Which communal dance starts with the participants putting their left arm in?

The 'Hokey Cokey', or 'Hokey Pokey' as it is known in the United States, is a communal dance to a song of the same name. The dance originates from a British folk dance of the 1820s, and peaked in popularity in the mid-1940s. The well-known song used for the dance today was first recorded by the Snowmen in 1981.

In the book 'English Folk-Rhymes' (1892) a version of the song appeared written as: "Can you dance looby, looby, Can you dance looby, looby, Can you dance looby, looby, All on a Friday night? You put your right foot in; And then you take it out, And wag it, and wag it, and wag it, Then turn and turn about."

Today's lyrics read "You put your left arm in, Your left arm out: In, out, in, out. You shake it all about. You do the Hokey Cokey, And you turn around. That's what it's all about!" Each time the verse is sung, a different body part is inserted. In the UK, the dance usually begins with participants putting their left arm in, however, other versions may start with the right leg.

The origins of the term 'Hokey Cokey' remain obscure, although some people suggest it comes from the Biblical Latin phrase "Hoc est corpus meum" meaning "This is My body". The origins of 'Hokey Pokey' are also uncertain. In New Zealand, the dance is known as the 'Hokey Cokey' because 'Hokey Pokey' is a term for honeycomb toffee.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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25 Comments

Debra Coleman

I have only known it as Hokey Pokey in Australia.

Merri Sillery

Never heard of it as Hokey Cokey, it's Hokey Pokey in the US.

earlepg

It's funny that people keep insisting that words are only acceptable as they personally learned them. By now we should all be aware that many words and terms are different on the "other" side of the "pond". Different words, same meanings.

earlepg

esglover, The author is from the UK. The dance is known as the Hokey Cokey there. So the answer is accurately stated as the Hokey Cokey. The fact that it is known as something slightly different elsewhere is noted early in the explanation.

Hazel

David Hovis, read the explanation

Louella Wilson

Hokey Pokey is a great ice cream in New Zealand, according to my Kiwi friend!

Chris Braid

Never heard of it as Hokey Pokey. It's Hokey Cokey in the UK.

David Hill

Debra Coleman, Canada too, is it really what it’s all about

seane

kandilarson, lol I did it in the back seat of a car a few times but never on roller skates!

David Borgendale

With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at this moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person which almost went unnoticed. Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey", died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started.

Peter Sutton

Hokey Pokey to me as well. That’s how it is down under.

Lawanta

Harrison Linda, typo--hokey!

William Laughlin

Alan Smith, The dance is not only known as the Hokey Pokey in the US. It is known as the Hokey Cokey in the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean and known as the Hokey Pokey in South Africa, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Israel.

William Laughlin

The dance is not only known as the Hokey Pokey in the US. It is known as the Hokey Cokey in the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean and known as the Hokey Pokey in South Africa, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Israel.