Welcome to Worldwide Weird Holidays, where you’ll find a new reason to celebrate every day of the year.
June 29 is National Waffle Iron Day
Today is National Waffle Iron Day, a holiday that celebrates one of the world’s favorite kitchen appliances. Although today’s date doesn’t appear to have any historical significance and may have been initiated by manufacturers, the story of the waffle iron and its evolution is an interesting one. The waffle iron’s earliest known predecessor is the Medieval […]
June 28 is Monday Holiday Law Day
Today is Monday Holiday Law Day. Call it the mother of all holidays about holidays and Lyndon B. Johnson the father of the long weekend. On June 28, 1968, President Johnson signed a bill moving the official celebration of Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day from their traditional dates to Mondays. The change was […]
INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY
Today is INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY, celebrated on June 28 and October 22 each year. Derek Arnold created the unofficial holiday in October 2000 to bring attention to those who abuse the caps lock key and, by extension, everyone who receives their emails, texts, and Internet screeds. Arnold claimed he had a higher purpose in mind, stating: […]
June 27 is Happy Birthday to You Day
Today is Happy Birthday to You Day. On this date in 1893, teachers (and sisters) Mildred and Patty Hill composed a tune and lyrics for kindergarten students to sing before starting their school day. It was called “Good Morning to All” and used the music we now recognize as “Happy Birthday to You.” Good morning […]
June 26 is Barcode Day
Today is Barcode Day. On June 26, 1974, at Marsh’s Supermarket in Troy, OH, a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum became the first product bearing a barcode to be rung up by an electronic scanner. That historic moment had been a long time coming. In 1952, American inventors Norman J. Woodland and Bernard Silver were granted a […]
June 23 is Pink Flamingo Day
Today is Pink Flamingo Day, founded on June 23, 2007, by Mayor Dean Mazzarella of Leominster, MA, to honor the 50th birthday of the iconic lawn ornament. In 1957, art school grad Don Featherstone was tasked with creating a pink flamingo for his employer, Union Products, located in Leominster, often called the Plastics Capital of […]
June 22 is National Onion Ring Day
Today is National Onion Ring Day. The first known iteration of the onion ring appeared in the 1802 cookbook “The Art of Cookery.” The recipe for Fried Onions with Parmesan Cheese called for onions to be sliced into 1/2 inch rings, dredged in a batter of flour, cream, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese, then deep […]
June 21 is Go Skateboarding Day
Today is Go Skateboarding Day, created in 2004 by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC). We’d like to let the founders describe their motives. According to the IASC site, “The holiday began June 21, 2004, as an excuse for skateboarders to make skateboarding their top priority.” It goes on to describe the day in a way […]
June 20 is American Eagle Day
Today is American Eagle Day. On June 20, 1782, the bald eagle was chosen to grace the Great Seal of the United States of America. Two centuries later, President Ronald Reagan declared June 20, 1982, National Bald Eagle Day and designated 1982 as the Bicentennial Year of the American Bald Eagle. But the observance was […]
June 19 is World Sauntering Day
Today is World Sauntering Day, also known as International Sauntering Day. The first official saunter reportedly took place at Michigan’s Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Participants strolled across the 660-foot porch, which the hotel claims is the longest in existence. W.T. Rabe invented the holiday in 1979 in response to what he saw as an […]