The Time Capsule | Roy Marshall
This year, the month of February has 28 days. According to “Holiday Insights,” an organization that keeps current on these things, 67 of them are holidays. We might enjoy more events if we knew they existed.
“Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day,” for example, fell on Feb. 4 and we missed it. The fourth is also “Create a Vacuum Day,” but I’m at a loss as to how this should be celebrated. Candlemas, the last day of Christmas season, is on the second, as is Groundhog Day.
For those with the urge to sign their checks using someone else’s name, the 13th is for them. “Get a Different Name Day” is a holiday created by a quirky old geezer named Thomas Roy—if that’s really his name—who actually went to the expense and red tape of obtaining a copyright designating each Feb. 13 as a day when people who don’t like their names may use whatever ones they want. I tried to call Mr. Roy to get an example of the true essence of this holiday, but the listed phone number is out of service.
He and his wife (she’s reportedly an apothecary and herbal retailer) also copyrighted “Hoodie-Hoo Day,” “Take Your Plant for a Walk Day,” and 68 others that are probably not on your calendar.
“White T-Shirt Day” was on the 11th. Originally just “White Shirt Day,” this one is set aside to recognize GM workers who went on a sit-down strike on this date in 1937. The United Auto Workers’ website tells us workers should observe the holiday by wearing a white shirt, and the shirt should not get any dirtier than that of their boss. Speculation is that the name changed as some people assumed the only reason to celebrate white shirts was wet T-shirts, and apparently the UAW didn’t go out of its way to make the correction.
The 14th is “Ferris Wheel Day,” honoring George Washington Ferris. Ferris made the first, doing so for the 1893 World’s Fair. It’s difficult to celebrate this one, as few of us have access to a ferris wheel in mid-February.
Easier is “Do a Grouch a Favor Day,” which falls on the 16th. Each and every reader knows a grouch and a favor that can be done. I, for example, will submit this column before Monday afternoon.
“National Gumdrop Day,” and “Cherry Pie Day” are each a pleasure to observe, as is “National Chocolate Mint Day.” My wife favors “National Drink Wine Day,” Feb. 18. Just as she does for Thanksgiving and Christmas, she begins preparation several days early.
Most readers will get a charge out of “National Battery Day,” which is also on the 18th. “International Dog Biscuit Day,” Feb. 23, follows “Walking the Dog Day,” Feb. 22. The latter is not copyrighted and of unknown origin, so it may refer to a yo-yo trick called “walking the dog.” I once walked the dog using a bright-green-and-yellow Duncan Butterfly rigged with nylon fishing line, a yo-yo taken from me by a teacher who didn’t recognize talent.
Another holiday my wife looks forward to takes place on the last Saturday of February, which this year is the 25th. “Open that Bottle Night” was created in 2000 by columnists Dorothy Gaither and John Brecher, their purpose to suggest family and friends reconnect on this late-winter evening over a nice bottle of wine. Finally we have a worthwhile idea from a columnist.
These are but a handful of the nearly 70 holidays squeezed into the short month of February. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough space to get into “National Tooth Fairy Day,” “Public Sleeping Day,” “Polar Bear Day,” “Fairy Tale Day” or “National Lost Penny Day,” each of which has been reserved for a special purpose.
Celebrate accordingly, but save something for March 20 – which Is National Alien Abduction Day. My wife’s best friend, who lives just down the road, has her bags packed.