Any Excuse for a Party Trivia Quiz

Answer: National Bloody Mary Day

Believe it or not, there are more than 175 days during the year on which a particular food or drink is celebrated in the U.S. Most people do not even want to think about alcohol on New Year's Day, so quite why this date was designated as "National Bloody Mary Day" I cannot tell you.

Not that any of the alternatives sound much more sensible, and yet all are real national days: "National Margarita Day" is February 22, "National Piña Colada Day" in July 10 and "National Crème de Menthe Day" is September 15. Yes, really!

On this same date, the US also celebrates Emancipation Day and Global Family Day. The countries of Brunei, Cameroon, Haiti and Sudan each celebrate independence. The dissolution of Czechoslovakia is celebrated in Slovakia as "The Day of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic" and in the Czech Republic as "Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State". It is also Founding Day in Taiwan, Constitution Day in Italy, Flag Day in Lithuania and Triumph of the Revolution Day in Cuba. For those of a particularly masochistic disposition, it is also "Polar Bear Swim Day" in Canada and the USA. Happy New Year, everyone.

Answer: World Braille Day

A tactile writing for people who are blind or visually impaired, Braille was created by Frenchman Louis Braille. The date for "World Braille Day" was chosen to commemorate Braille's birth, on January 4, 1809 in the northern French commune of Coupvray. Blinded by a childhood accident, Braille unveiled his creation in 1824, when he was just 15 years old. It has since been adapted for use in many of the world's languages. Braille died in 1852, just two days after his 43rd birthday.

The alternatives are also United Nations sponsored observance days (see, you knew the UN did something useful): "Rare Disease Day" is observed annually on the last day of February, "World Osteoporosis Day" is October 20 and "World Hepatitis Day" is July 28.

In addition to celebration of the 1948 independence from Britain gained by Myanmar, January 4 is also the "Day of the Fallen against the Colonial Repression" in Angola and "Day of the Martyrs" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Answer: Wikipedia Day

January 15 marks the date that the world's largest online encyclopedia went public in 2001, and it has been celebrated as "Wikipedia Day" both online and offline since. A massive worldwide celebration took place to mark the 10th anniversary in 2011.

"World Thinking Day" (wouldn't it be nice to believe that people did this on more than one day a year?) is celebrated annually on February 22 by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide. "Tolkien Reading Day" has been celebrated on March 25 (officially the date on which Sauron fell in "The Lord of the Rings") since 2003. Let me tell you, though, I've read Tolkien and it takes a lot longer than one day! Yes, there really is an "International Day of the Nacho" and it takes place annually on October 21 in honour of the creator of this popular snack, Ignacio Anaya, who died in 1975.

Answer: Answer Your Cat's Question Day

It is probably an urban myth that all middle-aged single women have a cat, but I'm sure all feline lovers out there will appreciate a day on which they are supposed to do something they may well think about far more often than once a year -- after all, I have earnest discussions with my dogs about all sorts of subjects :)

The alternatives are more potty ideas from Roy: "Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day" is February 7, "Hug an Australian Day" is April 26 (although I think I might skip that particular celebration), and "Stay Away From Seattle Day" (celebrated on September 16) seems like a very reasonable suggestion for any day of the year if you don't like rain.

Answer: International Customs Day

January 26 is, apparently, "International Customs Day". Now whether this is a celebration of the various local customs in various countries, or of those people who inspect your luggage for contraband when you cross an international border, I have no idea, although I suspect no one would really want to celebrate the latter... or would they?

The alternatives are other examples of what are generally referred to as 'awareness days'. "National Pig Day" is held is the U.S. on March 1 (along with "Share a Smile Day" and "Peanut Butter Lover's Day"). "Towel Day", celebrated annually on May 25 since 2001, involves fans of "The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" carrying a towel around for the day (fans of the book will know why, apparently) in tribute to author Douglas Adams, who had died two weeks earlier. "World Toilet Day" was established in 2001 and has since been celebrated annually on November 19 by members of the "World Toilet Organization", and whoever even knew there was such a thing? It does suggest a suitable idea for a new political faction, though -- "The World is Going Down the Toilet Party". Sure to be a vote winner!

Answer: World Wetlands Day

Celebrated since 1997, February 2 is "World Wetlands Day" (although I am assured that 'Wetlands' in this context does not specifically refer to Seattle). The date was chosen to mark the adoption of the 1971 "Convention on Wetlands". Ironically, the document is known as the "Ramsar Convention", after the city in Iran where it was signed: curious really, since most of us probably think of Iran as somewhere that is quite the opposite of a 'wetland'.

"European Bat Night" has been celebrated during the last weekend of August since 1997. When I first saw that there was such a thing as "Global Wind Day", I wondered if it was something else dreamt up by the "World Toilet Organization", but apparently not. Celebrated worldwide on June 15, it is designed to publicize onshore and offshore wind farms, like such blights on the landscape might go unnoticed! "International Polar Bear Day" is observed on February 27 and has nothing to do with those Scandinavians of questionable intelligence who go swimming in icy lakes but is, predictably, a product of the global warming fraternity.

Answer: National Weatherperson's Day

"National Weatherperson's Day" celebrates the birth date (in 1745) of Boston-born scientist and physician John Jeffries, one of the country's first weather observers. Fans of the 1993 Bill Murray film, "Groundhog Day", would probably expect this particular day to be celebrated on February 2.

"Teachers' Day" is celebrated in numerous countries, but the date varies: in the UK it is October 5, whilst in the U.S. it is on a Tuesday in early May. Celebration of "Ratcatcher's Day" goes back to the myth of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. It is celebrated on two different dates as the Brothers Grimm cite June 26, 1284 as the date of the children's exodus, whilst the Robert Browning poem gives the date as July 22, 1376. "Administrative Professionals' Day" (also known as "Secretary's Day") is observed in the U.S. on the Wednesday in the last full week of April, but dates vary around the world -- in Australia it is the first Friday in May.

Answer: Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

"International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers" or "Red Hand Day" has been celebrated annually on February 12 since 2002. It is sponsored by groups such as UNICEF, Amnesty International and the International Red Cross.

Established in 1998, the "National POW/MIA Recognition Day" is on the third Friday in September. "Youth Homelessness Matters Day" began in Australia in 2005 and occurs during "Homeless Persons' Week", the first full week of August. "International Stand Up to Bullying Day" occurs twice a year, once on the last Friday or February and again on the third Friday in November as part of "Anti-Bullying Week".

Answer: World Radio Day

Following a request from Spain, the United Nations proclaimed February 13 as "World Radio Day" for the first time in 2013. On the fourth anniversary in 2016, more than 320 events were staged in over 80 countries, with radio stations from around the world broadcasting live from UNESCO headquarters to mark the occasion.

The UN established "World Television Day" in 1996 and it is now observed annually on November 21. "Global Handwashing Day", observed on October 15, was established to promote the use of soap as an aid to disease prevention. First observed in 2001, "World Milk Day" is celebrated on June 1.

Answer: National I Want Butterscotch Day

More than 175 different foods and drinks are celebrated annually on their own special day in the United States, and February 15 is the rather obscure "National I Want Butterscotch Day".

Equally fatuous, "National Caramel Day" is celebrated annually on April 5, "National Fudge Day" on June 16 and "National Brownie Day" on December 8. Ah, those crazy Americanos!