A Michigan family has taken it upon themselves to bring a little joy and a little humor back into the world by posting a “Silly Walk” sign out front of their home, one which passersby have actually been obeying.
If you don’t know what constitutes a so-called “silly walk,” then you’ve obviously never watched Monty Python before and I sorely pity you.
But I guess I can explain.
This. This is a silly walk. Thank you John Cleese for that excellent demonstration.
This humorous stiff-back, high-kicking movement derives from the Monty Python sketch appropriately titled, “The Ministry of Silly Walks.”
I strongly encourage you to look it up on YouTube if you’re in need of a good laugh today. Otherwise, keep reading to see more examples of other similarly silly walks.
Liz Koto’s family from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, placed a sign in their yard encouraging these exact movements from pedestrians.
As the sign explains,
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“You have now entered the jurisdiction of silly walks. Commence silly walking immediately.”
It also seemed to suggest that the more interesting silly walkers would end up on their Instagram page.
In finer print it adds:
“Follow @Yorkshire_Silly_Walks for highlights. Your walk may be posted! We’re all in this together so let’s have some fun while we can! (Don’t know how to silly walk? Google Monty Python Ministry of Silly Walks for inspiration.)”
Liz explained that the idea for the cheeky sign came to her while she was taking a (not-so-silly) walk with her family.
And ever since it was posted earlier this month, it’s proven to be a huge hit with everyone who takes the time to read it.
And why wouldn’t it be? We can all appreciate a good silly walk.
“My neighbors seem to love it,” Liz told Bored Panda . “Some of them walk by more than once a day and make sure to silly walk.”
To share the hilarious results of their sign with the world, Liz actually created an Instagram account with videos of people doing their best silly walks.
In some of the clips, we can see the Koto family sitting on their front porch steps while they watch people flop their limbs around as they strut past their yard.
Quarantine entertainment at its finest.
In others, they’re absent but have managed to capture the silly walks with their porch cam.
I imagine it would be just as entertaining to check the footage after a long day and to see so many people not only stopping to read the sign, but actually going on to obey it, too.
Some pedestrians interpreted “silly walking” differently and came up with their own amusing means of movement.
Whether because they don’t know the Monty Python sketch, or because they were more in the mood for a different kind of hilarious walk, they still managed to make an impression on that sidewalk.
Honestly, I think this would make for an excellent drinking game, don’t you?
Take a sip every time someone silly walks. Take two sips if they encourage their company to do the same.
Chug your drink if an entire group does it all together at the same time, like a hilarious herd of silly-walkers.
One passerby actually left the Koto family a note following her silly walking experience.
“Thanks for the laugh,” she wrote. “It made my day!”
Obviously it’s not just the family watching the silly walks who are benefiting from them. Bringing a little laughter into the lives of people is something that we definitely can’t take for granted, especially now.
Liz said the sign has definitely brightened her family’s spirits during these difficult times.
“My husband and I are essential workers so we are fortunate,” she said . “I have more time on my hands to do stuff because we aren’t dealing with two full time employees at work all day, school, homework, extracurriculars and the general craziness of life.”
We’ve shown a sample here, but there are a lot more.
To check out more hilarious videos of people strutting their silliest stuff, check out the @yorkshire.silly.walks Instagram page!
h/t: Bored Panda , Instagram
