National Ampersand Day

National Ampersand Day is a holiday dedicated to the Latin character ‘&’, which means ‘and’. Surprisingly, the ampersand sign is one of the most ancient symbols, existing since the first century AD. Obviously, the sign has a rich history, making September 8th the perfect day to celebrate it.

History

The ampersand originates from the word ‘et’, which in Latin meant the conjunction ‘and’. In some cases, the two letters were written in such a way that they formed a ligature, saving the writer time. The earliest example of the symbol was found in graffiti on a wall in Pompeii. It is noteworthy that the sign survived the volcanic eruption. The evolution of the symbol was studied by scientist Jan Tschichold, who devoted a monograph to the ampersand. In his work, you can trace the journey of the sign from ‘et’ to ‘&’. By the 8th century, the sign was perfectly recognizable.

Interesting Facts

• National Ampersand Day was founded by writer and typographer Chaz DeSimone in 2015, who called the symbol a work of art.
• Some historians believe the sign was invented by Mark Tullius Tiron, a slave who assisted Cicero, a lawyer, orator, and writer from Rome.
• It is also believed that this slave invented the first shorthand system, which lasted 1000 years.
• Did you know that the letter ‘Z’ did not always complete the English alphabet? For some time, the last letter was the ampersand, but the exact date and reason for its disappearance remain unknown.
• Traditionally, the sign is used instead of the conjunction ‘and’, but it is actually a logogram representing a word or phrase.
• This character is most often used in passwords.

How to take part

Start this day by searching for information about the symbol and share it on social networks. People will find it interesting. Don’t forget the hashtag #AmpersandUses. Learn how to write an ampersand and use it as often as possible throughout the day.

When is National Ampersand Day in 2024?

National Ampersand Day is observed on September 8 each year.

Observations