The Weird and Unusual Days of Summer

Before we cover some of the weird and unusual days of summer, I have a question for you: How do you measure summer? Meteorologically or astronomically?

If you’re wondering, “What are you talking about?” that was me earlier this year when a weather person on the local news referred to the start of meteorological spring.

It was the end of February. Didn’t spring start on March 20? Why was the weatherperson saying it started on March 1 then? Had I missed some sort of weather memo?

Well, meteorological spring started on March 1, she explained. Until then I’d never realized there were two different ways of measuring the seasons.

Meteorological summer starts on June 1 and runs to August 31. Astronomical summer starts on the summer solstice, which this year is June 20, and lasts until September 22.

One of the ways to locate days on the Weird Holidays & Observances page is via the Jump to a Month section. The table categorizes months by seasons, which are then grouped meteorologically.

Although I never knew that when I set it up. I knew it wasn’t quite in line with the astronomical tracking, but that would’ve been hard to do. Instead, I just organized them how it seems most people view winter, spring, summer, and fall. Or, as I now know, meteorologically.

Even though I’m posting this after June 1, in keeping with how the days are listed on the Weird Holidays & Observances page, I’ll start at the beginning of that month anyway. Because there are some good days I don’t want to leave out.

I won’t cover all of the weird days in each summer month. This is more like a highlight reel of the best ones. To see them all, or to see what else is in the other seasons, visit the Weird Holidays & Observances page.

For now, let’s take a look at what I consider some of the weirdest and most unusual days of summer.

BONUS! Where applicable, I’ve included weird and unusual monthly and weekly observances too.

Weird & Unusual Days of Summer: June

National Camping Month

First of all, June is National Camping Month. Perfect time for it, right?

June 6-12: Bed Bug Awareness Week

Do you think it’s weird there’s such a thing as a Bed Bug Awareness Week too? I think bed bugs are weird period.

Anyway, every year the first full week of June is dedicated to bringing awareness to the snuggly little critters. Which are active year-round, but more so in the warmer spring and summer months and are aided in their spread by the increased number of people traveling. It’s a good time for pest control experts to educate people about how to spot, treat, or even better yet avoid the pests altogether.

June 1: International Dinosaur Day

This is one of those days that has more than one observance. There’s also a day for the extinct reptiles on the third Tuesday of May.

June 8: Ghostbusters Day

It commemorates the release of the original movie in 1984. There’s also another one in August.

June 8: Name Your Poison Day

“Name your poison” is a colorful idiom for asking what a person wants to drink. However, it can also be employed to ask about choosing between consequences. Because this is one of those days where it’s not clear who started it or why, or which meaning they intended, that means you get to pick which way you want to interpret and celebrate it. In other words, you get to pick your poison: literally or figuratively. Bottoms up!

June 13: Jason Voorhees’ Birthday

There are other birthdays listed among June’s unusual days too, some for real people and some for fictional characters like this one. Jason’s is the only one I’m highlighting though since it’s also National Camping Month and all. I mean, Jason goes with camps like chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers go with campfires. In other words, he embodies the summertime spirit…in his own horrifying way.

June 20, 21, or 22: Summer Solstice

As The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains, “The timing of the June solstice is not based on a specific calendar date or time; it all depends on when the Sun reaches its northernmost point from the celestial equator. Therefore, the solstice won’t always occur on the same day. Currently, it shifts between June 20, 21, and 22.”

In and of itself, the summer solstice is neither weird nor unusual. It simply marks the time when the sun stays up the longest. However, I’ve included it on Weird Holidays & Observances listings because it’s one of the three times of the year when the veil is thin. The other two are Beltane and Samhain. Or as Conscious Life News put it, it’s “…one of the three ‘Spirit Nights’ of the year. It is a time when the faeries are most active and spirits are more easily visible to those with the gift of sight.”

June 24: International Fairy Day or Faerie Day

Speaking of the summer solstice and fairies, June is the month when a day is set aside to honor the wee folk who have inspired legends across cultures for centuries. Basically, summer is to fairies what fall is to ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and witches so there’s no way I could leave them out. After all, I do believe in fairies. I do. What about you? (Bonus points if you know what movie nod that’s to.)

June 24: World UFO Day

This is another of the weird and unusual summer days that happens twice. The other World UFO Day is on July 2, which is the one widely regarded as the actual World UFO Day date, which I explained in “Why are there two World UFO Days?” This one observes the date in 1947 when private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported nine shiny unidentified flying objects flying at high speeds past Mount Rainier.

Weird & Unusual Days of Summer: July

July 2: World UFO Day

As mentioned above, this World UFO Day is the one most people recognize. It commemorates the alleged crash that became known as the infamous Roswell UFO Incident.

1st Sunday in July: Build a Scarecrow Day

Did you know there was a day reserved especially for building a scarecrow? I thought it was rather strange such a day would happen in July considering scarecrows are such a symbol of fall. But that’s just it. You build them now to protect the crops that you intend to harvest in the fall.

June 13: Embrace Your Geekness Day

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty good about embracing my geekness just about every day. However, it’s nice there’s a day set aside just for that. “Any excuse to celebrate” is my motto!

July 14: World Pandemonium Day

Chaos happens. This is the day to embrace it. As well as to consciously identify what causes upheaval in your life and find ways to tame it or change it.

July 16: World Snake Day

Some folks aren’t bothered a bit by snakes, while others don’t like them at all. Which for some may be an understatement. They believe the only good snake is a dead one. However, even though they get a bad rap, snakes are not only a necessary part of the ecosystem but beneficial too since they control rat and mice populations. Don’t believe me? (Because I know those of you who fear them are dubious.) Learn more at SavetheSnakes.org.

July 22: Rat Catcher Day

Hmm, between this day and World Snake Day, July’s weird days seem to have a theme: pest control. Rat Catcher Day commemorates the folktale, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, which dates back centuries to circa 1300. The tale goes that the town of Hamelin had a rat problem. A piper promised he could help and the town agreed to pay him for taking care of their rat problem.

With his trusty pipe, he played music, the rats followed him to a lake or river (depending on the telling), and the rats drowned. (In some cases, it’s told he led them to a cliff and they fell off the mountain and died.) But after he saved Hamelin from the scourge of rats, the townspeople refused to pay.

The piper decided to exact revenge and then led the town’s children away. In some tellings, they met the same fate as the rats. In others, he received more gold than initially promised for getting rid of the rats to return the children.

However, was this tale actually rooted in fact? There was a stained glass window in a church in Hamelin that mentioned the story. The church was destroyed in the 1600s, but between the 14th and 17th centuries there are accounts that reference it. And according to Wikipedia, “This window is generally considered to have been created in memory of a tragic historical event for the town. Also, Hamelin town records apparently start with this event. The earliest written record is from the town chronicles in an entry from 1384 which reportedly states: ‘It is 100 years since our children left.'”

Did you have any idea that story might be based on a true one? I can already see the true crime documentary title for this one: What really happened to the children of Hamelin?

July 27: Barbie-in-a-Blender Day

Some weird days have origin stories, some do not. Barbie-in-a-Blender Day has one. It was created by Freeculture.org, which is now Students for a Free Culture, to show support for photographer and author Tom Forsythe. In 1999, the Mattel Corporation sued him for his series of photos called “Food Chain Barbie.” In the photos, he posed Barbies in blenders and with other kitchen appliances to make a statement about consumer culture and the objectification of women. It took some appeals, but Forsythe ultimately won.

Weird & Unusual Days of Summer: August

American Adventures Month

This month gives you both permission and a reason to get out there and have some travel adventures!

First Week of August: National Clown Week

In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared August 1-7 National Clown Week. Clowns have been celebrating ever since. Well, at least during the first week of August.

First Monday thru Sunday of August: National Psychic Week

According to AZCentral.com, “National Psychic Day on Aug. 4 kicked off National Psychic Week, which started in 1965 after a Broadway producer decided he wanted to help promote his psychic friends. It’s been celebrated during the first week of August ever since.”

Last Full Weekend of August: International Bat Night

Eurobats.org explains that Bat Night has taken place worldwide in over 30 countries since 1997. 2021 marks the night’s 25th anniversary. Conservation groups organize events to educate the public about bats and host events like presentations, exhibits, and even bat walks.

First Sunday of August: National Doll Day

Sort of like snakes, some people love dolls while others find them creepy, whether they’re allegedly haunted or not. Some like them best when they are rumored to be possessed by a deceased person’s spirit. Either way, this day celebrates dolls of every shape, size, and paranormal (or not) persuasion.

First Sunday of August: National Psychic Day

This is a day to explore, hone or test your psychic abilities. Many psychics will tell you we all have them. It’s just a matter of slowing down and tapping into them.

August 7: National Clown Day

The first Saturday of National Clown Week is reserved especially in honor of clowns.

August 17: Black Cat Appreciation Day

This is another day you might expect to see during a fall month instead of a summer one. Black cats often represent Halloween season, but they just as often get a bad rap. That’s why they get their own day. They’re just as lovable as any other cat. Why in August? I don’t know. Maybe whoever created the day was afraid they’d get overlooked during Spooky Season? Perhaps. Maybe that’s why October should become Black Cat Appreciation Month.

August 18: Serendipity Day

A day to acknowledge and honor those occasions where it seems the Universe is conspiring in your favor with fortuitous events and meetings.

August 28: National Ghostbusters Day

The Ghostbusters Day on June 8 commemorates the original release of the movie. This one honors the 30th anniversary re-release.

August 30: Frankenstein Day

Mary Shelley’s Gothic novel Frankenstein was published in 1818, but the author was born on August 30, 1797. This day celebrates her.

Read the book:

Watch the classic movie:

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Check-In

Do you have any favorite weird and unusual days of summer?