Sadie Hawkins was a character in Al Capp's comic strip Li'l Abner. She debuted on November 15, 1937.

She was "the homeliest gal in the hills," and she grew tired of waiting for men to court her. So her father declared a foot race in which unmarried women of the town of Dogpatch pursued the single men. If a woman caught a man, he had to marry her.

High schools across the United States adopted the fictional concept and held light-hearted events during "Sadie Hawkins Day" where girls would ask boys on dates to dances.

Due to its popularity and many fan letters that Capp received, the Sadie Hawkins Day became an annual event in Li'l Abner during November, and remained so for four decades.

The terms Sadie Hawkins and Sadie Hawkins Day remain ingrained in the American lexicon.

There is also a song titled "Sadie Hawkins Dance" written and performed by Relient K.

External links

• lil-abner.com on Sadie Hawkins