Blah Blah Blah Day is celebrated every April 17 to encourage you to listen to those nagging words from your loved ones or friends, and to action them. It’s also a time to start accomplishing what you set as your New Year’s resolution. Did you know that the word ‘blah’ was first used in a 1918 memoir in relation to gossiping and talking about meaningless topics? Dictionary.com defines “blah blah blah” as meaningless chatter; idle gossip. “Blah blah blah” is also used when you’re uninterested in what someone is saying or feel the other person is nagging you.

History of Blah Blah Blah Day

Conversations are interactive communication between two or more people. Humans have been having conversations since the dawn of time, and it has been a critical aspect of how we shaped the world around us. Through conversations, we shared ideas, learned, and worked toward the development of human civilization. According to historians, the phrase “blah blah blah” is believed to have originated in ancient Greece from “bar bar bar.” This phrase was derived from the sounds made by barbarians, and they were considered to be “meaningless noises.” Over the millennia, this sound morphed into phrases such as “yada yada yada” and “blab blab blab.”

Aside from being used to refer to meaningless noises, ‘blab’ became a term for “revealing a secret.” That’s why we say, “don’t blab.” Blah was first used in writing by Howard Vincent O’Brien, an American journalist. He used it in his 1918 memoir “Wine, Women & War”: “[He] pulled old blah about ‘service’…” Then in 1921, the National Weekly used a double blah in their magazine. ‘Blah’ is thought to have evolved from “blab blab blab,” which was commonly used in 19th-century books. In post-World War II, the use of “blah blah blah” increased; according to Google’s Ngram viewer, it increased 50-fold between 1960 and 2000.

In 2006, Ruth and Thomas Roy of Wellcat Holidays and Herb launched Blah Blah Blah Day to appreciate casual conversation and encourage people to do what others have been nagging them about. It’s also about listening to people’s advice and putting them into action.

Blah Blah Blah Day Activities

1. Stop procrastinating

We all are guilty of putting off tasks and chores until the last minute. While it is okay to procrastinate when you have crucial matters at hand, it’s a problem if it’s becoming a habit. Use this Blah Blah Blah Day to go through your list of pending to-dos and start working on them. Start now — whether it’s about a New Year’s resolution, a work project, or about messaging a long-forgotten friend.

1. Take your loved ones’ advice seriously

Think about the advice our loved ones or friends have given us over the years that we’ve ignored. Blah Blah Blah Day is here, and it’s time to start taking those pieces of advice seriously.

1. Have a casual conversation with a friend

Blah Blah Blah Day is also about having an honest and heart-to-heart conversation with other people. If you haven’t done that in a long time, take time out of your schedule and buzz your friend for a conversation. You can have a talk over the phone, on social media, or over a cup of coffee, whichever suits you. But remember to pay attention.

Why We Love Blah Blah Blah Day

1. Conversation is healthy

Making small talks with other people can help improve your cognitive function and make you a better problem solver. Conversations also boost moods and help combat depression and loneliness.

1. Conversations are an opportunity to share ideas and learn

Conversations are an avenue to understand certain topics and broaden your knowledge. We open ourselves up to new ideas and opinions through small talks, gain insights on topics and issues, and reaffirm or change our perspectives.

1. Conversation provides social support

By talking with our family members, friends, or colleagues, we get an outlet for our pent-up emotions. We gain advice on personal issues and information on crucial matters.