I want a hippopotamus for Christmas....


Okay, if THAT song can't make you smile, you better check your grinch meter readings. The song was sung, in 1953 by 10 year old Gayla Peevey, from Oklahoma City. A local promoter launched a publicity campaign to present Gayla with a real hippopotamus for Christmas. The song and the campaign were wildly popular $ 3,000 was raised. So came Mathilda, the real hippopotamus. The Oklahoma City zoo, had no hippo at that time and Miss Peevey donated hers to the zoo. Mathilda lived for nearly 50 years, married Norman along the way and is remembered fondly, by those who remember her, at Christmas time. Now you know more than you wanted to know about the song, and can dazzle family and friends with your useless, trivia knoweledge... oh... errrr, thats what I do - sorry ! Facts are courtesy of Judy Brotton, via an article from Distinctly Oklahoma. The whimsical artwork shown is from Leslie Sealy, who is a wonderful artist. Check out her blog Leslie Sealy and enjoy some pretty things as well as adorable, tongue in cheek hippo paintings.


Comments

  1. I love trivia of any kind:) Really cute painting and I think hippos are cute too. Have a wonderful holiday:):)

    Thanks for stopping by my blog today, and I am working on the commenting:)

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  2. Wonderful story about the hippo; hum, looks like she is doing dressage? LOL Just beautiful, thanks for sharing!!!

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  3. Oh, forgot to say in my post,
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

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  4. I love that type of trivia. What a fun story.

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  5. I grew up singing that song at Christmas, but had never heard the story. Thanks for sharing it!

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