Wear A Bow Tie Day and Other Wholidays

“April 3 is Wear A Bow Tie Day. I’m wearing mine to school tomorrow!”

My 11-year-old informed me of this right after dinner, reminding me there is a new fan-created day to remember The Eleventh Doctor.

As it turns out, Whovians around the world are encouraged to wear a bow tie today in memory of the reign of the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), and the date “The Eleventh Hour” was broadcast for the first time. My daughter was more than eager to participate in this one.

In addition, April 3 is also the Fish Fingers and Custard Day, in celebration this first full appearance of the Eleventh Doctor. Fans are invited to feast on Eleven’s favorite treat that day, preferably while wearing bow tie, I would imagine.

Just to get in the spirit, here are five more dates concocted by and intended for true Whovians:

•  April 23: Silent Days (also known as  Impossible Astronaut Day ). The date of The Doctor’s death is supposedly April 22, and the first time The Silents appeared on television was April 23.  Whovians are encouraged to place tally marks on their skin, visible for other people to see on either of these days….but not tell anyone else why they have them. This day was apparently a “hush-hush” event so no non-Whovians could be in on the joke, but thanks to social media, that didn’t last too long.

• May 7: Black Spot Day. This is the day the Eleventh Doctor’s “Curse of the Black Spot” first aired, and Whovians are encouraged to draw a block spot on their palm to celebrate.

• June 11: Bad Wolf Day. The penultimate Ninth Doctor episode, “Bad Wolf” first aired on this day, and fans should mark this date by writing “Bad Wolf” on slips of paper to post around, or in chalk on sidewalks or in other public venues (legally, of course). No permanent graffiti is encouraged. Note, this celebration has been held on different days in June.

• November 23: TARDIS Day (also called Doctor Who Day). This is the “official” unofficial Doctor Who holiday (or Wholiday). It’s the date in which the very first episode of Doctor Who aired, introducing the world to The Doctor, his companions, and the Time and Relative Dimensions in Space (TARDIS). This is the time when Whovians celebrate their fandom with everything from watching parties to gift swaps.

• December 21: International Dalek Remembrance Day. This commemorates the date in 1963 when The Doctor’s most recognizable (and somehow beloved) villains and heartless killing machines first appeared on-screen. Whovians are urged to talk like Daleks, mention Daleks whenever they can, and toss around the word “exterminate!” as much as possible.

Last year, fans also celebrated a “Dalek Day” on August 8, on what would have been the birthday of Dalek creator Terry Nation, who passed away earlier that year.

So, bust out that bow tie, warm up the fish fingers, and mark the calendar for the rest of the year. After all, a Time Lord with more than 900 years of adventure has many opportunities to celebrate.

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