Review of an Unofficial Holiday |
| Plush Toy Monkey in Pink Ombre Yarn on Etsy |
Monkey Day is one of those unofficial holidays that is celebrated internationally on December 14. The day is mainly about monkeys, but also recognizes other [non-human] primates such as apes, tarsiers and lemurs. (Our own Sylvestermouse knows about the Mouse Lemur!)
The holiday was started in 2000 when artist Casey Sorrow was an art student at Michigan State University and one day jokingly scribbled “Monkey Day” on a friend's calendar.
The holiday grew from there to include many “Monkey business” celebrations which bring about awareness of the animals and to raise money for primate-related issues.
Some 'monkey lovers' go on shopping sprees for Paul Frank 'Julius the monkey' fashions.
Monkey Day 'Doings'
- Many zoos have 'Monkey Day' celebrations
- Competitions are held to see who has the best costumes and who can act like a monkey the longest
- Celebrate the day by eating Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, which is, of course, Banana Ice Cream with Fudge Chunks & Walnuts. YUM!
- Hallmark cards describes it as “one day when monkey business is actually encouraged.”
- In 2016, the Chinese New Year was the 'Year of the Monkey'. The next time will be in 2028.
Sock Monkeys
Sock Monkeys have been popular long before “Monkey Day” came about. The original 'Red Heel' sock monkey design has become an icon.
The famous red-heel sock monkey was originally made from red-heel socks knitted by the Nelson Knitting Company, which invented the sock-knitting machine in 1880. This automatic machine invented by John Nelson knitted a sock without seams in the heel.
This hand-crafted sock monkey created from genuine Rockford Red Heel Socks can be found in the Etsy Shop called StarlightSockMonkeys and can be found right here.
Crochet Monkey
 |
| Amigurumi Monkeys on Etsy |
These Amigurumi-style Monkeys are handmade in crochet in tan and brown ombre yarns and a pink and pink ombre yarn. They are soft stuffies who are cute & cuddly and fun.
The monkeys measures 12 inches tall (8 inches tall in a sitting position) and about 3 inches across. Tails are 6 inches long.
These cute monkeys are available in the Etsy Shop of Coastal Crochet Crafts.
My favorite childhood 'monkey' story comes from a zoo field trip I made with my second grade class in school. This particular 'monkey house' had chimpanzees in a big cage with just a 3 foot tall bar located about 2 feet out from the cage separating the visitors from the monkey cage. Naturally, curious 7-year-old me went under the bar and right up to the cage, fascinated with the antics of the chimps swinging from trees and bars and scampering about. I got too close and suddenly a chimp just snatched away my brown paper lunch bag with my jelly sandwich and chocolate chip cookies that was supposed to be my lunch that day! The 'monkeys' ate my lunch and I cried. (I also got reprimanded by both my teacher and the zoo staff for disobeying the rules, although my teacher later made sure I got something to eat for lunch!) :)
So, however you choose to celebrate “Monkey Day”, whether you dress up in a costume, take a trip to the zoo to see the monkeys, read a book about monkeys (like the popular childrens' books about “Curious George”), or do your own brand of silly and fun 'monkey business', enjoy celebrating these interesting primates.
ReviewThisReviews - Holidays
(c) Wednesday Elf 12/12/2015. Updated 12/13/2022
Childhood Monkey Memory
 |
| Image from PIxabay |
My favorite childhood 'monkey' story comes from a zoo field trip I made with my second grade class in school. This particular 'monkey house' had chimpanzees in a big cage with just a 3 foot tall bar located about 2 feet out from the cage separating the visitors from the monkey cage. Naturally, curious 7-year-old me went under the bar and right up to the cage, fascinated with the antics of the chimps swinging from trees and bars and scampering about. I got too close and suddenly a chimp just snatched away my brown paper lunch bag with my jelly sandwich and chocolate chip cookies that was supposed to be my lunch that day! The 'monkeys' ate my lunch and I cried. (I also got reprimanded by both my teacher and the zoo staff for disobeying the rules, although my teacher later made sure I got something to eat for lunch!) :)
Mark December 14 on your calendar for "Monkey Day"
So, however you choose to celebrate “Monkey Day”, whether you dress up in a costume, take a trip to the zoo to see the monkeys, read a book about monkeys (like the popular childrens' books about “Curious George”), or do your own brand of silly and fun 'monkey business', enjoy celebrating these interesting primates.
Happy 'Monkey Day'!
 |
| Cute Crocheted Monkeys on Etsy |
For more fun Holiday Reviews, check out
ReviewThisReviews - Holidays
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
FOLLOW US ON:
The idea of Monkey Day just makes me giggle! I can dream up lots of ways to just monkey around and right now I could sure use a monkey day! Seems like a fun day and I would love to celebrate it by going to the zoo. Plus, I am quite happy that Monkey Day includes lots of primates in addition to the monkeys.
ReplyDeleteYour crocheted monkey is absolutely adorable! You have certainly featured several of our favorite monkeys. My husband adores Curious George and our daughter is crazy about sock monkeys. Me, I just love the little mouse lemur.
Glad you enjoyed this description of 'Monkey Day', Mouse. DO take a trip to the zoo on Monday, the 14th. You deserve a day to 'monkey around'. :)
DeleteI love that there is a Monkey Day! Your Monkey is so cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Heather. Happy Monkey Day to you!
DeleteThis is such a cute idea. Love the day, it's my son's girlfriends birthday, so we will have to do some monkeying around while we celebrate.....
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your son's girlfriend, Grammieknows Morris. :) Monkey Day is a fun day to have a birthday!
Deletelol at the monkey who snatched your lunch! Monkeys are certainly fascinating little guys aren't they :) - The crocheted monkeys are awesome
ReplyDeleteHaving the monkeys eat your lunch will leave a lasting impression on you, Barbara! :) That happened a great many years ago, but I never forgot a single moment of that event! I was so surprised when the monkey grabbed my lunch sack!
DeleteYes, We should all make sure we do a bit of monkeying around on December 14! It makes a great reason to visit a zoo if you have one to visit.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a zoo to visit here in Savannah, Brenda, but have been to the St. Louis zoo several times when visiting my daughter. :) My hubby once got in a cage with hand-raised chimpanzees at his home-town zoo in Kansas.
DeleteMonkeys are so cool. No wonder there is Monkey Day! CUTE monkey items (Curious George was always one of my favorites)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Monkey Day, Dawn Rae. Thanks for visiting my 'monkey' story.
DeleteMonkeys are so cool. No wonder there is Monkey Day! CUTE monkey items (Curious George was always one of my favorites)
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm not really surprised there is a Monkey Day although I hadn't realized it before I read your review. Thank you for all the info about the day and about Monkeys. Interesting!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed learning about "Monkey Day", Carol. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteThis is the first I've heard about Monkey Day. Now I'm smarter. I loved your story about the chimp stealing your lunch.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I've heard about Monkey Day. Now I'm smarter. I loved your story about the chimp stealing your lunch.
ReplyDeleteMy story of the monkeys stealing my lunch at the zoo is one of my strongest childhood memories, Barbara. Really made an impression on me at age 7, I guess. :)
Delete