International Talk Like a Pirate Day
About International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Date When Celebrated: This fun holiday is rowdily observed on September 19
Ahoy, Matey! Did you know that today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day? On this September 19 holiday, we only talk “Pirate Speak”, a language readily identified with these ocean-faring robbers. The language is easy to learn. In general, the words are common English words. However, the pronunciation is different. If you learn to roll your “R’s”, you are well along to using pirate speak. Use “ye” instead of you and your. Mumble and growl a little, too. Then, sprinkle in a few “me lads and me laddies”, and everyone will think you are a certified, card-carrying pirate. This day is just for fun, a day to let out the pirate in each of us. We like “just for fun” days and we know you do, too.
Practice up your “pirate-speak” in anticipation of this day. The conversation will be lively, and you don’t want to be left behind. Today, everyone will be talking the talk, if not walking the walk. It is not a requirement to dress like a buccaneer today. Just talk like one.
Pirate Speak Sayings
Here are some common sayings to use today:
- Ahoy Matey
- Me Lads and me ladies
- Shiver me timbers
- Refer to people as “Scallywags”
- Walk the Plank
- Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
- Let’s parlay
Famous Pirates
Here are some of the best-known ship raiders of the seven seas:
Blackbeard – Edward Teach (or Thatch) is one of the most famous buccaneers. He lived during the “Golden Age of Pirates”. He was born in the late 1700s.
Anne Bonny – Born in County Cork, Ireland in 1697. She married pirate Calico Jack and became a pirate herself. She was known to dress as a man during her endeavors.
Henry Morgan – Born in Wales in 1635, he operated in the Carribean. He was one of the most successful pirates in the 17th century.
Captain Jack Sparrow – He’s perhaps the best-known pirate in the last couple of decades. Find hm in any of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He is played by actor Johnny Depp.
Captain Barbossa – He is Jack Sparrow’s nemesis in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series. He is played by Geoffrey Roy Rush.
Captain Hook – His claim to fame is from the television series Peter Pan and the Pirates (1990 – 1991).
Captain Kidd (William Kidd) – This Scottish man was hired by England to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean. It didn’t work out very well as Kidd became a pirate!
Jean Lafitte – Born in France 1780, he immigrated with his parents to Louisiana. Jean Lafitte and his brother Pierre operated in the Gulf of Mexico.
Zheng Ye Sao – Also known as Ching Shih, she roamed the South China sees in search of bounty. She took over a group of about 70,000 pirates after the death of Cheng I, her pirate husband.
How to Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day
First and foremost, talk like a pirate all day long to everyone you converse with today.
- Dress like a pirate.
- Begin or end each sentence with “ARRRR”.
- Greet people by saying “Ahoy Matey”
- Wear an eye patch.
- Drink rum.
- Attend a “Talk Like a Pirate Party”.
- Make and eat a rum cake.
Today's Quote
“Life’s pretty good and why shouldn’t it be? I’m a pirate, after all.” – – Johnny Depp
History and Origin of How to Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day
John Baur and Mark Summers created the concept of International Talk Like a Pirate Day on June 6, 1995. While playing racquetball, they began to talk to each other in Pirate-speak”. After leaving the court, they decided that there was a need to create this day.
After much thought, Mark Summers selected September 19th as the date. This was his wife’s birthday. Apparently, he thought it would be an easy date to remember. And so this day was born.
This Day in History
Here are some things that happened on this day:
- Chubby Checker’s hit song “The Twist” hits #1 on Billboard’s Top 100 list. (1930)
- Mary Tyler Moore Show premieres on television. (1970)
- Singer and actor Frankie Avalon was born on this day in 1939.
Related Holidays
People who like International Talk Like a Pirate Day will also like:
More September 19 Holidays
In addition to International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here are more September 19 holidays:
More About Today
Recipe of the Day: Ginger Pumpkin Dessert
Also See: Fall Recipes and Holiday Recipes and Halloween Recipes
Flower of the Day: Mums
Ecards Send a free Ecard daily for just about any September calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Or, just for the fun of it!
Holiday Insights, where every day in September is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. Many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays on a regular basis. September holidays are no exception. At Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.