Fair Lawn brings centuries old tradition back with first-ever Junior Town crier competition
The competition was part of Fair Lawn’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and an effort to introduce a new generation to the centuries-old tradition of town criers.
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“Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!”
That was the call heard in Fair Lawn Sunday as dozens of students competed in the town’s first-ever Junior Town Crier Competition.
Students from kindergarten through high school took part, showing off their voices and delivering their own “cries” in front of judges.
The competition was part of Fair Lawn’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and an effort to introduce a new generation to the centuries-old tradition of town criers.
Town criers once served as a way for communities to hear important news, laws and announcements. Their cries often began with “Oyez,” an Old French word meaning “listen” or “hear ye.”
"It's really fun since I really liked how you got to write your own cry and got to perform, and they give you feedback yesterday on everything, " said Sammie, one of the students competing.
Fair Lawn is home to award-winning Town Crier Tim Yuskaitis, who helped bring the competition to the community.
"I'm just so thrilled that Fair Lawn took my idea and went with it. We don't have a lot of competitions here in the United States," said Yuskaitis.
Yuskaitis said the event gives students a chance to experience history firsthand rather than simply learning about it in a classroom.
The junior competition was held alongside an international adult Town Crier Competition featuring criers from the East Coast and Canada.
For the students competing Sunday, the centuries-old tradition became a chance to make some noise of their own.
