Serendipity Day

We encourage everyone to truly open their eyes to the world around them and look at it differently on Serendipity Day! People do not notice beautiful things around them, and they happen daily. At the same time, we are drawn to pleasant surprises, and when we receive them, we feel inspired.

The History

The word ‘accident’ was coined in 1751 by writer Horace Walpole after reading the Persian novel The Three Princes of Serendip. The story tells of three princes on a journey. Each of them understood the language of plants, animals, and birds, which warned of danger.

According to Horace, such ‘happy accidents’ happened to them one after another, which was completely implausible. He wrote about this to his friend, gently mocking such circumstances.

Serendipity Day celebration was celebrated for the first time in 2010.

Interesting facts

• The word ‘serendipity’ is one of the most popular in the United Kingdom;
• Randomness is not really random. People themselves contribute to it by leaving their comfort zone, or establishing social ties. In other words: the more active you are, the higher the likelihood of positive influences;
• Luck and chance are two different things. The latter term has a narrower definition: we are not looking for randomness on purpose. Luck is a broader concept.

How to take part

Cinematography uses happy accidents at the heart of films – look at such movies. The most popular of them are Serendipity (2001), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and The Holiday (2006).

No matter how you spend the holiday, look for new opportunities and notice every moment that happens.

When is Serendipity Day celebrated in 2023?

Serendipity Day is observed on August 18 each year.

Observations