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Opposite Day

Celebrate Opposite Day with silly games, fun challenges, and unique activities - turn your world upside down for a day of unexpected fun!
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When it is?
January 25
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Country
United States
Creator
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Founded

Introduction

It's time to turn the world upside-down on Opposite Day, January 25! This fun day has been around since the early 2000s and celebrates being unique and going against what is expected. Whether it's dressing up in clothes you'd never usually wear or eating food that you don't usually like, Opposite Day encourages people to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

History of Opposite Day

Opposite Day has been declared for January 25 but its advent and development is legendary, at minimum. Considered a “children’s philosophy course,” Opposite Day has wormed its way into our jokester hearts by creating a perfectly comprehendible self-referential paradox.

By declaring today is opposite day it is not, in fact, opposite day because the opposite of opposite day is a normal day. So is it actually opposite day?

One of the truest pop-cultural moments in opposite day history has been the George Costanza method of “doing the opposite.” George, realizing his life has gone nowhere, decides to do the opposite of whatever he would typically be doing in any situation. The end result is that the typically horizontal, curmudgeon George suddenly becomes an active, sincere, and honest person.

Whether you choose Opposite Day to derail your workplace’s productivity with philosophical logistics, or to create better habits that help you realize a healthier version of yourself, Opposite Day’s history is one of mischief, humor, and profound realizations.

Opposite Day Timeline

<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Late 19th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Origins in Childhood Games</div><div class='timeline-text'>The concept of "opposite day" is thought to have originated in playground games and silly children's humor during the late 19th Century.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1894</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Written Mention</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first written mention of the phrase "opposite day" was recorded in 1894 in the book "Kids' Stuff" by American author Henry B. Fuller.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1988</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Calvin and Hobbes</div><div class='timeline-text'>The comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" features a widely read storyline where the main character Calvin declares an "Opposite Day".</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1998</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Only Fools and Horses</div><div class='timeline-text'>The British sitcom "Only Fools and Horses" airs an episode titled "Opposite Day," bringing the concept to an international audience.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2008</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Online Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>Online users initiate festivities around Opposite Day, sharing and exchanging social media posts that say the opposite of what they mean.</div></div></div>

How to Celebrate Opposite Day

<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Give compliments</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Rather than insults, give people compliments on Opposite Day. Spread joy and positivity by telling friends and family how much they mean to you.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Dress up</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Dress as your opposite. For example, if you usually wear bright colors, wear all black. If you are a night owl, get up early and stay up late.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Eat breakfast for dinner</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Do the opposite of what you normally do for dinner - have breakfast instead! Get creative with breakfast recipes or try something new.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Play a game</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Play games that involve doing the opposite of what someone tells you. Charades is a great one for this! It can be a lot of fun to watch people do the opposite of what they are supposed to.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Act silly</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Opposite Day is all about acting silly and having fun. Make faces at each other, tell jokes, and act out your favorite TV show in reverse.</p></div></div>

Why We Love Opposite Day

<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a day for fun and creativity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Opposite Day is all about turning things upside down and having a good time. It's a chance to be silly and playful, and to think outside the box. So embrace your inner child and let your imagination run wild!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It allows us to see things from a different perspective</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Opposite Day can also be a great opportunity to challenge our own thoughts and beliefs. By looking at things from the opposite point of view, we can gain a better understanding and empathy for others. It's a chance to broaden our perspectives and learn something new.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It brings people together</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Opposite Day can be a great bonding experience for friends and family. Whether it's coming up with silly pranks or playing games with reversed rules, it's a day to have fun and make memories with the people you love. So gather your loved ones and celebrate the joy of Opposite Day!</p></div></div>

5 Facts About Opposite Day

Opposite Day FAQs

When is Opposite Day?

Opposite Day is celebrated on January 25 every year. In 2024 Opposite Day will occur on a Thursday.

Opposite Day Dates

Year
Date
Day

2023

Jan 25

Wednesday

2024

Jan 25

Thursday

2025

Jan 25

Saturday

2026

Jan 25

Sunday

2027

Jan 25

Monday

Special Interest Holidays