Avast ye scurvy scum! Today be Talk Like a Pirate Day!! Argh! If you’re like me, you’ve heard of this, peripherally, but had no idea what it meant or why it was so popular. According to the official website, it was basically two guys who just kind of started doing it, then Dave Barry got wind of it, and the rest is history. Behold the power of the internet!
I have a soft spot for pirates, truth be told: My husband and I met at a pirate- themed Halloween party. Although if confronted with the real-life version I might be a tad less amenable, I am besotted with the Pirates of the Caribbean/ SpongeBob Squarepants version: a slightly drunk, loud, belligerent guy with a Jolly Roger hat on his head, a parrot on his shoulder, and a bottle of rum in his stomach. He clomps around with his peg leg, smelling of gunpowder and booze, and sends hapless Brits in suits off the plank. I don’t know how seafaring criminals became such a beloved part of pop culture, but they are.
Clearly I am not the only one so enamored of the Pirate Life, or else this would not be such a phenomenon. Disney and Johnny Depp have made a fortune off a pirate movie franchise. The Church of Pastafarianism, home of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, demands its acolytes worship in full pirate regalia. Online Pirate stores exist solely for the reason of selling pirate-related merchandise. Vegas casinos are dedicated to the pirate, where according to legend and lore you can even have a Pirate themed wedding affair! Shiver me timbers! Which brings us back to today, September 19th, the Day of the Pirate.
Surely you must be wondering how you can prepare for this event:
The Talk Like a Pirate Day website is a good place to start. There, you can grab some ready-made pirate phrases, or use the translator to do the work for you.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle of wine” becomes “Ahoy, i verily enjoyed this bottle o’ wine. Gar, Where can I find a bottle o’rum?” Very nice. Or should I say, “Aye, me think that be grand”? Now scoot your worm ridden rear o’er t’ the Pirate Day party planner and get your pirate on! ARGH!
Ahoy, all that and a slew o’ ‘ideos here. Gar!
And they’re going to be on Wife Swap too!! Double Gar!