Left-Hander’s Day is observed annually on 13 August. In a world dominated by right-hander’s, this is the day left-handed individuals can claim as their own.
Approximately 10 per cent of the Earth’s population are southpaws, or left-handed persons. And, if that is not enough to make you feel left out, it seems that lefties get a rough deal as everything seems to be designed for right-handed people – from utensils to appliances.
Although scientists have not yet discovered why a person is left-handed, it is said that your chances of being left-handed increases if one of your parents is left-handed.
International Left-Hander’s day was founded in 1992 in the United Kingdom, and after the observation of this day became very popular in the United States, the Registrar at National Day Calendar added the day to its list of national days.
To celebrate today, make sure your left-handed friends and family members know that you love them, and that the world would not be the same without them. To help make this day even more special to the world’s lefties, here is a list of interesting left-handed facts:
• Left-handers have a higher risk of insomnia, psychosis and alcoholism.
• Left-hander have a shorter life span than their right-handed counterparts.
• Half of the cat population are left-handed (or is that left-pawed?).
• Even though left-handedness has many dark connotations (with some suggestions pointing to the devil being left-handed), it is said that lefties are more creative than right-handed people.
• Left-handed teenagers go through puberty later than their right-handed counterparts
• Famous left-handed leaders include Bill Clinton, George Bush, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Prince William.
• Men are more likely to be left-handed.
• The word ‘left’, stems from the word ‘weak’.
• There are approximately 1 447 English words that are typed solely with the left hand on a computer keyboard, as opposed to only 187 that are typed with the right.
• Left-handed people scare easier.
Celebrate by taking your left-handed friend to lunch or for coffee. If you are right-handed, try to do everything with your left hand.
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