Why Is Everyone Screaming and Eating Popsicles Today? Oh Right, It’s September 2

Well, here we are: Tuesday, September 2. Labor Day has come and gone. The inflatable pool has deflated, someone drank the last of the rosé, and we’re all pretending we didn’t Google “how to tell your boss you have a stomach bug” just to squeeze one more day out of the long weekend. But fear not. The calendar has more absurdities to offer. Let’s talk about the unsung heroes of this very Tuesday’s national holiday lineup. I’m talking about the kind of commemorations that don’t come with a parade or a mattress sale—but should. Here are three real, delightfully weird holidays gracing us today.

First up: Bison-ten Yell Day. That’s right. It’s not a typo. It’s a pun. Today is the day to channel your inner Yellowstone-dwelling, four-legged beast and… yell. The origin of this gem is unclear (probably created by someone who owns a novelty calendar and a thesaurus), but the spirit is timeless. In a world full of polite small talk and whispered rage at group texts that should have been emails, this holiday gives you permission to make some noise. Need to scream into a pillow because the WiFi cut out during your Zoom call? Do it. Want to holler at the squirrel that’s been pelting your roof with acorns all morning? Today’s the day. And no, you don’t have to be near a bison or in Yellowstone to participate. Just throw open a window and give the world your best guttural “MOOOOOOve over, I’m done with decorum.” (Sorry, that’s a cow pun. Close enough.) Bonus points if you yell while holding a blueberry popsicle.

Which brings us to National Blueberry Popsicle Day, a delightful excuse to eat something that turns your lips blue and ruins your shirt. Let’s be honest: blueberry is the unsung hero of popsicle flavors. Strawberry gets the spotlight, cherry gets the hype, but blueberry? Blueberry shows up to work, does its job, and leaves quietly with a sticky high-five. It’s the flavor equivalent of your favorite middle school teacher who didn’t yell but always had mints in her desk. So go ahead—treat yourself. Whether it’s a store-bought box from the freezer aisle or a homemade batch of frozen juice in those novelty molds shaped like rocket ships, blueberry is the flavor of the day. Just be warned: you will end up with teeth the color of a Smurf’s nightmares. Own it. Also, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the true heroes—parents still cleaning purple drips off the backseat of the minivan from the last time we honored this sacred day.

And finally, the crown jewel of today’s festivities: Pierce Your Ears Day. Nothing says “Tuesday” like a needle through cartilage. Whether you’re finally getting that second piercing you swore you’d get after college or you’re just celebrating the ones you already have, today is about expressing yourself—via jewelry and mild swelling. If you’ve already got ears full of sparkle, give them a polish. If you’re piercing-curious, maybe now’s the time to take the plunge. And if needles make you woozy, just wear your favorite statement earrings and tell people you’re celebrating. No one will check. Let this also be your official reminder to untangle that mess of hoops, studs, and one lonely earring back from the bottom of your bathroom drawer. You know the one.

You may be asking yourself: what do yelling like a bison, eating blueberry popsicles, and piercing your ears have in common? Absolutely nothing. And that’s the beauty of it. In a world that often demands productivity, seriousness, and some vague understanding of cryptocurrency, days like today are here to remind us that joy doesn’t always come in big, Instagrammable moments. Sometimes it shows up disguised as a cold popsicle, a primal scream, or a shiny little hoop in your left ear.

So happy Tuesday, friends. May your bison yell be cathartic, your popsicle be frozen, and your ears twinkle with just the right amount of defiance. See you next week for more reasons to raise an eyebrow at your calendar and say, “Wait, that’s real?”