Yes, today is Memorial Day. It also happens to be Towel Day, a holiday dedicated to Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. And so, we bring you our list of our twelve favorite holidays.
12. Penguin Awareness Day – January 20. We don’t know a whole lot about this day, but c’mon, penguins are always awesome, right? If nothing else, take it as a Linux Pride Day. But seriously, penguins win.
11. National Pancake Day - February _. We don’t know of a single breakfast that would not be improved by the addition of pancakes. For that matter, pancakes should probably be added to most lunches and dinners just to be safe.
10. Panic Day – March 9. For March, many people would have gone with pi day (3/14). And that’s a great day, it’s just so well known. We thought we’d give a little love to Panic Day, instead. After all, it’s just been so stressed out lately.
9. Yuri’s Night – April 12. It’s the anniversary of the day Russia put the first human in space (Yuri Gagarin, 1961) and the first Space Shuttle launch (1981). The road to Star Fleet and the Federation begins here.
8. No Pants Day – First Friday in May. We don’t really need to explain this one, do we?
7. Pee on Earth Day – June 21. I knew a guy in college who made a point to pee on every building on campus. This day is for everyone who has that no-limits attitude.
6. National Ice Cream Day – Third Sunday in July. Think about July: hot, humid, and generally uncomfortable weather-wise. But ice cream makes it all better, doesn’t it? Take this day and put the cool back in summer.
5. Girlfriends Day – August 1. Either you’ve got one, or you know a guy who claims he did at one point. Take this day to thank them for loving your geekdom.
4. International Talk Like a Pirate Day – September 19. Yar, this be the most terrible holiday of the Seven Seas! Aye, yar.
3. National Grouch Day – October 15. Sometimes you’ve just got to let it out, you know? We put on a happy face the rest of the year (or not), but this is the day we’re free to mope about and be more than usually surly and irritable. (Don’t be a dick, though. Just a Grouch.)
2. Underdog Day – November 15. We all like rooting for the underdogs, whether they’re hobbits or a feisty little rebellion determined to take down an evil empire of some sort. On this day, watch a movie or read a book and enjoy the improbability of this literary law of nature.
1. Festivus – December 23. Made popular by a TV show you may have heard of, Festivus is a “non-denominational holiday to be celebrated by those frustrated or jaded with the commercialism and pressure surrounding the Christmas/Hanukkah season.” There are a few traditions, but it’s mostly about spending time with friends and family.