Stick Out Your Tongue Day 😛

Overview

Stick Out Your Tongue Day, observed annually on July 19th, is an informal and whimsical holiday that encourages individuals to playfully stick out their tongues. It's a light-hearted occasion designed to promote silliness, spontaneity, and a momentary break from conventional social etiquette, inviting people to embrace a fun and carefree attitude.

Origin and story

Sticking out one's tongue carries diverse cultural meanings, from an insult in some Western cultures to a form of greeting or agreement in parts of Tibet.

The human tongue is a muscular hydrostat, allowing for its remarkable flexibility and range of motion without skeletal support.

Quick facts

• DateJuly 19
• TypeCultural / community observance
• Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams

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Ways to celebrate

In Tibet, sticking out your tongue isn't rude at all — it's a traditional greeting. According to Tibetan legend, a 9th-century king named Lang Darma was infamous for both his cruelty and a black tongue, so people began sticking out their own (pink, healthy) tongues when meeting others to prove they weren't the reincarnated king come back to cause trouble.

Use it as an actual greeting

• Greet a friend or family member with a quick tongue-out gesture today instead of a handshake or wave, just to feel how differently the same gesture reads across cultures.

Read where the tradition comes from

Helpful resources: Snopes verifies the BBC's account of the Tibetan tongue-greeting tradition and its royal origin story in its fact-check coverage of the custom.

Notice how context changes meaning

• Compare how sticking out a tongue reads in different settings — playful mockery among friends, a childish gesture, or, in Tibet, a sincere and respectful greeting.

Did you know?

The tradition is centuries old and still recognized in Tibetan communities today, even though it's used less commonly by younger generations than by elders.

Fun facts

• Sticking out one's tongue carries diverse cultural meanings, from an insult in some Western cultures to a form of greeting or agreement in parts of Tibet.
• The human tongue is a muscular hydrostat, allowing for its remarkable flexibility and range of motion without skeletal support.
• Beyond taste, the tongue is crucial for speech articulation, helping to form consonants, and plays a vital role in swallowing food safely.

Sources and attribution

• Snopes fact-check on the Tibetan tongue-greeting tradition

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is Stick Out Your Tongue Day?

It is observed on July 19 each year.

What is Stick Out Your Tongue Day?

Stick Out Your Tongue Day, observed annually on July 19th, is an informal and whimsical holiday that encourages individuals to playfully stick out their tongues. It's a light-hearted occasion designed to promote silliness, spontaneity, and a momentary break from conventional social etiquette, inviting people to embrace a fun and carefree attitude.

How do people celebrate Stick Out Your Tongue Day?

Try greeting someone with a tongue-out gesture, and read up on the Tibetan tradition of sticking out one's tongue as a respectful greeting, tied to a legendary 9th-century king with a black tongue.

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