Holy Toledo! The History Behind the Phrase

We love our Toledo history. The slogan Toledo is most well known for is "Holy Toledo!"
You might have heard it first from Robin on the original Batman show or from a relative who used it in excitement. The true origin of the phrase is still up for debate.
The three best ideas that we have found are:
1 - The city of Toledo, Spain, where Christianity got its first hold in that country after a long political and religious struggle, is often called the Holy City of Toledo in literature;
2 - Holy week always has been the worst week at the box office for show business, and old-time actors and performers contended any week in Toledo was Holy Week, so they spread the word as they traveled;
3 - The gangster version. (In the 20s and 30s, Toledo was a sanctuary for gangsters. They made an agreement with the police that if the police would leave them alone, they would leave Toledo alone. Since this provided a sanctuary, the gangsters called the city "Holy Toledo."
You can read more about the history and current uses of Holy Toledo: www.jupmode.com/blogs/news/ho...
Love the phrase Holy Toledo? Check out our line of Holy Toledo clothing: www.jupmode.com/collections/h...
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Jūpmode is a full service screen printing company and retail brand. Based in Toledo, Ohio, our company’s goal has always been to create and foster a sense of pride in the city of Toledo by remembering our past and highlighting the new wave of excitement happening today. We believe that by doing better for the city of Toledo, more people can do better in the city of Toledo.
Custom shirt screen printing and embroidery for organizations, businesses, and events is the backbone of Jūpmode. If you need custom shirts made send us an email to [e-mail], we'd love to help!
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[@RosscoFAM]

This was great...thank you John for looking this stuff up.

[@jupmode]

Glad you like it. It's a fun piece of Toledo history!

[@RosscoFAM]

@@jupmode it really is. Always love hearing little history gems like this for the town I live in

[@stefanjakubowski8222]

Growing up in the North End, we were told by the priest that it was because of all the churches, the Two on Lagrange, and whole lot on Collingwood

[@jupmode]

We like that explanation! It's fun to hear all of the different origin stories.

[@jmmahony]

I just found out about a very early car company in Toledo called the Pope Motor Car Company, and their best car was called the Pope Toledo. I wonder if that had anything to do with it.

[@jupmode]

That's cool! I've never heard of that company. I bet it's part of the history.

[@MikeToledo-fq5hc]

I definitely have to get all this merch with my last name on it. Very CooL!

[@jupmode]

You've come to the right place! We've got a bunch more where that came from: www.jupmode.com/collections/toledo-city-pride

[@kerisutt7579]

Being from New Zealand, I just thought it came from M*A*S*H.

[@jupmode]

MASH definitely is one of the more popular uses. Jamie Farr is beloved in Toledo.

[@forceghostburtreynolds7597]

"it's cause we harbor criminals and I'm so proud" lol