs. Because of the past religious linkage the day is not particularly discussed so most students don’t even now why they have off but they welcome it as do the teachers and administrators.

Brooklyn was the original City of Churches and after being absorbed into New York City it became the Borough of Churches. As the demographics of the borough have changed so has what is considered a Church. Many of the older, independent and traditional churches are gone as people left the borough. Some of the church buildings that remain have been taken over by the faiths of the Brooklyn newcomers and some have been razed and built over with homes. Many of today’s Brooklyn-ites are attending “church” in storefronts and basements.

Many of these do not share the Anniversary Day heritage nor, yet, the Brooklyn Day heritage. An exception is a number of the Afro-American church communities that have long ties to the borough.

     The celebration of Brooklyn Day in my youth may not be repeated on a scale they once were but the spirit of Brooklyn is there. Today’s Brooklyn is not the Brooklyn of my youth but it is someone elses Brooklyn.

     Brooklyn has always been a locale of celebrations and of flexibility. Just as there are sometimes revisionist histories produced, Brooklyn has been able to recognize, celebrate, overcome and adapt. This is one of the particular characteristics and strengths of Brooklyn. It is a quality that allows it to continue, not necessarily as it has before but as it must now to accommodate and survive.

     [end] & Copyright by Ken Thompson - 2004-2006.

________________________________________
From: [snip]@aol.com [mailto:[snip]@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 1:00 PM
To: Ken@BrooklynMemories.com
Subject: Comment re Brooklyn "Memories"

Ken

Great article about the Gowanus Expressway.

Just one comment on your home page. You spelled "Mammaries" wrong.

Your sister says I'm a jerk for mentioning it. At least now I know why I'm a jerk today. Most days it's a secret.

Bob Jones [snip]
_________________________________________

_________________________________________
Hi…

Thanks for the review. You got me more confused than usual… Is the article you cite about the Prospect Expressway (Holy Moses) or about Millard Fillmore where I mention the Gowanus?

You concern about the mammaries is noted and thanks for the [snip]. I try to keep [snip] of correct spelling but I sometimes feel I’m being [snip] and dimed about it. I feel like a [snip] mentioning it but I had to get it off my [snip].

If you’re trying to make a cute joke, I note that it is one of the many [snip].I’ve received that are a play on words. I don’t get upset or go ballistic or plan to fire off [snip] about the pun but am glad I had a reader. As such you have certain [snip].

[snip] Wish your resident “memories” carrier a Happy Birthday.

Cheers, peace and strength.

[snip].
________________________________________