Cheer up, me mateys. Talk Like a Pirate Day is arrr-ound the corner

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Ahoy Mates! It would be terrible if you missed this month’s treasure, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is celebrated September 19.

A whole day for pirates, you say? Shiver me timbers!

This special day was created in 1995 by friends John Baur and Mack Summers when, during a racquetball game on June 6, one of them was injured and exclaimed, “arrr!” 

Initially it was just a joke between the two men - they chose to celebrate it yearly on September 19, a day easy to remember as it is an ex-wife’s birthday - but syndicated columnist Dave Barry (author of many books available in the JCPL system such as You Can Date When You’re 40) received a letter from Baur and Summers explaining it in 2002.  Mr. Barry liked the idea, and promoted it in his column. After that, the idea took off.

Mark your calendars, and be sure to visit the library for creative ways to celebrate. For instance, Pirattitude: So You Wanna Be a Pirate by John Baur is available. Also available are The Everything Pirates Book by Barbara Karg, Pirates:facts, things to make, activities by Rachel Wright, and The Pirate Primer:mastering the language of swashbucklers and rogues by George Choundas. And don’t forget the wide selection of Pirates of the Caribbeans movies, along with the series Crossbones. Most importantly, remember, it’s Talk Like a Pirate Day. Say arrr! at least once. Dressing up is fun, but not necessary.

If interested in the founders of this special day, one can investigate their website, www.talklikeapirate.com. Taken from their site, “What’s the problem with the way a pirate speaks? – Arrrrticulation!”