A New Holiday
I really think we need a new Federal holiday. It has to be Federal so people will have time off and be able to celebrate the day in style. Plus, I might pick up a good three- or four-day weekend in there once it takes off and the Army lets folks blow off steam. So obviously this will have to be planned and instituted in those long periods of the year between other good holidays that we get time off for.
I’m not really sure what to call this new holiday, but I suppose Rant Day would suffice as a placeholder. Not that I want to be famous and shit… at least not any more famous than I already am. I don’t need any fuckwitted paparazzi stalking me and taking photos of me pissing in my shrubbery. Besides, being famous is a lot of work, and I’m already pretty busy.
So the theme of this Rants Day would be a day when you can just cut loose and express yourself. Pissed off at the world? Let it out! Sick of your boss at work? Let him know how you really feel. Yeah, I see this coming together nicely already. A kind of National Day of Catharsis. With attitude.
Since holidays also have to have some kind of associated rituals that can be capitalistically exploited in order to lose the whole focus of the holiday, I’ve got some awesome suggestions:
Ritual Self-Flagellation. Get your mind out of the gutter. This means you have to identify what chaps your ass and go wallow in it. Hate PowerPoint? Sit through a two-hour sominex of pointlessness. Hate your job or boss? Go to work. Hate politicians? Read or watch the news. You get the point – make yourself do something you hate – it builds up a nice powerful head of steam for later.
Costumes. They’re not just for Halloween anymore. Options for this include camouflage, but generally can be anything black or gray. Loose-fitting items are preferred, because sometimes you want a good, full arc on that baseball bat you’re going to be swinging later. Comfort is important. Cotton is preferred.
Food. Eat whatever the fuck you want. Even better, if someone critiques your choices, portion size, or number of returns to the serving plate, you can channel that into your building rage. The only requirement for the holiday here is that bacon must be involved.
Beverages. These would be of the adult, carbonated barley soda type. Clearly we do not wish to condone alcohol abuse (*snicker*) but this is necessary in order to help lower that internal filter that keeps your chapped ass cheeks inflamed. Guzzle a few to alleviate the filter problem. Don’t like beer? Tough shit – channel that rage into your bubbling cauldron of Hate-orade.
Ranting. Pick your forum. Blogs are fine, but real catharsis happens when you lower the filter between your mouth and brain and let fly with how you really and truly feel. Drop the hammer! Foul, potty-mouthed words are not only highly encouraged, they’re unofficially mandatory. Spew your bile and anger until there’s no more, and then dig deeper. Be your anger.
I’m not sure how the day concludes, other than possibly a very deep sleep to get over it all. This holiday will likely have to be one of those “second Friday of the month” things to ensure you have time to tune your liver back up afterwards. That, and a weekend in jail also helps to reduce the tension created after filter-lowering.
Yeah, I am a genius sometimes.
January 15, 2012 at 07:51
Isn’t rant day every day for federal employees? Kidding! It’s not a bad idea…
January 15, 2012 at 08:19
Damn fine point! But no, on those days we bring handguns to work.
January 15, 2012 at 08:22
We already have this holiday here on the Gulf Coast. All the businesses, banks, state, county and most federal offices are closed (or at least a skeletal crew), the kids get a five day weekend, and we all do precisely what you described, complete with costumes, ranting, mass consumption of whatever you want. Those worried about repercussions for their behavior wear masks.
It’s called Mardi Gras. C’mon down, y’all.
Oh, and down here, it’s not MLK day…it is widely known as “Lee-King Day,” in honor of Robert E. Lee’s birthday which happens to fall at the same time. His day was celebrated long before somebody invented the other guy’s day.
January 15, 2012 at 08:23
Worldwide holiday! \m/ and it should be something like valentines day ,not a day off if it requires activities involve raging out against your regular social circle . Also , as a sidenote ,to really get this thing going ,we’d need a martyr-sort-of-person and while I couldn’t possible delude you by suggesting you work towards being called St. Rants ,how about being a beer drinking ,beacon eating , constantly cursing version of Ghandi ? He gets people holidays.
January 15, 2012 at 08:31
I have the haircut nailed, but I fear I’m not thin enough. I look really bad in a breechclout.
January 15, 2012 at 09:53
I would like to ccelebrate Rant Day!
January 15, 2012 at 10:58
Wicked Awesome!
January 15, 2012 at 12:35
Saw a guy at the market yesterday with a tee-shirt. Two strips on the front in a heart shape, and the words, “You had me at Bacon”, in the middle. He could be the martyr, although he was no skinny Ghandi either.
January 15, 2012 at 12:52
Can we have him picked up? I can take care of the actual martyring business.
January 15, 2012 at 12:58
Love the idea, but I may have to skip the adult carbonated barley soda stuff…it dulls my hatred. 😉
January 15, 2012 at 13:45
You’re not trying hard enough.
January 15, 2012 at 13:05
Every day is rant day at my house.
January 15, 2012 at 14:20
Talk Like a Pirate Day needs to be a federal holiday. Even better, Act Like a Pirate Day, in which scurvy dogs can be made to walk the plank. Arrrr.
January 15, 2012 at 15:55
Arrr, aye. I think also we need a “Wear Your Kilt Day.” I don’t have enough opportunity to wear mine.
January 15, 2012 at 16:55
“Federal”? Holidays are something best left to the private sector.
*wink* That was a joke.
January 15, 2012 at 18:33
One way or another, EH.
January 15, 2012 at 23:18
How Scottish are you? Previous posts have seemed more Irish. What Tartan? I rate Stewart, not Royal, but have never worn the kilt. Don’t even own one. Want a Skein Dubh, but that’s just ’cause I’m a knife nut.
January 16, 2012 at 06:33
I think I could be either Anderson or MacDonald.
January 16, 2012 at 09:17
I’m sorry, but the new federal holiday has already been created.
Sparklebump’s Day sounds more fun than Rants Day. Sorry.
http://sparklebumpsthebookwhore.wordpress.com/wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=post&tag=aphrodite
January 16, 2012 at 09:38
You’re likely correct.
January 16, 2012 at 10:00
hhhmmm…me envisioning St.Rant’s Holiday…I get the day off (with pay of course)..I get to eat a BLT n get drunk…and run around the Hood…dressed up as a super-hero n bitchin’ at folks…hhhmmm..I would probably get to be your martyr…..hahahaha
January 16, 2012 at 10:20
Go armed.
January 16, 2012 at 14:39
You are a genius – sometimes!
January 16, 2012 at 15:55
Awesome! Thanks!
January 16, 2012 at 17:36
national dressing gown day champers day and hot tub day take your pick or all three lovely could have added a rude one but im being polite lol xxjen
January 16, 2012 at 19:19
There’s really no such thing as rude on this blog, so fire away. Dressing Gown Day? Is this a British thing? Megan?? Help??