Graphic by Sean Rogers
Every day, I open up Instagram, and it seems to be another national holiday. People will find reasons to correlate these “holidays” with reasons to post. Jubilations of “Happy National Boyfriend Day” and “Happy National Girlfriend Day” are the ones I most resent, since they turn my feed into a mushy-gushy lovefest.
The frequency of “national holidays” that pop up on the platform almost leaves the impression that Instagram invents these celebrations. The platform may not create these days, but it does seem to promote them. The new “add yours” sticker feature encourages users to add their story posts to a larger collection. Now, whenever I see a holiday post, it is often accompanied by these stickers.
I know it may seem that I’m a hater of pseudo-holidays, but it’s actually the opposite. I secretly find enjoyment in the ridiculous ideas that people believe are worth celebrating. In fact, I have a running gag where I wish my boyfriend a “happy ____ day” as often as possible.
I appreciate when companies create special deals on pseudo-holidays associated with their businesses. A free donut on National Donut Day? That’s a surefire way to bring in customers.
Still, there are obscure and out-of-the-ordinary holidays that leave you wondering why they even exist. The National Day Calendar’s website is a catch-all for broadcasting each day’s celebration. It is well organized, and it’s fun to see what holidays are shared with your birthday or just for finding the wildest themed days. Perhaps the most ridiculous day is National Personal Trainer Awareness Day on Jan. 2.
My favorites? National Popcorn Day (Jan. 19) is a standout to me since the Office of Student Activities (OSA) invites students to stop by for free popcorn that day. My favorite, though, is probably National Dog Day (Aug. 26) because everyone posts their pups.
Ainsley Francis is from Charlotte, N. C.
Her major is English.
