Day of the Lipped: A Celebration We Laugh About Together

Every year on July 20th, the internet is filled with images marked with the caption “Happy Day of the Lipped!” Some people laugh, some are baffled, and some sincerely congratulate friends on this strange holiday. What is this day? Why was it created? And why do we, grown adults, suddenly start celebrating a day dedicated to either the shape of lips, the ability to kiss, or just plain absentmindedness? Let’s try to figure out this fun phenomenon that has become part of internet folklore and given us another reason to smile. After all, any event that makes us laugh is worthy of attention.

What Does “Lipped” Mean: A Lexical Excursion

The word “lipped” in the Russian language is one of those amazing expressions that are both funny and multivalent. Essentially, it is a folk, colloquial word that has several meanings. In the literal sense, it refers to a person with a pendulous or very large lower lip. In a metaphorical sense, it refers to an absent-minded, ungraceful person who constantly misses something or does things by mistake. Another meaning is a kissing enthusiast, someone who “slaps” their lips. And finally, in some dialects, it was used to refer to just a chatterbox or someone who speaks indistinctly.

Interestingly, the word has an obviously playful connotation. It is not used in official speech, but in friendly conversation or literature, it sounds vivid and expressive. For example, in the works of Russian classic prose, this word can be found to characterize a comical character. In this sense, “lipped” is not an insult, but rather a friendly hint at a certain trait of character or appearance.

Modern internet has embraced this word and turned it into a reason for a celebration. Thanks to memes, jokes, and sarcastic images, “lipped” has become a character of mass culture. And as often happens, the meaning of the word has expanded: now it is not only about lips, but also about the ability to laugh at oneself.

Where Did the Day of the Lipped Come From: An Internet Legend

It is difficult to say who exactly came up with the idea to celebrate the Day of the Lipped on July 20th. Unlike official holidays, this date does not have a clear origin. But internet folklore says that the holiday was born on forums and in social networks in the mid-2010s. People started posting jokes about “lipped people,” and then someone suggested making this day a holiday. The idea was so viral that it quickly spread across the Runet.

Why July 20th? Probably because this date was already “taken” by other unofficial holidays, such as the International Chess Day or the Cake Day. Internet humor often operates on the principle “let’s appoint a holiday on any date, as long as it’s free.” Moreover, July 20th is the midpoint of summer, the time of vacations and light-heartedness, when any jokes are received especially well.

It is important to understand that the Day of the Lipped is not a political, religious, or even cultural holiday. It is a purely internet phenomenon that exists as long as we laugh about it. And in this, its main strength lies: it does not obligate anyone to do anything, it simply gives us a reason to be happy.

The Meaning of the Celebration: Self-irony and Acceptance

The paradox of the Day of the Lipped is that it unites people who could otherwise be completely strangers. Some people really have large lips, some think of themselves as absent-minded, and some just love to joke. And all of them can feel like part of a common community on July 20th. It is a celebration for those who can laugh at themselves and not take life too seriously.

The meaning of this day is not to humiliate anyone or highlight a group of people. On the contrary, it invites us to look at our flaws with humor. If you have large lips, it means you kiss particularly well. If you are absent-minded, it means you are a creative person who soars in the clouds. If you love to kiss, that’s even better for you and your loved ones. Instead of being embarrassed, we can turn our uniqueness into a reason to smile.

This celebration is also about acceptance. We often complexes about our appearance or character. And the Day of the Lipped reminds us: your “flaws” can be your “gems.” The main thing is the attitude. And if you can laugh at yourself, you will become freer. And a free person is a happy person. So, the celebration of the Lipped is actually a celebration of self-acceptance.

Humor and Jokes: How to Have Fun on This Day

The humor of the Day of the Lipped is built on puns, absurd situations, and wordplay. The main thing is not to truly offend anyone, but to joke easily and with good intentions. Here are some typical jokes that you can find on this day:

— “Congratulations to all the lipped people! You are unique! If you are not understood, just slap your lips, and everything will become clear.”

— “Today is the day when you can ignore your posture and just slap your lips happily.”

— “Do I have large lips? No, it’s just my personal anti-gravity device for kisses.”

— “A lipped person is someone who loves life so much that he is ready to hug it with his lips.”

Such jokes work because they are not malicious. They highlight absurdity but do not cross into insults. On the internet, you can find memes with drawn lips, captions about “droopy jaws” or how a lipped person “tries to catch a fly with his mouth.” This is all part of the cultural code that makes this day joyful.

Another interesting tradition is to post old photos of yourself on this day, where you look funny. This is a flashmob where everyone shares their “lipped” past. And it brings us closer together because we see that we were all a little funny in our youth. And that’s wonderful.

Curiosities and Myths About the Day of the Lipped

Like any internet holiday, the Day of the Lipped has its own legends. One of them says that on this day, you must definitely kiss three strangers to be happy all year. Another says that if you don’t wear clothes with lip images on July 20th, luck will turn away. Of course, this is just a joke, but it adds an aura of mystique to the celebration.

In some cities, informal actions are held on this day: people go out into the streets in masks with lips or distribute leaflets with greetings. It is said that in 2024, a group of students in Moscow organized a flashmob where they walked around the city center and kissed their own elbows. It was meaningless, but funny. And people smiled.

And there is also a belief that on July 20th, all lips in the world become slightly fuller because they “slap” from laughter. Of course, this is absurd, but that’s the beauty of it. We create traditions ourselves, even if they are not based on anything. And perhaps this is the most human thing we can do — to invent a celebration out of nothing and believe in it wholeheartedly.

Parallel Events on July 20th: Why the Date Is Interesting

July 20th is not just the Day of the Lipped. On this day, International Chess Day, International Cake Day, the Moon Day (in honor of the Apollo 11 landing in 1969), and even the Day of the Napping are celebrated. This unique coincidence makes the date special: you can celebrate several holidays and joke in any taste.

For example, you can say: “Today is the Day of the Lipped, so I will eat cake, nap during the day, and play chess with my lips.” This blends different themes and creates new jokes. Or: “The Moon is watching us, and we are slapping our lips — it seems we are kindred spirits.” Such crossovers make the celebration more diverse and interesting.

By the way, the coincidence with the Cake Day is very fortunate: after all, lips can also be sweet. And with the Chess Day — because the game requires concentration, and a lipped person, by definition, lacks it. All these parallels create fertile ground for humor and make July 20th a truly festive day.

Conclusion: Laugh More, Lipped Ones

The Day of the Lipped is not just a joke. It is a reminder that we are all a bit imperfect, and that’s what makes us alive. Instead of being embarrassed, you can smile and say: “Yes, I am like this, and that’s cool.” This celebration teaches us lightness, the ability not to take ourselves too seriously, and to be happy with the little things.

If you don’t have a lipped mood, it’s okay. Just look in the mirror, tilt your eyes at your lips, and say: “Hey, hi, my little lipped, how are you?” And you will see that a smile will appear on your face. And a smile is the best gift we can give ourselves and others.

So, on July 20th, don’t forget to congratulate your friends, relatives, and even strangers. Say to them: “Happy Day of the Lipped!” And if they don’t understand, just slap your lips and wink. The world will become a little kinder. Because laughter is a universal language that everyone understands, regardless of the size of their lips.
© libmonster.com

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