Because of the alarming level of antisemitism that has grown like a poisonous fungus in Australia, a Speccie reader (Sandra) asks if ‘Hip Hip Hooray’ is antisemitic. The question is not quite as odd as it sounds. There is a persistent myth that this cry has an antisemitic origin. The myth arose because there were a series of antisemitic riots and pogroms in Germany in 1819, in which the protesters took up the rallying cry of ‘hep hep’. The riots subsequently became known as the Hep Hep Riots. But the German cry is unrelated to the English language – and ‘hip hip hooray’ certainly predates the German riots. ‘Hip’ was a cry used to attract attention from 1735.

It worked a bit like the Australian cry of ‘cooee’ – it could be heard over a distance. The ‘hooray’ / ‘hoorah’ part of it is just a very old cry of exultation that goes back to 1573. So it’s safe to keep on celebrating birthdays with ‘Hip Hip Hooray’.