Apparently, today is National Authors’ Day. This day was first recognised by the US Department of Commerce in 1949, following a campaign by a book lover that began in the 1920s. I think it’s mainly an American thing, although now it’s probably spreading globally through the internet, and gives us indie authors an opportunity for some gratuitous publicity. Indeed, this page would have been filled with adverts for my books, had I known today was National Authors’ Day and had time to prepare something. I haven’t. Nor do I have any suitable images to illustrate what the National Today website refers to as a ‘holiday.’
I’m not sure it is a holiday, not in the sense of everyone getting a free day off work, but it would be nice to think so. I wonder if there’s a parade somewhere, with everyone dressed as their favourite author, or riding on floats depicting famous scenes from books. I imagine a truck aflame with burning crinolines as Gone with the Wind drives past. Whether you’re having a local parade, street party or other event to celebrate this day, I hope it goes off well for you and you have plenty of time to discuss your favourite author, once you’ve decorated your house to match those from a Barbara Cartland, laid out your lawn with scenes from War and Peace, and opened your back garden to the neighbourhood’s children so you can reenact The Lord of the Flies.
Whatever you are doing, enjoy National Authors’ Day even if there isn’t such a thing in your country. And if you don’t feel like celebrating any authors, there are, apparently, other ‘holidays’ to enjoy today because today is also the Day of the Dead in Mexico, Broadcast Traffic Professionals Day in the USA, and something called ‘Dynamic Harmlessness Day,’ which sounds very tame and not at all dynamic.
I don’t know who invents these ‘holidays’, to me, many of them sound like attention-seeking behaviour. What, for example, is ‘Look for Circles Day’? because that’s today, as is National Devilled Eggs Day.’ It is also ‘National Men Make Dinner’ Day.
There are some more rational sounding days occurring today and not all of them in America which seems to have at least ten days per day celebrating something. Should you be in Liberia today, you’ll thank me for pointing out it’s Thanksgiving Day over there. If you are in Ohio, you probably already know today is ‘National Ohio Day’, and, in Italy, it’s the feast day of Saint Giusto. Meanwhile, it’s also International Stout Day, and I think that means the drink, not people built like me, but then it’s also Plan Your Epitaph Day, presumably because traffic directors will be going wild as they celebrate their appreciation day with too much stout, and cause mayhem.
I don’t know who makes these things up, but I can’t wait for tomorrow when it’s going to be Cliché Day. That’s a day I can handle, but I’m not sure I will have time to celebrate all the other feasts and festivals planned for tomorrow because among the things being celebrated around the world but mainly in America are:
Fountain Pens, Jellyfish (yes, they have their own day), it’s also National Accessory Day (wtf?), and the official Sandwich Day. You may or may not want to celebrate ‘Love your Lawyer Day,’ particularly as it’s also ‘Give someone a Dollar Day.’
I could go on, but some authors have work to do. If you’re up for it, you can find more of these fascinating excuses for a day off over on National Today.com, though bear in mind it’s predominantly an American thing and most days don’t come with a day off.
