Given the current state of the world, I want to lighten the mood and talk about a few wacky holidays & observances you should check out! These kooky days will lift your spirits and give you something fun to look forward to. Be creative and find ways to enjoy your favorite one!
July 11th: Cheer Up The Lonely Day
Make someone happy. Maybe you saw a depressing post from someone you know on social media. Take a moment to respond. Think positive. Perhaps join your co-worker eating alone at lunch. Try visiting a nursing home, say hi to a homeless person, or write a letter to an old friend, and keep the conversation upbeat! Remember to say you enjoyed the chat and their company. Making others happy is a great thing to do, and it will cheer you up too!
July 13th: Embrace Your Geekiness Day
What is a geek you ask? A geek is a person who is known to be very intelligent and technically acclimated. If you are a geek, you should be proud! You have the knowledge to better industries and the innovative ideas to change practices. Today, we celebrate all the geeks who are underappreciated! Let your inner geek flourish.
July 14th: Shark Awareness Day
Sharks get a bad rap, but they are vital to the ocean ecosystem and most are not innately aggressive. Did you know you are 6x more likely to be killed by a pig than a shark? You are also more likely to die from accidental poisoning, an air or space accident, a champagne cork, eating, and a sand hole collapse. Movies often portray sharks as bloodthirsty killing machines, but the film industry is known for exaggeration. Sharks are incredibly important creatures. They are the apex predators in the sea. They maintain the species below them in the food chain and even eat off the sick. Sharks allow the ocean to thrive with a vigorous array of species. They are an excellent indicator of the health of our oceans. The next time you discuss them, think positive, and spread the good word!
July 15th: Cow Appreciation Day
Cow Appreciation Day is coming! I am so excited. Cows are amazing animals. Besides being incredibly adorable, cows are actually great problem solvers. They love to be social and often form lifelong relationships. They are loyal, affectionate beings and are known to flock to music. Don’t believe me? See for yourself on YouTube. They cannot get enough moosic. In India, cows are revered and worshipped for their strength and gentle nature. In America, cows are not generally viewed in the same way. Unfortunately, our country uses, abuses, and slaughters these beautiful creatures. This Cow Appreciation Day, create awareness for yourself and others on cow farming. Go out and hug a cow! Let us change the mindset towards cows everywhere.
July 16th: World Snake Day
Snakes have been around a very long time and are highly misunderstood. Let’s show our elders some respect! There are many harmless snakes that help your garden — some eat animals who tear apart your backyard and ruin your veggies. There are over 3,400 species across almost every continent. Let’s show some love and respect to these fascinating creatures!
July 24th: Tell An Old Joke Day
Why can’t you trust atoms? They make up everything! What a great day to celebrate. July 24th is the day to pull out those old jokes from high school and let them shine. You can also spread “old jokes” or jokes about old people. However you decide to celebrate, lean into it! Let’s spread some joy through ridiculous humor.
July 29th: International Tiger Day
Tigers- they’re greeeeeeeeeeat! These animals have received a surge of attention after Netflix’s Tiger King was released. Thank goodness. There are more tigers in captivity than in the wild. Wild tiger populations have drastically decreased due to hunting, poaching, and loss of habitat. On International Tiger Day, I encourage you to read up about their population or give support to organizations working to increase awareness and improve tiger habitats. Tigers are beautiful animals who deserve our kindness and respect. Praise tigers!
July 30th: International Day Of Friendship
On this occasion, we are meant to honor and promote the inclusivity of peoples and their cultures, religions, and ethnicities. This day was created to build bridges and commemorate diversity. The United Nations suggests joining with a group or your local government to hold activities and events that advocate for reconciliation and mutual understandings. You can make a difference.
July 31st: Mutt’s Day
What is a mutt? A mutt is a dog mixed with more than one breed. All animals deserve love, and mutts are very deserving. Animal shelters are almost entirely populated by mutts. Celebrate Mutt’s Day by dropping by a local shelter and visiting them! Bring a book and read to a dog. Volunteer to walk them or promote them. Share social media posts from local shelters about dogs in need of adoption or rescue. Every tiny act you do is a life-changing act for one mutt.
Honorable Mentions:
July 12th: Different Colored Eyes Day
We love all eye colors here! Whether you have brown, blue, green, black, grey, hazel, or rainbow eyes, you are beautiful. Diversity is what makes this world so interesting. Different Colored Eyes Day also celebrates those with Heterochromia. Heterochromia is a condition where someone has two different colored eyes, like blue and brown. If you do not know anyone with this condition, there are many celebrities you may want to google a picture of. Max Scherzer, Tim McIlrath, and Kate Bosworth, among others, dazzle us with their unique eyes. What a wonderful world.
July 17th: World Emoji Day
The day has come where the whole world stands up, or rather, sits down and texts- emojis! Emojis first surfaced around the 1990s in Japan. They quickly exploded in popularity. People began using them for every occasion- birthdays, phrases, emotion, and even clothing. Emojis have taken over the texting world earning their spot on the calendar.
July 27th: Take Your Houseplants For A Walk Day
Believe it or not, plants respond to interaction. Take your houseplant outside and walk around with it. Put it in a wagon if it is too big to carry. It is time to appreciate your plant babies! Studies show talking to plants, touching plants, and playing music for them influences how they grow. If you say positive things to your houseplants and give them attention, they are likely to grow quicker and produce better results. So, grab a green friend and start forging your bond.
No matter how you celebrate, these kooky holidays are sure to bring a little joy to your life. They will give us something extra to look forward to as our year goes on. Jump on the bandwagon and weird-up your month!
Contributor, designer & admin for JohnHart Gazette.
