Weary Willie Day 2023: Every year on December 9, Weary Willie Day is observed in the United States as a tribute to the clowning craft, albeit with a modern twist. As the name implies, Weary Willie is a clown who wears his smile upside down. Emmett Kelly, a circus performer, popularized the character during the 1930s Great Depression, and today is a tribute to him.
Weary Willie Day 2023: History
Born in 1898, Kelly began his professional life as a cartoonist and trapeze artist before developing the Weary Willie persona. He gave a performance as the classic white-faced, upbeat clown when he first began “clowning about.” He had the notion to make a sad, contrasting clown as early as the 1920s, but he had trouble convincing management of his concept.
There was a rise in the number of migrant workers who had to leave their homes in order to make a living during the American Great Depression, which started in 1929. Kelly was inspired to reexamine his controversial idea by these laborers, who were referred to as “hobos.” Weary Willie was finally born after management gave the go-ahead due to the altered circumstances that had made his idea more relevant and acceptable.
At the time, the most recognizable clown figure in the United States was this character, who truly encapsulated the spirit of the times. Unlike other clowns, Weary Willie did not dress in bright colors or have his entire body covered in white paint. With his painted mouth sporting an upside-down smile, he resembled an unemployed tramp, which lifted people’s spirits and made them feel better about themselves.
Kelly was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1994 and the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1989. Although the exact origin of this holiday is unknown, it falls on her birthday. The model of the sad clown continues to remind us to take life’s troubles with a pinch of salt.
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Ideas to celebrate this day
Snap an ironic selfie.
In honor of Weary Willie, twist your prettiest pout today and strike a painful pose. Try funny Snapchat filters for best results, but be careful not to laugh too much at the dejected, sullen look.
Don a clown costume.
Get inventive and wear a Weary Willie costume to really bring the festivities up a notch. Locate a convincingly ripped pair of jeans and grease your shirt. Smudge your makeup and rumple your hair.
Go to the Halls of Fame Internationally
Visit the International Circus Hall of Fame in Indiana, the International Clown Hall of Fame in Wisconsin, or even the Emmett Kelly Museum in Sedan, Kansas, the man’s birthplace, if you’re truly in the mood for some serious fun.
5 Famous Trivids About Emmett Kelly
Kelly saw the fire in the circus.
He was present when the tragic July 6, 1944, fire at Hartford Circus claimed the lives of 167 people.
Kelly had an award-winning role in a movie.
The 1952 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, “The Greatest Show on Earth,” was based in Kelly’s place of employment, the Ringling Brothers Circus.
The actor was Kelly’s son.
Until his passing in 2003, Emmett Kelly Jr. maintained the persona of Weary Willie.
A park bears his name.
Kelly was raised in Houston, Missouri, where a park has been named in his honor.
In addition, a celebration bears his name.
The same town held an annual clown festival named in his honor until 2008, drawing performers from all over the region.
Why We Appreciate Weary Willie Day
It disproves stereotypes.
Despite being a well-known figure, the sad clown subverts what one expects from and of a clown. It gives us something different from silly antics and rose-colored glasses.
It’s a gentle reminder to savor life.
In the same way that Weary Willie caused viewers of the Depression era to reexamine the hopelessness of their own situation, Weary Willie Day serves as a constant reminder of all the things for which we should be thankful.
It serves as justification for dressing up.
Being a clown ourselves is, of course, a fantastic way to commemorate the day. This is our opportunity to express our clown personalities creatively and make them come to life with our own interpretations of clothes and makeup.
WEARY WILLIE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | December 9 | Saturday |
| 2024 | December 9 | Monday |
| 2025 | December 9 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | December 9 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | December 9 | Thursday |
