The 2nd of May is National Ukulele Day dedicated to all things ukulele. Also known as “National Play Your Ukulele Today” it is the time to reflect and learn about the history of this unique Portuguese four string guitar-like instrument which became a symbol for the people of Hawaii.
The story goes that the ukulele was introduced in Hawaii about 1879, by a group of Portuguese immigrants from Madeira. João Fernandes, a native of Madeira, is credit with having played the “braguinha” – the original name in Portuguese — in Hawaii for the first time. The Hawaiians renamed the “braguinha” as “ukulele” in reference to “jumping flea” as suggested by the jumping motion of the hands playing the instrument.
The ukulele, was introduced in the mainland United States around 1915, after being featured at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Later the ukulele gained acclaim in Japan and the United Kingdom and from there around the world.
It became a symbol of the jazz age and musicians such a Elvis Presley, George Harrison, Elvis Costelo, Bruce Springsteen and Tiny Tim were fond of the famous easy to play Portuguese string instrument in Hawaii. Ukulele festivals are popular all over the United States and Canada as well as in many other parts of the world. February 2nd is the International Ukulele Day.
The first Portuguese immigrated to Hawaii around 1794. They were whalers who jumped ship. Many of those sailors were from Faial, Graciosa, and São Jorge. Some were from Cape Verde.
Additional Portuguese settlers came from the Madeira Islands in 1879 to work on the sugar cane fields. Between 1878 and 1913, more than 20,000 Portuguese men, women, and children traveled from Madeira the Azores and Portugal the Hawaiian Islands. An estimated 4 percent (48,527) of the population of Hawaii today is of Portuguese descent.
Ukulele weeps by Jake Shimabukuro
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k[/youtube]
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