NARWHAL DAY
Sympathetic Narwhal Day, treasured readers! Every year, bit by tiny bit, Narwhal Day grows in popularity & esteem. This year, Red Patton has been indoctrinating his students (he's a substitute teacher) to appreciate & sympathize with the narwhal. the "unicorn of the sea." Ska Army remains an enthusiastic celebrant & in the days ahead of Narwhal Day some stepped forward to appreciate the narwhal images I placed on my FaceSpace page. I can only imagine that later today several will join with me in taking the Oath & honoring the noble, bizarre narwhal.

The Watergirl remains far & away The Secret Base's best outside contributor & this year transmitted to me a hyperlink informing me of the T-shirt design featured below, which quite naturally prompted her to think of your humble narrator & Narwhal Day. The T-shirt was available for a single day less than a week before narwhal day. Serendipity!



Of course, Narwhal Day is not about Narwhal Day but the narwhal itself. Let us recall that the narwhal was assigned its scientific name, Monodon monoceros, by no less an authority than Carolus Linnæus in his original Systema Naturæ. The English name "narwhal" is derived from Old Norse, & sometimes spelt n"narwhale" or "narwal." The narwhal is listed as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; that the narwhal is only near threatened is a tribute to the wily narwhal's success in thwarting the maniacal schemes of the global dolphin conspiracy. Long may the narwhal prosper!

The Oath of Narwhal Day
The narwhal is a noble, pitiable creature,
A magnificent, monstrous visage.
An asymmetrical tooth for a horn,
Or sometimes two, or sometimes none.
Half again as long as the beast.

I swear my sympathy for the narwhal.
I will not lie and convince it all is well,
But I will be a friend to the narwhal.
The mocking dolphins and the snobby manatees
Will get their well-earned comeuppance,
And the narwhal will frolic all day.

I dream this dream of the narwhal
And celebrate it in all its improbable, oddball glory,
On this the thirteenth Narwhal Day.

The Rebel Black Dot Song of Narwhal Day
D. J. Seaghost, "Sympathy for the Narwhal" from The Aquabats! and Horchata Records Present Rice Capades Music Sampler, Vol. 1 (Captain Thumbs Up!)

Commentary: "Wow!"



The Wayback Machine Tour of Narwhal Day
The Secret Base did not exist when first Narwhal Day was celebrated in A.D. 2001, but I have no excuse for why there was no special coverage of the auspicious day on this blog in '02, even though all three of the ritual elements were observed. I trust that the narwhals, whose judgment is harsh but fair, will forgive the failure of my younger self properly to promote this day of celebration & sympathy.

Narwhal Day '12 | Narwhal Day '11
Narwhal Day '10 | Narwhal Day '09
Narwhal Day '08 | Narwhal Day '07a & Narwhal Day '07b
Narwhal Day '06 | Narwhal Day '05
Narwhal Day '04 | Narwhal Day '03