NATIONAL RAT CATCHER’S DAY - July 22

NATIONAL RAT CATCHER’S DAY | July 22

National Rat Catcher’s Day on July 22nd commemorates the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The day also provides an opportunity to thank all present-day exterminators.

According to the folktale, residents of the German town of Hamelin hired a strangely dressed man to rid their village of rats. The Pied Piper of Hamelin did so by playing his flute. Upon finishing the task, the townsfolk refused to pay — so the Pied Piper returned. Once again, the Pied Piper played his flute while the children followed him. And with the Pied Piper, the children vanished, never to return.

While a harrowing tale of revenge doesn’t seem like something to celebrate, someone found a way. Depending on where you live, the day includes festivals and re-enactments. Due to differing dates in stories and poems, Hamelin, Germany, celebrates the day on June 26th. The event consists of a pied piper leading children through the city streets. There’s even Richard the Rat who gets to tell his version of the story.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRatCatchersDay

Appreciate all rat catchers and make this their day! Read the story about the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Post on social media using #NationalRatCatchersDay.

NATIONAL RAT CATCHER’S DAY HISTORY

We were unable to find the creator of National Rat Catcher’s Day. The day is also known as Ratcatcher’s Day, Rat-catcher’s Day or Rat-Catcher’s Day and is sometimes celebrated on June 26. The confusion stems from the Brothers Grimm as they cite June 26, 1284, as the date the Pied Piper led the children out of the town. At the same time, the poem by Robert Browning uses the date July 22, 1376.

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