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Published on 7/4/08
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Don’t know if that charming suburban fest had good craic or gemutlichkeit? Can’t tell which is edible: mutton busting or testicles? Chicago-area festivals feature so many ethnicities and subcultures that the fests often seem to have a language all their own. Follow this glossary to decode what some of the more obscure words mean—it just might save you from “cruising” down the wrong street.
craic [krak]
noun
Friendly rabble-rousing usually involving booze
“Aye, after a few Jamesons there’s good craic to be had at Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest, May 23–26!”
[Origin: Ireland, Scotland and Northern England]
cruise [krooz]
noun
1. The act of leisurely driving about with others
“At the cruise, pimped-out classic cars will slowly make their way to McCormick place.” (Chi-Town Sta-bil Kruze, May 31)
verb
1. Informal. To search public areas for a sexual partner
“At Northalsted Market Days, Aug 9–10, men cruised, eying each other like chattel.”
donation [doh-ney-shun]
noun
1. The act of giving to a cause
2. A street-festival admission price supposedly benefitting a cause
“I saw one of the girls taking my gate donation pocket some of the bills.”
fae [fay]
1. The class of mythological beings that includes fairies as well as elves, goblins, gnomes and other mythological genuses
“World of Faeries Festival on Aug 2 and 3 celebrates the whole kingdom of fae, not just fairies.”
elote [el-oh-tay]
noun
1. Roasted butter- and mayonnaise-covered corn on the cob, traditionally served in the summertime at South and West Side neighborhoods and every half block at Latino festivals
“The smell of the elote cart near my El stop is irresistible.”
[Origin: Central Mexico]
Related forms eloteros—elote vendors
gemutlichkeit [guh-myt-lik-kahyt]
noun
Good old-fashioned hospitality
“At the German-American Festival, Sept 5–7, our cozy mugs of beer and comfort food are served with gemutlichkeit by a braided-pigtail-clad waitress named Adelaide.”
[Origin: Germany]
man bolero [man buh-lair-oh]
noun
Item of men’s clothing formed by tucking the front of a tee-shirt behind the head, often accented with a beer in one or both hands
“After five beers, Craig claimed the man bolero would rid him of a farmer’s tan.”
tractor pull [trak-ter pul]
noun
Tractors pull a heavy sled along a track. Home-modified tractors and theatrics are often used to heighten the entertainment experience. Very popular in rural areas.
“During the Illinois State Fair, Aug 8–17, Charlie’s fire-breathing John Deere is sure to win top honors at the tractor pull.”
mutton busting [muht-n bust-ing]
noun
Similar to rodeo bull-riding, children attempt to stay atop sheep for the longest duration possible
“Our little Johnny won the purple ribbon in the mutton-busting competition at Lake County Fair, Jul 22–27!”
testicles [tes-ti-kuhls]
noun
1. The male reproductive gland
2. The edible, fried, male reproductive gland, most commonly consumed in turkey-, beef-, pork- and lamb-form
“We chowed down on testicles, slurping up their juices at Mount Sterling’s Testicle Festival, Jun 14.”
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