I’m trying something a little different this week: instead of the Trivial Ten, which I presented as a list of ten lists, I decided to change it up to present a weekly list I find of interest and talk more about why I think it’s so interesting. I might even add a few points to the original list, which I’ll link to so you’re sure not to miss it as it originally existed before I found it. And as with any other post here at Patrick’s Place, your input is always welcome.
So the inaugural List of the Week comes from the greatest magazine in the world, Mental_Floss, and is 15 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in October.
What’s even more entertaining than some of the selections they came up with is the fact that these are actually valid celebrations.
Most people associate October with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That’s an important cause. Our tenth month of the year is also Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month and National Domestic Violence Month. Unfortunately, we tend to have so many terrible things in our lives to commemorate that we end up doubling and tripling up on them since we only have 12 months in the year. I’m sure it isn’t Mental_Floss’s intention to belittle any of these important topics, and it certainly isn’t my intention, either.
But I figure anyone who has a reason to mark any of those occasions is already well aware of the significance of October in marking them, and is hopefully already doing so without a reminder from me.
So let’s take a light-hearted and good-spirited look at other things that a handful of people hope you’ll also be celebrating. My top picks from the list:
1. National Homemade Cookies Day
Technically, you missed this one already: it happened on October 1st. However, if you didn’t know about it on Monday, no one will know if you celebrate it a few days later. Any day that involves cookies is a good holiday in my book.
2. National Taco Day
Well, so far, I’m two for two on food-related holidays. Who’d have thought. This holiday actually occurs today, October 4th. I will admit, however, that if I were to go to my favorite local Mexican restaurant to celebrate, I’d probably skip the tacos and go instead for my favorite dish there: arroz con pollo.
3. International Moment of Frustration Scream Day
Oh, yeah, we’ve all had those kind of days. I’ve had far more of them lately than I’d care to admit. But when you’ve finally reached the point at which you want to shout, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore,” hope that the point comes on October 12th: then you’ll have an excuse that it’s the right day for it.
4. National Dictionary Day
October 16th is a day designed to honor a book far too few seem willing to read these days, unless they’re trying to justify the wrong use of a word just because the definition is in there. A dictionary, I often remind everyone, is not a usage manual: it merely defines how words are used so others will understand, even if the people they’re encountering are misusing certain words. Irregardless isn’t a word, but it’s in the dictionary because it’s necessary to point out that what the speaker meant to say was regardless.
5. Information Overload Day
Contrary to what the name may imply, the point of October 20th is to avoid information overload. One way suggested is to send 10% fewer emails on that particular day (and beyond, if you can pull it off). Of course, just because you don’t send an email doesn’t mean you can’t cause someone to suffer info overload. So if you call them or visit in person to avoid the email, just don’t talk too much!
That’s my list of favorites from their list of 15. What are yours?
Patrick is a television producer, writer, Mac lover, and Christian, though not necessarily in that order. He has a natural dislike of double standards and poor grammar.
