| Every year on 19 September, all around the world | | | | also be used in treasure hunts and other |
| ordinary people become pirates for 24 hours in | | | | pirate-themed games), a pop gun and a telescope. |
| honour of Talk Like a Pirate Day. | | | | Grub and grog |
| Talk Like a Pirate Day began unofficially in 1995, | | | | Use a pirate toast stamper to emboss a skull and |
| when two friends - John Baur and Mark Summers | | | | crossbones motif on bread before toasting it on |
| - were playing racquetball and quite randomly | | | | an open fire using a BBQ sword, which looks just |
| began encouraging each other using pirate slang. | | | | like a pirate's cutlass and can be used for cooking |
| After some discussion, Baur and Summers - or Ol' | | | | all sorts of food on a barbecue. |
| Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy, as they're now | | | | You could leave a tin of pirate mints on every |
| known - decided it would be a good idea to | | | | table - pirates are renowned for their bad breath, |
| dedicate a special day every year to speaking like | | | | after all. |
| pirates. They settled on 19 September, and for | | | | High jinx on the high seas |
| seven years they and a few friends would | | | | Keep the pirate theme going with some piratey |
| dedicate this day every year to speaking in pirate | | | | games - you could even have prizes for the |
| slang. | | | | winners. |
| Then in 2002, after Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n | | | | A pirate attack catapult is a fun game for a pirate |
| Slappy enlisted the help of journalist Dave Berry, | | | | party. This plastic gun-come-catapult flicks tiny |
| Talk Like a Pirate Day went global. Since then, this | | | | plastic pirates a fair distance - you could offer a |
| silly but fun holiday has gained popularity all over | | | | prize for the furthest shot, or for the pirate that |
| the world, with a growing number of people each | | | | lands closest to a target. |
| year pledging to talk like a pirate for the day, | | | | Clockwork pirate pencil sharpeners can be raced |
| either to raise money for charity or just for the | | | | against each other (as well as sharpening pencils |
| pure joy of saying "arrrr" at the beginning of | | | | the pirate pencil sharpener, once wound up, walks |
| every sentence. | | | | across a table top or other flat surface). For a |
| While it's not mandatory to dress like a pirate on | | | | more watery game, more fitting to the high seas, |
| Talk Like a Pirate Day, or to hold a party, it's | | | | try floating a few pirate devil duckies in a paddling |
| certainly a lot of fun. Businesses are realising the | | | | pool and getting guests to sink them with missiles |
| PR potential of celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day, | | | | or catch them with nets (this is an excellent game |
| encouraging employees to take part and raise | | | | for tiny pirates). |
| money for charity, while pubs and restaurants are | | | | You could also devise a pirate-themed quiz, print |
| taking advantage of the holiday's growing | | | | out question sheets for each table, and for added |
| popularity to host pirate themed nights and | | | | effect add pirate pencil toppers - or devil duckie |
| parties. | | | | pencil toppers - to the tops of the pencils your |
| If you're planning to hold a pirate party in support | | | | guests will use to write down the quiz answers. |
| of Talk Like a Pirate Day, you'll want to make | | | | Set the scene |
| sure you get the ambiance just right - so here's a | | | | Old fishing nets, plastic fish, jolly Rogers and |
| selection of piratey accessories to help you | | | | inflatable seagulls all help to add to the |
| create the perfect pirate party. | | | | atmosphere at a pirate party. |
| Look the part | | | | Decorate tables with skull and crossbones drinks |
| Creating a pirate costume doesn't mean spending | | | | coasters, a nodding dashboard pirate and a |
| a fortune on fancy dress hire - the basic costume | | | | battery operated talking Polly Parrot, who will |
| can be created by wearing baggy trousers tucked | | | | repeat back anything your guests say. |
| into boots, topped with a loose shirt and a wide | | | | You could also use chain bottle holders on each |
| belt. | | | | table; add a bottle of wine - or rum - and top |
| To complete the look, you could add some pirate | | | | with a sprinkling of dust for added effect. Use |
| tattoos, an eye patch and earring, and a pirate | | | | wine cork candles in empty wine bottles to |
| bandanna. | | | | provide atmospheric lighting, and add some pirate |
| You could also carry a skull and crossbones wallet | | | | toilet rolls to the smallest room to keep the |
| or a bag of fake coins (plastic pirate booty can | | | | theme going. |