Opposite Day

For the SpongeBob SquarePants episode, see Opposite Day (SpongeBob SquarePants episode).

Opposite day is a fictitious holiday in which participants must do everything "oppositely", which generally includes (but may not be limited to) speaking only false statements. It is most commonly discussed by school-aged children, and may be considered a meme of childhood culture. In the sense that it would "excuse" untrue statements, it is related to the notion that crossed fingers automatically nullfy promises.

Defining whether or not a given day is Opposite Day is famously difficult, as "today is Opposite Day" is always a false statement (assuming the speaker's participation is required), and "it isn't Opposite Day" is always true (assming the same). Thus, the idea of the holiday can serve as a child's first introduction to the Liar paradox. It is celebrated by some people on January 25. [1] [2] [3] .

Opposite Day in popular culture

Opposite Day is an extremely common concept used in popular culture, especially children's television shows and comics in which one character proclaims today to be "opposite day" and all the other characters attempt to figure out how to behave on such a day.

• For example, in one strip of Bill Watterson's popular Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin is panicked when he believes there is a bee on his back. He asks Hobbes to check and see if one is still there; his friend replies "no." Feeling relieved, Calvin moves to wipe the sweat off his forehead, only to be painfully stung. Hobbes explains: "I meant 'No, there is a bee. Today is Opposite Day!'" The final panel of the strip shows Hobbes hiding in a tree from a baseball-bat-wielding Calvin. "Now, remember, Opposite Day is over at midnight," Hobbes says. "'Yes,'" Calvin responds—meaning, of course, "No."[4]

See also

• April Fools' Day