The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"ONDEL, ONDEL"

THE ONDEL ONDEL IS ACTUALLY DERIVED FROM THE WAJUNG KULIT
OF INDONESIAN CULTURE. BUT WHILE THE WAJANG KULIT IS STATION-
ARY, THE ONDEL ONDEL IS ABLE TO MOVE ABOUT. ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
AN INDONESIAN NATIVE WOULD CARRY A LARGE STICK ON HIS BACK,
THE STICK WAS TWO LARGE PUPPETS. ONE WAS A MAN, THE OTHER
WAS A WOMAN, WALKING ABOUT, THE NATIVE WOULD BOUNCE UP
AND DOWN, CAUSING THE ARMS TO WAVE AROUND. THE NATIVES
DESCRIBED THE SOUNDS AND THE ACTION AS "ONDEL ONDEL".
THE IDEA WAS TO MAKE THE CHARACTERS SO RIDICULIOUS LOOKING,
THAT THEY MADE PEOPLE LAUGH. AS THIS WAS WALKING PAST
YOUR HOME, YOU WOULD PAY THEM A TIP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950