When is Opposite Day and is it a real holiday?
You might have heard of ‘Opposite Day’, a tradition encouraging quirky behaviour. What exactly do people do on Opposite Day, and on what date does it fall?
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This isn’t an article about Opposite Day… except that, actually, it is. This is one principle of Opposite Day, saying the opposite of what you mean. So, how did Opposite Day come about, and how else do people celebrate it?
When you look over your calendar, you likely won’t find Opposite Day marked anywhere on it. That’s because Opposite Day is not an official holiday in any country.
It’s probably best described instead as just a quirky tradition the more eccentric among us are fond of keeping up. Nonetheless, like April Fool’s Day, it gives people excuses to have fun unleashing their trickster selves in lots of imaginative ways.
What date is Opposite Day?
Owing to its status as an informal holiday, there’s lingering confusion over where exactly on the yearly calendar Opposite Day is supposed to fall.
25th January is often singled out as Opposite Day. Conversely, other sources mention 7th January or even that Opposite Day should be celebrated on the 25th of every month!
Since it’s hard to pin down a formal date for Opposite Day, you could arguably partake in its traditions on any day you choose.
What usually happens on Opposite Day?
Perhaps it would be better to ask what unusually happens! Many people take into account what they would typically do on an average day and… yes, do the opposite.
You could even declare your intention to do a certain something but proceed to deliberately pursue the reverse. Despite its seemingly inherent silliness, Opposite Day can help bring about meaningful improvements in your lifestyle and attitude.
Consider the example of the fictional George Costanza, one of the main characters in the hit American TV sitcom Seinfeld. In one storyline, he strives to turn around his fortunes by always doing the opposite of what he would normally do. Over time, he exerts stronger control over the overall direction of his life.
From where did Opposite Day originate?
This is another unclear aspect of Opposite Day, the history of which isn’t as well-documented as that of April Fool’s Day.
It is rumoured that Opposite Day was originally inspired by a playground game where children would give contrary answers to questions. So, kids could joke about actually liking to eat Brussels sprouts and wash dishes.
This would have had a valuable educational purpose. Children asked to come up with opposites can, as a result, better understand particular words as well as language as a whole.
Perhaps the closest Opposite Day ever came to being bestowed any kind of official recognition came in 1959. That’s when Dwight D. Eisenhower (the US president at the time) declared Opposite Day a holiday on the suggestion of his granddaughter.
However, the holiday was just for 17th August that same year, failing to cement itself as an annual tradition. As you can probably relate, Eisenhower found he had difficulty thinking of opposites for particular words, such as ‘brain’ and ‘elephant’.
How should you celebrate Opposite Day?
The frivolous nature of Opposite Day makes it a great opportunity to indulge in good-natured fun.
Opposite Day thankfully lacks the dark history of Friday 13th. The latter date is when the Knights Templar massacre took place in 1307 and Buckingham Palace was struck by wartime bombing in 1940.
All the same, though, make sure your pranks on Opposite Day are on the harmless side. For example, saying ‘goodbye’ to someone when greeting them will only momentarily confuse them.
In any case, remember to let friends, family, and colleagues know beforehand that you are honouring Opposite Day. After all, you want your unorthodox behaviour to cause mirth rather than worry…
Why Opposite Day can help make you a better person
Opposite Day might generate a few chuckles at first, but it can also aid your personal development. Trying new things, like foods you have never previously tasted, can play a large part in opening your mind and developing your empathy.
If you are a couch potato, maybe you could take up a fitness regime? If you tend to be rather sluggish, why not tighten up your schedule to get more stuff done within the same amount of time?
Whatever the paradoxical goal you set, you can treat it like a late version of a New Year’s resolution. Historically, March used to be considered the first month of the year anyway, so many of your Roman ancestors may well have approved…
