(TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY) As you are out and about today, don’t be surprised if people are saying, “Ahoy Matey,” “Avast,” “Aye, Aye Capt’n,” “Land ho!” “Hornpipe,” and many other pirate-like phrases, because it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
While ordering your coffee in the drive-thru, ask if they have change for gold bullion. Try testing your pirate language out at the library when asking for the location of Moby Dick. The pirate language always fairs well in rough seas. Settle a debate with “I’m right or I’ll walk the plank!”
When the boss gives you a new project, “Aye, aye, Capt’n,” is the correct response. However, beware calling the boss any frothy names. The goal of the day is not to lose your job.
To polish your persona, practice a swagger, limp or squint. Long days at sea give pirates unique qualities.
Origins of the Holiday
- The Date: June 6, 1995.
- The Event: While playing a game of racquetball, one of the men, injured or frustrated, yelled out an “Arrr!”
- The Slang: They spent the rest of the match shouting back and forth in humorous pirate phrases.
- Choosing September 19: They wanted an annual date for their new holiday. They avoided June 6 because it was the anniversary of D-Day, so Mark chose September 19, which happened to be his ex-wife’s birthday and had no other major holiday conflicts. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
How It Went Global
- The Early Years: Baur and Summers celebrated quietly with just a small group of friends for seven years.
- The Dave Barry Effect: In 2002, they contacted syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry and pitched the idea to him.
- Global Spread: Barry wrote a popular column about the holiday in September 2002, turning it into an international phenomenon celebrated every year. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
