G’Day Everybody!! :O)
☼ C h o o k a s !! ☼
I use this word an awful lot and really there had only been ONE person who knew what I was on about. So I guess now is as good a time as any to give you a meaning to Chookas!!
[and sorry, no it is not my nickname ☺]
“Chookas” is a theatrical term for Good Luck that my mum and her cronies in the [Australian] National Theatre Ballet & Opera company made up back in the 1940s / 50s.
Back stage in a theatre it is bad luck to say “good luck” [or whistle or mention “Mac…” That Scottish play lol ☺] and the usual wish of “Break a leg” is not a dancer’s favourite so Chookas was invented.
It has spread down through the theatre over the years as I have heard it from people I’ve not told! [It was great when I saw Danni Minogue teach a contestant (& subsequently the audience) of the TV show she was judging – cos I taught her when she was little! :O)]
I use it now to wish people well – good luck & happiness and all that :O) and it is spreading! :O)
So Chookas! X♥X
☺♫♦↕§←♪♪♪☺♣☺♥☼♫↔♥↓§↑♪♪♪→♫↓§↑♥☺☻♥↓§↑♫↔♪♪♪♥☼♫↔♥↓§↑♫←♪♣♪→§♦↕♫☺
adgray
I refreshed it cos the other one was going on and on about bloody Kylie lol
Chookas! X♥X
Shoaib .
chimmney chookas
Isa Rodriguez
awww. what a darling anecdotal .. Chookas!, sweet friend!!!!!!!!
handprintz
Chooka’s to you !! xx
SandeElkins
I think it is lovely and even more so now that I know the meaning behind it but I always got the gist of it. Should have known that you had artistic roots. The apple as they say never falls far from the tree and in this case, that is a compliment. Chookas!!:)~Sande
MountainHawk
Thanks for sharing as I did wonder myself. Wonderful story behind it.
DON CASTILLO
chooka chooka chooka! Don :)
rightasrain
“Chookas” is Aussie? Could have fooled me lol. Never heard of it. I thought it was American ;-) Don’t like the word myself…
clarkey
Thanks for explaining as I was really curious what it means, now I know!!! Chookas to you, too, in life and love.
Mrswillow
Thanks for the explanation!! Big chookas to you in all aspects of your life.
warriorprincess
I’ve been a “Chookas!” girl from way back, so nice to hear others say it.. and for now for another great term for your no doubt fabulous Mum – “Good on ya Mum!” for the term!
Marjorie Wallace
So cool. I was wondering what it meant. Very cool!
Marlo11
Oh yeah . . . have also been hearing it and using for years in the theatre. Cheers mum! :)
Sallypearson
Hello
I’m Sally, I’m Di Jenkins ‘She Fell From Heaven’ girl and I’m very honoured to be part of the source of inspiration for your very lovely poem to go with Di s picture. When I researched ‘Chookas’ some time ago I found it’s meaning not only originates as you have described but also as dancers salaries once depended on the audience number, if it was a full house they could afford to have chicken for dinner that night, therefore the stage crew would call to the girls chookas just to let them know.
Sally.
adgray:
Thank you so much Sally
Not only for that addition but also for coming into RB and telling me
Must ask Mum about that bit too lol
I hope you enjoy your time in here!
Chookas! ♥
Esther's Art a...
Thank you so much for explaining Chookas !!! LOL That is very interesting. You might start a new Fashion here . In the newsagencies?. Everybody saying to each other :Chookas. That would be so funny. Especially when there are lots of ticket sales . Like the 90 Milion one about a week ago.
adgray:
I just get a kick out of hearing the Theatrical people say it – especially on TV :O) I was so proud of Danni Minogue when she told everyone about it on the TV show “Australia’s Got Talent”! I taught it to her (& her sister) when she was a kid to see that be passed on was quite a buzz!! :O)
Chookas! ♥
Esther's Art a...
That is fantastic to pass it on, teach others and to have such a wonderful influence on people like Danni and Kylie . So they can pass it on again. I sure will pass it on !!! Chookas and Thank you!!!
ChubbyGungan
Did you know that they use the term on every episode of the aussie kids’ show “The Kingdom of Paramithi”? The show revolves around the staff of a castle who put on a fairy tale play every day for the king and queen. They say this just before they go on stage. So it’s catching on!!! Even my 4 y.o. daughter says it sometimes. Chookas!
robpixaday
Heee…..just saw this…………I did a search on it yesterday…..I’ve seen it here (RedBubble) and have been wondering what it was all about. The first time I saw it was as part of a comment about an image of a chicken, so I thought it was chicken-related…. it gradually defined itself, but not as well as you do here!
::waves::
Eve Parry
I’ve been wondering for quite a while what it meant, so I’m so pleased to have found the link to this page. I thought it was something to do with chickens. :-)
Chookas
Mrswillow
Thanks for explaining “Chookas” Alyssa! I did know all about the reservations of the theatre etc. and expressions of “Good Luck”, but I had never heard of “Chookas” …until you came along!
Kat36
Ah ha, I’ve seen this around The Bubble, and was wondering what it meant! So, Chookas to you too!! – Kat :)
Jan Stead JEMp...
Ah so now I know!!! That’s what it means…having been around the theatre for many years in another lifetime, I knew all the rest of the superstitions etc, so I think ‘Chookas’ is brilliant. But I’d never heard of it before. Sounded like chooks to me! lol!
But I finally realise just how nice you’ve been to me all this time my friend! Thank you and, yes…chookas. Oh my. It IS catching!!..xxxxOoooXx
:D : ))))))))))))))))))))
bev langby
ahh Frannie asked about this term and thought all aussies used it i told her i had never heard it before and im way back to the convicts lol i think it may have originated in England somehow ….
adgray:
Nope it originated in Aus – Melbourne in fact!
In the Princess theatre in 1950(ish)
and I’m all the way back to convicts too!
Chookas! ♥Ü♥
bev langby
i was just talking to my brother he works at the Sydney Opera House and he said the ballet say chookas and the opera say “toi toi toi” so learn something everyday…
rickoshay
Here’s something!when I was about 14 and in Iandra I got the nickname chooka,it may not be çhookas’ but I just HAD to tell someone HA HA!!!
So chookas everyone!!
adgray:
You are the second person I know called Chooka (I’ve known a Goose, a few Galahs and a couple of Cockies too) I even called my son Chook once! So you are in good company! Ü
Chookas! ♥Ü♥
Trina King
I love it! ChOOkas! Your liveliness and beautiful soul are wonderful company here on RB! :)