any idea of the origins of this

I worked with one. He told me they laugh at an old woman who falls!!!!!

 

Well, so do Americans....that is when she's "fallen and I can't get up"..............

 

I worked with one. He told me they laugh at an old woman who falls!!!!!

I lived in Holland for 2 1/2 years in the late 80's, have to say I didn't notice that response if someone fell--HOWEVER, I recall going to a university award for someone and the person honored was kind of "roasted" ... it was a bit brutal by U.S. university standards. Everything was fair game, weight, etc... If similar happened in the U.S., the university would probably have a lawsuit on their hands, lol.

As a child north of Chicago in the late 60's, early 70's, I remember the big thing where I lived was "Polish jokes". Recently unearthed an interesting photo of my father. My normally impeccably dressed Dad was wearing loud plaid pants and a mis-matched shirt. I asked my mom what the heck that photo was, and she said, "Oh, that was a Polish Party your father went to". I don't think you'd see something like that in the U.S. nowadays, thankfully.