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Today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day, a holiday devised by John Baur and Mark Summers in 1995 that grew in popularity after a 2002 Dave Barry column.
In seven years, I’d like to see a new holiday sweep the nation. So we’d better get to work.
Your task is to propose a new International Day of…something. Whatever you think people will get excited about, talk up, email around and create Facebook groups for.
The creator of the holiday with the most potential will win a mental_floss t-shirt, and we’ll celebrate the day here on the blog. Two runners-up will get a back issue of the magazine. Then, come 2015, perhaps your holiday will catch the eye of a national columnist, and you’ll gain international fame (or at least internet fame). For now, the waiting game.
Looking forward to reading your proposals. Good luck!
[Last Week: What Was Your Yearbook Quote?]
Comments (27)
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I’m hoping we already have some Flossers out there who mark Yellow Pig Day every year. Anyone?….
posted by Betsy on 9-19-2008 at 1:54 pm
Obviously we should celebrate the birthday of Mental_Floss every May (Will and Mangesh can pick the day).
posted by Jennings on 9-19-2008 at 2:14 pm
A friend of mine was commenting that International Talk Like A Pirate Day seems to come more frequently than once a year.
That got me to thinking that we need a holiday that does occur more frequently than once a year, but not too frequently. That way it slides around, taking you by surprise.
I’m still thinking of what to celebrate. The best I’ve come up with so far is Venusian New Year, which would be celebrated every 225 days (224.7 if you want to factor in Venusian leap years). We’d have to pick an day to start – maybe based on the equinoxes since Venus doesn’t have a moon. Or it could just be random, so if tomorrow, September 20th was the first Venusian New Year, next year it would be on May 28, 2009 then on Feb 2, 2010 then on Oct 10, 2010 (two in one year) and so on.
Then we’d just figure out how to celebrate it. Alcohol should probably be involved. Maybe funny hats as well.
posted by Christopher Palmer on 9-19-2008 at 2:41 pm
International Pangea Day – it could be a celebration of world unity. Drinks, hats, a pinata, pin the tail on New Zealand, and a pig roast!
posted by Kristin on 9-19-2008 at 2:59 pm
National ‘Not My Problem’ Day (
NNMP Day for short, of course) — the day where any and all people can spend the day saying, without guilt or fear of repercussion, ‘Not my problem’ to anything they see fit.
You need those papers right away? Not my problem, man.
You forgot your wallet? Not my problem.
You think this is a terrible idea for a holiday? Well, you get the idea . . .
(CAPTCHA- Gette out)
posted by EV on 9-19-2008 at 3:16 pm
How about this… (drum roll) International Salute to Stallone, aka Italian Stallion Day! Greet all your friends w/ that Elvis/Billy Idol lip thing and an uber-slow, drawn out quote from Rocky/Rambo/Over the Top/Cobra (bonus if you can get all four in one!) Of course, I’d hope we’d let the Norm MacDonald’s out there celebrate in there own way…YOU GUESSED IT…FRANK STALLONE!
posted by Kevin H on 9-19-2008 at 3:17 pm
BTW, Italian Stallion day would be on July 16, half-way b/w Sly’s (7/2) and Frank’s (7/30) birthday, and also my sister-in-law’s birthday, who somewhat resembles a Stallone.
Click on my name for some visual inspiration for ISD…
posted by Kevin H on 9-19-2008 at 3:20 pm
International High Five a Stranger Day.
Have people be more friendly to one another by slapping hands with someone you don’t know on the streets just to say, “Hi,” or “wad up?” if you’re street. I’m not street, I’ll say, “Hi”
posted by NateJack on 9-19-2008 at 3:40 pm
How about Call-in-Sic-to-Work day? It should happen once a season, should have a website with recordings of excuses that can be forwarded to the bosses voicemail and a list of gross sounding communicable (BUT SHORT TERM) illnesses.n Would work(or ‘not work’) for me!
posted by JaneM on 9-19-2008 at 3:51 pm
How about Jeopar-Day, where all interactions must be phrased as Jeopardy answers and questions, such as:
Waiter: The answer is…Your order.
Patron: Um…What is…the grilled chicken, the mushroom and swiss burger, and two sodas.
Waiter: Correct! True or False……This ticket is split.
Patron: False. It’s together
Waiter: Correct! I’ll be right back with your order.
Or:
Boss: The answer is…Compile a report of our year-to-date sales, finalize the Peterson account, and email me a list of the weeks customer prospects.
Employee: What is……what are my goals for next week?
Boss: Oooh, I’m sorry, the correct answer is “What things must be done before you can leave today” Maybe next time.
Either that, or a day in which everyone must be referred to only by their chosen lucha libre name
posted by Matt on 9-19-2008 at 4:05 pm
A few just off the top of my head…
National Egg Sandwich Day- bring one, share one with a friend, feel free to make an “egg” pun; egg someone on, in France one egg is un oeuf.
Chuck Norris Beard Day- grow your own, take some andro, or just refer to yourself as “Walker” for the day.
Movie Cliche Day- unburden all of your obscure and pretentious cult classic quotes… your co-workers will appreciate getting these all out at once
Confront Your Nemisis Day- this not a day for reconciliation, but for self redemption. Moreover, I often find he/she was quite unaware of his/her status.
I’d be happy to flesh these out further provided consideration.
posted by Jesse Harding on 9-19-2008 at 4:08 pm
National Punday- a day filled with bad/clever jokes interspersed into normal conversation
National Sweatpants Day- little explanation needed here, find me someone who would not enjoy spending a day at work in their sweatpants, even bosses
No Cell Day- just to remind us what is was like when we had to remember phone numbers and to provide some peace of mind
posted by Dennis W on 9-19-2008 at 4:37 pm
Try a Food that Scares You Day
Break out of your routine and try something that looks odd and you would never eat. Explore new flavors, new cultures, and perhaps a new favorite dish.
It will be the Carpe Diem Diet!
posted by NateJack on 9-19-2008 at 4:52 pm
International Evolution Day: Take the day off and try to evolve for once! To be held on November 24th, the date of publication for Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” and also my birthday.
International Capture a Dictator Day: Celebrate the anniversary of Saddam’s capture by finding and imprisoning a dictator-in-hiding! (Extra points if you raid his snack fridge.) To be celebrated on December 14, the day of the announcement that Saddam was captured, as well as my sister’s birthday.
Do Not Call Day: Unhook your corded phones and take the batteries off the cordless and cell phones; don’t call anybody, and don’t let anybody call you! To be celebrated on June 27, the first day of the United States National Do Not Call Registry, as well as my kinda-sorta girlfriend’s birthday. (Seeing a pattern?)
posted by Sillstaw on 9-19-2008 at 4:57 pm
I have personally been celebrating International Mountain Day (December 11) since 2006, although the United Nations declared the holiday originally in 2003.
In 2006 I dressed up as Mount Logan (Canada’s Highest Peak), and in 2007 I dressed up as K2. I was outdone by someone who dressed up as Olympus Mons (highest mountain in the known universe, which is on Mars, which I’m not sure counts as a nation).
Generally, its taken quite lightly, though its original intent was to promote biodiversity on mountains. However, it has been celebrated on three continents, completely devoid of meaning.
Sidenote: December 11 also happens to be the day Newfoundland and Labrador became a province.
posted by Ezra on 9-19-2008 at 5:23 pm
For lack of a bad name, for the past several April 30ths my friends and I have had a ‘Halfway to Halloween’ costume party. We’ve always believed that its a shame that there is a second valentines day in October (Sweeties Day) but only one day to dress up in costume.
It already has the name ‘May Day’ and it has a couple of faux stories why this became a dress up day
1) It marks the anniversary of Castro closing Cuba, then people had to ‘Dress up’ to escape
2) North Korea is founded, thus escapee’s had to ‘Dress up’ to escape
3) MGM studio’s is opened in Disney World, where high school and college kids got jobs that allowed them ‘Dress up’ to escape their parents (I’m rolling here!)
I know this will succeed because, well frankly who doesn’t want another day where girls dress as naughty school girls!
posted by Bob on 9-19-2008 at 5:35 pm
How about International Impromptu Poetry Day?
Speak in rhymes all day long!
Alternately, Speak in Cliches Day could be lots of fun.
posted by Pointy-Hatted Geek on 9-19-2008 at 7:49 pm
I would like to second EV’s motion for a ‘Not My Problem Day’. In the world of social networking and Twitter, people seem to be under the impression that we should care about their failings in life and I would love to turn around and just say ‘not my problem!’
posted by liz on 9-19-2008 at 8:46 pm
I suggest International Pop Culture Appreciation day. We rarely take the time to look seriously at what we consume or watch, and at there always seems to a large portion of the population who thinks we are falling into mortal sin or at least wasting our time. Yet, popular entertainment greatly shapes our opinions and worldview and allows us to share experiences and ideas – especially today. If we stop to analyze what we watch, read and play we can learn quite a bit about ourselves and our values.
That, and I want an excuse to watch TV and play video games. Then discuss them intellectually afterwards.
posted by Graham on 9-19-2008 at 11:04 pm
International Inside Out Underpants Day.
posted by Suba on 9-20-2008 at 2:10 am
How about National ‘What the HELL is that???’ Day.
Like today and the last few days, for instance. I keep seeing this “__LongTerm__ ” thingy post all over MF and,since I missed any indication of why it’s there, can only think to ask:
What the HELL is that?? ;-)
posted by Amy on 9-20-2008 at 5:49 pm
In connection to Jesse’s ‘Movie Cliche Day’ , how about a day when we can BE our favorite movie characters (not sure what to call this day – suggestions?)
For example, imagine almost being hit by a car while crossing the street and having free rein to pummel it w/ your fists, all the while shouting ‘I’m walking here! I’m walking here!’
posted by Amy on 9-20-2008 at 5:59 pm
Ok, using my earlier suggestion….
What the HELL is that (regarding my 2nd entry above).
In case it’s not obvious, I was referencing Jesse’s movie cliche day.
Well, let’s see if *this* posts normally!
posted by Amy on 9-20-2008 at 6:02 pm
My friends and I have called the “Halfway to Halloween” Half-o-ween. Unfortunately our attempts to have a party celebrating it earlier this summer did not blossom.
posted by Jesse Harding on 9-20-2008 at 7:07 pm
One more
Hangover day- I am not advocating excessive drinking, only that everyone would understand this day is not a day for loud voices, bright lights or serious conversation. And being hung over is okay today, because EVERYONE is hungover. Plus the effort to get a hangover would make for a fun night.
posted by Dennis W on 9-20-2008 at 7:23 pm
I like the Chuck Norris Grow Your Beard Day…
My Entry is: Pick Your Brain & Not Your Nose Day. Solve a riddle or a somewhat insolvable problem (upto that point anywasy). Captcha: Lady Sweden
posted by Shawn on 9-21-2008 at 10:13 am
How about an International digital-free day. I had a class about the digital divide and one of our assignments was to cut out as much digital technology as possible for two days. It was an eye opener-I felt like I was on vacation, but some of my classmates couldn’t handle life without their iPod or Blackberry for more than a couple hours.
posted by Ashley on 9-22-2008 at 6:37 pm