Today is International Lefthanders Day – a day that celebrates the uniqueness and differences of lefties around the world.
This special occasion was first observed on the 13th of August, 1976. The purpose of this initiative was to promote awareness of the inconveniences facing left-handers in a predominantly right-handed world.
While it had been observed on August 13 of each year by many lefthanders since 1976, Left-handers Day was declared by the Left-Hander's Day Club on August 13, 1996.
Left-handers Day is now celebrated world-wide. Reportedly, in the United Kingdom alone, there have been over 20 events that mark this celebration. These events include celebrating a left-hander's creativity, adaptability and athleticism.
How to celebrate International Lefthanders Day
Lefthandersday.com has compiled a list of activities one can do to celebrate this unique day.
"The idea of Left-Handers Day is of everyone to celebrate in fun, practical ways, making right handed family members / friends / colleagues realise how 'dexterous' (right-handed term, hmm...) we have to be because we are constantly adapting a right-handed world to work for a left-hander," states the website.
"Getting right-handers to do everything left-handed for the day is a great way to make the point!"
** Please remember any children taking part in the above activities must be supervised by an adult at all times. **
Try carrying out some of the following regular activities, but using your left hand.
In the Kitchen:
- Stir food in pans
- Peel vegetables/fruit
- Open wine bottles
- Use microwave/hob controls (often positioned on right of the equipment)
- Eating & drinking – reverse cutlery and have drink in left hand
In the playroom/study:
- Using stationery/craft items
- Drawing a measured line with a ruler
- Put the computer mouse on the left side of the keyboard and try drawing a shape on screen, or clicking and dragging – we usually have to do this with our right hand as the mouse is shared, and always set up for right-handed users
- If you have left handed guitar, give lessons to the right-handers.
- Practice recorder or other instruments with hands reversed (top and bottom)
In the garden/sports club
- Either informal or an organised game of left-footed football, or netball shooting with the left hand only. Works for most sports and your teams must all play left-handed (not just the lefties).
- Try cartwheeling leading with left foot and arm
- Hopping through hoops, or playing hopscotch on left foot
- Make Left-Handers Day an excuse for a fun game – left-handed volleyball on the beach, or left-hand only drinking at the bar – with forfeits for the losers!
Left-handedness runs in the British royal family as well. The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Prince William are and were all lefties. Other notable lefties include Jimi Hendrix, Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon Bonaparte, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates and Barack Obama.