Narwhal Day

Fondest wishes for a happy & most sympathetic Narwhal Day to all & sundry! On this day of days we fête the narwhal, the very oddest of whales, noted & celebrated for its "horn" (in actuality a tusk) which in times past was often displayed in cabinets of curiosity (Wunderkammer) as a unicorn's horn. The narwhal is transcendent proof that truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

The Ancient & Proper Observance of Narwhal Day
First, the recitation of "The Oath of Narwhal Day;"
Second, the wearing of gray clothing;
Third, the hearing of "Sympathy for the Narwhal" by D.J. Seaghost, an ally of The Aquabats!

The ancient & proper observance need not be observed in any particular order. The recitation of the oath is an internal act; recite it as a jest or a lark only at your own peril, for a man is only as good as his word; it is in sympathizing with the narwhal that Narwhal Day finds its highest purpose. The wearing of gray is an external act, signally to others the sympathy for the narwhal in one's heart & inviting them to experience the same. The hearing of "Sympathy for the Narwhal" is a communal act, for Narwhal Day is as much a day of celebration as it is as day of sympathizing; the narwhal will frolic & so should we.

Even in these latter days, there are still persons, seemingly educated persons, who remain ignorant of the narwhal & all it can illuminate for us about the beautiful oddity of God's Creation. Spread the word about Narwhal Day! Spread the sympathy for & celebration of the narwhal! Invite others to observe the ancient & proper observance, so that they too might come to know the oddball, improbable glory of the narwhal.

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 oddball, improbable glory,
On this the seventeenth Narwhal Day.


the Narwhal (Monodon Monoceros)—also narwal or narwhale

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

Commentary: "Sympathy for the Narwhal" started it all, inspiring my co-creator & me to celebrate the first Narwhal Day sixteen impossibly swift years ago, on 23 May 2001. The date of 23 May was picked pretty arbitrarily, having no inherent connection to the narwhal of which I am aware, but it has since become very meaningful to many persons. I've never been privileged to receive any report on the popularity or prominence of Narwhal Day within any particular pod of narwhals, but we don't sympathize with the narwhal for its approval; we sympathize because of the narwhal's inherent magnificence & dignity.

"Play something sad,
Convince it all is not well…"

The Wayback Machine Tour of Narwhal Day
Narwhal Day '16 | Narwhal Day '15
Narwhal Day '14 | Narwhal Day '13
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

Sympathetic Narwhal Day, everyone!