Happy International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

For those of you who spend most of your free time speaking as though you’re a pirate, today is your day to shine. According to the holiday’s official website, everyone and their mother is encouraged to talk like a pirate, be it Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or straight-laced wannabe Guybrush Threepwood from LucasArts iconic point-and-click adventure game The Secret of Monkey Island. As long as you’re talking like some sort of pirate, you’re pretty much good to go for the day.

How did this peculiar holiday come about? The official website explains that, in 1995, John Baur and Mark Summers began talking like pirates during a game of racquetball. As the guys tried their best to support one another during this endeavor, they began shouting pirate-like words and phrases in encouragement. After the game was over, the gentlemen decided that talking like a pirate was much more fun than playing racquetball. Once the proper date had been selected, International Talk Like a Pirate Day was born.

If you’re looking to celebrate the day in true pirate fashion, then the official website has a number of how-to guides to get you started. In addition to providing tips and tricks to get you through the day, the site also contains a helpful glossary of terms to make your endeavor sound more authentic. Impress your friends and family by dishing out such pirate-oriented words as “ahoy,” “avast,” and “bilge rat,” just to name a few.

For those who are hoping to pick up a tasty lass during the official holiday, there are a number of pick-up lines for you and your loveless friends to utilize during your adventures. If “Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?” doesn’t woo the ladies, then perhaps “How’d you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?” or “Pardon me, but would ya mind if I fired me cannon through your porthole?” will do the trick.

According to the Wyandotte Patch, you can dress for the part by crafting your very own makeshift pirate hat. All you need is paper, a grocery bag for a child hat or newspaper for an adult hat, scissors, and a market. After a bit of creativity, you’ll have the perfect accessory the festivities.

How will you celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day?