American fans of the hit animated cartoon Bluey have been left puzzled on multiple occasions after not understanding Australian references.
From ‘bin chickens’ to the Aussie Christmas cracker tradition, US parents have turned to social media to ask for insights into the objects, behaviours and animals seen in the popular children’s show.
On one occasion a mum thought she spotted a wine bottle in the backyard bushes, but it the object in question was in fact a cricket bat.
BIN CHICKENS
In Australian slang a ‘bin chicken’ is a native bird called an Ibis, which are often seen in towns and cities rummaging for food in rubbish bins.
In an episode Bluey and Bingo – two of the shows characters – chase an Ibis at a park. But an American viewer struggled identify the species and what it’s referred to in the show.
‘Can anyone tell me about these birds? I’ve seen them in several episodes,’ the viewer asked on the Adult Bluey fan page on Facebook.
‘Are they calling them ”boomchickens”?’ Someone fill this clueless American in, please!’
Fortunately fans quickly leapt on the page’s thread with explanations. Meanwhile another fan from the US identified with the Aussie slang for the Ibis, comparing it to the native American raccoon, who are also known as bin ‘scavengers’.
In an episode Bluey and Bingo – two of the shows characters – chase an Ibis at a park
‘Bin chicken’ refers to the Australian white ibis (pictured), which are often seen rummaging through rubbish bins in cities and are considered an eyesore
CRICKET BAT IN THE BACKYARD
Last year an American mum was left scratching her head while watching Bluey after spotting an oddly shaped object in the backyard.
At first Amanda, from Massachusetts, thought it was a bottle of wine. It wasn’t until she sought help from a parenting Facebook group and was told what it truly was – a cricket bat.
‘Inquiring minds would love to know what’s up with the wine bottle in the bushes in Daddy Robot,’ Amanda wrote and shared a photo of the scene from the episode.
It didn’t take long for Australian mums to point out that the object was a cricket bat.
While watching Bluey, mum Amanda, from Massachusetts, spotted an oddly shaped object in the background of the cartoon and thought it was a bottle of wine (circled, right). It wasn’t until she sought help from a parenting Facebook group that she was told what it truly was
HAVING THE TOILET SEPARATE TO THE BATHROOM
It’s common for Aussie homes to have a toilet separate to the bathroom – a design layout not often seen internationally.
‘Question for Aussies, is it normal to not have the toilet in the main bathroom and it be its own thing in a room with nothing else? Just watched Hide and Seek episode and noticed she moved Chattermax to a whole new room to wash hands,’ a mum asked the Bluey Family Fans Facebook group.
Dozens of Aussies joined the conversation and confirmed the feature to the American.
‘Yes. Toilets are usually in a different room sometimes outside,’ one clarified.
‘Yes! I’m Australian and my main bathroom has a bath/shower and sink in it and the toilet is in a separate room!’ another fan shared, also adding how convenient it is having the rooms laid out this way,’ another said.
‘I love it because it means you can go to the toilet without disturbing the person in the shower.’
WEARING ‘FACE PAINT’ ON THE BEACH
Another international mum was bewildered when she saw odd coloured lines she thought was face paint on characters Bluey and Bingo.
While she thought it was face paint, the colours were from zinc sunscreen.
‘Okay mommas, US momma here. Is the beach face paint just an Aussie thing? And what is it? I’d love to get beach face paint for my kiddos,’ Jessica said in the post.
Many were shocked that the mum was unfamiliar with the coloured sunscreen and soon filled her in on its importance of it.
‘It’s coloured zinc sunscreen,’ a mum said. ‘We wear it on top of normal sunscreen for extra protection.’
‘Thick, strong sunblock. The coloured ones come in like a stick – like a lip balm that winds up – and are used in high affected areas of sun damage to prevent sun burning,’ another added.
‘Cricketers wear white zinc on their faces all the time,’ another pointed out.
Jessica, a US mum, was extremely bewildered when she saw odd coloured lines she thought was face paint on characters Bluey and Bingo
AUSSIE CHRISTMAS CRACKER TRADITION
Elsewhere Brittany was watching the ‘Christmas Swim’ episode where the family of dogs gather around a table for a festive lunch.
The American mum noticed they were all wearing coloured ‘crowns’ and immediately posted in the ‘Adult Bluey Fans’ Facebook group to ask why.
‘Can any of our lovely Australian members tell me why they’re all wearing the crowns in season two, episode 26 Christmas Swim? I thought it was so cute and would love to know more about it!’ she wrote.
It’s a yuletide tradition in Australia and the UK for guests to pop open Christmas crackers – cardboard tubes wrapped in festive paper designs – before or during the meal.
Inside is a tissue paper crown, plus a small piece of paper with a written joke or riddle, and sometimes a toy.
The paper crown is then worn for the remainder of the meal.
Brittany, a mum from the US, was watching the ‘Christmas Swim’ episode of animated kids show Bluey where the family of dogs gather around a table and cheers to festive lunch
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