“Can we spell it with ampersands?”
Probably no other holiday or observance day’s date has been determined with the particular criteria as National Ampersand Day. That criteria, quite simply, is “Can we spell it with ampersands?”
The word “SEPTEMBER” and the numeral “8” were selected specifically because, using a certain typestyle for each ampersand, you can “spell out” the date with ampersands, as shown in this typogram*, wherein each ampersand resembles the character it stands in for.
The ampersands here are used much the same as pictographs or hieroglyphics, which simply means “recognizable pictures of the things represented.” This has rendered a unique, visually descriptive logotype, spelling out of the designated date of National Ampersand Day. (The official National Ampersand Day logo, which is circular, is shown a few paragraphs down.)
For you typophiles, here are the fonts & families used in the September 8 typogram*:
Aside from three characters, each ampersand in a specific font resembles a letter and the number. Just a glance tells you it says “September.” The “8” might take a moment or two. Only the P, M & R don’t fit in. But if one of you sharp-witted ampersand fans has a suitable idea for any of those letters, drop it in the suggestion box.
*A typogram is the deliberate use of typography to express an idea visually, such as “adddition” & “UPPER&lowercase.” The above rendered “SEPTEMBER 8” would be a true pictogram if it spelled “AMPERSAND” with ampersands, but since there’s no term for spelling a date with ampersands we’ll call this a typogram & get away with it, since it does visually express what the date stands for.
National Ampersand Day logo
The logo for National Ampersand Day was designed by Chaz DeSimone, graphic designer & typographer & creator of AmperArt. It first appeared in September 2015 on National Day Calendar.
For you extreme typophiles & amperfans, here are the font families used in the official National Ampersand Day logo, designed by Chaz DeSimone:
The National Day Calendar organization
National Day Calendar is an organization that curates all special days of the year, such as holidays, commemorative days, and awareness days. Visit their enlightening & entertaining website: nationaldaycalendar.com. Order their beautiful & fun calendar for yourself and give as gifts, too.
Do you know any September 8 birthdays?
Wish someone special a HAPPY AMPERSAND BIRTHDAY on September 8. Send them this link & they’ll see how fun & special their birthday really is!
amperart.com/happy-birthday-ampersand-day
Do you know a Birthday Boy or a Birthday Girl whose special day falls on National Ampersand Day, September 8?
Send them this link to their own Birthday Page featuring the stylish greeting you see above & fun facts about the ampersand:
amperart.com/happy-birthday-ampersand-day
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More about the ampersand
Did You Know…
& The ampersand used to be the last letter of the alphabet?
& The ampersand is a ligature of “e” & “t”? That’s “et” in Latin, meaning “and.”
& The word “ampersand” is a slurring of “real words” run together over time?
& The plus sign is actually an ampersand?
Read about these & other fun facts here.
ENJOY THE FUN & FABULOUS AMPERSAND
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Applaud the Ampersand
Celebrate National Ampersand Day by having fun with it:
& Use lots & lots of ampersands!
& Substitute “&” for “and” in everything you write.
& Think of syllable replacements such as &roid, c&elabra, b&.
& Send friends whose names contain “and” a special note — &y, &rea, Alex&er, Gr&ma.
& Design new styles of ampersands. (Remember, the ampersand represents the letters “et.”)
& Use #AmpersandDay & #AmperArt on social media.
& Tell your friends to visit AmperArt.com.
& Send anyone whose birthday is September 8 this Happy Birthday link:
amperart.com/happy-birthday-ampersand-day
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Receive a fun & fabulous & absolutely free ampersand art print download, suitable for gallery-quality printing & framing, each & every month! There’s always a story behind the artwork & a colophon of production notes, fonts & credits.