SpongeBob SquarePants: The Curse of Diminishing Bottom is a popular episode of the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. In this episode, SpongeBob and his friends find themselves facing a curse that causes their bottoms to shrink. The curse is inflicted upon them by the evil Plankton, who wants to take over the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The curse starts to affect SpongeBob and his friends, Patrick and Squidward, when they unwittingly come into contact with a cursed artifact called the "Golden Bottom." As their bottoms shrink, they face various challenges and obstacles in their everyday lives. SpongeBob, however, remains determined to find a way to break the curse and save Bikini Bottom from Plankton's evil plans.
May Eve is also known by the name Beltane. It is believed that “Beltane” is derived from the Irish Gaelic word “Beeltaine”, meaning Bel fire. That is, a fire lit to honour the Celtic god Bel. Bel fires were lit at sun down on April 30th (or the Celtic equivalent) on the tallest beacon hill in the area. The reason for lighting these fires comes from a belief that the Tuatha De Danann would light great bonfires at this time of year to bring in a summer filled with good harvest, prosperity and hope. It is also believed that Druids lit these fires, and village people drove their cattle between them to purify them and bring good luck.
It uses as its framework a patchwork of beliefs celebrations that are actually taken from a number of Earth-based cultures that existed throughout Europe. Offerings would be left at the ancient faerie forts, the wells and in other sacred places in an effort to appease these nature spirits to ensure a successful growing season.
SpongeBob, however, remains determined to find a way to break the curse and save Bikini Bottom from Plankton's evil plans. Throughout the episode, SpongeBob and his friends encounter hilarious situations as they try to cope with their shrinking bottoms. They have trouble fitting into their pants, sitting on chairs, and even riding their bicycles.
Hold my broom: May Day / Beltane
You don't have to get skyclad and howl at the moon to celebrate May Day (based on the Gaelic holiday, Beltane), but we're not judging you if you do. Today is simply about stopping to smell the flowers.
By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published May 01, 2021 at 10:31 AMHold My Broom is an OnMilwaukee exclusive series exploring the magickal, mystical and cackle-worthy.
For many, May 1 marks the time when we can finally start getting stoked for summer. Others know it as May Day – a Euro-based spring holiday only vaguely recognized in the United States – that encourages people to commune with nature in whatever way it works for them, from firing up the grill to digging in the dirt until sundown.
May Day is also International Workers’ Day, or what my partner calls, “The real Labor Day.”
May Day might also conjure images of poles adorned with ribbons and folks getting frisky outdoors (ahem), but now we’re also talking about a holiday that May Day is based on: Beltane.
Beltane is a Gaelic holiday celebrating the halfway point between the spring equinox (March 21) and the summer solstice (June 21). Traditionally, Beltane was a focus on fire and fertility; a time of seed-planting in all of its forms and joy.
Today it is celebrated by Pagans, Wiccans and spiritual nature lovers alike. For some, it includes rituals both old and new, for others it is simply a time to pause and reflect on growth, literally and/or metaphysically.
In short, Beltane is a time to stop and smell the flowers.
For me, it’s the time of year when I shave winter’s afghan off my legs and blaze up fires in my yard on a regular basis. This year, I tracked down someone whom I hadn’t spoke to in many years, but who had great impact on my family’s life and I knew was a celebrator of this shift into summer.
Mary O’Connell is a farm-based educator who owns Paradise Farms in West Bend. Many moons ago, she was the director of LifeWays, an early childhood center located in the magical Koenen nature preserve in Riverwest and the place both my sons started their journey into the world without me.
Last week, I called to ask her if she was doing anything cool on the farm for the first of May, and like I was hoping, she is indeed.
Mary was in the process of creating a maypole with 10 families who had been coming to the farm every Wednesday for months to learn about nature, spend time safely with others during the pandemic and meet like-minded families with whom they could further build a community.
“This was the perfect activity for us. Both adults and kids participated from start to finish: went into the woods, found a dead tree, hauled it out, cut off the branches, dug a hole, made a ‘May Crown’ for the top, cut ribbons and hung them from the crown," she says.
Since then, the group has been practicing traditional maypole dances in preparation for a May Day celebration next week. One of the dances she told me is called “The Spider’s Web” where people move around each other and weave a web of ribbons above their heads. Another is called “The Barbers Pole” where they methodically and joyfully wrap the ribbons around the trunk so it looks similar to an actual barber’s pole.
At the end of our call, Mary pointed out that people can celebrate May Day/Beltane – and any holiday or event for that matter – however they want, as big or as small as they are able and in whatever way works for them.
“You don’t have to go fell a tree in the forest,” says Mary. “Some years I just wrapped crepe paper around a pole in my garage.”
Happy May Day, Merry Beltane to all.
More stories on:
Share with someone you care about:
Molly Snyder Senior Writer @mollysnyderMKE
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
Nature has an amazing ability to reproduce itself, and in such a stunning & beautiful way. It’s important to honor this power that nature holds – a power that we, as humans, also hold. Right now, when the Earth is bursting with fertile energy, is a powerful time to acknowledge & celebrate the fertility inherent in all life.
The humor and wit of the show shine through as they come up with creative solutions to their shrinking dilemma. Meanwhile, Plankton continues to scheme and plot, using the chaos caused by the curse to his advantage. He believes that by shrinking everyone's bottoms, he can gain control over Bikini Bottom and finally defeat his arch-nemesis, Mr. Krabs, who owns the popular fast-food restaurant, the Krusty Krab. As the episode progresses, the curse's effects become more severe, leading SpongeBob and his friends to a point of desperation. However, through determination and teamwork, they manage to uncover the curse's weakness and find a way to break it. In the end, SpongeBob and his friends successfully defeat Plankton and restore their bottoms to their original size. The curse is lifted, and Bikini Bottom returns to peace and normalcy. The episode concludes with SpongeBob and his friends celebrating their victory and laughing together. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Curse of Diminishing Bottom is a beloved episode among fans of the show. Its humor, creativity, and memorable characters make it a standout installment in the SpongeBob SquarePants series..
Reviews for "The Enduring Appeal of Spongebob Squarepants: Why the Show Remains Popular After Two Decades"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Spongebob Squarepants: The Curse of Diminibottom." While I usually love Spongebob and his hilarious adventures, this movie was a letdown. The storyline felt forced and predictable, and the jokes fell flat. It seemed like the creators were trying too hard to make it funny and ended up missing the mark. Overall, it lacked the charm and wit that I usually associate with the Spongebob franchise.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - As a long-time fan of Spongebob Squarepants, I had high hopes for "The Curse of Diminibottom." However, I found it to be quite mediocre. The animation was vibrant and visually appealing, but the plot was lacking depth. The characters didn't seem as lively and dynamic as in previous episodes, and some of the jokes felt repetitive. While it wasn't terrible, it didn't live up to the standards set by previous Spongebob movies.
3. Alex - 2/5 stars - "Spongebob Squarepants: The Curse of Diminibottom" was a major disappointment for me. The storyline was weak, and the humor was forced. I felt like the characters were just going through the motions without any real purpose or growth. Additionally, the movie seemed to drag on, and I found myself losing interest halfway through. Overall, it lacked the creativity and cleverness that I've come to expect from the Spongebob franchise.
4. Lisa - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to see "The Curse of Diminibottom," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot felt recycled, and the jokes were predictable and repetitive. It seemed like the writers were struggling to come up with fresh material. The dynamic between the characters also felt off, and their interactions lacked the usual chemistry. Overall, it was a lackluster addition to the Spongebob Squarepants franchise.
5. Mark - 3/5 stars - While "The Curse of Diminibottom" had its moments, I was mostly underwhelmed by the movie. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving little room for character development. Some of the jokes landed, but many others felt forced and fell flat. I was hoping for a more engaging and imaginative storyline, but instead, it was just a forgettable addition to the Spongebob Squarepants series.