International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Find International Talk Like a Pirate Day 🏴☠️ in the Obscure Holiday Calendar app with daily prompts, playful art, and reminder tools.
Overview
International Talk Like a Pirate Day is an annual observance held on September 19th where people worldwide are encouraged to speak and act like pirates for the entire day. Conceived in 1995 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy), it started as an inside joke among friends and gained international recognition after they sent a letter about it to humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002. The day is celebrated by using pirate slang like "Arrr!" and "Ahoy, matey!", sometimes dressing in pirate attire, and engaging in lighthearted activities related to pirate culture, often for charitable causes or just for fun.
Origin and story
The holiday was conceived in 1995 by John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy") in Albany, Oregon.
They chose September 19th as the date because it was the birthday of one of their ex-wives, making it a date they wouldn't forget.
Quick facts
- DateSeptember 19
- TypeNovelty & pop-culture observance
- Great forFriends, Coworkers, Classrooms, Costume parties
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
This entire holiday exists because two friends yelped "Aaarrr!" during a racquetball injury in 1995 — it stayed a private joke for years until a Pulitzer-winning humor columnist wrote about it and turned it into an international tradition.
Talk like a pirate
Celebrate by:
- Actually talking like a pirate all day, "arrr" and all, with anyone willing to play along.
- Watching a genuinely good pirate movie instead of just referencing one.
See how the holiday actually started
Helpful resources:
Did you know?
The date, September 19, wasn't picked for any pirate-related reason — the founders chose it because it happened to be one of their ex-wife's birthdays, making it an easy date for them to remember.
Fun facts
- The holiday was conceived in 1995 by John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy") in Albany, Oregon.
- They chose September 19th as the date because it was the birthday of one of their ex-wives, making it a date they wouldn't forget.
- The observance gained widespread international recognition after syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry wrote about it in his column in 2002.
Sources and attribution
What Is International Talk Like a Pirate Day? (CoventryLive)
How It All Started (Official Talk Like a Pirate Day site)
External links may lead to third-party websites.
Continue your streak
Open one more holiday before you go to build daily momentum.
FAQ
- When is International Talk Like a Pirate Day?
- It is observed on September 19 each year.
- What is International Talk Like a Pirate Day?
- International Talk Like a Pirate Day is an annual observance held on September 19th where people worldwide are encouraged to speak and act like pirates for the entire day. Conceived in 1995 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy), it started as an inside joke among friends and gained international recognition after they sent a letter about it to humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002. The day is celebrated by using pirate slang like "Arrr!" and "Ahoy, matey!", sometimes dressing in pirate attire, and engaging in lighthearted activities related to pirate culture, often for charitable causes or just for fun.
- How do people celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day?
- Talk like a pirate all day, "arrr" and all — the holiday itself began as a private joke after a 1995 racquetball injury.
Get the app
Thousands of obscure holidays, daily widgets, reminders, and fun facts—free on iOS and Android.