Whatfish

Crawfish, Crayfish, Crawdads? Actually, each is a misnomer; they aren’t really Fish. What you call them may as well depend on your mood at the time. The Columbia Journalism Review suggested that after author Celia Owens appeared on television—and the popularity of her book-become-movie exploded onto the scene—interest in Where the Crawdads Sing soared—people rushed to Merriam-Webster with questions.

Apparently the questions weren’t so much “What is a (Crawdad, Crawfish…etc) but Where do they sing? They don’t. CJC said if they sing, it’s in the wilderness. Even then if you hear them sing, then you’re probably imagining it —they said. However, Merriam-Webster goes on to bring clarity to the overarching question: “What is a Crawdad?” Crawdad is the synonym of the words crawfish and crayfish,  used chiefly west of the Appalachians to mean the aquatic animal that looks like a small lobster and lives in rivers and streams.

Call it what you will—we Americans tend to have fun with verbosity in many ways, not the least of which is —names. I’ll zero in on “Crawfish,” —even if it isn’t a fish. Right here in Georgia there is an annual Crawfish Festival-–in Woodbine, GA,—this year the date is April 28, 2023. Not to be outdone by nearby Kingsland, GA (which holds an annual Catfish Festival,”) Woodbine lays out succulent feasts not only of Crawfish, but also a wide array of seafood delicacies; the city proclaims the fulsome supply to be of —such mouth watering treats as Crawfish Boil, Crawfish Woodbine Etoufee (a Cajun stew of shellfish served over rice), Homemade Desserts, Barbecue, Funnel Cakes, Ice Cream, Boiled Peanuts, and much more…available Friday night and all day Saturday. The Woodbine United Methodist Church and Woodbine City Hall restrooms will be open for public use. (I, being a retired United Methodist Minister, had to throw in that reference).

A Crawfish festival, in places like Woodbine, GA, and NOLA (New Orleans LA–for the benighted) is a name that draws crowds, especially when linked to “Festival.” It’s like setting Catnip for cats, or the wafting aroma of popcorn in a movie. Whatever name you call it, “A______ Festival,” is seconded to the siren call of “festival”. Crowds that show up at these Crawfish Festivals (and I’ve only named two) underscore the popularity of this delicacy.

And. Names have a way of sticking; sometimes in not-to-good ways (as in a nickname like “Big Mike” Or sometimes in good ways, like “Sunshine.” Naming is one of the first actions of God in Creation stories. Before Jesus was born, significant plans were announced about naming him. Also I think of Jesus’ own mighty act in naming. I think of when Jesus changed the name of Simon, one of Jesus’ Disciples. Jesus knew this very man would deny him— not once but three times—yet he was the one Jesus basically left in charge of his Divine legacy. Jesus named Simon Peter, “The Rock,” the foundation of Jesus’ ministry for eternity. Names matter, especially when they bring joy! Think of the great joy young parents have in naming their baby!

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2023