Last Friday was International Coffee Day, which led Wyn Drabble to do a bit of research. Photo / NZME
Last Friday was International Coffee Day, which led Wyn Drabble to do a bit of research. Photo / NZME
A work colleague's behaviour prompted this week's thoughts.
Just last week he kept passing my office, each time carrying a plunger of coffee. Nothing unusual about that happening once but again and again and again?
I had to ask. Turned out last Friday was International Coffee Day, a day designedto remember the world's coffee and its associated farmers, traders, roasters and baristas. Well, I celebrate that every morning.
I'm not very up on International Days of Stuff except for International Talk Like A Pirate Day which has just passed (September 19) and is loads of fun. Ahoy me hearties!
So, to find out more about celebratory days I'm afraid I had to undertake some pesky research. I found out, for example, that February 2 is World Wetlands Day which has been running since 1971 without my knowledge.
I also found out that March 20 is International Day of Happiness. I'm afraid this means I may have enjoyed myself on the wrong dates. In my defence, it has only been running since 2012 and maybe its publicity machine isn't expensive enough.
The first International Day of Conscience was only last year, so I suppose I can be excused for missing that one.
May 2 is World Tuna Day and it is only a few years old. Apparently, tuna are threatened by overwhelming demand and are being fished at biologically unsustainable levels so we are supposed to give that some consideration on this date.
I don't know why other fish don't get a day – consider the humble sardine – especially given that migratory birds get one (May 8). Perhaps the sardine (and plankton and krill) are covered by World Oceans Day (June 8) or International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (June 5).
That last one, I feel, provides a good example of nomenclature that is too unwieldy. It needs to be concise and roll trippingly from the tongue. Dove Day works, but I don't think there is one. Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (June 27) is another example that needs work on its name, as does International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (November 2).
World Naked Gardening Day is held on the first Saturday of May (Northern Hemisphere spring) and you are encouraged to bare it all while tending to the garden. You'll also need to bear it all because the neighbours will give you some flak. Discretion is advised.
Breastfeeding is obviously a biggie; instead of a day, it gets a whole week. Immunisation also earns a full week.
Wyn Drabble.
World Post Day is celebrated on October 9, the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union, which started in Switzerland in 1874. This was revolutionary and enabled people to write letters to friends all over the world.
Celebration is probably being phased out now as today the letters often don't seem to make it to their destination.
November 19 is World Toilet Day, which encourages action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Worldwide, 4.2 billion people live without safely managed sanitation so we definitely should not get bogged down in apathy and take our porcelain thrones for granted. Especially on November 19.
If you want to get down and dirty, World Soil Day is December 5 but, if you have loftier goals, World Mountain Day is on December 11.
