Yet Another Hallmark Holiday

Holidays are important to society. They build a sense of community as everybody acknowledges the same great thing at the same time. Many holidays are considered major holidays by religions and nations. Yom Kippur is a major holiday for Jewish people and the nation of Israel acknowledges Yom Kippur as a national holiday. Similarly, the melting pot that is the United States officially recognizes the Christian Christmas as a national holiday. Many people celebrate Valentine’s Day, though government offices don’t close for it. Then there are days like Columbus Day, for which certain agencies such as the postal service and banks might be closed, but they are just normal days for most people. Sadly, there is as yet no Garage Door Repair Technician’s Day.

October 16 is Boss’s Day. Do bosses actually expect to receive anything for Boss’s Day? The Hallmark Company sure thinks so. According to Hallmark, people do acknowledge Boss’s Day and Hallmark stock of Boss’s Day cards and gifts expands every year. But don’t run out and start shopping. Rules of etiquette state that the gift should be a group gift from everybody who works under the boss. Otherwise those who do acknowledge Boss’s Day are likely to look like kiss ups, while other employees look uncaring.

Boss’s Day was originally registered with the United States Chamber of Commerce in 1958. The registrant and creator of Boss’s Day, Patricia Bays Haroski, did so as a means to remember her father’s birthday. As it turns out, her father was her boss at State Farm Insurance in Deerfield, IL.

Boss’s Day was not formally proclaimed until 1962 when the Illinois governor, Otto Kerner, approved the registration and made a proclamation that October 16 should henceforth forever be known as Boss’s Day. Thanks to international companies, such as Hallmark, Boss’s Day is now dreaded and enjoyed all over the globe. Though in all fairness, Hallmark did not sell Boss’s Day cards until 1979.

Bosses who are lucky enough to receive gifts for Boss’s Day must be careful not to forget Secretary’s Day. Now known as Administrative Professionals Day, this holiday was created in by a publicist in 1952 to encourage people to enter the administrative fields. Administrative Professional’s Day is held annually on the last Wednesday of April. It is not at internationally recognized as Boss’s Day.

Yes, even the seemingly meaningless holidays have value to society. They are part of our culture and help define us as a nation. Boss’s Day and Administrative Professional’s Day might seem goofy, but at least they offer a touch of hilarity to the often bleak workplace landscape. Perhaps there should be a Garage Door Service Professional’s Day?