National Common Courtesy Day is a holiday that falls on the 21st of March every year and is a day that’s designed to remind people of the importance of common courtesy. Courtesy is what prevents civilization from falling into chaos. That alone is a good reason for everyone to observe this holiday and to encourage their friends and family to do the same. Maybe this holiday is the excuse that people need to show respect to their fellow citizens and maybe polish up their manners a little bit to do their part to make the world a more civilized place to live.

The History Of National Common Courtesy Day

Unfortunately, the history of this holiday is unclear and our research couldn’t uncover who started or when they started it. All we could discover is that it goes all the way back to around the turn of the 21st century—sometime around 2002 or 2003.

Interesting Facts About Etiquette

As we dug down into the history of National Common Courtesy Day and the history of manners, we’ve come across some interesting information about etiquette. Some interesting facts that we would like to share with everyone reading this right now.

Cutting Salad Is No Longer An Etiquette Faux Pas

It’s believed that if it’s improper to cut your salad leaves with your knife because that’s been something that’s been practiced for hundreds of years. However, that was only a practice because the vinegar in salad dressings would ruin pewter knives. Now that most knives are stainless steel people can feel free to once again cut up their salads.

Women Can Propose, Too

For a long time, it was believed that only men could propose marriage to a woman and that it couldn’t be done the other way around. That was due to a myth that the couple would only have a happy life if the man proposed. Now that we all know that’s hogwash, women can feel free to propose if they want to propose.

Don’t Be A No-Show When You RSVP

Something that happens far too often nowadays is people will RSVP for an event and not show. That’s not only rude, but is also potentially costing the host of the party or event money, so it’s important to only RSVP if you intend on showing up.

Observing National Common Courtesy Day

Observing this holiday is not only easy to do but is also immensely gratifying for all involved. All it requires is for you to show some common courtesy throughout the day to your fellow human beings. This not only includes your friends and family but also strangers such as the bank teller at your local bank or the cashier at your local grocery store. A little bit of courtesy can go a long way and it has the side effect of making everyone feel better. And while you’re celebrating this holiday, be sure to post on social media that you’re observing this holiday using the hashtag #NationalCommonCourtestyDay.