Talk Like a Pirate Day, Beachcomber Edition

Ahoy, mateys!

Whether you consider yourself a pirate, a mermaid, or a landlubber, 
get ready to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD) 
on September 19th. Created by John “Ol’ Chumbucket” 
Baur and Mark “Cap’n Slappy” Summers in 1995, this day 
has been celebrated on every continent and even the 
International Space Station since it was popularized 
by humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002.

How to celebrate

• Forget using a mere “Hello” on ITLAPD. Throw in an “Ahoy, matey!” to greet fellow beachcombers, wave to your neighbor, or send online messages.
• Announce each awesome beach find with “Thar she blows!”
• If the waves take back something you were reaching for, cry out “Arrr!”
• If anyone grabs a beach treasure you had in your sights, call them a “bilge rat” and threaten to have them walk the plank if they don’t hand it over.
• Cheer “Land ho!” when you leave the lagoon and get back to the parking lot.
• Share photos of your latest beach loot with “Avast, me hearties!” and add #TalkLikeAPirateDay.
• Dress the part of a pirate with a parrot or monkey on your shoulder. Or maybe just dress up your dog. No cutlasses on the beach, please.
• Make sure rum features in the day’s grog, or fight off scurvy with a fruity drink in a coconut.
• No plundering! Whatever you do, keep your hands off other beachcombers’ booty.

Inspiration to help you channel your inner pirate

• Learn some history of pirates and buried treasure›
• Read about Port Royal, Jamaica, a haven for pirates and thieves›
• Read fiction and non-fiction stories about pirates and mermaids›
• Learn about why the West Indies is a treasure trove for black glass›
• Discover the truth about black pirate sea glass›
• Meet the 18th-century pirates of the River Thames›
• View art, photos, and poems about mermaids and pirates›

Anchor’s away!

This article appeared in the Beachcombing Magazine September/October 2020 issue.