March 21 - National Countdown Day

3…2…1…National Countdown Day on March 21 ticks down the minutes, seconds or days to events big and small. 

3…2…1. July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launches into the atmosphere carrying the crew for the first moon landing. 

3…2…1. Y2K, everyone partied like it was 1999 until the new millennium arrived. 

3…2…1. January 19, 2013, American technology talk show host and the founder of National Day Calendar® Marlo Anderson quietly launched a certain website with the eponymous title. 

3…2…1…it’s 5 o’clock somewhere! 

On National Countdown Day, 03/21, we can start a countdown to just about anything. Around the office, it’s a countdown to the next celebration every day! It’s also a day to consider past and present countdowns of significance. 

Recently, parts of the United States counted down to August 21, 2017, to a total solar eclipse. The event created road trip opportunities for those within driving distance. It also created science party lessons on rooftops in the path of the eclipse.  

And it was a memorable countdown, indeed. Did you miss it? Start your countdown for April 8, 2024. This solar eclipse will cover parts of Mexico, Central and Northeastern United States and just a bit of Canada. 

ROYAL COUNTDOWNS 

Since royal weddings draw a lot of attention, countdowns are an essential part of the draw. The fanfare and commitment to tradition remind us of storybook weddings.  

There are several royal weddings to recall: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on July 29, 1981; Prince William and Catherine Middleton, April 29, 2011; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018. 

Another British countdown that kept the world interested was the countdown to Brexit. 

UNITED STATES COUNTDOWNS 

Some favorite countdowns in the U.S. lead to opening days – this could be the opening day of baseball, racing, the swimming pool or hunting season.  

However, the countdown to tax day, election day, or even the closing bell can be a positive or ominous one. Of course, it all depends on the outcome and sometimes one depends on the results of the other countdowns! 

SUMMER AND SPORTS 

Now, countdowns to summer break may be started as early as September 1 or as late as spring break.  

Those who motor on two wheels like to countdown to Sturgis and sports enthusiasts have countdowns to March Madness, Gameday, and Olympic Opening Ceremonies. There’s also the countdown to the final buzzer of every game!  

However, there are sports with no time limit and therefore no countdown to end the game. Can you name one? 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Start a countdown to something significant to you. Around National Day Calendar®, they countdown to meaningful, useful, notable, unusual, quirky, and remarkable events all the time. It also makes us #CelebrateEveryDay. 

Whether you’re counting down to a homecoming or a wedding, to your last chemo treatment or your graduation, start your countdown. What will you countdown to? Use #321Day to share on social media. 

Educators, visit the National Day Calendar® Classroom for a project dedicated to National Countdown Day. 

HISTORY 

National Day Calendar® proclaimed National Countdown Day to celebrate all the ways people countdown to important moments in our lives. 

What are counting down for? 

#321Day 

@europetheband 

@nichecinema