Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day: What’s its story?

One of the entries on the Weird Holidays and Observances page that we’ve never officially explored yet is Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day. It’s celebrated annually on December 8, but why? What’s its story? Who created it and when? And what’s the best way to celebrate it?

As I usually do when it comes to weird days, I have so many questions. Let’s dive in and see if we can answer any of them.

Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day: Who started it, why, and when?

I’m not sure exactly who created Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day or why or when it first started.

The earliest references I found to it online were from Wired in 2007, which referenced a Laughing Squid post that basically only elaborated on how to celebrate the day:

You must spend the entire day in costume and character. The only rule is that you cannot actually tell anyone that you are a time traveler. Other than that, anything’s game.

The earliest newspaper reference I found for it was also in 2007, in a Sep. 20, 2007 edition of The Spokesman-Review out of Spokane, Washington. It was at the very end of a “The Slice” column by Paul Turner titled “You’ll have to pardon the comparison.” All it said was that “Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day is Dec. 8.”

So the origins of Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day remain a mystery. For all we know, a time traveler —either from the past or the future— started it. One who may or may not have popped into 2007 and planted the seed we should start celebrating the day.

How to Celebrate Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day

We sort of covered that above. You dress in costume and assume a character of some sort, but you’re not allowed to tell anyone why you’re dressed as you are.

I like how Chris Gigoux explained in the Wired article why it’s a bad idea to tell anyone you’re a time traveler, which was basically “because they’ll think you’re crazy.” Makes perfect sense.

Gigoux also gave some examples of character personas you could take on and the ways they might act. They included a time traveler from a utopian future, one from a dystopian future, or someone from the past.

He also suggested ways to dress and things to say, which had me laughing out loud.

For instance, for the utopian future he suggested dressing in “moderately anachronistic clothing and speak in slang from varying decades. ” Greetings you might use could include: “Have you penetrated the atmosphere lately?” or “What spectrum will today’s broadcast be in?”

The dystopian persona was the one that had me falling on the floor, from his suggestions for how to dress and what to say. Basically, “dress like a crazy person with armor.” Then walk up to people and demand to know “What year is this?” and when they tell you say, “Good. Then there’s still time,” and run off.

But he also suggested really getting into character and shaving your head then painting a barcode on your neck. If I ever have to undergo chemo that makes my hair fall out again, I hope I’m well enough to celebrate Time Traveler Day. I’d totally do this!

But the best one was, “Stand in front of a statue (any statue, really), fall to your knees, and yell ‘NOOOOOOOOO!'”

He suggested pretending to be from the past would be the easiest. You just dress in period clothing of some sort then walk around being either amazed, confused or terrified —or some combo thereof— by everything and pretty much everyone you see.

If you’re not into the whole role-playing part of Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day, though, you could always just indulge for a little while by watching a movie or TV show or reading a book that involves time travel.

Check-In

If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?

If you went to the past, what’s something you would take with you that we have now that wasn’t available 50 or 100 years ago?

What might be useful to take into the future?

I think I’d go back because at least I’d sort of know what to expect. I think whether I went forward or back, though, I’d take food. And maybe bottled water. And a first aid kit if I could manage it.