White Elephant
I was watching a 1970s sitcom on TV and the term "white elephant" came up. Okay, it was The Ropers if you need to know, spinoff from Three's Company. Anyway, one of the character's son asked what a white elephant was. The father had been referring to a house he couldn't sell. It got me thinking, exactly where did that term come from? The father lightly touched on it was rare and a bad thing in India.
According to Wikipedia, "The tradition derives from tales in the scriptures which associate a white elephant with the birth of Buddha, as his mother was reputed to have dreamed of a white elephant presenting her with a lotus flower, a symbol of wisdom and purity, on the eve of giving birth. Because the animals were considered sacred and laws protected them from labor, receiving a “gift” of a white elephant from a monarch was both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because of the animal’s sacred nature and a curse because the animal could be put to no practical use."
So, there you are. You now know the derivation of the term "white elephant". Aren't you glad I was watching a bad 70s sitcom today?
Visit the bookstore!
So, there you are. You now know the derivation of the term "white elephant". Aren't you glad I was watching a bad 70s sitcom today?
Visit the bookstore!
