Kissing a Cod Fish (Or a Puffin's Arse)

While out on a George Street pub crawl,

met a man with a thick southern drawl.

He downed a Screech shot,

then French-kissed a cod,

and yelled “long may your big jib draw.”

*

In my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, visitors (known locally as Mainlanders or Come-from-aways) are invited to become Honorary Newfoundlanders by partaking in a ceremony called “Screeched In.”

The ceremony involves drinking a shot of a dark rum called Newfoundland Screech, kissing a cod fish on the lips (or in some cases a rubber or stuffed puffin, Newfoundland’s provincial bird, is used when cod is not available), and reciting a pledge in a question/answer format. Here’s an example:

Is ya a Newfoundlander?

Yes, by’

Is ya a Screecher?

Indeed I is, me ol' cock! And long may yer big jib draw

(May you have good fortune)

The ceremony can be performed anywhere, but quite often is held at one of the many pubs on George Street in St. John’s, famously (or infamously) know as being the street with the most bars per square foot anywhere in North America.

So come for a visit, get yourself screeched in, and long may your big jib draw.