These are the five VERY Aussie things American Bluey fans are confused about
American fans of the hit cartoon series Bluey have been confused several times because they misunderstood the Australian references.
From ‘bin chickens’ to the Australian Christmas cracker tradition, American parents are using social media to gain insight into the objects, behaviors and animals featured in the popular children’s series.
One day a mother thought she saw a wine bottle in the bushes in the backyard, but it turned out to be a cricket bat.
CHICKENS IN THE BAR
In Australian slang, a ‘bin chicken’ is a native bird, the ibis. These birds are often seen in towns and cities, searching for food in rubbish bins.
In one episode, Bluey and Bingo – two of the show’s characters – hunt down an Ibis in a park. But an American viewer had trouble identifying the species and what it refers 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.
“Do they call them ‘boomchickens’? Can someone fill this ignorant American in?”
Fortunately, fans were quick to jump on the page’s thread to explain it. Meanwhile, another fan from the US identified the Australian slang for the Ibis, comparing it to the native American raccoon, which are also known as bin ‘scavengers’.
In one episode, Bluey and Bingo – two of the series’ characters – chase an ibis in a park
‘Bin chicken’ refers to the Australian white ibis (pictured), which is often seen rummaging through garbage bins in cities and is considered an eyesore
CRICKET BAT IN THE BACKYARD
Last year, an American mother was left scratching her head while watching Bluey after spotting a strangely 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 group on Facebook that she was told what it really was: a cricket bat.
“Curious minds would love to know what’s going on with the wine bottle in the bushes in Daddy Robot,” Amanda wrote, sharing a photo of the scene from the episode.
It wasn’t long before Australian mothers pointed out that the object was a cricket bat.
While watching Bluey, Massachusetts mom Amanda noticed an oddly shaped object in the background of the cartoon and thought it was a bottle of wine (circled on the right). It wasn’t until she sought help from a parenting Facebook group that she was told what it really was
HAVE THE TOILET SEPARATE FROM THE BATHROOM
In Australian homes it is common to have a separate toilet next to the bathroom, a design not often seen internationally.
“Question for Australians, is it normal for the toilet to not be in the main bathroom and for it to be its own toilet in a room with no other things? I just watched the episode Hide and Seek and saw that she moved Chattermax into a whole other room to wash her hands,” one mother asked on the Bluey Family Fans Facebook group.
Dozens of Australians joined the conversation and confirmed the story to the American.
“Yes. Toilets are usually in a separate room, sometimes outside,” someone clarified.
‘Yes! I’m Australian and my main bathroom has a bath/shower and a sink and the toilet is in a separate room!’ shared another fan, who also added how convenient it is that the rooms are laid out this way,’ said another.
“I love it because now you can go to the toilet without disturbing the person in the shower.”
WEARING ‘FACE PAINTING’ ON THE BEACH
Another international mother was stunned when she saw strange colored stripes on the faces of characters Bluey and Bingo that she thought were face paint.
She thought it was face paint, but the colors came from zinc sunscreen.
“Okay mommies, this is American mommy. Is beach face paint just an Australian thing? And what is it? I would love beach face paint for my kids,” Jessica wrote in the post.
Many were shocked that the mother was unfamiliar with the tinted sunscreen and quickly told her how important it was.
“It’s a tinted zinc sunscreen,” said one mother. “We use it over our regular sunscreen for extra protection.”
‘Thick, strong sunscreen. The tinted versions come in a stick – like a lip balm that rolls up – and are used on areas that have suffered a lot of sun damage to prevent burning,’ added another.
“Cricketers wear white zinc on their faces all the time,” another noted.
Jessica, an American mother, was completely stunned when she saw strange colored lines that she thought were face paint on the characters Bluey and Bingo
AUSSIE CHRISTMAS CRACKER TRADITION
Elsewhere, Brittany was watching the episode “Christmas Swim,” in which the dog family sits around a table for a festive lunch.
The American mother noticed that they were all wearing colored ‘crowns’ and immediately posted a message in the Facebook group ‘Adult Bluey Fans’ to ask why.
“Can one of our lovely Australian members tell me why they are all wearing the crowns in season two episode 26 Christmas Swim? I thought it was so cute and would love to know more!” she wrote.
In Australia and the United Kingdom, it is a Christmas tradition for guests to open Christmas crackers before or during the meal. These are cardboard tubes wrapped in festive paper.
Inside is a crown of tissue paper, a small piece of paper with a written joke or riddle, and sometimes a toy.
The paper crown is then worn throughout the remainder of the meal.
Brittany, a mother from the US, was watching the episode ‘Christmas Swim’ of the animated children’s series Bluey, in which the dog family sits around a table and toasts a festive lunch