NATIONAL OPPOSITE DAY
Day Opposite National on January 25th celebrates a fun day of switcher-roos. What better way than to not celebrate? We don’t really mean that, or do we?
#NationalOppositeDay
Good morning, or is it good night? Hello, or is it goodbye? I am cold, or am I hot?
The aim of the day is to have fun all day long saying exactly the opposite of what you really mean. This day has kids rejoicing everywhere. It is also a great day for adults to play along and break out of the winter blues. Maybe we should have dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner!
Most sources say that Opposite Day is always observed on January 25th while other sources say it is celebrated by some on January 7th. It is also believed to be celebrated by a group of people on the 25th of each month of the year.
Sponge Bob Square Pants even got into the act, with an episode containing the whimsical nature of this day.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL OPPOSITE DAY
Spend the day exploring opposites.
- Read about the North and South Poles.
- Express opposite emotions like sad and happy, excited and disappointed.
- Experiment with opposite flavors. Taste sour and sweet, spicy and bland. What’s the opposite of bitter?
- Play with opposite sounds. Whisper then shout. Cry then laugh.
Do the opposite of what you mean and use #NationalOppositeDay to post on social media.
Educators, visit the National Day Calendar® Classroom for projects and ideas surrounding the National Days.
NATIONAL OPPOSITE DAY HISTORY
While National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this day, we did discover one interesting reference dating back to President Calvin Coolidge in the 1920s. In the 1928 election, Coolidge made a statement to the press announcing, “I do not choose to run.” That statement spurred a debate and left everyone wondering if he really meant the opposite.
Opposite FAQ
Q. What is a contranym?
A. A contranym is a word that has multiple meanings that contradict each other or are opposites. For example, the word “left” can mean a person or thing that remains. “There are three people left in the office.” It can also mean a person or thing that no longer remains. “Everyone else left the office for the day.”
Q. If “left” is the opposite of “right,” what is the opposite of “ambidextrous”?
A. “Ambidextrous” means the ability to use both the right and left equally well. Its opposite is “ambilevous” which means the equally poor ability to perform tasks with both hands.