A little reason to celebrate
Popeye Day
Fun · History · January 17
A day for Popeye, the squinting, pipe-smoking cartoon sailor who gets his strength from a can of spinach.
Popeye Day falls on Sunday, January 17, 2027. That is 82 days away.
Popeye is a cartoon sailor with a squint, a corncob pipe and forearms the size of hams. He began in newspaper comic strips and went on to animated cartoons, and this day is a chance to spend some time with him.
His world is small and busy. There is Olive Oyl, tall and thin and often in trouble. There is Bluto, the bearded bully who keeps trying to win her over by force. There is Wimpy, who will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today. When things look worst, Popeye squeezes open a can of spinach, swallows it in one go, and his muscles swell up for the big finish.
Part of the charm is the way he talks. Popeye mutters and mangles words, laughing in a low chuckle, and he sums himself up with the line "I yam what I yam." The old cartoons are full of background jokes and odd little asides, so they reward watching closely.
Most people mark the day by watching a few of the classic shorts, humming the theme song, or eating something green. A spinach dish is the obvious choice. Sauteed with garlic, it wilts down to a fraction of its raw size, which says something about how many cans Popeye must go through.
Ways to celebrate
- Watch a few classic Popeye cartoons.
- Cook a simple spinach dish, sauteed with garlic.
- Try drawing Popeye's anchor tattoo and oversized forearms.
- Practice saying "I yam what I yam" in his gravelly voice.
- Share a favorite Popeye memory with a friend.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, January 17 |
| 2027 | Sunday, January 17 |
| 2028 | Monday, January 17 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, January 17 |
| 2030 | Thursday, January 17 |
All national days on January 17
Also on January 17
- National Hot Buttered Rum Day
- Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day
- Kid Inventors' Day
- Benjamin Franklin Day
- Cable Car Day
Categories: Fun daysHistory days