There is an affectionate term in Term called Mundirikottai which means Cashew nut. A cashew fruit while still unplucked from the tree looks like this:
Do you get why I introduce it here and what relevance it has to the topic? Unlikely, possibly with the exception of Padmum who has suggested this topic for today, and / or Sanjana who speaks Tamil at home.
In Tamil ‘ mundiri’ means cashew and means a nut; So it is ‘ mundirikottai’
A nut or seed is formed inside a vegetable or fruit in the middle of edible flesh by nature, not visible outside except in the case of cashew.
Only cashew has this peculiar formation of the nut protruding outside of it and is visible.
Hence any person who tries to make his/her presence felt first ignoring others is called ‘mundirikottai’
For example, you ask a question addressed to the person ‘A’ in a group, expecting an answer from him/ her only. But the person ‘B’ comes forward suddenly/immediately to answer and answers even before the person ‘A’ starts to answer ‘B’ is rightly called ‘Mundirikottai.’
Now, I can call Padmum a cashew nut for wanting to write to Santa Claus in the beginning of November or call myself one for writing this letter to him much ahead of all the other letters that he will surely get from mid December onwards. The chances of his forgetting my requests are more if I write now but, perhaps that is what Padmini wants him to do any way. Padmum however qualifies for this title as she has posted one day ahead of the scheduled Friday. I think that she is desperate for her list to be studied in detail by Santa before he gets other lists.
I have reached the stage of life where my wants are none and needs are few. I have been blessed with everything that I need to live my remaining life span in reasonable comfort and so my letter to Santa this year will ask for just the following.
1. Please ensure that I and mine are spared the chinese virus.
2. Please ensure that the virus disappears quickly.
3. Please ensure that all beings experience good health, peace and joy.
And to wind up, a little humour.
This is my contribution to this week’s Friday 8 On 1 blog post topic. The other seven bloggers who write on the same topic every Friday are Maria. Sanjana, Padmum, Raju, Shackman , Srinivas and Conrad. This week’s topic was suggested by Padmum. Please do go over to their respective blogs to see what they have to say on the topic. Thank you.
I’m fascinated with the view of the cashew as I’d never seen this before and I do like to eat cashews. I welcome learning the term ‘Mundirikottai.’
My only comment relative to Christmas is that while I often shopped randomly throughout the year for gifts, I’ve always resented any promotions of the topic before Thanksgiving and this year it started even before Halloween. I recall when I was a child how long it seemed for Christmas to arrive after Thanksgiving and think what an eternity it must be now for little ones with this time expansion.
This phenomenon can be seen here during and after our Dassara festival which precedes our major Diwali festival.
I learn all kinds of unexpected things from your blog postings. And I think Padmini has taught me something, too. We are now an Extremely Loose Blogger Consortium! And you have shown me we are truly a bunch of nuts!
I have “Nat” in my adopted name….and we Rajgopauls are considered “Nuts” in the clan…though there are others loonier than thine!
Thank you. Your comment has inspired another blog post. I hope that you get to read that and comment there too.
Letters to Santa start being written by kids in October itself…they like to be ahead in the queue! This topic was suggested by Nitu on one of our daily chats…her friends love the idea!
Please get her to comment on our posts.
LOL! totally enjoyed this post.
there are worse things to be than a familial nut! xo
Indeed there are. One can be the family black sheep!
I also like cashew nuts, but I had no idea how they grew. Thanks for that!
Mundirikottai is a handy word to describe the sort of attention-hogging person you mention.
I imagine plenty of kids will be asking Santa for either a virus vaccine or personalised face masks. Myself, I would ask for a year’s supply of Lindt truffles, a year’s supply of free books and a year of free meals at our favourite local restaurant.
Yes, this year, they are sure to as even adults will.
I was telling someone the other day about cashew nuts growing on the outside of the fruit and she didn’t believe me.
I echo your wishes.
Yes, people do find it difficult to believe that a seed can grow outside the fruit. Thank you.