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January 13 is International Skeptics Day (or is it?)

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Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, still exists.
Philip K. Dick

I’m not sure how he’d feel about International Skeptics Day since there’s no evidence that it’s an official holiday anywhere. If you consider the number of skeptical organizations worldwide, almost 100 according to one source, maybe it should be.

international skeptics day

The sticklers among us might point out that Skeptics Day is also listed in some quarters as occurring on October 13.

Others might say the dearth of critical thinking calls for as many reminders of the need for skeptical inquiry as possible.

Perhaps the weirdest thing about this holiday is that we seem to need it at all.

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To learn more:

  • Watch the Youtube channel of the James Randi Foundation. Many tried and failed to win Randi’s years-long Million Dollar Challenge, which promised the prize to anyone who could show proof of the paranormal. The challenge ended recently, the money unclaimed.
  • Plumb the resources of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
  • Find like-minded skeptics in your neighborhood at meetup.com.
  • Consult Snopes.com, the Web’s Google search for hoaxes and misinformation, before you forward that chain email about how the government is poisoning us all with cheese.
  • Watch an old episode of Mythbusters, a show that made testing urban legends entertaining. (After the series wrapped, it became clear that the biggest myth was that the two hosts got along.)
  • Read A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking, which is sure to help you resist that midnight infomercial, win an argument, and separate fact from fiction in almost any situation.

No matter how or when you choose to celebrate International Skeptics Day, have fun!

Copyright 2016 Worldwide Weird Holidays

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January 12 is Kiss a Ginger Day

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international kiss a ginger day

Today is Kiss A Ginger Day, celebrated by kissing a redhead. (We advise you to ask permission first, especially if it’s Prince Harry; his security detail might misinterpret your enthusiasm.)

Derek Forgie created Kiss A Ginger Day on Facebook in 2009 as a “karmic counter-event” to the Kick a Ginger Facebook campaign originated in November 2008. The latter resulted in numerous assaults on redheaded kids at school.

Derek responded by declaring January 12th a holiday dedicated to showing affection  to redheads. Visit his Facebook group, pucker up (after receiving proper consent) and have a happy Kiss a Ginger Day!

If you happen to be in London, head over to the White Bear pub to celebrate with an evening of music, games, goodies and free food. The event’s only dress code requirement is “Not naked.” Drinks are discounted for all redheads including, we assume, bewigged revelers who go ginger for the evening. We’ll never tell!

Copyright © 2017 Worldwide Weird Holidays

January 10 is Peculiar People Day

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peculiar people dayToday is Peculiar People Day. The day itself is peculiar and raises several questions. We’ll try to help you answer them with our handy-dandy Peculiar People Day Quiz.

How should you celebrate?

 

1. Do you consider yourself peculiar? Yes [ ] No [ ]

(If you answered No, proceed directly to Question # 2.)

a. If you answered Yes, are you proud of that fact? Yes [ ] No [ ]

If Yes, just be yourself and have fun.

If No, just be yourself–you really can’t help it–but don’t make a fuss about it.

2. Do you know someone else who is peculiar? Yes [ ] No [ ]

(If you answered No, go back and answer Yes to Question #1.)

a. If you answered Yes, are you sure the person is aware of being peculiar? Yes [ ] No [ ]

(If No, you might’ve been the kid who liked to tell other kids there’s no Santa Claus.)

b. If Yes, are you certain the person won’t mind being called peculiar by an allegedly non-peculiar person? Yes [ ] No [ ]

If Yes, say nothing.

If No, say nothing.

Perhaps the most peculiar facet of this day is that it will probably not be any fun for those it “celebrates.” So this is one holiday we feel should be ignored or observed in secrecy by being kind to those who are different from ourselves. Shouldn’t that be something we do every day?

Copyright 2016 Worldwide Weird Holidays

January 9 is Aviation in America Day

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aviation in america dayToday is Aviation in America Day and commemorates the first balloon ride in the U.S. on January 9, 1793. Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard, aeronaut extraordinaire, had previously ascended 44 times in cities around the world.

He launched his balloon from the prison yard of Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia, PA, and landed in Deptford Township, NJ, 46 minutes later. One of the flight’s witnesses that day was President George Washington.

Blanchard believed he would grow rich from this endeavor despite the faulty business model of selling tickets to something that could be observed from pretty much anywhere for free.

Under the auspices of Philadelphia governor Thomas Mifflin, Blanchard was able to build an “aerostatical laboratory” to hold his balloon, basket and mechanical oddities. It was open to the public every day; admission cost 25 cents per person.

This did not generate enough cash to mount a new expedition. Blanchard hit upon the idea of flying small balloons with animals that would be fitted with crude parachutes, ejected automatically by a fuse and float to earth.

The first drop of a dog, cat and squirrel took place on June 6, 1793. Unfortunately, it was witnessed by “few paying, but many nonpaying spectators,” according to the General Advertiser. There is no reference to the health status of the tiny aeronauts.

Later that year, Blanchard claimed to have escaped his burning balloon with the aid of his (much larger) parachute. There were no witnesses to confirm this event, but he is credited with developing the first foldable parachute made from silk, without a rigid frame. Fido and Mr. Whiskers received no such accolades.

In 1809, the French adventurer died. There are conflicting accounts of the circumstances of his demise. Some state that he had a heart attack before a scheduled balloon flight in Paris. Others insist the heart attack occurred while aloft and caused him to fall from his balloon at The Hague.

Whether he fell from a height of five feet or five hundred feet, the result was the same. He died and today we remember him, not as a businessman, but for his inventive use of animal testing. Happy Aviation in America Day!

Copyright 2016 Worldwide Weird Holidays