National Ampersand Day: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about National Ampersand Day (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. National Ampersand Day is celebrated on September 8th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of National Ampersand Day, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as important facts you may want to know about National Ampersand Day.

📅 What day is National Ampersand Day 2024?

In 2024, National Ampersand Day is on Friday, September 8th. It is the 2nd Friday in September; in 2024, it is Sunday. There are until the next observance. You also can learn all the fun details and facts about September 8, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

National Ampersand Day is an annual event held on September 8th to honor the “&” symbol, which represents the word “AND.” This symbol, derived from Latin, has been used since ancient times. Despite its often overlooked status, the ampersand has a fascinating and significant background. Even if you’re not particularly interested in language, today is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate this unique character.

📜 National Ampersand Day History

Determining the exact origin of the ampersand symbol is challenging, but an early example was found in Pompeii in 79 A.D. preserved by the Vesuvius eruption. However, Jan Tschichold, a typographer born in Leipzig in 1902, has extensively researched the history of the ampersand. In his 1953 monograph titled “The Ampersand: Its Birth and Development,” Tschichold compiled numerous specimens of the symbol, ranging from ancient graffiti to the familiar “&” we use today. Some examples in his collection date back to the eighth century and closely resemble the modern ampersand.

Despite its age, the term “ampersand” has a contemporary feel. It originated from the phrase “and per se and,” which means “and (i.e., “&”) by itself forms the word and.” This phrase was once repeated by students to help them understand the symbol’s meaning.

In 2015, Chaz DeSimone, an author, designer, and typographer, established National Ampersand Day. Through his AmperArt program, DeSimone considers the ampersand as a form of art and created the holiday to celebrate and showcase the symbol through fun art projects.

✅ National Ampersand Day Facts

🔖 Used to raise money for earthquake victims
Font Aid was established in 1999 with the aim of generating funds to support those affected by disasters. During Font Aid events, designers collaborate to design and sell a symbol that represents unity, which includes the ampersand.

🔖 Once a letter of the English alphabet
The letter “Z” did not use to be the last letter in the English alphabet. Instead, it was the ampersand. However, it is unclear when the ampersand was removed from the alphabet.

🔖 Created by a slave
Marcus Tullius Tiro, a slave and aide to Cicero, a prominent Roman lawyer, playwright, and speaker, is believed to have been the creator of the ampersand and the first Latin shorthand system. This shorthand system remained in use for more than a millennium.

👍 Why Is National Ampersand Day Important

Without a doubt, the ampersand is the most beautiful character in the English language. The single character can be seen wearing a variety of outfits, ranging from simple E-style to T-style representations that are aesthetically pleasing.

Ampersands have several purposes. Two common examples are titles and business names (especially in the areas of architecture, consulting, engineering, and law).

The ampersand can be used as a shorthand sign when space is restricted. When writing on a small piece of paper or working within tables or spreadsheets, using the ampersand instead of “and” is acceptable.

🙂 How To Observe National Ampersand Day

⚡ Use a lot of ampersands in your writing!

⚡ Research and teach others online
Start by finding a book that has an ampersand as the 27th character and post about it on social media. This will help others discover the fascinating history and development of this symbol. When sharing how you use the ampersand, don’t forget to include the hashtag #AmpersandUses.

⚡ Explore more ways of writing ampersand
If you want to remember this event, use ampersands in all of your writing or make logos with ampersands that are made in a flashy way.

📅 When is National Ampersand Day?

View all 🔗 September holidays, including 🔗 Special Interest and other 🔗 Appreciation holidays.

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