If you thought spelling bees were a product of your elementary school days, reserved only for memories, guess again.
In Philadelphia, adults are gathering in bars for spelling bees to confront childhood trauma, enjoy the world of language, and receive public acknowledgment for their efforts.
According to a Philadelphia magazine report, several local spelling bee events have emerged or expanded, including the Citywide spelling bee at the Pen and Pencil Club, an event at Harmonie Hall, South Philly bees, and a West Philadelphia food-themed bee at Pentridge Station.
Bill Gravitz is one of the individuals who took advantage of a Pen and Pencil spelling bee, seeking to avenge his eighth-grade failure. “Adult spelling bees were unheard of in 1977,” he said. Gravitz redeemed himself on the word zymurgy (the science of fermentation).
“In a city like Philadelphia where there’s no shortage of debauchery, good, clean fun is in itself a welcome commodity,” musician, writer, and speller Pierce Jackson explained to Philadelphia magazine.
Participants who have taken part in events like the Citywide spelling bee describe them as a mix of ritual, performance, and social bonding, accompanied by equal doses of nerves and pride. Spectators often cheer or heckle participants in classic Philadelphia fashion.
“It turns out everyone gets really mad at you when you tell them to spell onychorrhexis (a longitudinal ridging and splitting of the nails),” said spelling bee organizer Anna Ladd.
Ladd also believes the draw of spelling bees is as much about reliving nostalgia as it is about finding a social gathering.
“In adult years, you just don’t get grades anymore. And it’s nice to be told you’ve done a good job at something,” she explained to Philadelphia magazine.