FAIR LAWN, N.J. — A centuries-old tradition came back to life in Bergen County on Sunday as Fair Lawn hosted its first-ever Junior Town Crier Competition, bringing history directly to a new generation of students.
Dozens of children and teenagers, from kindergarten through high school, took part in the event, stepping before judges to deliver their own traditional “cries” — public announcements modeled after those once used by town criers centuries ago.
The competition was organized as part of Fair Lawn’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and was designed to introduce young people to a form of public communication that existed long before newspapers, radio, television or social media.
Town criers historically served as the public voice of a community, announcing important news, laws and official decisions to residents. Their announcements often began with the familiar call “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!” — derived from an Old French word meaning “listen” or “hear ye.”
Fair Lawn is also home to award-winning town crier Tim Yuskaitis, who helped bring the idea for the junior competition to the borough. He said the event gives students a chance to experience history rather than simply read about it in a classroom.
The junior competition was held alongside an international adult Town Crier Competition featuring participants from the East Coast and Canada.
For Fair Lawn, the event turned a tradition from another era into a lively community celebration — and gave local students an unusual opportunity to make their voices heard while learning how news once traveled through towns and cities.
Source: News 12 New Jersey
By NJ RADAR Team