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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Who Decides the Days?

Today, according to numerous websites that claim to be authorities on such thing, is National Chocolate Milk Day. I'm not especially surprised. There's Pi Day, on the 14th day of the 3rd month, and a zillion other such days dedicated to things ranging from hot dogs to running. Who created these days?
Some of the days are obviously created by individuals. International Towel Day, May 25th, is for Douglas Adams fans, while Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th) is mostly known by Dave Barry followers.
So is that all it takes? You choose a date and publicize it via websites and other media? Or is there a national registry somewhere? Does anyone know? How about we start a Blogger Appreciation Day right now?
Unless some website is already listing it somewhere...

11 comments:

  1. I've always wondered this, and it bothers me. Is there even a threshold? Can anyone just declare a day, so long as they have 1,000 signatures or one well-placed Day Declarer?

    I'm still shooting for a Honest People's Day. I'm mostly curious as to the turnout.

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  2. There are also months, usually of the "_____ awareness month" nature. I'd guess it's a money/politics thing. Or maybe it's like that star registry thing, where you can give a star any name you like for a small fee.

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  3. I think there should be a Day Day. You know, a day to commemorate the concept of having a Day.

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  4. Some of the special days/weeks are decided upon by associations or businesses in a particular area, such as the National Dairy Council, with its Drink Milk week, or the AMA with its various national health days.

    Some of the others come to you thanks to those elected officials we have placed in office. They have an event or a person or an industry in their geographic area that they want publicized (think tourism dollars)so they horsetrade: we'll sign on to your bill if you'll just add a line stating that _____ day in____ will be_______appreciation/commemoration day. Bet you didn't know that beavers need their own appreciation day or polar bears, or peanuts.

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  5. Most of these faux holidays were started, lulei demistafina, by the good folks at Hallmark.

    Also, by people who like to skip tachanun!

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  6. I once saw a letter signed by the presidant of the united states which declared some day "National Education Day" in honor of the Lubuvitcher Rebbe.

    That is, Chabad lobbied, and got passed by congress a national day of education.

    So there are true "national days" and there are fake ones.

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  7. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10194354-38.html

    National PI day is also official. I can't seem to find a list of official national days though.

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  8. Ok, after doing some hunting, I think this is the "official book" on it.

    http://www.amazon.com/Chases-Calendar-Events-2009-CD-ROM/dp/0071599541

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  9. I thought it was National Milk Chocolate Day?

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