Atavism
noun
1. Biology .
a. the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.
b. an individual embodying such a reversion.
2. a reversion to an earlier type; throwback.
Someone recently sent me an e-mail with this ‘word of the day” He knows I have a panache for new words in order to increase my lexicon so I can sound clever at parties and be generally irritating. He thought I would find atavism particularly intriguing and he is correct, for I am quite fond and very proud of my ancestral heritage.
My genetic stock consists of 50% English, 25% Canadian (German really but from Ontario, eh) and 25% Dutch. My grandparents and parents did not see themselves as anything but Midwest Americans. As a boy I thought this epitomized dullness. I was quite happy to identify with my Anglo-Saxon/Germanic roots and emulate my ancestors as if I were fresh off the boat.
English
Although twelve generations separate me from my paternal English roots – and thirteen on Mother’s side – I am pleased as punch to be English. Having a nanny as a lad further boosted my English pride.
Assets < Thumping good history, the world’s best literature which includes my heartthrobs Dickens, William Shakespeare, Monty Python, and Kate Bush.
How can I not be proud?
Canadian
I am also quite proud of my maple syrup blood type, which bubbles up each summer when I return to Ontario for my annual holiday. The ‘oo’ in my voice (in lieu of ‘ou’) gets a boost as soon as I cross over the border. I would like to live/retire to Canada.
Assets < Socialism, Stratford/Shaw Festivals, Loreena McKennitt, and Tim Horton’s.
Dutch
Although the Dutch element in me is the least percentage and the most distant (maternal grandmother was a Timmerman), I am also proud of my Dutch blood. What a lovely country. Again I can be a subject of a monarch (I am positively wasted in the States).
Assets < Edam cheese, Caro Emerald, and Snert - wonderbaarlijk!
But the true atavism in my life is the knowledge my English/Dutch/German roots go back even further to the Celts and (oh joy!) the Vikings. It all bubbles up every Samhain.
What else explains my love for donning horns and bellowing like a bezerker?
11 comments
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February 1, 2013 at 8:08 PM
Sean R.
I love the Viking horns!
February 1, 2013 at 8:36 PM
shamansmith
A berserker, a “bear shirt”, does not bellow: he channels the Bear spirit that was bound to him by the torture and brutal killing of the bear to wreak havoc and destroy his enemies. These bear spirits remain bound the the family lines forever, until someone can come along and release them.
February 1, 2013 at 9:34 PM
jason
off to look up “snert”….:)
February 1, 2013 at 11:50 PM
Raybeard
In your horns, with painted visage, furs and leather, and swinging your big cudgel before you, you’d be a formidable foe, pillaging and raping your way through we timorous Saxons. Help! – Al-FRED!!!
February 2, 2013 at 3:21 AM
Mitchell Block
Looks more like your OUTER Norseman to me. I wonder when you’re supposed to start figuring percentages (i.e., that 50% English stock is I’ll bet broken into an unbelievable variety of ancestries)… well, all those other percentages for that matter. Wouldn’t you just love to have your DNA tested?!?
February 2, 2013 at 6:19 AM
Urspo
A few generations back I suspect there is some Aardvark as well
Sent from nowhere in particular.
February 2, 2013 at 7:24 AM
JimA
Huzzah to my fellow Celt!
February 2, 2013 at 1:16 PM
David Jeffreys
Is Ativan the anecdote?
February 2, 2013 at 4:37 PM
jmcanuck
And you would be welcome to live in Canada – just remember the …uh… seasonal weather “limitations.” Oh and I’m legally obligated to state that the majority of my fellow canucks pronounce “House” and “Mouse” as “Howse” and “Mowse” not “Hoose” and “Moose” – mainly because we have a perfectly good word called “Moose” and asking someone to “catch that moose” when you meant “catch that mouse” is potentially fatal.
February 4, 2013 at 11:21 AM
jefferyrn
Atavism….isn’t that that stuff that Jamie Lee Curtis is always pushing? No that is Activia yogart.
I think your love of horns is just fine.
February 4, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Urspo
I like yogurt too.
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