Time for some silliness
If you’ve traveled to England, Scotland or anywhere else in the United Kingdom during mid-March over the last 25 years or so, you’ve probably encountered Red Nose Day. It’s a benefit for the Comic Relief charity and it finds the usually stiff-upper-lip Brits going about their business sporting red plastic clown noses.
It aids a worthy cause, plus it helps dispel the gloom of Britain in winter’s dying days, with its clouds, wind, drizzle and downpours.
We were reminded of Red Nose Day when the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce announced last month it would be hosting a party Thursday on Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day, an event meant to banish the wintertime blues with a dose of unabashed silliness.
The holiday requires the purchase of no gifts, nor the sending of any flowers. All participants have to do is gather at noon, wave their hands above their heads and yell “hoodie-hoo” three times.
Debra Keefer, the chamber’s executive director, said she expects more than 100 people to attend the festivities in Magic City Square at Fifth Street and McKean Avenue in Charleroi. Everyone who turns up is encouraged to wear colorful clothes, bring noisemakers and let their hair down.
After the punishment this winter has meted out – and there’s an additional month of it to go – we all could use some goofiness right about now. Hoodie-hoo!