Little-known holidays: How did we get them?
You may have forgotten, but I’m here to remind you: Monday, Nov. 19, is World Toilet Day!
I know everyone is just flush with excitement. (Oh man, I apologize. My fingers typed that without my brain knowing it.)
Let’s just take a deep breath here — or maybe not. World Toilet Day? While the intent to raise awareness of hygiene and sanitation issues is honorable and definitely needed, we must also note that there are many people out in the world who have never seen a toilet, so this day has no resonance for them. Wouldn’t National Hygiene or Sanitation Day be better?
It seems like every day is National or International Something Day. There are days for sugar cookies, ice cream cakes, tequila (a good day; the day after, not so much), tattoos, lizards, vegetarians, moles (it’s a chemistry thing, not an animal or bump on your arm) and pepperoni pizza. Even the Tooth Fairy has a day for him/ her/it.
A quick rundown of some of these days shows just how out-of-hand the whole thing has gotten: World Television Day, Wednesday, Nov. 21: I thought every day was Television Day. It’s on every day in my house. National Bobblehead Day, Monday, Jan. 7: A chance to spend a moment thinking about your local, state and national political representatives. Huh? You mean this isn’t about that? My bad. National Peanut Butter Day, Thursday, Jan. 24: In my house, that means worshiping at the altar of Jif Creamy. No other brand will invade my pantry. National Love Your Pet Day, Wednesday, Feb. 20: If you don’t love your pet every day, you don’t deserve a pet.
National Manatee Appreciation Day and National Joe Day, Wednesday, March 27: A two-fer. And if you know a manatee named Joe, you’ve hit the jackpot.
National Hug a Newsperson Day, Thursday, April 9: As someone who worked at newspapers for
more than 30 years, and was yelled at a lot, I can tell you that we need hugs. Especially now. National High Five
Day, Thursday, April 18: I’m issuing a warning now: Do not approach me with your hand raised on this day. It may become “Slap You ’Cross the Lips You Obnoxious Fool Day.” National No Tobacco
Day, Friday, May 30: Both of my parents and my favorite aunt died from smoking, so I want every day to be No Tobacco Day. National Bourbon Day,
Friday, May 14: As the home of Jack Daniel’s, why is this not an official, we-all-get-offwork holiday in Tennessee? On National Bobblehead Day, ask your local representative to work on this.