Every May 20th is observed as Weights and Measures Day. This is a day that’s dedicated to international trade and measurement standards and stands as an important reminder of the accuracy and precision of weights and measures in our everyday life.

From the very smallest household object to the largest of industrial products, weights and measures help to make modern life possible. And that’s why there’s an entire holiday dedicated to it.

A holiday that’s been observed for approximately 200 years and will probably be observed for the next 200 years. So, let’s take a moment to explore this subject and the holiday that all of us should keep on our calendars.

The History Of Weights And Measures Day

The first time that this holiday was observed was in 1875. It was a day decided to acknowledge the power and importance of the Metre Convention. This international treaty, also known as Convention du Metre, formed the basis for international agreements on the unit of measurement.

It was signed into law on May 20, 1875, and established a permanent organizational structure for all member governments to act together on matters relating to units of measurement.

It was initially signed in Paris by 17 nations. These nations were Germany, Argentina, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the United States of America, France, Italy, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and Venezuela.

Some Quick Facts About Weights & Measures

We don’t have a whole lot to add on the subject of weights and measures, but we thought that we would list some of the facts that we did learn while researching this holiday.

We think the following facts will give everyone a better appreciation of how weights and measures affect their lives, or at least, that’s our hope. With that being said, let’s take just a few seconds to check out the following facts and see what we can learn.

• The only countries that do not use the Metric System are the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar.
• A Hallmark Stamp is applied to some products to indicate their genuineness, their purity, or their origin. The process of applying one of these stamps is Hallmarking.
• Hallmarking is commonly used for jewelry and fine art products.

Observing Weights And Measures Day

This is a holiday that raises awareness about international weights and measures, so people should use the day to learn more about the subject. This is also the perfect day for classrooms to take the time to teach about this subject and the importance of the Metre Convention to the world. And people can spread the word about this holiday using the hashtag #WeightsAndMeasuresDay on social media.