7 Fake, Annoying Holidays Brought to You by Consumerism

5. Administrative Professionals' Day

Credit:edgar h via Flickr

Have we gone too far, declaring this holiday as fake and annoying? Formerly Secretary's Day, but changed to be more politically correct, this is the Wednesday of the last full week in April. It was organized by the National Secretaries Association in 1952, now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

6. Boss's Day

Photo via simpsonovsti.blog.cz

Oct. 16. Not to be confused with the much-less-important Administrative Professionals' Day, Boss's Day is for the people who keep the trains running on time. According to Wikipedia, "Hallmark did not offer a Boss's Day card for sale until 1979. It increased the size of its National Boss Day line by 90 percent in 2007." Alas, a card on this day is not guaranteed to get you a raise.

7. National Mustard Day

Photo via Mustardweb.com

Let's consider this one a catch-all for other holidays that are too much about money and consumption. A list of commercial holidays at ibiblio.org includes National Mustard Day, on the first Saturday in August, and Earth Day, on April 22, but not Valentine's Day. Does Earth Day belong on this list? Has it become too corporate and capitalizing? Just another condiment for card stores to spread?

Think other holidays belong on this list? Let us know in the comments.

More on Holidays and Gifts
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Green Eyes On: What Really Happens in a Landfill
Grist Tries to Explain its Screw Earth Day Campaign

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