As today is a feast day for some, following an important Watsonian holiday that most of us didn’t realize was there until yesterday, it is a good time to step back and look at the whole of the Watsonian holiday calendar. This is, by no means, a complete Watsonian holiday calendar, as we celebrate that great man on so many days of the year, and could change with time and comment, but these are still some special dates to look forward to in the coming year.
Sherlock Holmes’s Birthday
January 6 — A day John Watson would celebrate in ways dependent upon the mind of the Watsonian. See the short film “The Adventure of the Furtive Festivity” for one of Watson’s major efforts to organize one such celebration.
“Whatever, Watson!” Day
February 14 — The day we celebrate John H. Watson’s vague and ever-changing relationship status. How many times was he married? Was he straight, gay, or bisexual? The fact he made it through over a thousand pages of autobiography without giving clear answers to any of that makes us just go, “Whatever, Watson!”
Contrived Miracle Day
April 3 — The date of Sherlock Holmes’s return to Watson’s life in 1893, causing the doctor to faint for the first and last time in his life, only to be himself revived by his own miracle cure, brandy.
Reichenbach Day
May 4 — A solemn day of remembrance recognizing the day in 1891 when Sherlock Holmes died ending Moriarty’s criminal empire and Watson’s two year period of mourning that followed.
Wounday
June 27 — The day to show your friends how you feel about them in honor of Watson’s second wounding at the apartment of Nathan Garrideb, believed by some to be the final reason for Sherlock Holmes’s retirement from detection, not wanting to further endanger Watson’s life. “It was worth a wound — it was worth many wounds — to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay beneath that cold mask.”
Watsonian Veteran’s Day
July 27 — The date of the tragic Battle of Maiwand in 1880, when the gallant Murray the orderly saved John Watson’s life by throwing the wounded doctor across a pack-horse, bringing him safely to British lines. (Curiously, John H. Watson could only be injured on the 27th of the month. If we ever find evidence of the day he died, it will surely prove to be on the 27th of the month.)
Hallowatson
October 31 — Whether it’s wearing a black silk mask you made at home or just shouting “Hallo, Watson!” at your friends, Hallowatson is the October celebration of Watsonian weirdness, created simply to summon a spirit in one’s heart more powerful than any disembodied spook. Hallowatson!
Watsonian Thanksgiving
November 25 — Since no Watsons were on the Mayflower, the real Watsonian Thanksgiving occurs on November 25th, when his ship landed in Portsmouth in 1880 and he dined on English soil once again
Compliments of the Season Day
December 27 — The day John Watson gets around to telling his friends “Compliments of the season!” which is about as vague as his love life. Appropriate compliments of the season can range from “Happy Hannukah!” to “You have built a really nice snowman!” and since we don’t know Sherlock Holmes’s religion or snowman-building habits, this is a very non-denominational seasonal holiday.
Thank you Watson for yet another reason to smile today! Especially because the smile came of its own accord rather than after drinking copious amounts of brandy.
Something to be thankful for today!
Roxie
I would submit that the miracle of Sherlock Holmes reappearance in Dr Watson’s surgery happened on 1 April, 1894. In “The Adventure of the Empty House”. My realization came after careful consideration of all the facts involved. This includes in great measure my ever-growing appreciation of Watson’s literary agent’s humorous view of life. Arthur Conan Doyle forced to bring Sherlock Holmes back for whatever reasons after ten years, would of course do so on the Fools Day. Otherwise why choose the 30th of March for the Honorable Ronald Adair’s murder? The actual date of the coroners court is irrelevant in this case as it is never stated when it happened and Holmes didn’t need it’s information to set his long-awaited trap. March has 31 days, 2 days are enough time for Holmes to arrive in London from France. And meet up with Watson at 4pm and Moran in the wee hours of the night.
My view does not go unsupported:
John Hall: “The 1st of April would also, I submit, appeal to Holmes’ rather distorted sense of humour as being an ideal day to trap Moran.”
Hall, John. “I Remember the Date Very Well” A chronology of the Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. Ian Henry Publications, Essex; Players Press, California, 1993.
Also isn’t Watson’s birthday 7 August? The same as Edward Hardwicke’s?
Forgive me, your calendar seems to have inspired me. offering each other “the complements of the season” puts the emphasis where it belongs- on the season. Being of interfaith beliefs I appreciate this welcoming of the season celebrated by so many faiths. This greeting includes them all, from Wiccan solstice to kwanza, whereas the other greetings address only one group of people excluding all others. Not at all the spirit of the Season. Plus it allows men of science to also partake in the seasons greetings. Thank you for this.