The Padoru meme is one of the most beloved internet
phenomena, especially around the holiday season, with its roots in a scene from
the Japanese role-playing game “ Fate/Extra ” for the
PlayStation Portable. In this game, the character Nero Claudius
performs a Japanese parody of the famous Christmas carol Jingle Bells,
culminating in a lively cry of “Padoru, Padoru!”
The first appearance of this peculiar interpretation
was shared on YouTube on December 11, 2011 by user “ugroundz,” racking up over
473,000 views and 300 comments in six years. However, the meme began to
gain traction years later, with a growing series of videos and posts putting a
comedic spin on the original scene.
From then on, Padoru began to spread rapidly. In
December 2017, the meme reached forums such as 4chan, specifically on the board
dedicated to “Fate/Grand Order,” where users began referencing the “padoru
chant” in their posts. The following year, in 2018, the meme’s
popularity was further consolidated when fans explained its origin on platforms
such as Reddit.
The term “Padoru” has a peculiar meaning: it is a
Japanese onomatopoeia that imitates the sound of reindeer trotting. This connection
to Christmas, coupled with Nero Claudius’s expressive and festive performance,
made Padoru a holiday sensation within the Fate community and beyond.
What started as a scene from a game has evolved into a
recurring icon during the holidays. Not only do
fans share images and videos of the meme, but they have also created
illustrations and adaptations of characters from other franchises in the style
of Padoru.
Source: KnowYour Meme
