The Chillido ceremony is 50 years old and has become a basic element of tourism in Terranova and Labrador. But some say that tradition, which has become a money creator for some companies, is offensive.
The ceremony has four parts: drinking a photo of Ron Chillido, eating something local like Baloney, kissing a fish and repeating a Terranova saying.
The musician Sean McCann said he never saw the attractiveness of the armchair.
“It was never a good show. It was never interesting for me,” he told CBC News.
In McCann’s opinion, the ceremony promotes negative stereotypes on the terranova and Labradorian tenderness, and mocks the culture of the province.
“We do not need to trust something that turns our culture into a cartoon,” he said. “I saw it as, you know, a trick to sell cheap alcohol to tourists.”
He also does not like how the ceremony can promote excessive alcohol consumption.
“That is not necessarily something good … I’ve been sober for 14 years,” he said.
McCann says he loves the province, but is tired of talking about Chillidos.
“I would warn the Newfoundland if you portray yourself like a joke, people will laugh,” he said.
History of Chillido
Crystal Braye is a folklorist who has studied the ceremony and works at Christian’s Pub, a bar in the center of St. John’s known for organizing squeaky ceremonies.
Braye said “Screech” was a term used before World War II to describe the cheap rum. When the United States established a Naval Base in Argentia in 1941, drinking Ron de Terranova became part of the “Newfoundland experience” for US men of service.
Chillidos are a big business for bars, especially during the tourist season, or when thousands of additional people are in the city for events such as Canada Games. But as Peter Cowan of CBC explains, not everyone thinks they are the best way to highlight the province.
In 1970, the Newfoundland Ron “Screech” began calling Liquor. When people bought a bottle, they received a chance and a certificate to become “part of the real request of the armchairs.”
Finally, the Bella Vista Club, a nightclub in St. John’s, developed a tourist club for tourists, and together with a ceremony that included squid kisses, as a form of entertainment. Braye said this is when the Chillido ceremony was born.
So Myrle VokeyA former president of the Association of Teachers, presented kissing the cod and added the iconic saying that he says that I am, an old cock, and a lot of time that your great fame draws! “To the ceremony.
Braye said the ceremony should be a welcoming experience, and not a form of novatados. She said she has seen chillidos where people are forced to drink or eat things they don’t want.
“But there are squeaky … like Christian’s, which is more cozy and educational,” he said.
‘I want to fly his mind’
The owner of Christian Pub, Brian Day, carries out scheduled ceremonies every day of the week during the tourist season and wants it to be a memorable experience.
“I want to explode. I want people to say that this was the best cultural experience I have had in my whole life,” he said.
Day said that Christian’s pub became a popular place to make the ceremony due to mouth mouth, and because tourists are often recommended as fun through sites such as Trip Advisor.
As part of the day ceremony, it shares fun facts and interesting historical information about Terranova and Labrador.
But he also said he knows about the bad reputation of the ceremony, because sometimes he can involve forcing people to do things and laugh.
“I don’t think it’s great. And I don’t do that,” Day said.
Day said he received positive comments from people who appreciate how the history of the province is shared at his ceremony.
“When I screamed at Anthony Bourdain, he said he learned more about Newfoundland in 30 minutes than in two weeks that was here in Terranova,” said Day.
“I like to teach people about Terranova, and I do it in a fun way. I want people to share these facts so that they never forget.”
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