✍️ September 24 – National Punctuation Day: Let’s Eat, Grandma! Or… Let’s Eat Grandma? 🍴🔤
Ah yes, National Punctuation Day—a glorious celebration of those tiny symbols that keep our words from turning into hot linguistic soup. Commas, semicolons, exclamation marks (used sparingly, please), and the ever-misunderstood apostrophe—today is their day to shine. So go ahead, Oxford comma lovers and em dash enthusiasts, this one’s for you.
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📚 The Backstory: Who Invented This Word Nerd Wonderland?
National Punctuation Day was founded by Jeff Rubin, a newsletter publisher and punctuation enthusiast (aka grammar superhero in dad jeans), in 2004. Tired of watching apostrophes get tossed into plurals like confetti, Jeff decided it was time to give punctuation the appreciation it deserves. Honestly, same.
Rubin even created a whole website—www.nationalpunctuationday.com—where he hosts punctuation lessons, fun grammar facts, and his annual baking contest (because what better way to honor semicolons than with cake?).
🤓 Quirky Punctuation Facts You Didn’t Know You Needed
The interrobang (‽) is a real thing. It’s a combo of a question mark and exclamation point. Use it when you're yelling a question like “You did WHAT‽”
The hashtag symbol (#) is technically called an octothorpe. Which sounds like a sea creature with anxiety.
The semicolon has a cult following and has been the subject of tattoos, merch, and even mental health campaigns. Punctuation with purpose.
The ampersand (&) started as a Latin shorthand for “et” (and). It’s basically ancient text-speak.
The longest sentence ever written is over 13,000 words long—and you know it had punctuation working overtime.
🎉 10+ Delightfully Nerdy Ways to Celebrate National Punctuation Day
Correct someone's sign—nicely. Whether it’s a rogue apostrophe in “banana’s” or a tragic comma splice, gently offer a fix. Bonus points if it's on a chalkboard menu.
Host a punctuation-themed potluck. Label your dishes with appropriately punctuated names. “Let’s eat, Grandma’s lasagna” > “Let’s eat Grandma’s lasagna.”
Write a haiku using all punctuation marks. It’s confusing and beautiful. Like art.
Send an overly punctuated text. “Hi... So, um—what’s up?! 🧐” Just watch your friend spiral.
Throw a “Grammar Police” costume party. Clip-on ties, red pens, judgmental vibes—GO.
Bake punctuation-shaped cookies. Ampersand snickerdoodles? Comma cupcakes? YES.
Get a temporary punctuation tattoo. Preferably an interrobang. For dramatic flair‽
Create passive-aggressive punctuation memes. Looking at you, apostrophes in “its” vs. “it’s.”
Rewatch “Schoolhouse Rock” grammar episodes. Conjunction Junction still slaps.
Rewrite your favorite movie quotes with wrong punctuation. “I’m. Batman.” “Frankly my dear, I don’t care?” Chaos = comedy.
Pick a punctuation mark to represent your personality. Are you a mysterious ellipsis...? Or a bold exclamation mark! Or just tired parentheses (honestly, same)?
🍽️ Dinner Theme: “A Well-Punctuated Plate”
🥘 Main Dish: Stuffed Bell Peppers—Because Even Sentences Need Structure
Just like a well-punctuated paragraph, these peppers keep everything contained, balanced, and cohesive.
Ingredients:
4 bell peppers (any color—let your mood decide)
1 cup cooked rice or quinoa
1/2 lb ground turkey or beef (or lentils for veggie)
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt & pepper to taste
Grated cheese (optional, but recommended—like an Oxford comma)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice tops off peppers and remove seeds.
Sauté onion and garlic; add meat/lentils and cook through. Stir in tomato sauce, seasoning, and rice.
Fill peppers like you’re building a well-organized paragraph. Top with cheese.
Bake for 25–30 mins until the peppers are tender and the tops are golden.
🥗 Side: Comma Salad (a little of this, a little of that)
The salad equivalent of a list: crisp lettuce, tart apple slices, salty feta, toasted walnuts, and a bright vinaigrette.
It lists, clarifies, and refreshes.
Ingredients:
Mixed greens
1 apple, thinly sliced
1/4 cup crumbled feta
1/4 cup toasted walnuts
Honey mustard or lemon vinaigrette
Toss together, and pause to appreciate how punctuation—and acidity—bring balance.
🍸 Drink: The Semicolon Spritz
A semicolon connects two independent clauses; this drink connects citrus and sparkle.
Mocktail Version:
Sparkling water
Splash of grapefruit juice
Squeeze of lime
Optional: Rosemary sprig for garnish (a decorative em dash)
Cocktail Add-on:
Add 1 oz Aperol or gin
It’s elegant, refreshing, and keeps the conversation going; just like a semicolon should.
🍰 Dessert: Dark Chocolate “Period” Tart with Sea Salt & Berries
Small, powerful, and rich—like the perfect ending to a sentence.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups crushed chocolate cookies (or graham crackers + cocoa powder)
5 tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup heavy cream
8 oz dark chocolate (60–70% is great)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Flaky sea salt, for finishing
Fresh berries (raspberries, blackberries, or pomegranate seeds)
Instructions:
Crust: Mix crushed cookies with melted butter and a pinch of salt. Press into a tart pan or mini tart molds. Chill for 10–15 min.
Ganache: Heat cream until just bubbling. Pour over chopped chocolate and let sit for 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Add vanilla.
Assemble: Pour ganache into crust(s). Chill until set (about 1–2 hours).
Finish: Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and dot with berries like carefully chosen punctuation marks.
📚 Elementary Idea: Punctuation Parade!
Theme: Each punctuation mark gets its moment in the spotlight!
Materials Needed:
Chart paper or poster board
Markers/crayons/colored pencils
Index cards
Tape or string (for "punctuation necklaces")
Optional: Party hats or construction paper to make punctuation hats 🎩❗
Steps:
Introduction (5 min): Read a silly passage aloud with no pauses or punctuation. Example:
"I love to eat pizza my dog likes to chase cats sometimes we go to the park and sometimes we play games"
Students will giggle—and then you reread it with punctuation, so they can hear the difference.Punctuation Characters (15 min): Assign or let students pick a punctuation mark (period, comma, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, etc.). They decorate an index card with their symbol and wear it as a necklace—or make a hat shaped like their punctuation mark. 🎨
The Parade (15–20 min): Students line up in a "Punctuation Parade." Each student introduces their punctuation ("Hi! I’m the Exclamation Point! I show excitement or surprise!") and gives an example sentence. Bonus: march through the hallway so other classes can cheer! 🥁
Wrap-Up (5 min): As a class, create a quick anchor chart:
“Punctuation Helps Us…” (add ideas like: make reading easier, show feelings, ask questions).
Extra Quirky Twist: Play marching music and let students chant punctuation chants:
“Comma, comma, take a pause, that’s my job—that’s my cause!”
📝 Secondary Idea: The Great Punctuation Courtroom
Theme: Put punctuation marks on trial for their quirks and crimes! ⚖️
Materials Needed:
A short text (could be a funny paragraph without punctuation or overly punctuated)
Copies for each student
Role cards (judge, lawyers, witnesses, punctuation marks)
Gavel (or ruler for dramatic flair)
Steps:
Hook (5 min): Show a meme or tweet that’s wildly confusing without punctuation. Ask: “How much trouble can punctuation cause?”
Set Up the Court (10 min): Assign roles:
Judge 👩⚖️
Prosecution lawyers: argue punctuation is confusing/unnecessary
Defense lawyers: argue punctuation is essential
Witnesses: each student playing a punctuation mark (comma, semicolon, dash, etc.) testifies about their role in writing
Jury: remaining students decide the verdict
The Trial (20–25 min):
Prosecution presents their case: “The semicolon is pretentious! Who even needs it?”
Defense responds: “Without the semicolon, ideas can’t flow smoothly!”
Witness punctuation marks testify with sample sentences. Example:
Comma Witness: “Without me, the sentence ‘Let’s eat, Grandma’ turns into something horrifying!” 👵🍴
Judge moderates with playful gavel taps.
Verdict (5 min): Jury votes: Guilty (overused/annoying) or Not Guilty (essential to clear communication).
Extra Quirky Twist: After the trial, students "pardon" one punctuation mark and write a short Pardon Proclamation explaining why it deserves saving.
✒️ Quirky in the Workplace
A.K.A. “Let’s eat, Grandma” vs. “Let’s eat Grandma” – one saves lives, the other causes HR paperwork.
National Punctuation Day may sound like something only your grammar-obsessed coworker cares about (looking at you, Janet), but at Celebrate Quirky, we say: let’s add some exclamation to this period-piece of a holiday. Because what’s more thrilling than a well-placed semicolon? (Don’t answer that.)
📚 The “Overly Punctuated Office Memo” Contest
Challenge your team to rewrite a mundane workplace memo using as much punctuation as humanly (or inhumanly) possible—bonus points for semicolons, em dashes, interrobangs (‽), and suspicious use of ellipses…
Example Prompt:
Original: “Please remember to submit your timesheets by Friday.”
Quirky Remix: “Timesheets—due (yes, again...)—Friday! Don’t make us email...again...please?!”
Everyone votes on categories like:
Most Unhinged Use of the Colon
Best Run-On That’s Somehow Still Grammatically Correct
Most Passive-Aggressive Parentheses Usage
🏆 Winner gets: A trophy made from a repurposed apostrophe and bragging rights until someone corrects their Slack typo.
Tagline for the Day:
“Punctuation: Because without it, we're just shouting into the void whoops I mean ‘We're just shouting into the void.’”
🎬 Movie Pick: The History of the English Language (2011, PBS documentary)
Why it fits:
This surprisingly entertaining documentary dives into how the English language evolved—punctuation included. It explores the structure and quirks that define how we write and speak. While not a traditional movie, it’s educational, engaging, and a punctuation-lover’s dream.
📺 TV Episode Pick: “Schoolhouse Rock!” – "Unpack Your Adjectives" / "Interjections!"
Why it fits:
These grammar-centric musical shorts are perfect punctuation-related viewing, especially for families or anyone feeling nostalgic.
#️⃣ Let’s Make Punctuation Trendy Again
#NationalPunctuationDay
#GrammarNerdsUnite
#Let’sEatGrandma
#InterrobangAppreciation
#CommaDrama
#PunctuationIsHot
#TypoHunters
#ApostropheCatastrophe
#EmDashEnergy
#CelebrateQuirky
