Title: Origin of Chicken Mondays

General Information About this Item:

• Ritual or Tradition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant Number: 12
• Date Collected: 2/23/18

Informant Data:

• High level manager within DDS. Has been at Dartmouth for nearly 40 years and has worked with the areas today known as the Hop, Collis Cafe, and 53’ Commons.

Contextual Data:

• Tradition that started in the early 1990s during the tenure of Larry James. Started as the informant began his time in 53’ commons previously known as Thayer Dining Hall. Before the time when the “all-you-can-eat” style of dining was in place.

Item:

• Customary Lore, the same chicken recipe has been served on Monday for nearly 25 years. Chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and cheese have topped the plates of Dartmouth students every Monday for nearly 3 decades. At one point was attempted to change from Monday to Wednesday, but outcry from the student population has cemented this tradition on Mondays.

Transcript:

“One of the rare culinary traditions that is still practiced today.  Has been a fan-favorite of students for nearly 30 years”

Informant’s Comments:

A great tradition that has been in the Dartmouth food industry for 3 decades.

Collector’s Comments:

• Clear example of Customary Lore
• A ritual that has been practiced for a prolonged period of time.
• We could call this a Dartmouth culinary rite

Collector’s Name: C. Ross Wood

Tags/Keywords:

• Ritual
• Customary Folklore
• DDS