National Paranormal Day: When is it and how did it materialize?

Can you believe that of all the days on the Weird Holidays & Observances page, National Paranormal Day is one we haven’t really investigated yet?

I mean, I have somewhat. I created a page for it once upon a time, but upon re-examination, I found it was lacking. Because as I do with most weird days, I had some questions.

In this case, who created National Paranormal Day and why? When did it start? And is there something in particular we should be doing on the day to celebrate? Let’s check it out and see if we can scare up any answers –or will we just generate more questions?

National Paranormal Day

Paranormal Day is celebrated on May 3.

But why? Does that date hold any special significance? Maybe if we know when it originated, we’ll figure it out.

National Paranormal Day Origins

As is frequently the case with weird days, the origins of National Paranormal Day are mysterious. No one seems to know who created it or why.

There are a couple of things all of the “day” calendars, such as DaysoftheYear.com, NationalDayCalendar.com and NationalToday.com, do agree on, though: Paranormal Day started in 2013.

Or at least the incarnation of it that’s currently recognized did. Days of the Year noted the earliest mention of it that they found was in a 2009 tweet. However, that Paranormal Day was celebrated in August, not May.

The first newspaper reference I found about it was in a Lincoln Journal Star dated Apr. 27, 2013. But it didn’t yield any clues as to who created it or why either.

However, Days of the Year shared info about the American writer Charles Fort. They speculated that perhaps the pioneering paranormal researcher might be the catalyst for the creation of National Paranormal Day.

Charles Fort’s Paranormal Day Connection

American writer Charles Fort is perhaps the best-known collector of paranormal anecdotes. Fort compiled at least 40,000 notes on unexplained paranormal experiences and he is often considered by many to be the father of modern paranormalism, which is the study of the paranormal.

Fort is where “Fortean” comes from to describe “anomalous phenomena,” which Charles Fort specialized in researching and writing about. In addition to being credited with coining the term “teleportation,” many also credit Fort with likely being the first to hypothesize that alien abduction could be responsible for cases of otherwise unexplainable human disappearance and reappearance.

His books included accounts of what today we’d consider occult, supernatural or paranormal, including “falls of frogs, fish and inorganic materials,” spontaneous human combustion, ball lighting, poltergeists, UFOs, levitation, unexplainable noises, and more.

Basically, he was sort of like the Fox Mulder of his time, except a real person and sans any FBI connection.

Speaking of fiction, however, Fort also inspired many science fiction writers with his work.

Fort was born Aug. 6, 1874. He died May 3, 1932.  This may explain why the 2009 Paranormal Day was celebrated in August. It also might explain why May 3 is recognized as National Paranormal Day these days.

National Paranormal Day Purpose

The other thing all of the “day” calendar sites agree on is that Paranormal Day is a day when people who have experienced unexplained* phenomena come together.

*Unexplained via scientific means, that is.

Overall, it’s a day meant to raise awareness, build community/support, and educate/learn about paranormal activity.

As per Days of the Year:

Paranormal Day was created in 2013 to help us give some thought to the things we do not know in hopes of learning more about the universe we live in with all its dimensions, oddities, and great unknowns. 

As per National Day Calendar:

Each year on this day all people who believe in paranormal activities are encouraged to get together and share their experiences with each other. 

5 Ways to Celebrate National Paranormal Day

Just as there isn’t one way to experience paranormal activity, neither is there any particular way to celebrate Paranormal Day. Depending on how much time you want to invest, here are five options to consider:

1. Watch a paranormal movie

If you don’t have a favorite or none immediately come to mind, there’s a user-created list of best horror-supernatural- ghost-paranormal movies on IMDB.

Among the 99 movies mentioned, you’ll find fan faves like Poltergeist, The Exorcist, and The Shining. (Note: It’s just a list, not a ranking from best to worst. I think a lot of people would take exception with it if it was.)

2. Visit a paranormal site

There are a few ways to accomplish this. You could visit an actual haunted place in person.

You could also virtually visit one by watching an episode of your favorite reality TV paranormal investigator(s) or exploring with someone like Amy’s Crypt on YouTube.

And then there’s paying a visit to internet sites like this one where you’re reading about Paranormal Day!

3. Play a paranormal game

We’ve got some fun options on our Spirited Fun & Games page, including puzzles (Creepy Clues, The Order, and Scary Scrambles), name generators and horoscopes.

But there are also some spooktacular suggestions on our Not Bored to Death Games shelf in our Skareporium, such as Boooo-opoly or Mysterium.

4. Throw a Paranormal Day party or get together

Gather all of your ghost-loving friends to celebrate all things paranormal. Even better, invite your para-curious friends. It’s a great way to connect with others and provides a way to talk about both your experiences with unexplained phenomena and your shared and different beliefs on the subject.

5. Read something written by Charles Fort

For instance, The Complete Writings of Charles Fort: The Book of the Damned, New Lands, Lo!, and Wild Tangents.

Check-In

Do you celebrate Paranormal Day? If so, how do you do it?

Whether you do or don’t, may the spirit be with you! Happy #NationalParanormalDay!