National When Pigs Fly Day
September 9
About National When Pigs Fly Day
National When Pigs Fly Day is celebrated every year on 9 September. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 9 September. The day takes a phrase usually used to mean something will never happen and flips it on its head, encouraging people to chase the goals and dreams that others might call impossible.
How to Celebrate National When Pigs Fly Day
This is a day built around imagination and optimism, so there are plenty of playful and meaningful ways to join in.
- Set an impossible goal – Write down something you have always dreamed of but assumed could never happen, then plan one small step towards it.
- Make a flying pig – Craft a winged pig from paper, clay or felt, or decorate your home or desk with a flying pig figurine.
- Tell a sceptic to think again – Surprise someone who doubted you by sharing a goal you intend to pursue regardless of the odds.
- Bake pig-themed treats – Whip up cupcakes or biscuits decorated with little winged pigs to share with friends and family.
- Watch something inspiring – Choose a film or documentary about people who achieved what everyone said was impossible.
- Encourage a dreamer – Offer support to a friend or child who has a big ambition, reminding them that bold ideas are worth pursuing.
- Use the idiom playfully – Drop the phrase into conversation, then point out that today is the one day it might just come true.
- Share your dreams online – Post the goal you are determined to reach and tag friends to do the same.
What is National When Pigs Fly Day?
National When Pigs Fly Day is a light-hearted celebration of bold imagination and the pursuit of seemingly unattainable goals. It invites people to picture futures that might appear outlandish and then take real steps towards making them happen. Rather than treating the impossible as a closed door, the day reframes it as an invitation to dream bigger.
When is National When Pigs Fly Day?
National When Pigs Fly Day is observed every year on 9 September. In 2026 it falls on a Wednesday. The date is fixed and recurs annually.
The History of National When Pigs Fly Day
The phrase at the heart of the day is centuries old. “When pigs fly” is an example of an adynaton, a figure of speech that exaggerates to the point of implying impossibility. The expression is thought to derive from a Scottish proverb dating to the 1500s, and an early version, “pigs fly with their tails forward,” appeared in John Withals’ 1616 work A Shorte Dictionarie for Yonge Begynners. Flying pigs cropped up in British print throughout the 19th century, and the image even features in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
The awareness day itself is far more recent. National When Pigs Fly Day was first celebrated on 9 September 2020, founded by Lisa J. Schanley. The idea was inspired by her own unexpected marriage to Tom Schanley, a union symbolised by a wedding cake topper featuring flying pigs. Having lived out her own “when pigs fly” moment, she proposed the day to encourage dreamers everywhere.
If you enjoy days that celebrate creativity and a bit of fun, you might also like Fool’s Paradise Day, another occasion that embraces the playful side of life.
Fun Facts About National When Pigs Fly Day
- The day was founded by Lisa J. Schanley and first celebrated on 9 September 2020.
- The idea was sparked by a wedding cake topper depicting flying pigs.
- The idiom “when pigs fly” is classed as an adynaton, a deliberate exaggeration implying impossibility.
- An early form of the phrase appeared in a 1616 English-Latin dictionary.
- The saying is believed to stem from a Scottish proverb of the 1500s.
- Flying pigs feature in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Why National When Pigs Fly Day Matters
It is easy to dismiss big ambitions as fantasy, and the phrase “when pigs fly” exists to do exactly that. This day matters because it reclaims that dismissal and turns it into encouragement. It reminds us that history is full of things once thought impossible that later came true, and that pursuing a wild dream is rarely a waste of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National When Pigs Fly Day?
It is a playful awareness day that encourages people to chase goals others consider impossible, reframing the idiom “when pigs fly” as a message of hope rather than doubt.
When is National When Pigs Fly Day in 2026?
National When Pigs Fly Day falls on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. The date is the same every year.
Who founded National When Pigs Fly Day?
It was founded by Lisa J. Schanley, who held the first celebration on 9 September 2020 after her own unlikely love story inspired the idea.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share the impossible dream you are chasing on social media with #NationalWhenPigsFlyDay and #NationalWhenPigsFlyDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to take part!
Related Awareness Days
- Fool’s Paradise Day – A playful day that, like this one, embraces imagination and a sense of fun.
- National Foam Party Day – A joyful, light-hearted celebration in the same quirky spirit.
- National Hike With A Geek Day – Another offbeat day that encourages people to try something different.
Links
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