Sunday-Go-to-Meeting Clothes

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, Grant. How’s it going? My name is Daniel Sarkala. I’m calling from Gainesville, Florida.

What’s on your mind today in terms of language?

I’m calling you guys because over the holidays, I got together with my family.

And my mom was invited to a party. And the theme of the party was Sunday Go To Meeting in the 80s.

And I heard this, and I was a little bit confused. And she told me that she knew exactly what it meant, but other people didn’t understand what it meant.

And they went dressed in full 80s garb with leg warmers and such things, which is what I thought it was.

And so that term kind of stuck in my head.

And then a few weeks later, my wife and I watched the movie Meet Me in St. Louis.

And in that movie, there’s a song called Tip to My Lou.

And the first verse of it is put on your Sunday, go to a meeting and I’ll take you by the hand.

And so this term must be old enough to be used in the 40s.

But I’m wondering if you could tell me a little bit about the origins of this and where it comes from and what it means.

And what do you take it to mean, Sunday Go To Meeting?

Just forget the in the 80s part for a minute.

I thought it had maybe something to do with church just because of the Sunday aspect of it.

I assume it’s nice clothing.

I mean, in the movie, they wear very nice clothing as they talk about it, getting prepared for the dance.

So I assume it’s some sort of formal vestige, but I’m not sure.

No, you’re absolutely right. Since the late 1700s or so, the word meeting has been used as a term for a gathering for worship services.

I mean, it’s not like a school board meeting or a bridge club meeting.

Sunday go to meeting has to do with getting dressed up and going to church.

And in fact, the word meeting has been used in lots of different contexts like that, like a basket meeting is a revival where people bring food and sit there and listen to the preacher.

And then afterward, they all fellowship with the food they brought in their baskets.

And testimony meeting is another term that has been floating around for quite a while that is the kind of meeting where you get together and you all share your religious experiences.

And so this term meeting for a lot of people for a long time in this country has specifically referred to religious services.

And it’s reinforced by that Sunday go-to.

Sunday go-to-meeting clothes are really, really, you know, your very best because you’re going to go stand there in front of the congregation, in front of God.

And it’s a lovely expression.

Wow.

I love that term.

It’s amazing.

I’m glad that I got to hear it in the wild.

So your mother, when she was talking about this theme of this party, she was passing on something with 200 years of history.

But in the 80s is quite a spit on that.

Yeah, I’m trying to picture this.

I’m thinking of my fluorescent outfits and my OP clothes.

I don’t even know what all.

The leg warmers is what I like.

Yeah, I think they meant the formal wear of the 80s in hindsight.

But I really empathized with the people who showed up in stereotypical 80s garments.

Right.

Leotards and leg warmers and headbands.

Yeah, that’s not something to me.

Looking like Olivia Newton-John.

Well, Daniel, thank you so much for your question.

I think this is going to ring a lot of bells for a lot of people.

Can you sing us out with a little bit more of the Meet Me in St. Louis song?

Oh, gosh.

Put on your Sunday go to meeting and I’ll take you by the hand.

Tip, tip, tip, toomaloo.

Tip, tip, tip, toomaloo.

Tip, tip, tip, toomaloo.

Tip, toomaloo, my darling.

Yay!

Wonderful.

Thank you for obliging me.

I really appreciate it.

All right, thank you.

You take care of yourself, all right?

Well, we have a heck of a list of callers who call with the most amazing stories and questions,

And I know that you are one of them.

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