Why Do We Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day and Other Fake Holidays?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Got plans for September 19, 2019? You do now: It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day! So prepare your timbers to be shivered and wait… what? Is this seriously a holiday? What is this all about? And why, exactly, is there a formal holiday for not just pirates but for talking like pirates? You have questions. We have (weird) answers.
How did Talk Like a Pirate Day get started?
On June 6, 1995, John Baur and Mark Summers were playing a friendly game of racquetball when, for some reason neither can quite remember, they started saying "Arr!" when returning a volley. That quickly turned into other funny pirate-isms, like "Now watch as I fire a broadside straight into your yardarm!" You know, as one does.
The duo decided that the pirate speak made the game—and life—so much more fun that they needed to start an international "talk like a pirate" day so that everyone and their mateys could know the joy of imitating a parrot and calling your boss a bilge rat.
Why September 19th?
First order of business was to pick a date for this new holiday. "It couldn't be the date we decided it; as any guy can tell you, June 6 is the anniversary of World War II's D-Day. Guys hold dates like that in reverence and awe so there was no way we could use June 6," they explain. So Mark came up with September 19. That was (and still is!) his ex-wife's birthday, and the only date he could think of that wasn't already taken by Christmas or the Super Bowl or something.
Is Mark's ex-wife actually a pirate?
We don't know! They never clarified this point! So for the sake of fun, let's say yes.
Why do the rest of us celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day?
Most of us don't play racquetball and it's probably fair to say that none of us were ever married to Mark's ex-wife so what significance does this day hold to the rest of us? Enter famed humorist Dave Barry. In 2002, the duo sent their holiday idea to him on a whim and he liked it so much he wrote a whole column on the "new holiday" for the Miami Herald. From there, it swept the world like, well, a fire through the poop decks.
No, seriously, why?
"Talking like a pirate is fun. It's really that simple. It adds a zest, a swagger, to your everyday conversation. Do you need another reason?" Mark and John argue. "Try it out. Let go, have a beer, burp in public. Say 'Aarrr!!' Feels good, doesn't it?" Fair point, guys. Who wouldn't laugh at these pirate puns and jokes?
How do you celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day?
Well, for starters, you have to talk like a pirate. Not sure how? Try the Pirate Guys' pirate speak tutorial. It will take you from "Ahoy" (hello) to "lubber" (lover, as in land lover, as in not a pirate) to "bung hole" (which is not what you think it is!).
After that, all festivities are up to you. They recommend eating some guacamole (as avocados were discovered by pirates), sending messages in a bottle (but do it in a non-littering way), reading a pirate-themed book, wearing a jaunty hat, or drinking some grog.
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I be needin' some laughs, me hearties. All topics and insults (CoC friendly please) welcome as long as they are made entirely in 'pirate speak'.
Dear Friend SMAAB: Great article.
Enjoying the idea and the posts.
Thanks for starting off the day with a smile.
Counting slices, for lunch I will have Pizzas of Eight.
Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle Fun.
Enoch, Brushing a Parrot Off My Shoulder.
Land ho, Matey. Ye have chosen me favorite grub to accompany me grog. (Seriously, I just ordered pizza.)
they send over her pie
and hopefully not the bloody plurrrrralll
that Trrrrrummppyy orders, as that wood B Her PPP'Z
Yar. A peek at me goods is all it be takin'.
Pirate speak translator...
here's what translator came up with, i didn't realize i was speaking White housaneeze
.Sink me! dick in ya with a taste of Tungsten steel yer bloody hearty har har heart away till yer sexuality turns gay till you're too happy to have it all taken away by a Scooby Doo Doo Doggy style Day gone bye by till ye can't spell know more
Facebook used to have "pirate" as a language option for Speak Like a Pirate Day, and it was hilarious.
Last time I talked like a Pirate they locked me up.
Blimey, ye were locked up for not wearing pants.
This is Keylo, an 75 lb pit bull that really isn't a Pirate but does specialize in stealing hearts.
P.S. Keylo doesn't wear pants.
Lol no good pirate does .... wear pants that is ....
an Albino Pirate...?
Ahy Ahy Matey well, one Ahy at least
Thar she blows !
isn't that Trumpppps' errrhhhh Mateeeeey
Harharharharharsnortcoughharharharhar!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blimey, those would keep me pirate ship afloat!
Her father paid for them with his plundered booty.
Walking the skank.
Lol any red blooded dude that sez they wouldn't hit Ivanka if given the chance is simply lying or is possibly gay ..... not that there's anything wrong with that ..............
i'd let her walk my woody plank
Honest man ye are
Fine looking woman she be
Less partisan hate
The best tits daddy could buy for her.
You’d hit it, you know you would ......
Ahoy ye landlubbers.
I looked up "Scurvy Dog" in the Pirate Dictionary and this is what i found:
Yaaaarrr!
she B lackin vitamin C...?
errrrhhh eyes errrr bulgin likr a gold digggeeeerrrrrrrr fish
oar
she bin hit upside da head with a plank
may have to walk
that back
Not here, me lubber-boy. Blimey, it's thee point of the seed.
Well shave me belly with a rusty razor! That be a fine example of a scurvy dog look, me matey! On a side note, had I seen that one, I might not have voted for her.
Why do you think Bubba strayed?
Poor bastard!
What's a pirate's favorite letter?
RRRRRRRRRR............
no D emocratic or I ndependent P irates...?
only RRRRRRRRRRR R eta RT television Type Oooo'z positively negative
no D emocratic or I ndependent P irates...?
Yar, always the clever scallywag.
That scallywag deserves every slap.
Looks like he likes it ....
Seems like everything get's politicized now-a-days.
And guess what?
There are even pirate political parties!
Pirate Party is a label adopted by political parties in different countries. Pirate parties support civil rights, direct democracy (including e-democracy) or alternatively participation in government, reform of copyright and patent law, free sharing of knowledge (open content), information privacy, transparency, freedom of information, free speech, anti-corruption and net neutrality.[1]
Some have actually succeeded in get a few representatives elected. (It looks like the countries where they've been most successful are the Czech Republic,...and Iceland).
Nary an arrrrrrr or a yo...ho?
So a pirate walks into a bar and the bartender says, "Hey, pirate, what's the ships wheel doing in your pants!!?"
Pirate: "I don't know but it's drivin' me nuts!!!"
Yaaarr!
How much does it cost a Pirate to get his ears pierced?
A Buccaneer ....
How much did the pirate pay for corn?
A buck an ear.
Gore blimey, lass, everybody like t' 'ave a wee fun