Avast ye, seadog! Batten down the hatches and raise the jolly roger, because International Talk Like A Pirate Day is fast approaching. Read on to find out what this wacky holiday is about, and how you can celebrate in swashbuckling style this year.
What is Talk Like a Pirate Day?
Talk Like A Pirate Day is a parodic holiday held every year on September 19th. It’s all about encouraging people to have a laugh by donning eye patches and speaking in funny pirate accents. Many also use it to raise money for charity, by organising pirate-themed events like fancy dress competitions and cake sales.
How did it start?
Talk Like A Pirate Day started on June 6th, 1995, as a joke between friends John Baur and Mark Summers (or, as they’re now known, Ol’ Chumbucket and Cap’n Slappy). They had been enjoying a game of racquetball, when one gave a cry of ‘arrrrgh’ whilst straining to reach a low shot. For the rest of the game, the pair kept speaking to one another in pirate slang.
A tradition began between Baur and Summers, for talking like pirates on one day of every year. They decided this day couldn’t be June 6th – that’s D-Day – so Summers randomly called out a new date: September 19th, his ex-wife-s birthday.
The pals spoke about how cool it would be if they could turn Talk Like a Pirate Day into an official international holiday. And in 2002, that’s exactly what they did, with the help of celebrated author and comic Dave Barry. Talk Like A Pirate has been celebrated across the world every year since.
Ways to celebrate
Below you can check out the best ways to celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day 2019 according to bgo.com.
