National Nothing Day can be most accurately described as an anti-holiday. On this non-holiday – celebrated (or actually not celebrated on) January 16th, participants are expected to not honor, observe or celebrate anything. It is a day meant for absolutely nothing and was designed that way to give people a break from the endless stream of holidays and observations that one has to take part in every year. Although the term “national” is in the title of this holiday (um, non-holiday I mean), it isn’t a nationally observed holiday as designated by an act of Congress.
History
No one really knows when this day was created, but it is believed to have been created by San Francisco Examiner columnist Harold Pullman Coffin in 1973. According to legend, he created this non-holiday because he was tired of special interest groups laying claims to an ever increasing number of days on the calendar.
Customs, Traditions And Celebrations
The whole purpose of National Nothing Day is to do nothing, a task which is increasing difficult to do in our 24 hour 7 day a week culture. However, that is how the day is supposed to be observed – or rather non-observed. So pull up a chair and make sure that you don’t do anything for the entire day.
When is National Nothing Day? |
|
| This year (2021) | January 16 (Saturday) |
| Next year (2022) | January 16 (Sunday) |
| Last year (2020) | January 16 (Thursday) |