MDBCs 19 Sep 2025

September 19 is National Gymnastics Day, an unofficial celebration of the graceful sport that tests everything from physical strength to agility to balance and coordination.

National Gymnastics Day was created in 1998 in the United States as a way to promote the sport among young people and to honor the sportspeople, coaches, and clubs who have kept the gymnastic tradition alive and thriving for centuries.

Originated in Greece

Gymnastics originated as an activity in ancient Greece. Then, it was a way for people to exercise, stay healthy and remain ready for battle. It wasn't until the late 19th century that it took on a competitive note. In 1881 the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) was created in Liège, Belgium. In 1896, men's gymnastics was part of the first modern Olympics held in Athens, Greece. The Amsterdam Olympics in 1928 featured the first female gymnastics events.

Today, gymnastics is a popular sport around the world with many prestigious competitions and contests held throughout the year.

How to Celebrate?

Attend a gymnastic meet or competition in your area and cheer for your favorite gymnast and team.
If you have always wanted to learn gymnastics, today is the perfect reason to begin. Find yourself a club or a gym and get started!
Encourage the children and young adults in your life to consider gymnastics as a sport to pursue. Who knows, they may soon become Olympic level gymnasts.
Know a gymnast? Send them a message or a note letting them know that you are proud of them and their achievements.

Did You Know...

…that Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, a German educator is considered the Father of Gymnastics? He was responsible for promoting some of the most popular gymnastic routines today. These include the parallel bar and the ring.

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International Talk Like a Pirate Day

International Talk Like A Pirate Day is a parody holiday annually held on September 19. Celebrated for the first time in 1995, the fun holiday encourages people to talk and dress like the sea plunderers of yesteryears.

John Baur (“Ol' Chumbucket”) and Mark Summers (“Cap'n Slappy”) created this holiday on June 6, 1995. Out of respect for World War II’s D-Day, Baur and Summers chose to move the date of the holiday to September 19.

International Talk Like A Pirate Day was a low-key event until 2002 when it received media attention via syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry. Today, it is celebrated around the world as a way to raise funds for charity organizations, such as Childhood Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Criminals at Sea

Pirates are people who commit acts of robbery and violence at sea. Pirates have been around ever since the open seas have been used to transport goods and people from one part of the world to the other. Even Julius Caesar was captured by pirates twice.

Historically, pirates were considered contemptible human beings. In many societies, acts of piracy were punishable by torture and death. Even today, piracy is considered an egregious crime at par with other heinous crimes such as treason.

Parodied Version

In the 18th century, the image of pirates got a makeover - from being violent criminals to being somewhat caricatured. They were shown sporting eye patches, a bandana or a tricorne hat, and were always accompanied by a pet, usually a parrot or a monkey. They were also shown to speak a special version of the English language, which is grammatically incorrect, and often interspersed with growls.

How to Celebrate?

Dress up like a swashbuckling pirate. Bonus points if you are able to carry a parrot or a monkey on your shoulder.
Talk like a pirate the whole day long. Intersperse your speech with grunts and growls and slur your words. Call your friends “matey” and intentionally use bad grammar.
Host a pirate themed party and ask your guests to come dressed as pirates.
Watch movies and read books that feature pirates as central characters. Some examples include the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Read more about the history of piracy and famous pirates.

Did You Know...

...that William Dampier, an English pirate, was responsible for introducing many words in the English language, still in use today? Some of these include: caress, chopsticks, posse, barbecue and snug. An amateur natural historian, he was also the first person in the world to circumnavigate the world thrice.

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Q: Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it, you'll die. What is it?

A: Nothing!

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Q: I have a head but no body, a heart but no blood. Just leaves and no branches, I grow without wood. What am I?

A: Lettuce!

***

Q: A man is pushing his car along, and when he comes to a hotel he shouts, "I'm bankrupt!" Why?

A: He’s playing Monopoly.

***

Q: If a red-house is made of red bricks, has a red wooden door, and a red roof, and a yellow-house is made of yellow bricks, has a yellow wooden door, and a yellow roof, then what is a green-house made of?

A: Glass.

***

“What’s a hipster?” asked my four-year-old cousin.

“Someone who will wear something just to look different,” I said. “They’ll often buy clothes in thrift shops and wear thick glasses.”