June 28 is Lend Me an Ear Day

Are you a good listener? Today is Lend Me an Ear Day.

Nope, this oddly auditory holiday has nothing to do with Vincent Van Gogh, the 19th Century Dutch post-Impressionist artist. Van Gogh allegedly lopped off his own ear and sent it to his lady love.


The origins of Lend Me an Ear Day are even more gruesome than that.

Photo by Roger and Renata Rossing – Creative Commons Licensing
Photo by Roger and Renata Rossing – Creative Commons Licensing

On June 28, 1997, boxing champ Mike Tyson apparently chomped on the ear of Evander Holyfield, his opponent in the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Championship in Las Vegas. Tyson was disqualified for his nasty noshing, which was aired (and re-aired) on national television.

Tyson was banned from boxing and fined $3 million. Wouldn't a burger have been a better bet?


Since then, June 28 has been known as Lend Me an Ear Day.

Although the dubious holiday had a rather sickening start, the idea of devoting an entire day to better listening may be of considerable merit.

The occasion's title is actually a literary allusion. In William Shakespeare's historical drama "Julius Caesar," Marc Anthony offered a eulogy to the title character. "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears," he said (Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene 2).


Who is the best listener you know?

Who is the worst. OK, don't answer that.

Listening skills can carry folks far in most arenas of life, from careers to community interaction, from politics to parenting and from dating to debates. Friendships may be built or broken on folks' ability to hear one another clearly.

Happy June 28 , Lend Me An Ear Day. Is anybody listening?

More from Linda Ann:

Hide and Seek - a Rhyming Pique at Things Oblique

June 28: Holidays and Celebrations Today

Parental Perfection - a Rhyming Reel on a Parent's Ideal