Frog mug facts for kids
A frog mug is a special kind of drinking cup. It's also known as a toad mug or surprise mug. These mugs were mostly used for drinking beverages like beer. They were first made in Sunderland, England. Later, other places like Staffordshire and Newcastle upon Tyne started making them too. Frog mugs were part of fun old traditions, like other trick cups such as fuddling cups. The surprise in these mugs was a ceramic frog or toad that slowly appeared at the bottom as you finished your drink!
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What are Frog Mugs Like?
These fun, trick mugs with frogs or toads started being made around 1775. They stayed popular until the end of the 1800s. Imagine someone drinking from one of these mugs. As they finished their drink, a frog or toad would slowly pop into view from the bottom! Drinks back then were often cloudy, so the creature was a real surprise. Sometimes, the ceramic frog even had a hole in its mouth. When the mug was tilted, it would make a gurgling sound or seem to "spit" water at the drinker! Some bigger mugs had two or three handles and could hide several frogs or toads.
Designs and Messages
Many frog mugs had cool pictures and words printed on them. These designs often showed patriotic feelings, wise sayings, or even short poems. Some mugs were made as gifts for special occasions and had people's names on them. A few were even made to celebrate big events, like victories in wars.
Designs about sailors and the navy were very common. This is because sailors often used these mugs in taverns (old pubs). Sometimes, these designs showed strong feelings against other countries, like France, during times of war. For example, during the Battle of Trafalgar, sailors sometimes called the French "Monsieur Johnny Crapaud," where "Crapaud" means toad in French.
Here are some examples of the poems found on these mugs:
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"May England's oak, |
Sometimes, people were so surprised by the frog that they accidentally broke the mug! To prevent this, some mugs had a warning message on them:
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"Tho' malt and venom, |
How Were Frog Mugs Used?
Frog mugs were a fun way to add laughter and excitement to gatherings in taverns and homes. They were like a simple prank that made people smile. Today, these mugs are often collected and displayed as interesting conversation pieces.
In the past, people had an old belief about an illness called ague, which caused fever and shivering. Some thought that a sudden shock, like seeing a frog in your drink, could help cure it!
Interestingly, some frog mugs were also made to encourage young children to finish their drinks. The idea was that seeing the frog or toad appear would be a fun reward for drinking everything.
Where Were They Made?
Frog mugs were first created in Sunderland around 1775. After that, other pottery makers in places like Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Newcastle upon Tyne started making their own versions. By the 1860s, there were about twenty-five potteries (places where pottery is made) producing these mugs in the areas around the Tees, Tyne, and Wear rivers. Because Sunderland was the first place to make them, these mugs are sometimes called Sunderland mugs.
