Lesser Known July Holidays

July 11, Bowdler's Day - This day honors the prude namesake of the word bowdlerize. English doctor Thomas Bowdler quit his job to focus on expunging from Shakespeare all lewd and indecent references. His version, Family Shakespeare, came out in 1818.

July 12, Night of Nights - On July 12, 1999, the US closed commercial Morse operations, but every year since, on that anniversary, the Maritime Radio Historical Society commemorates maritime radio by bringing stations KPH, KSM, and KFS back on the air for one night. Other existing radio stations participate with related content.

July 13, International Town Crier's Day - This holiday, celebrated annually on the second Monday in July, is a chance to honor the lost art of speaking loudly and starting proclamations with "Hear ye, hear ye!" in celebration of the ancient practice of town crying. Now Facebook is used much the same way.

July 15, Saint Swithin's Day - Swithin was the Bishop of Winchester in the 800s. Many years after his death, his relics were transferred to the Winchester Cathedral on July 15, 971, a day which had heavy rains there. Since then, the belief has been that if it rains on this day, it will continue to rain for 40 more days.

July 17, Yellow Pig Day - This is a Princeton mathematician's holiday celebrating yellow pigs and the number 17.  It is celebrated annually since the early 1960's, primarily on college campuses, and primarily by mathematicians. On campus, Yellow Pig Cake and Yellow Pig Carols are tradition!

July 19, National Ice Cream Day - Sundae Sunday, annually the third Sunday in July.

July 22, Spooner's Day - Reverend William Archibald Spooner was a scholar and the warden of New College at Oxford. He also had a habit of transposing the first letter of certain words. It is from his frequent, funny slips of the tongue that we get the word 'spoonerism'. Examples: a blushing crow    a crushing blow, tons of soil    sons of toil, our queer old Dean    our dear old Queen, we'll have the hags flung out    we'll have the flags hung out.

July 24, National Tell an Old Joke Day - Mary Rose sat on a pin. Mary rose!

July 30, National Chili Dog Day - Celebrated on the last Thursday in July.