Yankee Doodle

[wnjxc21]

Whilst walking along some local marsh land looking at the wildlife, I noticed a feather floating down
(much like in the movie 'forrest gump')

Amazingly it landed atop a gentlemans hat, which prompted me and my family to a rapturous chorus of 'Yankee Doodle'

My younger sister Alice (she's always asking about things...very interested in what's going on around her,bkess) asked In the rhyme 'yankee doodle'

what did he actually call macaroni?

the town, the hat, the feather?

or a combination of these...?

I promised I would find out for her, I saw her again yesterday and she was still asking (very persistent)
I'm at a loss..Can anybody help so that I can put my sisters mind at rest?

Thanks AB'ers!

[heathfield]

'Macaroni' refers to the French and Italian fashion styles of the time. By sticking the feather in his hat he thought he was emulating European high fashion.

[wnjxc21]

Thanks Heathfield! very comprehensive answer!!

[SteveD]

Have a sing-along here while you are reading the explanation:

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/yankee.ht m

(SOUND)

[jno]

macaroni is other users have said. I must admit, like Alice, I've never been quite sure what he was calling macaroni, though. I guess it was just his whole outfit.