Trinidad & Tobago has 15 public holidays. Yes…we give new meaning to the term “holiday destination”. That said, today’s daily prompt is an opportunity to add yet another holiday to our list – if only in the blogosphere – besides, 15 is an odd number…let’s make it nice and even, and add #16.
Let’s celebrate: Purple Crayon Day!
Date: on a Thursday to be announced.
Colour: Purple…DUHHH!!!
…and BLUEBERRIES will be to this day, what pumpkins are to Halloween and Fall.
What kind of life would you create for yourself, if all it took was a purple crayon and your imagination?
Inspired by the book Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson – one of my absolute favourite books – this holiday is a chance to create a day for yourself that is only limited to what you can imagine.
“One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight.” So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won’t get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.” – blurb from GoodReads
According to the internets, purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. Also, if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. The colour purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. No wonder, Harold chose it as his colour of choice!
On this holiday…you create a day that exists in your imagination. I imagine malls and store windows decorated in purple, purple crayons selling out EVERYWHERE. People will organise creative “purple” fund-raisers and picnics. Lovers, will deliver red-wine soaked pears (which I know from experience look purple) and gourmet lavender ice-cream. There will be purple napkins and table cloths for a ratatouille dinner and kids will refuse to eat their purple cauliflower but still want their blueberry pie dessert!
Purple Crayon Day, will be more than the “resolutions” of New Year’s Eve or the introspection of Thanksgiving, it will be an opportunity to look inward and to express outward that which only you can imagine. It can be a small act of taking a moonlight walk around the block with your loved ones or by yourself like Harold or it can be a day filled with mystery comprising several activities. The whole family can get involved and plan a “purple crayon” adventure that everyone can enjoy.
Oh my…I’m so excited thinking about all the things I could do to celebrate Purple Crayon Day, I almost wish this day did exist!!! I’m feeling a Pinterest board “Purple Crayon Inspiration” in the making. Note: I’m seriously considering starting my very own, “Purple Crayon Day” tradition. I think it will be something nice to celebrate with my future children someday.
If “Purple Crayon Day” did exist, how would you celebrate it?