According to the folktale dating back to the Middle Ages, residents of the German town of Hamelin hired a strangely dressed man to rid their village of rats. The Pied Piper of Hamelin did so by playing his flute.
Upon finishing the task, the townsfolk refused to pay — so the Pied Piper returned.
Once again, the Pied Piper played his flute while the children followed him. And with the Pied Piper, the children vanished, never to return.
While a harrowing tale of revenge doesn’t seem like something to celebrate, someone found a way. Depending on where you live, the day includes festivals and re-enactments.
Due to differing dates in stories and poems, Hamelin, Germany, celebrates the day on June 26.
The event consists of a pied piper leading children through the city streets. There’s even Richard the Rat who gets to tell his version of the story.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Appreciate all rat catchers and make this their day! Read the story about the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Post on social media using #NationalRatCatchersDay.
HISTORY
National Day Calendar® was unable to find the creator of National Rat Catcher’s Day. The day is also known as Ratcatcher's Day, Rat-catcher’s Day or Rat-Catcher’s Day and is sometimes celebrated on June 26.
The confusion stems from the Brothers Grimm as they cite June 26, 1284, as the date the Pied Piper led the children out of the town.
At the same time, the poem by English Victorian poet and playwright Robert Browning uses the date July 22, 1376.
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