An Invitation to Celebrate Davis Day
Why: Davis is the sixth most common surname in the United States. The Smiths, Browns, Williamses and Johnsons (not to mention the Joneses) have us beat by a few hundred thousand … until now! We are on a mission to create a worldwide tribe of Davis, starting with Davis Day, an annual celebration of all things Davis.
What: This unique holiday encourages the celebrant to experience the vast interconnectedness of people, ideas, and the Earth. Davis Day is more than a holiday, a celebration, or an event. It is a conceptual framework for creating bonds and can be experienced and interpreted in abundant ways once a personal connection to Davis is made. Although Davis Day is a relative newcomer to our holiday celebrations (established in 2005), it has become one of our favorite days for memory making. We invite you to join us in this celebration of relationships.
Who: If your surname is Davis, or ever was Davis; if either of your parents were ever a Davis; if you were ever married to anyone who was ever a Davis; if there is any Davis at all hanging from your family tree; if any of your nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandchildren, daughters, son-in-laws or any of their significant others were ever named Davis; if you were ever meaningfully connected in any way to anyone who ever was a Davis; if you have ever lived in a town called Davis, or on a street called Davis, or in a house or other shelter whose architect, contractors or builders were named Davis; if you’ve ever read a blog or an article written by a person named Davis (wink, wink); if you’ve ever had a teacher named Davis; if you have ever lived adjacent to anyone named Davis; if you’ve ever had a dog, family pet, or acquaintance named Davis, then you are hereby recognized as an official Davis and are urged to receive this invitation in good cheer.
When: Davis Day occurs on the second Sunday in March. Incidentally, this is the same Sunday we spring the clocks forward in the U.S. each year (except for Hawaii and Arizona), allowing for an extra hour of daylight to enjoy the festivities. In the 48 U.S. states that observe Daylight Saving Time, celebrants can choose to start the festivities on Davis Day Eve with setting the clocks forward and playing board or card games.
How: Davis Day is celebrated with songs, games, activities, and delectable treats from the earth. Weather permitting, games like Peep Slingshot (click to see how we made ours from Dollar Store items), charades, scavenger hunts, kite flying, as well as bubble blowing for the little ones, are enjoyed in the beautiful outdoors.
The colors of the day are Silver and Burgundy.
Silver is often evoked in the familiar sayings “born with a silver spoon” or “every cloud has a silver lining.” Silver symbolizes the wealth of loving relationships and the power of optimism and hope for an abundant future.
Burgundy, often confused with maroon, is a deep red with purple hues, whereas maroon is a deep red with brown hues. Burgundy represents individuality, as in “marching to the beat of one’s own drum.” It is a courageous color that incorporates all the best traits of both the masculine and the feminine.
The motif of Davis Day is Spring. March presents the first budding plants and flowers after a long winter’s rest. In the Northern Hemisphere, as the Vernal Equinox approaches (March 20th), Spring peeks through the earth with the early blooming of the Witch Hazel Shrub, Crocus, Snowdrops, Hyacinth, and Forsythia, providing foraging pollinators with an intoxicating feast. On Davis Day, nature is mirrored with Spring décor and by filling the house with vases of wildflowers and other early bloomers.
The traditional victuals are edibles from the earth. As a celebration of connectedness to each other and to the earth, the quintessential dish is the Globe Artichoke. All fruits or vegetable dishes are a welcomed addition to the Davis Day spread.
We enjoy recreating dishes from handed-down family recipes. Our favorites for Davis Day are Grandma Nanni’s stuffed artichokes and Mom’s cannellini bean salad. The table is festively garnished with silver and burgundy décor, and graced with fragrant bouquets of spring flowers and herbs.
The Davis Day anthem, Kites are Fun, was written and performed by the Free Design in the 1970s. This song was added to Davis Day by a celebrant who shared one of his newest vintage musical discoveries. As often happens with developing customs, the song so perfectly compliments the spirit of Davis Day–cleansing winds and refreshing breezes on which to fly our hopes and dreams for the future–that it was adopted as the official anthem of Davis Day. And of course, kite flying was added to the festivities.
As with many other other annual celebrations, gift giving is a welcome activity for Davis Day. Celebrants may offer gifts to other celebrants, and to the host or hostess. As hosts, we enjoy giving gifts to our guests. And, as all things Davis Day, each gift should be unique and handmade: a card, a piece of art or craft, a song, a poem, or some other item of creative thoughtfulness.
Where: Davis Day can be celebrated all over the world, in any time zone, and in any safe, healthy space that suits the personalities of the celebrants.
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The official greeting of Davis Day is “Convivial Davis Day!” The greeting conveys the intensely joyful spirit of the celebration.
We invite you to explore and celebrate your connection to Davis-ness and therefore to each other. Pull out the silver and burgundy, and let the festivities begin on the next second Sunday of March. Convivial Davis Day!
~JnK
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For more ideas on celebrating Davis Day, visit our Davis Day Pinterest board.
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