Special Days: Can We Just Not?

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I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time we re-evaluate how we celebrate things.

Don’t get me wrong. I love to celebrate! But things are getting out of control, y’all. The way I see it, there are two reasons for this: Pinterest and National Everything Day.

Let’s start with Pinterest. I loved it when I first joined. I had well-organized boards, edited the captions to keep them relevant, and I even made sure my pins went to original source links. Now? I have no idea what’s going on over there, but I have plans for a new board or two. I had a brief relapse a couple of years ago when I thought we might buy a fixer-upper. Pretty sure that fashion board is really outdated, though.

diy party decorations at the kids table
Yes, it’s adorable. Did the goody bags include wooden clogs?

But here’s what happened with those who didn’t drop out. They found a bunch of cute party ideas and organized them by theme. Then they went to a party hosted by Martha Stewart herself and saw every single idea used in one party! The realization that they couldn’t stretch out one board into a few events turned a few cute ideas into a full-contact sport. Every celebration had to look like a spread from Family Fun or Southern Living. The stakes got higher with each actual holiday, so they started making up new ones. Now every day of school has some new zany theme, complete with treats, cards, games, and probably a costume. Is this stuff fun? I’m sure it is. I’m just too tired to notice. How do teachers keep up?

This brings me to the second reason: There are thousands of National _____ Days.

What once was observed by a few people has become a trend. This month is full of them. Let’s have a look at a few.

Foodies will be happy in May with Coquilles San Jacques, Coq au Vin, and Escargots Days. They can also enjoy Wine Day and Red Nose Day, which sound related but the latter is actually fundraising for the needy. Dessert lovers can find a variety of days to celebrate- from chocolate parfait to candied orange peels. National Truffle Day refers to the chocolate treats, not the pungent fungus. The day after National Pick Strawberries Day is, naturally, National Strawberries and Cream Day.

Hobbies, professions, special interests, and health concerns are also big in May. Don’t confuse Nursing Student Day with School Nurse Day. Many of these are either very specific or a bit ambiguous. National Providers Day is specifically for childcare providers, not adult care, health care, or just the head of household. Emergency Medical Services for Children get a day. Waitstaff and receptionists can celebrate in May. As well as people with lumpy rugs and those who speak in sentences. National Barrier Day needs a bit of explanation- it refers to visible and invisible barriers people with disabilities face. Whereas, National Clean Up Your Room Day is pretty clear.

There are some I think we can all get behind. National No Dirty Dishes Day was definitely a woman’s idea. And who doesn’t want to partake in National Be a Millionaire Day? Moms also can understand the gravity of National Lost Sock Memorial Day. These have a kind of universal appeal, while others have a narrow audience.

burger for national hamburger day
Happy birthday, Dad!

My father-in-law won a chicken dance trophy, perhaps on National Dance Like a Chicken Day. And there are no worries that I’ll miss National Hamburger (or Brisket) Day on my dad’s birthday. But, really, can you honestly see all these things and think we haven’t gone too far?

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we’re all just looking for a reason to party. But is mismatched footwear really cause for celebration?

1 COMMENT

  1. haha exactly!! I’m so over the whole denim day and take a walk tuesday….what about it gives me a headache day?!

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