What is this thing called Monkey Day?

Monkey Day is an annual celebration of all things simian, a festival of primates, a chance to scream like a monkey and throw feces at whomever you choose. Or perhaps just a reason to hang out with your friends while grunting and picking fleas off each other.

(note: for legal reasons, the publishers of the Monkey Day website in no way endorse throwing feces in any manner at any time.)

When is Monkey Day?

Annually on December 14th.

Where did Monkey Day come from?

The true origins of Monkey Day are deeply shrouded in mystery. Some say that the Monkey Day movement began as a tool to further the awareness of simian species and habitats. Others say that Monkey Day began as a scientific backlash to all of the religious holidays permeating the month of December, an evolutionary finger to the creationist holidays. Still others say that the concept for Monkey Day was brought on by the drunken debauchery of several young hooligans with a special affinity for monkeys, spending the first Monkey Day tauting their simian virtues and screaming obscenities at the local pub. Whatever the conception, Monkey Day has certainly evolved beyond any simple beginnings into a greater movement.

Why Monkey Day?

Why not Monkey Day?



I’ve noticed apes as well as monkeys appearing all over your monkey pages, can’t you tell the difference between a monkey and an ape?

Although Monkey Day is mainly about monkeys (via wiki: A monkey is any member of either the New World monkeys or Old World monkeys, two of the three groupings of simian primates, the third group being the apes. Because of their similarity to monkeys, apes such as chimpanzees and gibbons are often called monkeys in informal usage, though they are not monkeys. Conversely, due to its size the Mandrill is often thought to be an ape, but it is actually an Old World monkey. Also, a few monkey species have the word “ape” in their common name. Because they are not a single coherent group, monkeys do not have any particular traits that they all share and are not shared with the remaining group of simians, the apes.), we here at the Monkey Day website feel it wouldn’t be proper to exclude all primates from the joy of Monkey Day just because they swing on a different branch of the evolutionary tree. So, yes, occasionally you may see non-monkey simians invading and celebrating Monkey Day.

How do I celebrate Monkey Day?

In whatever monkey themed manner you deem appropriate. Dress in your favorite simian attire, talk like a monkey all day long, throw a monkey themed party, send some monkey greeting cards, draw a monkey comic, or perhaps give your favorite simian a monkey themed gift, or maybe even give to your favorite simian charity. Whatever you find most appropriate without being arrested, and if you want to share your experience with the world, please post it on our Facebook, Reddit, or contact us directly and tell or show us all about it.

Monkey Day in the wild

Web and media sightings, a selection of our favorite mentions:

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