Ahoy – Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Ahoy Mateys!

Yes its true there is such a thing. Monday, September 19^th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Yo Ho Ho! What a fun way to spice up your mundane Monday and have fun with your kids! A brief history lesson: what was first an inside joke between two friends, the holiday gained exposure when John Baur and Mark Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to the American syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002. Barry liked the idea and promoted the day. Since then, September 19th is officially Talk Like A Pirate Day, so be sure to add lots of “arghs” and “ahoy mateys” to your emails and conversations and celebrate with some pirate-style fun with the kids.

Just in case you need a refresh course in the lingo we have compiled a short list of the basics, just in case you wanted to jump into the conversation – with or without a parrot on your shoulder. In addition to today’s pirate lingo lesson we are presenting a few pirate inspired products for your pleasure.

Ahoy! – Hello!

Avast! – Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, “Whoa! Get a load of that!” which today makes it more of a “Check it out” or “No way!” or “Get off!”

Aye! – “Why yes, I agree most heartily with everything you just said or did.”

Aye aye! – “I’ll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over.”

Arrr! – This one is often confused with arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a pin. “Arrr!” can mean, variously, “yes,” “I agree,” “I’m happy,” “My team is going to win it all,” and “That was a clever remark you or I just made.” And those are just a few of the myriad possibilities of Arrr.

Shiver me timbers! – Akin to “Blow me down!”, an expression of shock or disbelief, believed to come from the sound the ship made when “shocked” by running aground or hit by a cannon.

Want some fun ideas on how to celebrate this fun holiday? Aye aye Cap’n! Here’s some “booty” for your little lads and lasses. Shiver me timbers, you may have a great time!