October 8 is National Columbus Day, but it's also National Pierogi Day and National Fluffernutter Day. But have you ever actually celebrated National Fluffernutter Day? And where does it even come from?
You've probably got on Facebook and Instagram before to see a flood of posts with a hashtag for #National______Day. Most recently, it was "National Daughter's Day" and all the young moms on my Facebook were posting pictures of their babies. But I've never heard of National Daughter's Day before, and while the sentiment is nice, it's not as if anyone is actually doing anything to "celebrate" other than posting pictures with a hashtag on social media. I first started noticing these crazy national days a few years ago.
It started out with National Doughnut Day, National Taco Day, or National Margarita Day. And sure, these were fun to participate in as restaurants offered deals or free food. And all the holidays have to start somewhere. Some such as Earth Day, created in the 1960s, have societal value and may be more widely observed. But I see more and more pointless days used in marketing, such as National Stupid Question Day. Though Congress can vote on resolutions to recognize certain days—like it did with Pi Day in 2009—most remain entirely unofficial.
Kanki Japanese House of Steaks and Sushi Facebook
I guess these fake holidays are all in good fun, but I'm really tired of seeing them all over social media. Have you ever been berated by your sibling for not posting about them on National Sibling Day? Or seen someone post and apologize for being late to the game? But was this a holiday you ever celebrated before the advent of social media and the pressure of posting something for a made-up holiday? Overall, these national days are largely based on some sort of marketing plan.
National Doughnut Day probably brings lots of business to donut sellers, as everyone wants to feel like they're celebrating and to have a cute picture to share online. With National Boyfriend Day/National Sibling Day/National Daughter's Day, it's an opportunity to post an appreciative photo collage for your loved one. To keep social media fresh, brands and influences are constantly looking for new content. Like, 'I need to find the excuse or a reason to post. Today is National Watermelon Day so I'll post a picture of myself eating watermelon". At this point, I'm tired of it. It feels so inauthentic to me as every day is a new national day. People love having a reason to feel excited about something, so brands keep using them and creating new ones. If marketers can't find a holiday, they'll make one up.
It's interesting how social media has become a breeding ground for bandwagon posts. I'm sure all those moms on my Facebook did not have National Daughter's Day marked on their calendar, but once one person posts, the rest follow. I'm tired of seeing these posts, but at the same time, I guess it's okay to let people have their fun. I just don't think I'll be participating, the lines on National Doughnut Day just aren't worth it.
