Take a Monkey to Lunch Day is celebrated on July 21 every year. It was created to celebrate and bring awareness to monkeys and all things simian. The holiday considers apes, tarsiers, lemurs, and other non-human primates to bring light to the different types of primates around the world. The holiday helps to spread useful information about the issues that the animals endure as a species. This awareness helps to eventually provide a more stable environment for the animals and helps them lead better lives. Environmental activists are very passionate about the holiday. It is a favorite for many people because people love intelligent primates.
History of Take a Monkey to Lunch Day
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day has been celebrated every year on July 21 since 2000. It is a day that is used to celebrate monkeys and other primates. The holiday is widely supported by environmental activists, art institutions, and visual artists. Some major supporters include the Louvre Museum, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution, Greenpeace, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, London’s National Portrait Gallery, and Jane Goodall.Many zoos around the world celebrate the day by hosting special Take a Monkey to Lunch Day events. The events usually share more information about monkeys and the experiences they go through. There are also performances by monkeys who can take intelligence tests and there are also auctions of artwork that were created by chimps. Some zoos offer special banana-themed food options during the holiday. There are lots of interesting activities that take place to honor the animals around the world.The holiday is an opportunity for us to be mindful of the realities that monkeys face. They are intelligent primates who live alongside us, so it is important to provide them with as much care and support as we can. Support for the holiday goes into improving the lives of monkeys all around the world. They are able to live in conducive environments and have access to the resources that they need to survive. The holiday also ensures that they can get access to medical help from vets whenever it is needed.
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day timeline
“The Wizard of Oz” features monkeys with wings who try to scare off Dorothy and her friends.
The famous monkey, Curious George, makes his debut in books.
Two monkeys named Miss Baker and Able become the first monkeys to make a successful launch and return to space.
Casey Sorrow, an art student of Michigan State University, establishes this holiday.
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day FAQs
Is there a monkey god?
There is a human-like monkey god in the Hinduism religion. Hanuman is known as a god that commanded a monkey army.
Can you get Ebola from monkeys?
The Ebola Reston disease can be contracted by a human being from a monkey that has the disease.
How much does the pygmy marmoset weigh?
The pygmy marmoset is about the size of a hamster that fits in the palm. It weighs as much as a regular deck of cards.
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day Activities
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Visit a zoo
There are many zoos where you can go to visit some monkeys. Have fun feeding and playing with them.
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Wear a monkey costume
If you like to dress up or just feel like being a little silly, you can wear a monkey costume. You can experience a tiny bit of what it's like to be a monkey. Maybe watch some YouTube videos to give you some tips!
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Learn about monkeys
There are many issues that affect monkeys in our world today. Spreading awareness helps us get closer to providing solutions to those issues. Search the internet about monkeys and the endangerment they face today. Share this information on your social media handles to spread the word — you will surely make a difference.
5 Fascinating Facts About Monkeys
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They spread diseases
Monkeys are one of the few animals that can spread diseases to humans — they can spread monkeypox, yellow fever, and other unidentified illnesses.
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Some monkeys are very small
The smallest monkey in the world is the pygmy marmoset, with a body size usually around five inches tall and a tail length of seven inches.
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There are ‘New World monkeys’
Monkeys that live in Central and South America are considered ‘New World monkeys' and monkeys found in Asia and Africa are considered ‘Old World monkeys.’
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Humans didn’t evolve from monkeys
Monkeys and humans once had a common ancestor about 25 to 30 million years ago — after that period, each species evolved in its own way.
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Old World monkeys were larger
Old World monkeys were larger than the monkeys of today — they had narrow noses and did not hang around in trees.
Why We Love Take a Monkey to Lunch Day
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It creates awareness
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day helps to spread important information about the issues that monkeys face. This awareness helps us assist our primate friends.
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It reminds us of our nature
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day is a holiday that serves to remind us of our basic animalistic nature. This helps us remember the things that are truly important to our ecosystem and encourages us to take better care of them.
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It’s a fun holiday
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day is the best day to simply monkey around. It’s an opportunity to let loose and have some fun.
Take a Monkey to Lunch Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
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2023 | July 21 | Friday |
2024 | July 21 | Sunday |
2025 | July 21 | Monday |
2026 | July 21 | Tuesday |
2027 | July 21 | Wednesday |