I was listening to my iPod a few days ago, and switched over to an album I really love, “Fireflies” by Faith Hill. One of my favorite tracks is the title one, where she sings
“I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
to capture Tinkerbell
they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
but I could always tell”
And it reminded me of doing this from my childhood. Now, that probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to any of you, but for me, remembering anything from my childhood or youth is a huge deal. For some reason, I’ve blocked most of it out. People, places, events, daily things, you name it. But I do remember doing this. Back then, our mayonnaise was in jars, glass jars with metal or plastic lids. I can remember asking for a jar, and washing it out, and then poking holes on top. I can remember doing this sometimes in the summer, going out in the backyard and trying to catch fireflies. I liked the way they lighted up 🙂 I have absolutely no memory of what I did with them, if I tried to keep them in the jar or I let them go. But I do remember doing this some.
These days, I don’t seem to see a lot of fireflies. Maybe it’s where we live. Too much suburbia and too many people for the little fireflies.
Are there a lot of fireflies where you live? Did you do this when you were young? Do your kids do this today? If so, what do they use to catch them? I haven’t seen a glass mayonnaise jar in years 🙂
That’s today’s “Question of the Day“. Leave me a comment and let me know! Or, if you never did this and do remember something else like this from your childhood, share those memories with us!
Have a wonderful day 😀
Oh yeah I remember doing this. Mostly out at my gram’s in the country, when we were allowed to stay up till forever! But once, we were at our house and my mom was gone for the evening and my sister and I got mad at my dad for some reason. So we collected lightening bugs in a container and let them go in the basement (where my dad watched TV)! Boy did we think we were clever! Boy was he mad!
That’s weird you can’t recall many things from your childhood but this is a sweet memory to hang on to. You’re right – seems like there are less of these little buggers these days.
I remember collecting “lightening bugs” in jars when I was little. We lived in New Jersey and while there were some in the neighborhood where we lived, there were TONS at my grandpa’s house out in the country. I have lots of cousins and I remember going to Grandma and Grandpa’s for bbq’s and then when it was dark, all the cousins would go chasing the lightening bugs and the adults would sit outside under the big walnut tree and talk for hours. Good memories.
Oh my goodness I remember doing that too! So much fun! Gosh thanks for the nice walk down memory lane 🙂
The other night we were outside and there was one and we were talking about when we use to see them all the time. We don’t see many, just every so often there will be one maybe two. Not like the good ole days when the back yard just would just light up with them 🙂
Oh yes, we went through many glass mayo jars with holes poked in their metal lids throughout childhood!
We have them around here, but not a lot. Just last week when we were at Rich’s mom’s house though, we were all (grown-ups and kids) out catching fireflies in her backyard. It was a twinkling wonderland there!
I’m not a country music fan, but when I heard this song, I liked it! It reminded me of the times I caughter fireflies in a mayo jar! We did that all summer long as kids, it was one of the best memories! We see a firefly here and there when we are out on the patio at night. I always get so excited… 😉
I was just thinking about this the other day. I did it all the time as a child, but my children haven’t. Mostly, they haven’t because I usually have them in bed before it is completely dark! One night soon, I may have to delay bed time so we can go catch some!
We caught fireflies almost nightly growing up in Iowa. And we had special “bug catchers” if I remember correctly. Our kids don’t…. and I honestly don’t see many fireflies here in Georgia. ?? About the song by Faith Hill. There’s an interesting story about the song’s writer (who also wrote others on her CD).
Great question! I used to catch them all the time, but I rarely see them now. I didn’t know if it was the move across the country or something else that took them away from me.
We called them lightening bugs when I was growing up, and yes, I used to catch them in a jar with holes in the lid and try to see if they would light up my bedroom.
Sadly, no lightening bugs here – my kids will never have that childhood memory.
Sadly there are none where we live, I would have loved to show them to my kids.
I did it all the time here in Western Ky as a kid…and yes my kids do it as well…they did it on the 4th of July actually and I bought a cute little bug catcher for Miller…he had a ball…he calls them all bees from watching the Bee Movie….lol…yes…fireflies are a big part of our summer…and hopefully always will be.
No glass jars here though…they would break them.
Thanks for bringing me back! I did this too. We have a lot where I live but we have a wooded yard. It’s very dark back there at night so you can see them all.
p.s. You can grow hydrangeas. They are really pretty on Cape Cod where it’s very moist.
you know…we have tons of fireflies here. BUT I always called them lightning bugs growing up LOL.
Anyway, it has never occured to me that the kids have never caught them! I will have to take Laura Grace outside tonight!
I just saw one right now before I logged in, we have trees behind our house, and one was near our deck. Green.
It is summer when you see firefly’s!!!!
Fun! I did it too of course, and my kids as well! But haven’t thought about it in years. And it seems like it stays light so long now, hard to see them! But I bet we could find some lightening bugs if the mosquitoes didn’t carry us away first.
I definitely did this when I was a little girl. It’s funny. Fireflies were as common as, well, flies in Southeast Texas where I grew up. I honestly don’t remember the last time I saw one. I know for sure I’ve never seen a firefly in Colorado and I’ve lived here since 1969. Boy, did this post bring back some memories!
Oh yes, it was a summer ritual! We called them lightning bugs and used whatever jars were available. I used to tear up pieces of grass for them to eat (what did I know? I was only a kid! lol) and would be so upset when they didn’t live more than a day or so. My grandson loooves to catch them when he comes to visit – they don’t have them in SC. A sweet childhood memory – thanks for jiggling my memory bank. 😉
Nope, I’ve never seen firelies in the Los Angeles area. That’s one childhood memory I wish I did have! Sounds like a lot of fun!
Stacey, we just had the fireflies show up about two weeks ago. I hadn’t really noticed they weren’t here til all of a sudden they were! I have such fond memories of growing up in Texas, and like you, armed with a mayo jar that had holes in the lid from the ice pick, we’d catch them, and set them by our bed at night, fall asleep watching them glow. In the morning they’d be given freedom, only to capture a few more the next evening.
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