What Do Pineapples On Clothing, Flags, and Napkins Mean?

We may never look at pineapple the same again. When you pick up a pineapple at the grocery store or fruit stand, you're probably not thinking much of it. Louisiana relies on fruits like watermelon and pineapple to hydrate us on our scorching summer days.

However, when you see a pineapple, or an upside-down pineapple, not the cake, on clothing, a flag placed out in the yard, or even a cocktail napkin in a bar, this could mean a swinger couple is trying to meet other swingers.

What Are Swingers?

Swingers are typically married couples or people in a committed relationship who are open to involving other couples in their relationship. A married couple looking to spice up their marriage might recruit just one individual, a couple, or more than one couple. It's almost like a secret society or club with private events hosted by couples who partake.

Swingers find other swingers with a secret code...pineapples. Especially an upside-down pineapple. Just because someone happens to have on a festive pineapple shirt or swim trunks does not mean they are a swinger. However, upside-down pineapples are another story.

You can just tell. It's pretty safe to assume a person or couple displaying an upside-down pineapple are swingers.

Now that you know what you're looking for, you will start to see pineapples all over Acadiana.

People put flags in their yards with pineapples on 'um. Sometimes on the porch or mailbox too They'll wear them on their clothes. They'll even buy pineapple in the grocery store and turn 'um upside-down in the basket. -Anonymous

Swingers turn pineapples upside-down in their shopping baskets.

A large swinger's party, allegedly, might include renting out an entire floor of a hotel.

Sometimes, groups, I know one in New Iberia does this, they'll rent out an entire floor of a hotel and hire security to keep watch. All the doors are left open and they just go from room to room. -Anonymous

Swingers, allegedly, have favorite bars as well.

Swingers have their favorite bars in the poor area of Acadiana and in the wealthy area as well. There are two, in particular, one even has pineapples on their napkins. -Anonymous

There are several locations in Lafayette and outside of Lafayette, allegedly, where swingers meet.

They also like to meet in Breaux Bridge and St. Martinville too. -Anonymous

Allegedly, some couples try to attract other swingers walking or driving through neighborhoods.

Some swingers like to leave the curtains open while they walk around nude in there house to attract other swingers. -Anonymous

The queen of fruit has a crown to prove it, but the pineapple is no longer just a sweet, juicy treat on a warm day. Like its friend, the eggplant, the pineapple now has a whole new meaning in Lafayette and all of Acadiana.

John Anderson's 1983 hit "Swingin'".

(UPDATE) Since this article was first published in November of 2021, an alleged former swingers club assistant manager says, "things changed".

"After the story came out, two things happened. Swingers got more cautious but they also got excited a little bit too. 'Cause now, people who would be interested in this type of activity but didn't know we had it here in Lafayette, found out it was really here. So that brought even more people to the parties," claimed the alleged former swinger club assistant manager. He went on to say, "And then, now, you got people who didn't know anything at all about swinging checking it out".

There are more swingers and more swingin' goin' on in Lafayette, Louisiana than ever. You just can't believe it. People you would never think would ever do it are doin' it. Some might live next door to you. -Alleged Former Swingers Club Assistant Manager