Double your pleasure as today, January 21, 2009, is a double-dip of wacky holidays. You see, today is both Squirrel Appreciation Day and National Hugging Day. Feel free to maximize your productivity today by combining the two. Go ahead and hug a squirrel (bonus points if it is purple) or a member of rodent royalty.
When I think about it, squirrels are pretty awesome. Not only are they cute and furry, they’re also infinitely amusing and, so I’ve heard, delicious. Plus I’m sure they’re valuable to the ecosystem, so that only increases their cuddliness. That’s probably why Christy Hargrove of Asheville, North Carolina, started Squirrel Appreciation Day in 2001.
As for actual hugs, who doesn’t occasionally need a cuddle or two? Rev. Kevin Zaborney started this pseudo-holiday in 1986, and I couldn’t think of a better way to share a little warmth, literal and figurative, on a cold January day than by wrapping arms around another warm body. Just ask permission first if you’re trying to hug strangers. That’s a good way to get a snout full of stun gun.
One suggestion: If you’re going to hug squirrels, be careful. They’re pretty small and probably brittle, and I doubt they’re used to much physical affection. If you get rabies, that’s totally not my responsibility.
Tags: national hug day, international hug day, national hugging day, squirrel appreciation day, weird holidays, unusual holidays, holidays, hugs, squirrels, animals, celebrations, Christy Hargrove, Rev. Kevin Zaborney
