Hey friends, I created a new discussion entitled International Appalachian Dulcimer Day in the General Mountain Dulcimer Forum. Let's move our discussion (especially the posters!!) over there and leave this space for other positive news.
Thanks.
Steve, I'll send you a private message through fotmd.
Great poster!!!. Absolutely love it, the old timer sorta reminds me of me😊....Robert.
I'm with Richard at thanking you for your original suggestion which got things rolling, @dusty-turtle! 
National Guitar is February 11.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks Dusty for your original post. Now when is national guitar day? Seems that drifted off with the wind in all our talk of an International Dulcimer Day.
Hey everyone, I just want to say how wonderful it is that an off-the-cuff comment I made on National Guitar Day has led to a consensus here about International Appalachian Dulcimer Day. When I get a chance (and recover from a long day at work) I'll create a new discussion somewhere else on FOTMD specific to IADD. We can share resources like Steve C's poster and, when the day arrives, share photos, videos, or just descriptions of what we do on that day. (IF someone wants to do that before I get a chance, please go ahead.)
This is a positive outcome of a discussion on the positive thread!
I can adjust the contrast for the white text areas by deepening the yellow and pale blue background colors just a little, if anyone needs me to. Then it would be nicely readable if printed out or copied in greyscale.
Great poster!
Note: the word "holding" at the bottom has a typo.
Also- many folks would be printing/copying this out in greyscale, and it'd be good to bump up the contrast between the lettering and the background colors so it's easy to read. ...making the background colors behind the white text just a bit darker. Here's how it prints out on a blk&white printer as it is now:
Great poster Steve
Good job on the poster, Steve!
Way cool from Steve C!
Looks great, Robin!
P.S. Someone should copyright the name "grassroots celebration" before some corporation does.
In the way of many who have gone before us, I used what I had on-hand to make a little sign.
My apologies for the big photo-- I've tried to re-size it yet don't really know what I'm doing (obviously)!
I'm wanting thoughts on going ahead and putting this picture on my Facebook page.
We aren't an off-shoot of worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day. It's a totally different thing.
International Appalachian Dulcimer Day is its own thing-- just a day set aside to celebrate however you choose and in some small (or large) way, our favorite instrument. (I live in an old coal mine village and everything we do here is on a small scale. 
)
I'm fine with it (assuming we are celebrating indoors--it will be cold where I live). Good to have an easy to remember date!
@marg I didn't check the date here or internationally. My thinking was it is not a day which would interfere with anything (unless one were on silent retreat or some similar event) yet, rather, a day to celebrate what many of us do every day-- play mountain dulcimer. 
@marg I was advocating for using "International" because the spread of the fretted dulcimer is across the globe and the membership here at FOTMD reflects this.
This is to be a grassroots celebration on only one day. (This is how I understand it. No committee with officers, a budget, etc. More like a flash mob, maybe? If I'm on the wrong track, somebody can jump in and point the way.) Even if a person just wished to post a special still photo for the day or make an elaborate video or a piece of artwork or anything in-between, assigning a day is a simple way to celebrate the boxes with strings we all love. 
Sounds good to me for International Appalachian Dulcimer Day on the last Saturday in March.
Go for it.
@dan Yeah, we'uns know! 
Not exactly good for outdoor activities in my part of the world, but I have no objections.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
No real need for a poll if everyone thinks that's a good plan, Dusty.
Does anyone have other options they'd like to see considered?
OK, folks. I think this conversation has wound down. Perhaps it's time for a vote. Before we go there, how 'bout this:
International Appalachian Dulcimer Day: the last Saturday in March
What think ye? If there are serious objections, we can isolate some variables and have Strumelia set up a poll. But I wonder if we might reach a consensus.
Friends, I hope I haven't shut-down conversation about an Appalachian Dulcimer day of celebration!
I think of the roots of the Appalachian dulcimer and how folks used the instrument-- at home or church or another community event of some kind. Since we're not near any clubs, jams, gatherings, etc., pretty much all we do with making music here at our house stays home or close to home. Whether there is something "organized" or the event is more of a grassroots/several shoots sort of thing for an International Appalachian Dulcimer Day, I plan to celebrate our dear little instrument on a given day.
It's pretty cool how @dusty-turtle came to raise the idea of a day of celebration!
I plan to let my Facebook friends know a name and day to celebrate ahead of time and invite/encourage any who play Appalachian dulcimer to mark the day some way-- a still photo, a video, an audio, artwork featuring our loved instrument, etc., and just see what happens.
Should there be a group or team of people to plan and write the news releases for The International Appalachian Dulcimer Day? Making sure that we cross a few T’s and at least dot an “i” or two. Otherwise, we might of just of had a nice discussion but we could easily just forget to follow through. That is if you all feel strong enough about this.
Oh, I understood, @ken-longfield -- many of us who were teenagers long ago understand joking about teenagers.
I hope I'm not giving the wrong impression. I spent 40 years working with teenagers and enjoy them. I was being facetious in my first post about our teenage years here on FOTMD.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I'm thinking about making a video for our day of celebration of the Appalachian dulcimer. Springtime will soon be upon us. 
@ken-longfield I know the teenage years can be difficult, at times, for all yet there'll be a lot of fun times, too. Young people give me hope!
For sure Robin. My oldest grandson just turned 13 last week. Hence my comment.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Oh, no! Another teenager.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Oh, yes! 
Oh, no! Another teenager.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I love cake! 
And I remember when FOTMD was just a baby. 
So July 29 will be FOTMD day around the world, Cake and goodies and lots of dulcimer music. Is it here yet?
Coincidentally, @lisa-golladay, I recently asked Strumelia that very question. FOTMD first went live on July 29, 2009. So this summer will be lucky 13 years!
We can make as many holidays as we want 
While we iron out the details of International Day of the Appalachian Dulcimer, let's start another celebration while we're at it. When did the FOTMD site go live?
I propose we celebrate FOTMD's Birthday! Cake for everybody!!
I think I’m over thinking all of this…lol..maybe I am thinking on a festival mentality and not thinking of just a day to say Hooray for our Dulcimer!
I like your suggestion, Steve, when you wrote, "So we can skip the formal recognition if you all like and just promote the weekend ourselves."
Also, it is still important to me that folks from all over are part of this day of celebration just as folks from all over are part of FOTMD.
Just checked and we cannot register a national day by designating a “last weekend.” It has to be a date for it to be a “day.” So we can skip the formal recognition if you all like and just promote the weekend ourselves. But we could see someone down the road establish a date as “Mountain Dulcimer Day” or something similar. But if we do a really good job of promoting our day we can diminish the possibility of that happening. The more we circulate this among all dulcimer circles, the better. What would you say as to the criteria for the weekend? Would we go with the beginning of the festival season?
As to name, I do not feel strongly about 'American dulcimer,' and Strumelia is correct that it's really too broad. I'm good with either 'mountain' or 'Appalachian' (regardless of pronunciation, lol). I think the terms 'lap' and 'fretted,' while accurate, are dry and descriptive, while 'mountain' and 'Appalachian' are evocative and descriptive.
I was feeling enthusiastic about MD and the banjo being the only two instruments indigenous to the US. I was also thinking of the large contingent of folks playing the 'Persian dulcimer' (lol) who might be inclined to say "Hey what about us?" so we need to be specific - and it seems like folks were thinking that way anyway.
Even so, many clubs and the Dulcimer Players News itself include both dulcimers, and I can well imagine some hammer-folks saying "Hey it should be about both dulcimers!" So, at least some of us will have to answer not just the question of 'why-that-date?' but also 'why-weren't-we-included?' To that, the native roots of our dulcimer seems a diplomatic and compelling comment. More compelling than "because the idea started on FotMD"! More diplomatic than "b/c you drown us out," lol.
Now, as to date: Speaking to Dusty's concern, it often happens that 'celebrations' for an important date are moved to the closest weekend. So there's always the possibility of a set date falling where it might, but the subsequent weekend being the time for a local festival or jam or a special Zoom thing or etc. [Note this raises the separate question of what exactly to do to mark it. I say best to leave that to local communities and whatever folks want to make of it. But that thought argues for something in nice weather - versus, say, Dec 12, which I otherwise like.]
As for timing it to something less specific/more general - eg, first Saturday of Spring - I think that's still easy enough to remember, and let's look at the specifics: First, 'vernal equinox' = spring equinox = first day of spring, and it is virtually always on March 20, 21, or 22 (Farmer's Almanac, almanac.com). This year it's Sunday, 3/20, and MD-Day would be the next Saturday, March 26. Similarly, it's usually going to be the last Saturday of March - another easy way to remember it 'roughly' and then be able to look up. Next year, 2023 (a possible 'first annual'), it would be Saturday, March 25.
Did you know that April 8 is National Banjo Day?? Rather nice that it would be close!
Oh, but would we have some other competition in late March?? Well, surprise or not, yes - but not significant: 3/26 is National Nougat and National Spinach Day. March 26 is National Lobster Newburg Day, Natl Medal of Honor Day, Natl Tolkien Reading Day and Natl Manatee Appreciation Day. So we can celebrate by taking a manatee out for lobster Newburg...
Somehow I think we're okay with regard to that!! And obviously there are National Days for almost anything, so it's high time we get one for the mountain dulcimer!!
I know I'm looking forward to the inaugural IADD!
@richard-streib 
Any date that is usually mild in both hemispheres.
Length of day/night [equinox] is irrelevant and is assuming everyone can, or will, take time figure out the right date. It's easy to mark a consistent date, or day, on a calendar.
I'm really the right one to talk about dates [sarcastic], I usually remember about an event the next day or forget about them entirely. 
How about the last Saturday in March? It's not a normal work day and is early spring.
As someone who has many years of labor ahead before retirement, I would suggest that were we to pick a specific date, I would not be able to do anything special for International Dulcimer Day most years since I will be working. That's why you won't see me at Kentucky Music Week or any of the fine dulcimer events that complain about not attracting younger people but still schedule themselves during the work week. And if we choose a specific date, the question will always arise about why that date was chosen, which brings us full circle to the beginning of this conversation when a few of us suggested Jean's birthday. It will be pretty lame if we have a date and no explanation for it.
I think it important that we choose a Saturday. If the first Saturday of spring seems too confusing to people (seriously?), then we should just choose perhaps the second (or third or first or fourth) Saturday of a particular month. I suggested the spring because it is a celebratory time of year and marks the beginning of the festival season. And unless you give up music for lent, I don't know why Dulcimer Day would conflict with that 6-week period of time. Maybe I'm missing something.
The vernal equinox can occur on March 19, 20, or 21. The last possible day for the celebration of Easter is April 25. Any date we pick before April 25 will put International Appalachian Dulcimer Day during the Christian season of Lent occasionally. While I don't think this should deter us, it is just something of which we should be aware. Am I understanding correctly that it should be a specific day rather than the last Saturday in March or the second Saturday in April?
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I think setting a day tied to Spring equinox would have folks looking at their calendars and planning. Think about Easter, for example.
PS-Our friends in the southern hemisphere would, of course, be celebrating autumnal equinox.
A vernal equinox is a cool idea but cannot be set up as an official calendar date. It will be hard to get it recognized as “a special day.” I think folks in the dulcimer world might prefer to say, “We celebrate International Appalachian Dulcimer Day on March 20th!” As opposed to “ We celebrate International Appalachian Dulcimer Day on the Vernal Equinox!” Really? Just when will that be next year? Crickets…
Here in our old coal mining village life moves pretty slow. And being a bit of an old-fashioned girl (now old lady), I love the idea of tying the event to the vernal equinox! 
I do like Dusty’s idea of a Spring date, but I also agree with Richard on a set day. But think of this…Aaron Copeland’s great masterpiece Appalachian Spring was based on the Shaker tune Simple Gifts..played by many dulcimer players around the world. To me it speaks to what the Appalachian dulcimer is all about. The dulcimer is a simple gift, easy to play and yet whether you play traditional noter drone or fancy finger picking with chords..the instrument just sounds wonderful! I never thought of it but our beloved dulcimer is just that, a gift.
So it's agreed then: International Hog Fiddle Day will be celebrated the second Saturday after the first Monday after the first full moon after the summer solstice.
Robin Thompson: @dusty-turtle is who got this conversation on a designated dulcimer day started. I'm curious about what are his thoughts now?
Seriously, I love how much enthusiasm this topic has generated. It was just a thought I had when I read about National Guitar Day, but clearly the idea resonates with a lot of us.
Some of what we are debating I don't believe to be too important. Why is Black History Month in February? Well, it used to be Black History Week and it was dated to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. But choosing the date based on those two individuals did not somehow rob the designation of the ability to celebrate Ida B. Wells or Martin Luther King. Similarly, were we to choose Jean Ritchie's 100th birthday as the first Dulcimer Day, it would not rob us of our ability to celebrate Uncle Ed Thomas or Loraine Wyman on that day.
Nonetheless, in the interests of not alienating any of the fine members here, I have another suggestion for the day: How about the first Saturday after the spring equinox? It would mark the beginning of the dulcimer festival season but would not be tied to any specific date or any specific individual. Any thoughts?
When Pritchard marketed his "American dulcimer" he was clearly trying to take advantage of the nationalist fever that dominated the golden age of folklore (1870 or thereabouts to 1914). But I agree with those who think that name strips away the regional roots of the instrument. "Mountain dulcimer" does indeed seem to be the most commonly used term for our beloved instrument, but I would be OK with either "Mountain" or "Appalachian" dulcimer. The Wikipedia entry uses "Appalachian" dulcimer, and that alone might be a reason to choose that term.
So my new proposal: International Appalachian Dulcimer Day, the first Saturday after the spring equinox.
Great discussion with lots of interest. This sounds great. But would it be simpler for old minds like mine to remember if it were 3rd Saturday in March (for instance) rather than tying it to a date that varies from year to year?
@dusty-turtle I asked. And think what you've presented is splendid!
So it's agreed then: International Hog Fiddle Day will be celebrated the second Saturday after the first Monday after the first full moon after the summer solstice.
Robin Thompson: @dusty-turtle is who got this conversation on a designated dulcimer day started. I'm curious about what are his thoughts now?
Seriously, I love how much enthusiasm this topic has generated. It was just a thought I had when I read about National Guitar Day, but clearly the idea resonates with a lot of us.
Some of what we are debating I don't believe to be too important. Why is Black History Month in February? Well, it used to be Black History Week and it was dated to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. But choosing the date based on those two individuals did not somehow rob the designation of the ability to celebrate Ida B. Wells or Martin Luther King. Similarly, were we to choose Jean Ritchie's 100th birthday as the first Dulcimer Day, it would not rob us of our ability to celebrate Uncle Ed Thomas or Loraine Wyman on that day.
Nonetheless, in the interests of not alienating any of the fine members here, I have another suggestion for the day: How about the first Saturday after the spring equinox? It would mark the beginning of the dulcimer festival season but would not be tied to any specific date or any specific individual. Any thoughts?
When Pritchard marketed his "American dulcimer" he was clearly trying to take advantage of the nationalist fever that dominated the golden age of folklore (1870 or thereabouts to 1914). But I agree with those who think that name strips away the regional roots of the instrument. "Mountain dulcimer" does indeed seem to be the most commonly used term for our beloved instrument, but I would be OK with either "Mountain" or "Appalachian" dulcimer. The Wikipedia entry uses "Appalachian" dulcimer, and that alone might be a reason to choose that term.
So my new proposal: International Appalachian Dulcimer Day, the first Saturday after the spring equinox.
This could whole thing could result into some really interesting posts.
"I'm going to a Dulcimer Fest on ADD [Appalachian Dulcimer Day]. I'm taking a class from a instructor who wants everyone to bring a CAD [Chromatic Appalachian Dulcimer]. He says he uses a LD [Lap Dulcimer] with all the frets. I'm going to bring my matching MD [CMD] and a friend is going take their AD and tape on some toothpicks".
I never hear people saying "MD" or "HD" when they are talking. Only when they're writing. Because in written discussions it's a pain to type it all out over and over in every other sentence. It's way faster to SAY those names than it is to type them.
When I was introdued to the instrument, it was 'Mountain Dulcimer'. I still think of it that way [or MD]. The other names came later, in some cases, much later. Bill will always be be Bill, not William.
I kind of feel there is too much overthinking going on. Much of the time it is called an MD, or Dulcime[o]r on this site. On the old ED, MD, or Mountain Dulcimer vs HD, or Hammered Dulcimer. I think most general references in news articles, Mountain Dulcimer is most commonly used [probably wrong, but
].
If we commonly refer to it as a MD or Mountain Dulcimer internally [ FOTMD], why use a different name for a special day in it's honor?
I, too, after careful consideration of all arguments (including my own) feel that we should use the name "Appalachian dulcimer" and realize that we will continue the ongoing controversy of how "Appalachian" should be pronounced. For the past forty years I have lived in area of Pennsylvania that is part of Appalachia and here we pronounce it differently from my friends in the southern part of the region.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Though I wasn't born in Appalachia, I have spent most of my adult life in Appalachia. So, I may have an unconscious bias. 
An International Appalachian Dulcimer Day acknowledges both the origin and type of instrument and celebrates its appeal to folks around the globe.
Baaaaaa
