I Spent 365 Days Celebrating Fake Holidays — And It Changed Me
National Hermit Day, Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, National Cabbage Day… In 2022 I decided to observe a different silly holiday or awareness day every day for a year…
National Bubble Bath Day, British Pie Week, Adopt A Rescued Guinea Pig Month… I’ve always been tickled by these funny pseudo-holidays. A staple of the PR and awareness-raising arsenal, they offer easy prompts for the inspiration-starved columnist, talk DJ or primary-school teacher.
Some Days are important (World Cancer Day, International Day of Forests, Zero Waste Week); some nakedly commercial (National Stationery Week; Anti-Frizz month, courtesy of Alberto V05); and some just silly (CAPS LOCK DAY, Zombie Awareness Month). When I discovered they now run into the thousands, I began wondering: What would happen to a person if they tried to observe a different one every day for a year? A ridiculous idea, with no obvious point. I was in.