International Dinosaur Day

Since:
🥂 2016

Party Like It’s 65 Million BC on International Dinosaur Day! 🦖🦕⏳🦴

Dinosaurs Still Rule (Even Though They’re Extinct)

Dinosaurs remind us of a time when nature was wild, untamed and absolutely gigantic. Imagine a world where colossal creatures roamed the earth, where mighty T-Rexes ruled the land and graceful pterosaurs ruled the skies.
Dinosaurs are the embodiments of awesomeness, with their larger-than-life presence and mysterious extinction leaving us with more questions than any scientist can answer… so far.
And let’s not forget their starring roles in blockbuster movies, making us all wish we could ride a ankylosaurus into battle!

How International Dinosaur Day Stomped Onto the Calendar

Some say it was the brainchild of a renegade group of paleontologists, while others swear it was orchestrated by “Big Dinosaur Inc.” to boost toy sales. The truth however is much more simple and also more fun.
Legend (and the internet, which is basically the same thing these days) tells us that International Dinosaur Day was created by a school teacher named Duane McDonald.
McDonald strategically placed the holiday after the nail-biting high stakes testing and right before the glorious summer break, with the aim of keeping young minds excited about the wonders of paleontology (and maybe also all things science-related) by using a subject that speaks to the imagination. Because whatever speaks to the imagination, that is what we like to learn about and remember. (Unlike those boring lists of history dates of stuffy political figures. They can stay right on the shelves of the “who-cares” section of the library.)

This quirky holiday was an instant hit with students and teachers alike.
Word spread like a velociraptor pack on motorbikes and it quickly gained popularity. and soon, International Dinosaur Day became a global celebration.
Today, it’s a global celebration, a chance to rekindle our fascination with these prehistoric giants and of course a fun reason to spread dinosaur memes and trivia on social media.

Two Dates, Double the Dinos

Now, let’s address the triceratops in the room: why are there two dates?
Maybe the message got a little garbled along the way, because somewhere along the line, June 1st snuck into the mix. This was probably due to some confusion by people who only knew International Dinosaur Day as a copy-paste fun-post or word of mouth rumors.
But hey, who’s complaining? Now we have two days to celebrate dinosaurs!

And if two days weren’t enough, there’s also Draw A Dinosaur Day on January 30. This date is unrelated to International Dinosaur Day and a fun day in it’s own way. You get to enjoy dinosaurs in a creative artistic way!
So now we’ve got three whole days in the year to celebrate dinosaurs!

So You Think You Want a Dinosaur as a Pet?

Ever fantasized about having a triceratops as a trusty steed or a velociraptor as a support animal?
Imagine rolling up to the park with a pachycephalosaurus on a leash (emphasis on the leash, folks).
While the idea of a pet dinosaur is undeniably dino-mite, let’s face the fact that there might be a few downsides in this prehistoric partnership.

Benefits:

You’re guaranteed to be the coolest kid (or adult) on the block. Nuff said.
Ultimate conversation starter! Who needs small talk when you’ve got a triceratops in your backyard?
Your lawn-mowing duties would become a thing of the past with a herd of diplodocus to keep your grass perfectly trimmed. And their, ahem, ‘deposits’ would make excellent fertilizer.
Eco-friendly pest control. Say goodbye to those pesky bugs, potential burglars… and maybe a few small trees.
Who needs an alarm system with a herd of compsognathi guarding the backyard?
Riding an allosaurus to work would make your commute infinitely more exciting.
You’ll never lose a game of fetch with a pterosaur. (Technically not a dinosaur though. Long complicated story with a lot of boring details.)

Drawbacks:

Pet lifespan is a real concern. Especially when they’ve been extinct for 65 million years.
Sorry, but your studio apartment just isn’t big enough for a stegosaurus.
Say goodbye to your rose bushes… and probably the rest of your garden.
Good luck finding a leash strong enough for a triceratops.
You thought dog food was expensive? Try feeding a teenage t-rex!
Serious snuggle struggles. Cuddling a creature with armor or giant teeth is kinda “expert-mode”.
Cleaning up after an iguanodon might require a bulldozer.
Jurassic-sized vet bills could put a dent in your wallet.
Your neighborhood might not appreciate the occasional earth-shaking roar.

Consider all the pros and cons carefully before you choose between keeping a life dinosaur or the safe cuddly alternative of a low maintenance plushie.

From Fossils to Fun!

So, how do you join the prehistoric party?

Visit a museum to get up close and personal with some fossilized friends.
Throw a dino-themed party. Decorate your home with dinosaur balloons, serve up some dino-shaped cookies and don’t forget to play a round of “Pin the Tail on the T-Rex”.
Put on a playlist of dinosaur documentaries, dust off those childhood dino toys and bake a batch of dino-shaped cookies.
You could watch a marathon of Jurassic Park movies while snuggling with your plush megalosaurus.
Channel your inner cave painter and decorate your walls with some prehistoric themed drawings.

When it comes to celebrating International Dinosaur Day, the sky’s the limit (well, maybe not for the pterosaurs).
If anyone looks funny at your fashionable stego-suit, just tell them Wild Calendar made you do it and invite them to join the prehistoric party! After all, who can argue with a holiday sanctioned by the ultimate party animals?

Stomp, Chomp and Roar

Whether you’re celebrating on the third Tuesday of May, June 1st, or any day in between, remember to keep that dino-spirit alive and kicking. They may be extinct, but their awesomeness is eternal. May your day be filled with fascinating fossils, ferocious facts and enough dino-sized fun to make even the grumpiest mosasaurus smile.
Stay wild, stay curious and most importantly tricera-treat yourself to a fantastic International Dinosaur Day!

Happy International Dinosaur Day!