Dunce Day

I love the website that lists all the crazy, wacky, unusual holidays that have been created. And what a better holiday to celebrate on this particular election day. Today is Dunce Day.

Now for a little history of the Dunce Cap. Dunce Day celebrates the the term "Dunce" and dunce caps. Today marks the death (November 8, 1308) of medieval scholar Duns Scotus of Duns, Scotland. Dunce Day is all about learning. So, lets get right to it and learn about dunce caps and the creator of dunce caps. Duns Scotus of Duns, Scotland was a medieval scholar. Perceptions of his views ranged from brilliant to less than complimentary. Duns Scotus believed that cone shaped hats increased learning potential. He believed knowledge would flow from the point of the cap, down and into the head of the wearer, making that person smarter. About all this accomplished over time, was the perception of a person wearing a dunce cap to be...... a dunce. There was a positive side to his use of dunce caps. It motivated the wearer to learn more, so he could be rid of the the cap. Scholar critics of his work derived the term "dunce" from his name and place of birth. Put on a Dunce Cap today, and have a very smart and educational Dunce Day!!!