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National Absurdity Day

Fun · November 20

A day for noticing the absurd: odd signs, strange rules, nonsense humor and the gently ridiculous moments that turn up in ordinary life.

National Absurdity Day falls on Friday, November 20, 2026. That is 24 days away.

Absurdity is what happens when something makes no sense and carries on anyway. A sign that reads "Caution: Sign Not in Use." A cat sitting in an empty box instead of the expensive bed bought for it. A meeting called to plan the next meeting.

People have enjoyed this kind of thing for a long time. Nonsense verse, surreal paintings and comedy built on strange logic all lean on the same pleasure, which is watching the rules of the world bend a little without breaking. Lewis Carroll wrote whole books in that spirit, and Salvador Dalí painted clocks that droop like soft cheese.

Marking the day usually means paying closer attention rather than doing anything elaborate. Some people wear mismatched socks on purpose. Others read nonsense poems aloud, swap the oddest product instructions they have found, or play a game where every answer must be a little more ridiculous than the last. Children tend to be very good at this, and adults often discover they still are.

The trick is that absurdity works best when it is played straight. A ridiculous idea delivered with a calm face is funnier than one that winks at you. That is why a deadpan instruction like "Do not iron clothes while wearing them" can stay in someone's head for years.

A list of absurd things seen in a single week tends to be longer than anyone expects.

Ways to celebrate

• Read a nonsense poem aloud, with complete seriousness.
• Wear mismatched socks and say nothing about it.
• Share the strangest sign or label you have ever seen.
• Look for one absurd moment in your day and write it down.
• Draw an everyday object doing something it never would.

Dates

All national days on November 20

Also on November 20

• National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
• Name Your PC Day
• Future Teachers of America Day

Categories: Fun days