For people who are familiar with the role-playing game known as Dungeons and Dragons, the name Gary Gygax is probably well-known to them. After all, Ernest Gary Gygax was a game designer who co-created the game with Dave Arneson.

This not only earned him the moniker “Father of the modern role-playing game,” but it also earned him his own holiday. A holiday known only as Gary Gygax Day, which is observed annually on July 27th, coinciding with the late Gary Gygax’s birthday.

On this day, we encourage everyone to grab their icosahedron dice, gather some friends, and celebrate the man’s birthday in the manner that he would want you to: by having fun playing D&D.

The History Of Gary Gygax Day

On July 27th, 1938, Ernest Gary Gygax was born in Chicago, Illinois. During the 1960s, he created an organization of wargaming clubs and eventually founded the Gen Con Gaming Convention. He then created Chainmail, a miniatures medieval warfare game, in 1971.

Two years later, he founded Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) in 1973. TSR would end up publishing Chainmail, and later an advanced version of the game known as Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Gary contributed greatly to the role-playing industry over the course of his life.

Unfortunately, he died from an abdominal aortic aneurysm in March of 2008. Following his death, fans of Gary Gygax and Dungeons & Dragons came together to celebrate him and his work on what would have been his 70th birthday. The first Gary Gygax Day was held on July 27th, 2008, and it has been celebrated by faithful fans ever since.

Observing Gary Gygax Day

This is a day for people to get together and play their favorite role-playing games. Of course, people gather to play the various versions of Dungeons and Dragons, but they also play other types of games including Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun, and Fate.

There are plenty of other activities that take place on this day as well. Fans also write stories and create artwork that shares their favorite moments about D&D and the other games he helped to create.

The hashtag #GaryGygaxDay is also widely used on the internet to spread the word about this holiday and the events that take place on this day. Some people also take the time to read one of the many works of fiction that Gary Gygax created over the course of his life, not only the rulebooks but also some of the stories he published as well.