What Is Z Day and Why Is It Observed on January 1?

One of the more mysterious days on the Weird Holidays & Observances page is Z Day, which falls on January 1 every year. Or maybe it’s not so mysterious as it is curious. Until this year, I never really looked into it. But this year, I did. Here’s what I found.

Not for Zombies

I’m fairly sure I initially included Z Day in the Weird Holidays listings because I thought “Z” stood for zombie. It sounds zombie-esque, doesn’t it?

Plus, it stood to reason, “What better day than the first of the year to have such a day?” It follows one of the biggest party nights (New Year’s Eve) of the year.  Most everyone’s groggy from staying up late celebrating, and many are walking around like a bunch of zombies nursing their hangovers.

But, nope. Z Day isn’t for or about zombies at all. Although they still could celebrate. I’ll get to that in a bit.

Last Becomes First

Does your first or last name start with the letter Z? If so, Z Day on January 1 is all about you.

According to Days of the Year:

Z Day was created to give those whose names begin with Z’s a bit of a break. People with the letter Z can go first in line, get picked earlier, and stand in front instead of the back for a change.

How to Celebrate

Here are six ways to show the letter Z some love and appreciation today:

1. Learn more about your zodiac sign.
2. Watch a zombie movie. (This is how zombies still get a chance to celebrate.)
3. Visit a zoo.
4. Organizing for the New Year? Go in reverse alphabetical order and start with anything that has a Z in it. (What that might be, I have no idea. I’m stretching for a suggestion here.)
5. Call any friends with Z names —or even Zs in their names— and tell them hi.
6. Research something starting with a Z. (I’m going to take my own advice on this one and check into any haunted places, people or demons with Z names. I’ll let you know what I find.)

Check-In

What’s your zodiac sign?

What’s your favorite zombie movie? (Do you even have one?)

When’s the last time you went to the zoo?

P.S.

If you’re wondering if there are any zombie days, there are! Here are some zombie-related weird holidays and observances:

• The Zombie Research Society has designated May as Zombie Awareness Month.
• Virus Appreciation Day falls on October 3. (Not quite a zombie day, but in so many movies viruses are the spark for zombie apocalypses.)
• According to The Fact Site, World Zombie Day is October 13.

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.