How to Celebrate Backward Day on January 31

Backward Day is just made for eating. The point is, just for one day, shake up your world a little. And what better way to shake things up than by using the sense of taste!

And yes, I realize some of these are better suited for Upside Down Day. So feel free to mix it up! That's the point.

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1. Bake a Pineapple Upside Down Cake from this Squidoo lens recipe (maybe the night before) and have it for breakfast. Of course, that means you will...
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2. ...have pancakes and eggs for dinner.


3. Backward Day is a time to exercise your taste buds. Give them something they're not expecting. Try something you've never eaten before. Dare to experiment.


4. While you're enjoying your morning Pineapple Upside Down Cake, maybe a nice plate of Spaghetti and a glass of wine is called for. Some garlic bread too? Aw, come on. They'll love you at work. Photo Credit


5. On Backward Day you really need to eat your meals from the center and work your way to the outside edge.


6. And while you're at it, eat a banana split. Whipped cream, chocolate syrup and cherry on the bottom, of course, and banana on the top. You get the idea.

7. If you're right-handed, eat with your left. If you're left-handed, eat with your right. Yeah, I know, you may miss your mouth a few times, but you'll get the hang of it. And by all means, wear a bib. You're allowed to regress a little on Backward Day. Enjoy!

Backward Day just cries out for some clothing attention! This arena of dressing is where you find school children most enjoying Backward Day. But take your stand! Backward Day is not just for children. Yes, kid's clothing is more colorful so you might want to borrow some socks, mittens or hats, but wear them like a grownup with heels or a tie, will ya?

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1. If you can't wear your clothes backward, try wearing them inside out. That's a form of backward isn't it? Truth be told, I often get things on inside out and never notice until much later in the day. Show your spirit!

2. Plaids and stripes and flowers and paisley all go together on Backward Day. How many patterns can you wear all at once in one day.

3. The same goes for colors. On Backward Day, everything matches. Go wild.

1. Right out of the gate, get out of bed on the side you consider the "wrong side." There are all kinds of superstitions about this, often stemming from the accidents that happen in unfamiliar territory when one is barely awake. Now watch your step. Stubbing your toe on something you're not used to is no way to start Backward Day.

2. When you leave the house and you usually turn left, turn right instead. Even if you need to go left to get to the car in the garage, turn right. Go around the house or around the block if you have to. Who knows what wonderful thing you may see in your own backyard or at the neighbors.

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3. Driving to work backward might be interesting but probably not safe. But if you take the train, you can always sit in a seat facing backward instead of forward. Unless, of course, you always sit backward. Then sit forward, please.

4. And if you are driving on Backward Day, by all means take a different route.

5. I'm not going to suggest walking around backward all day either. Again, I want you alive to enjoy your backward evening. But perhaps you could find a little time to play Backward Chairs at the office with a few friends who get it. What's Backward Chairs, you ask? I don't know. Make it up as you go.

6. Well of course, if you usually enter through the front door, find the back door. Most buildings and businesses have them. If, at home, you usually come in through the back door, .... well, you know the rest.

7. Do all the backward poses in your daily yoga routine today.

8. Take your sweetheart ballroom dancing. Take turns being the one who must dance backward.

9. Take a swim. Do the backstroke.

1. Take the time to learn something about someone you would normally not care to know. "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better." ~Abraham Lincoln

2. Whatever you're reading today, start with the last page. Come on, you've always been tempted to learn the ending first, right? Well then break the rules.

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3. Here's a fun website

4. Take the time to look through old family photos. Remember those you love and those long gone. Enjoy a look into your past.

5. Watch old movies of yourself, your Mom and Dad, your siblings, your children.

6. Do some family research. Learn a little bit about your ancestry.

7. Watch the history channel. Read a history book. Find some past event that interests you and learn just a little bit more.

1. Take a nice morning bubble bath instead of a shower. Showers are for sissies on Backward Day. You can do it. Remember you planned for this. Give yourself the gift of time in the morning on this day. Photo Credit

2. Kiss the cat or dog and pat your spouse on the head.

3. This is last name first, first name last day. Use it.

4. Rent Groundhog Day with Bill Murray.

5. Move the clock backward for a few hours today. Give yourself the gift of sleeping in.

6. Or, better yet, just hang the clock upside down and for one day totally forget about time.

7. Take a bunch of breaks. Put your feet up. Let the blood rush to your head for a change.

1. Pay it Backward. Give someone in line behind you a break and pay for their coffee, toll, sandwich, etc. Photo Credit

2. Reflect on your life. Take a minute to enjoy just one thing or moment from each decade of your life. Then call someone who comes to mind and share your memory with them.

3. Help save those that spend a good part of their life upside down. Put up a few bat houses on your property.