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.