🔠 October 22 – CAPS LOCK DAY: BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO YELL ON THE INTERNET 🎉
READY TO TYPE LOUD AND PROUD? GOOD. BECAUSE OCTOBER 22 IS INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY, AND WE’RE CELEBRATING BY MAKING OUR KEYBOARDS DO ALL THE SHOUTING FOR US. 🔓🔠💥
Okay, okay—we’ll chill on the caps now. But only for a second.
Affiliate Disclosure
Just so you know, this post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, I might earn a tiny commission—enough to keep the lights on and maybe snag a celebratory cupcake. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, pinky promise.
🧐 What Even Is Caps Lock Day?
Believe it or not, Caps Lock Day has a backstory. And a pretty silly one at that. This delightfully unnecessary holiday was created in 2000 by software developer Derek Arnold to mock the overuse (and misuse) of the Caps Lock key. You know, that one person in your life who types LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME and thinks they’re just being “emphatic”? Yeah, we’re looking at you, Uncle Ron.
Caps Lock Day is part parody, part chaos, and all-in good fun. There’s even a second Caps Lock Day on June 28, because one day of digital shouting just isn’t enough. Double trouble.
🤓 A Few Factoids About CAPS LOCK (you’re welcome):
The Caps Lock key was originally called the “Shift Lock” key and dates back to typewriters. It was supposed to be helpful. And then… the internet happened.
Many programmers and writers despise the Caps Lock key and have campaigned for its removal. (Sorry, nerds—it’s still here.)
There’s a whole official Caps Lock Day website (yep, really) that greets you IN FULL CAPS.
The password field’s mortal enemy? Accidental caps lock. “Why isn’t my password working??” Oh.
🎉 10+ Wacky Ways to Celebrate Caps Lock Day
Get ready to overdo it—in the loudest, quirkiest ways possible:
TYPE IN ALL CAPS ALL DAY. Emails. Texts. Grocery lists. No apologies.
Rename all your desktop folders in CAPS. Adds drama to "TAXES 2023" and "DOG PHOTOS".
Change your phone’s keyboard settings so everything autocorrects TO CAPS. (Just…maybe not permanently.)
Host a CAPS LOCK-OFF with friends: who can keep it going the longest without cracking?
Reply to spam emails in full caps with fake outrage: “I DO NOT NEED A NEW CAR WARRANTY, THANK YOU.”
Make signs for your house in caps: “DO NOT TOUCH THE THERMOSTAT” or “WHERE ARE MY SNACKS?”
Comment on social media posts in all caps, but make them weirdly wholesome. “I HOPE YOU’RE HAVING A GREAT DAY, STRANGER!”
Write a poem or short story entirely in caps. Call it avant-garde. Bonus points if it’s about a haunted keyboard.
Design a “Caps Lock Appreciation Shrine” on your desk. Candles, glitter, maybe a framed photo of your keyboard.
Change your name in Zoom to ALL CAPS. Announce yourself like a pro wrestler.
Teach your pets to respond to you yelling commands in caps. “SIT!” “ROLL OVER!” (Or just confuse them. That’s fun too.)
Make a playlist of shouty songs—think “SHOUT” by Tears for Fears, “YELLING IN THE DARK” by Passenger, or anything by Rage Against the Machine.
🚨TONIGHT’S DINNER THEME: EVERYTHING IS LOUD AND DELICIOUS🚨
🍝 MAIN DISH: SPICY GARLIC CHILI NOODLES WITH CRISPY SHALLOTS
Because if we’re yelling, the food should too.
INGREDIENTS:
12 oz noodles (lo mein, ramen, or spaghetti—whatever yells at you)
1/4 cup neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (YES, SIX)
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp chili flakes (or chili crisp for flavor + crunch)
1 tbsp brown sugar
Optional: crushed peanuts, scallions, lime wedges
INSTRUCTIONS:
Cook noodles until al dente, reserve 1/4 cup water, drain.
Heat oil in a skillet. Add garlic + shallots and fry until golden and crispy. REMOVE and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, chili flakes, and brown sugar. Add in the hot oil to bloom the spices.
Toss in the noodles and reserved water. Mix like you mean it.
Top with crispy garlic, shallots, peanuts, and scallions.
Shout “DINNER’S READY” and serve.
🥗 SIDE: ALL-CAPS CRUNCH SALAD
Crunch so loud it’s basically percussion.
INGREDIENTS:
Shredded cabbage (red + green = visual volume)
Julienned carrots
Bell pepper strips
Edamame or snap peas
Chopped cilantro
Roasted peanuts or crispy wontons
DRESSING:
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp grated ginger
1 clove garlic, grated
Toss everything together. Let it sit for 10 minutes so it can really yell in harmony.
🍹 DRINK: GINGER-LIME FIZZ (THE SHOUTING SODA)
Sharp. Zesty. Loud in flavor. And possibly spiked.
INGREDIENTS:
Juice of 2 limes
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp honey or agave
1 cup sparkling water (or ginger beer for max impact)
Ice
Optional: splash of rum or vodka
Shake lime, ginger, and honey/agave together. Pour over ice, top with sparkling water. Garnish with lime wedge and attitude.
🍰 DESSERT: "LOUD MOUTH" SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIE SUNDAES
Not dainty. Not quiet. Chocolate screaming into the void, topped with caramel.
INGREDIENTS:
Brownies (store-bought or homemade—we’re not judging)
Vanilla or coffee ice cream
Salted caramel sauce (buy it or melt caramel chews with a splash of cream and sea salt)
Crushed pretzels or nuts
Whipped cream (LOUD optional)
ASSEMBLY:
Warm the brownies. Scoop ice cream on top. Drown it in caramel. Sprinkle with crunch. Top with whipped cream.
Take a bite and let your soul yell in dessert tongues.
🕯️ BONUS:
Eat dinner while playing 2000s internet dial-up sounds or yelling affirmations at your plants.
Optional centerpiece: a CAPS LOCK key cut out of cardboard and glitter.
🧁 ELEMENTARY IDEA: “CAPS LOCK CHARACTERS” – A Silly Story + Grammar Mashup
🎯 Focus: Writing, grammar (capitalization, punctuation), creativity
📚 Grade Levels: 2–5
⏰ Time Needed: 45–60 minutes
🧰 Materials:
“Caps Lock Characters” printable
Chart paper or whiteboard
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Optional: access to laptops/tablets for digital writing
📝 LESSON SUMMARY:
Students create over-the-top, CAPS-LOCK-LOVING characters who only speak in capital letters—and then write a short story starring their wild new friend. It’s silly. It’s LOUD. And it sneakily reviews capitalization rules while celebrating voice and creativity.
🚀 STEPS:
Hook (5 mins)
Start class by writing a sentence on the board in all caps:"I AM THE QUEEN OF CAPITAL LETTERS!"
Ask students: "Who might say this?" Let them brainstorm silly characters together (a shouting unicorn? a royal laptop?).Mini-lesson (10 mins)
Quickly review capitalization rules: names, places, sentence starts, etc. Contrast with CAPS LOCK—everything capitalized, even when it shouldn’t be!Create a CAPS LOCK CHARACTER (15–20 mins)
Hand out the Caps Lock Character Creator sheet. Students invent a character who only talks in all caps. They draw the character and answer a few creative prompts:What’s your character’s name?
Why do they LOVE CAPS LOCK?
What do they shout the most?
Where do they live?
Write a CAPS LOCK ADVENTURE (15–20 mins)
Students write a short 5–7 sentence story where the character saves the day (or causes silly chaos) while shouting in all caps. Encourage wild punctuation and loud sound effects:"BAM! CRASH! I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH THAT BUTTON!"Share & Shout (5 mins)
Students read a line from their story in full CAPS VOICE! Let them walk the “Caps Lock Carpet” and perform a line dramatically.
✨ EXTENSIONS:
Turn stories into comic strips!
Create a “Caps Lock Story Wall” in the hallway!
Vote for the “Loudest Line” or “Funniest Shout.”
🧠 SECONDARY IDEA: “CAPS LOCK DEBATE CLUB” – Argumentation, Irony & Digital Etiquette
🎯 Focus: Argument writing, digital citizenship, satire
📚 Grade Levels: 6–12
⏰ Time Needed: 1 class period (can extend)
🧰 Materials:
“Caps Lock Debate Prompt Cards”
Whiteboard/projector
Laptops or notebooks
Optional: a “Caps Lock Gavel” (anything dramatic—rubber chicken, loud buzzer)
📝 LESSON SUMMARY:
Students dive into digital tone, online communication, and argumentation through a satirical "Caps Lock Debate Club," where they must argue ridiculous topics entirely in CAPS—before flipping to rewrite those same arguments using academic tone. Perfect for exploring audience, tone, and the etiquette of expression in digital spaces.
🚀 STEPS:
Warm-Up (5 mins): “WHY DO PEOPLE HATE CAPS LOCK?”
Pose the question on the board. Let students discuss—What does it feel like when someone types in all caps? When is it okay? When is it not?Introduce the CAPS LOCK DEBATE CLUB (5 mins)
Explain that students will form quick debate teams and argue nonsense topics...in ALL CAPS.Mini Debate Rounds (20 mins)
Split class into small teams. Give each a Caps Lock Prompt Card (see below). Each team has 5 minutes to prep and 1–2 minutes to present their CAPS LOCK ARGUMENT.Example Prompts:
PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA IS A CRIME!
DOGS ARE WAY BETTER THAN CATS!
SUMMER BREAK SHOULD BE TWICE AS LONG!
SCHOOL LUNCHES ARE SECRETLY DELICIOUS!
Reflection & Tone Shift (10 mins)
After all debates, choose one topic and challenge students to rewrite their arguments in a respectful, formal tone—no caps, no yelling. Highlight how tone influences meaning and audience perception.Digital Etiquette Wrap-Up (10 mins)
Discuss: When might tone online get misread? Why is CAPS LOCK risky in texts/emails/posts?
Tie into real-world skills—emailing teachers, writing online, expressing strong opinions without “sounding angry.”
🧠 EXTENSIONS:
Turn it into a full persuasive essay assignment
Create a class “Tone Translator” guide
Hold a “Caps Lock vs Lowercase Civil Discourse” mock trial
🎤 CAPS LOCK DEBATE PROMPT CARDS (Secondary)
📣 UNIFORMS IN SCHOOL? NO THANK YOU!
📣 TEACHERS SHOULD GIVE OUT CANDY FOR GOOD GRADES!
📣 HOMEWORK IS A CONSPIRACY!
📣 THE CAPS LOCK KEY IS THE BEST KEY ON THE KEYBOARD!
📣 TIKTOK TAUGHT ME MORE THAN TEXTBOOKS!
📣 MONDAYS SHOULD BE CANCELLED!
🔠 QUIRKY IN THE WORKPLACE
A.K.A. “YELLING, BUT MAKE IT CORPORATE.”
Caps Lock Day is the one (sanctioned?) moment where SCREAMING INTO THE VOID via email headers is not only allowed, it’s encouraged. It’s chaotic. It’s unnecessary. It’s beautiful.
But here at Celebrate Quirky, we’re not just mashing our keyboards in rage—we’re celebrating the sheer absurdity of capitalized communication with a little office flair.
🔠 “CAPS LOCKED & LOADED” OFFICE-WIDE AUTO-REPLY TAKEOVER
Set everyone’s out-of-office message (with permission... or plausible deniability) to ALL CAPS for the day—with truly unhinged corporate energy.
Example auto-reply:
HELLO, HUMAN. I AM CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE DUE TO A CRITICAL CAPS LOCK MALFUNCTION. RESPONSES WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL MY KEYBOARD STOPS YELLING AT ME.
IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE CONTACT SOMEONE WHO ISN’T BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY THEIR QWERTY.
You can make it a competition:
🧠 Most dramatic message
💼 Most unnecessarily formal
😬 Most likely to confuse IT
Winner gets: a custom keycap trophy that reads “THE SHIFT KEY IS FOR COWARDS.”
Tagline for the day:
“CAPS LOCK DAY: NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE LOUD, BUT TODAY EVERYTHING WILL BE.”
🎬 Movie Pick: "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004)
Why it fits:
This outrageous comedy is basically a tribute to shouting. From Ron Burgundy’s over-the-top ego to the epic news team battle, it captures the loudness and absurdity that Caps Lock Day is all about. Will Ferrell delivers every line like it's permanently stuck in ALL CAPS, and the tone perfectly embodies the exaggerated spirit of the holiday.
📺 TV Episode Pick: "The Office" – Season 5, Episode 23: "Michael Scott Paper Company"
Why it fits:
This episode features chaotic energy, email mishaps, and Michael at PEAK VOLUME. Especially memorable is the tension between Dunder Mifflin and Michael’s rogue startup, filled with dramatic (and often hilarious) miscommunications that feel like someone left the Caps Lock on during every interaction. Plus, Creed’s typing style alone is a tribute to the day.
🎤 Final Thought (Yelled for Emphasis)
So go ahead—lean into the chaos. Turn up the volume on your keyboard. Be obnoxiously loud with your words (but, like, in a loving way). Caps Lock Day is your moment to be LOUD AND PROUD without getting side-eyed in a group chat.
HAPPY CAPS LOCK DAY, YOU BEAUTIFUL HUMAN. 🔓💻🔥
📢 Hashtags to Shout About
#CapsLockDay #ALLCAPSEVERYTHING #LOUDANDPROUD #KeyboardChaos #CelebrateQuirky #InternetYellingDay #CapsLockForever #UnnecessaryHolidayGoals
