Who is Parson Brown?

Mr Martini

I've heard the Christmas Song "Walking in a Winterwonder Land" a lot lately. In the song they mention a person named Parson Brown. Who is this? Or is it just a made up name.

justvisiting

Parson Brown was a pastor in Florida who developed the Parson Brown Orange (fruit, not color) around 1856, but I think the one in the song is simply a made up name.

wormlover

I think it's some sort of term, maybe old slang, there has to be a reason for it, like the name "John Doe" means someone with amnesia

Lady Rose

In the context of the song I would think its is just a made up name for a pastor...

'In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
we'll say: No man
But you can do the job
when you're in town'

one night stand

http://www.antique-ceramics.com/parsonbrown.jpg

Any help here. )

CAGirl5586

Well I was watching Frosty the Snowman when I was babysitting the other night. In the movie Parson Brown in the pastor who marries Frosty to Crystal the snow woman that the children made to keep frosty company. That is all I know, the lyrics still do not make complete sense but that is a start.

Lilac

Forgive me if this sounds condescending, but I'm not sure from your posts. "Parson" is just another word for "minister". The song is not talking about a person named Parson, it's talking about the local church pastor.

justvisiting

Hey Martini,

I was listening to the Christmas songs on the radio too, and "Sleigh Ride" had a similar character:

There's a birthday party
At the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending a perfect day

I think as in the case of Farmer Grey, Parson Brown is just a generic name that provided a convenient rhyme for lyrics.

Incidentally, do our British friends hear some of these Christmas songs on the radio? Most of them sound American.

sippyjuice

Back in the old days small towns didn't have parsons (pastors). They used to travel around different towns to perform the wedding ceremonies. So, that part makes sense. But what about the alligators?? What a weird song! All these years, we sing along and don't even know even know what we are truly singing.

one night stand

There is a chip in our head, we cant control it. Its a conspiracy, ahhh. The age of man is over, the alligators are in control. Run for your lives !!!!!!!!!!!

I gotta stop with these outbursts. )

leighferd

It's the the other kids will knock him down. not the A word.........

helloworld

"Parson Brown" is the term used to talk about a typical angelican priest of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. "Parson Brown" is not an actual person (though he might have been at some time), but a figure of speech, like "John Doe" is an unidentified male and "Charley" is a watchman. "Parson" by itself means minister.

As from: www.urbandictionary.com

highhopes

He rhymes with "town." 'Nuff said.