Today’s DOTD - Drink Of The Day - is a Breakfast Martini inspired by National Sleepyhead Day, a very real holiday there. Really, it’s more of an informal celebration, but we’ll call it a holiday for today.
National Sleepyhead Day arrives every July 27, known traditionally in Finland as Unikeonpäivä. Rooted in medieval folklore and the legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, it’s a day that involves playfully drenching the last person to get out of bed, or even throwing the last person in a household to wake up into the nearest lake, river, ocean, or sea.
Yes, it’s a real holiday of sorts in Finland, though here in The States, you may prefer celebrating by NOT setting your alarm, and enjoying a refreshing morning instead. Then you can wake up at your leisure, read about the unusual history of this day, and join in the lighthearted spirit of this unique observance!
History of National Sleepyhead Day
Finnish folklore, dating back to 250 A.D., holds the supposed origin of this holiday. The folk tale goes like this: During the rule of King Decius, seven people escaped to the outskirts of the city of Ephesus while running away from impending persecution. There they hid inside a cave. When King Decius discovered this, he ordered the mouth of the cave to be sealed, and the seven men inside fell asleep in the cave. People forgot about the men, yet when the cave was opened 200 years later, they discovered the seven men still sleeping in the cave. This legend is called the ‘Seven Sleepers of Ephesus.’
Historically, the Finnish people believed that whoever slept late on this specific day would remain lazy and unproductive for the entire rest of the year. Clearly, the Finnish people have never met Republican members of Congress, who do this every day of their lives. Still, the Finnish people believed the last one to wake up on this day of the year was the laziest person in the house. So, to get them moving, they were usually woken up drenching them in water, or by grabbing the person, and tossing them into the nearest large body of water. The holiday evolved into a custom to symbolically wash away the ‘evil of laziness’ by ensuring everyone wakes up early.
Every July 27 in Naantali, a city in Finland, an informal celebration occurs every year on National Sleepy Head Day. The city celebrates the day by throwing a local celebrity off the docks. The identity of the chosen “sleeper” is kept a secret until the last moment. Also, this ‘honored sleeper’ is chosen from those who’ve contributed to the welfare of the city.
Many artists, actors, writers, and politicians have taken the plunge. Every mayor of the city has made it to the docks at least once. From a political perspective, it aims to symbolize the washing away of corruption and inactivity. People of all ages celebrate until evening with traditional Finnish activities, and at the end of the day, they are indeed, Finnished.
National Sleepy Head Day FAQs
Are there any benefits to waking up early?
Waking up early can offer numerous benefits, including increased productivity, better mental focus, and more time for exercise or personal pursuits. It can also help establish a consistent sleep schedule, which is crucial for overall health.
Does waking up early help us politically?
While threatening politicians with being thrown in a river to “sleep with the fishes” was made famous in modern times by the movie The Godfather, characters in stories have been threatening their enemies with that phrase since Homer’s Illiad about 2000 years ago. And while we don’t recommend threatening politicians, we do recommend being and staying involved in your local, state, and federal government, and keeping a watch on everything they do - and to do that, it helps if you’re getting good sleep, and yes, waking up early. As the state capitol of Nebraska has carved above its main entrance, “The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen.”
National Sleepy Head Day Activities
Leave bed early!
Unless you want an unexpected shower, try not to be the last one in bed today. Come on! Up and at ‘em!
Be productive!
Chug coffee and get to work. The idea behind this day is to get rid of laziness. So, be as active as possible today (or maybe on every possible day).
Get active!
The older generation often calls Millennials and Gen-Z lazy. This is primarily because many of them are lazy. [We’re kidding!] However, daily movement for many has become limited to our fingertips more than anything - and that is kinda lazy. So today, maybe get in some extra activity that doesn’t involve doom scrolling and clicking your phone. Walk to the grocery store rather than ordering it home, meet with a friend or colleague in person rather than video calling, or take the stairs rather than the elevator.
Whatever you do, make sure to start your day out right with today’s Drink Of The Day, a Breakfast Martini! Because it may be morning where you are, but it’s always after 5PM somewhere.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’re going to need for this drink:
