Welcome to Worldwide Weird Holidays, where you’ll find a new reason to celebrate every day of the year.
April 7 is National Beer Day
Today is National Beer Day but it doesn’t celebrate the end of federal Prohibition, which took place on December 5, 1933. (If you just read our post about New Beer’s Eve, stick around; we’ve got new stuff!) National Beer Day commemorates a step in that direction. Under the Volstead Act, so-called “near beer” was allowed […]
April 6 is New Beer’s Eve
April 6th, 1933, is known in the U.S. as New Beer’s Eve because it was the last night that Prohibition kept citizens from freely enjoying a glass of beer. On January 16, 1919, the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It stated: After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, […]
April 5 is National Caramel Day
Today is National Caramel Day, one of the most delicious holidays of the year. The name has a long history. The English word is cadged from the French caramel, which has roots in 18th-century Spain’s caramelo, which in turn dates back to the Late Latin calamellus. The granddaddy of them all comes from the Greek κάλαμος. But who […]
April 4 is World Rat Day
Today is World Rat Day. Back in 2002, members of the ratlist—the longest-standing mailing list about rats on the Internet—proposed the creation of a holiday to raise awareness of rats’ intelligence, affectionate natures and other qualities that make them excellent pets.The ratlist, which boasts over 2,300 members, has served as a meeting place and clearinghouse […]
April 3 is Tweed Day
Today is Tweed Day, but it doesn’t celebrate the woolen fabric favored by the British upper class for sporting outfits and by college professors for suede-elbowed lecture hall jackets. Instead, Tweed Day is named for one of the most corrupt politicians in New York history. William Magear “Boss” Tweed was born on April 3, 1823. He began […]
March 31 is National “She’s Funny That Way” Day
Today is National “She’s Funny That Way” Day. Its purpose is to pay tribute to the women who make us laugh all year long. Author Brenda Meridith created today’s holiday to coincide with the March 2003 publication of her coming-of-age novel entitled She’s Funny That Way. There are many ways to celebrate: watch comedic movies […]
March 30 is Pencil Day
Today is Pencil Day but it is not, as the name might imply, the date of its invention. On March 30, 1858, Hymen Lipman patented his addition of an eraser to an existing design. ***** Fun Fact: The first known usage of the word “pencil” occurred in the 14th century, derived from Old French pincel, meaning “artist’s paintbrush.” Pincel […]
March 29 is Smoke and Mirrors Day
Today is Smoke and Mirrors Day. It is sometimes referred to as National Smoke and Mirrors Day or the Festival of Smoke and Mirrors although, perhaps fittingly, we know of no festival occurring today. Magicians have long used distracting bursts of smoke to mask the extension or retraction of mirrors. The props help them make […]
March 28 is Respect Your Cat Day
Today is Respect Your Cat Day. We would argue that every day is Respect Your Cat Day. Why is today singled out for this observance? Legend has it that on March 28, 1384, King Richard II outlawed the consumption of cats. We use the word “legend” because there doesn’t appear to be a lick of […]
National Joe Day
Today is National Joe Day. We have been unable to track down the source of this unofficial observance but that shouldn’t keep you from having fun with it. Is your name Joe? Congratulations. Inform your friends, family and coworkers about today’s holiday, then sit back and wait for the accolades to come your way. If […]