From pants to pot-plants: How to make a holiday out of anything

By Daisy Carrington, for CNN

Updated 12:26 PM ET, Wed July 31, 2013

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Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – Underwear brand Freshpair coined National Underwear Day (August 5) to market their brand of panties. The company celebrates by hiring models to parade in their underthings at New York's Time Square. Civilians are welcome to join the fun as well.

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Ever wanted to go UFO spotting? World UFO Day is the time to do it. The day is celebrated on June 24 to commemorate the first UFO sighting, and July 2 in honor of the supposed Roswell UFO crash.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – Ever wanted to go UFO spotting? World UFO Day is the time to do it. The day is celebrated on June 24 to commemorate the first UFO sighting, and July 2 in honor of the supposed Roswell UFO crash.

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There's no shortage of reasons to dance like a chicken. Some -- like PETA organizers -- chose to do it in protest, while others are simply fans of Arrested Development. The best time to do it, though is on May 14, aka, National Dance Like a Chicken Day.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – There's no shortage of reasons to dance like a chicken. Some -- like PETA organizers -- chose to do it in protest, while others are simply fans of Arrested Development. The best time to do it, though is on May 14, aka, National Dance Like a Chicken Day.

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While there's not much role for town criers these days, in the United Kingdom, some celebrants chose to honor the history of the broadcasters of old on National Town Crier Day on July 8.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – While there's not much role for town criers these days, in the United Kingdom, some celebrants chose to honor the history of the broadcasters of old on National Town Crier Day on July 8.

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Star Wars fans have recently appropriated May 4 as their own. The date is significant mainly because it makes for a handy pun ("May the fourth be with you"). The date has become so popular that Hallmark has even introduced Star Wars Day e-cards.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – Star Wars fans have recently appropriated May 4 as their own. The date is significant mainly because it makes for a handy pun ("May the fourth be with you"). The date has become so popular that Hallmark has even introduced Star Wars Day e-cards.

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Fans of the Korean alphabet can rejoice on Hangul Day, which commemorates the invention of the writing system. The Hangul Society created the holiday in 1926, though there has been some debate over the actual date. The day is celebrated on October 9 in South Korea, and January 15 in North Korea.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – Fans of the Korean alphabet can rejoice on Hangul Day, which commemorates the invention of the writing system. The Hangul Society created the holiday in 1926, though there has been some debate over the actual date. The day is celebrated on October 9 in South Korea, and January 15 in North Korea.

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While the Qixi Festival in China is supposedly 2600 years old, it is only recently that it has been deemed China's equivalent to Valentine's Day. The holiday is commemorated with several ancient rituals but some newer, edgier traditions have started to make the rounds, such as this condom-blowing match.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – While the Qixi Festival in China is supposedly 2600 years old, it is only recently that it has been deemed China's equivalent to Valentine's Day. The holiday is commemorated with several ancient rituals but some newer, edgier traditions have started to make the rounds, such as this condom-blowing match.

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Black Friday, commonly known as the biggest shopping day of the year in the U.S., has become a holiday in its own right in recent years, at least from a retail point of view. Consumers often line up as early as midnight to take advantage of pre-Christmas sales.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – Black Friday, commonly known as the biggest shopping day of the year in the U.S., has become a holiday in its own right in recent years, at least from a retail point of view. Consumers often line up as early as midnight to take advantage of pre-Christmas sales.

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The Left Handers' Club launched International Left Handers Day on August 13, 1992 to support left-handed individuals in a right-handed world. Celebrations include setting up tongue-and-cheek 'left-only zones', and leftie sporting and drinking events.

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – The Left Handers' Club launched International Left Handers Day on August 13, 1992 to support left-handed individuals in a right-handed world. Celebrations include setting up tongue-and-cheek 'left-only zones', and leftie sporting and drinking events.

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In Whittlesea, England, there was once a tradition on the first Tuesday after Plough Monday to dress a local farmer in a costume made of hay and parade him around the street. The tradition ended in 1909, but was revised in 1980. In 1999, The English 'straw bear' made friends with its German counterpart (pictured).

Photos: 13 new and nerdy holidays

Weird and wonderful DIY holidays – In Whittlesea, England, there was once a tradition on the first Tuesday after Plough Monday to dress a local farmer in a costume made of hay and parade him around the street. The tradition ended in 1909, but was revised in 1980. In 1999, The English 'straw bear' made friends with its German counterpart (pictured).

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