NATIONAL THREAD THE NEEDLE DAY
Fast Facts
- WHEN
- Celebrated each year on July 25th
- WHAT
- Finding the meaning of the phrase "Thread the needle"
- CHALLENGE
- Test your patience and motor skills threading a needle
- VIBE
- Silly, determined, challenging
NATIONAL THREAD THE NEEDLE DAY
National Thread the Needle Day is observed annually on July 25. Since the phrase "Thread the needle" has multiple meanings, we recognize several ways to celebrate this National Day!
#ThreadTheNeedleDay
The term "thread the needle" has many meanings. The Oxford English Dictionary records the noun/verb compound "thread-needle" appearing in English print as early as 1751. During the 18th and 19th centuries, "Thread the Needle" was a popular folk game. It gained popular usage in modern sports to execute precision and political discourse to describe negotiating a tight, high-stakes compromise.
Did you know?
The famous phrase "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle..." is one of the oldest cultural references to the difficulty of threading small openings.
Differing Points to "Thread the Needle"
Literal Meaning
Taking a thread and guiding it through a sewing needle.
Metaphorical Sense
Finding a path through two opposing views (often used by politicians).
Game Move
A type of billiards move where the ball is shot precisely through a narrow pathway.
Yoga Pose
Also known as Parsva Balasana, the pose brings the body to a kneeling position with both hands on the floor (table pose). Slide the left hand all the way to the right beneath the body. The head and shoulder should rest comfortably on the floor, creating a slight twist in the spine.
Sports Metaphor
Often employed in sports to describe a tight space in which to move the ball.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL THREAD THE NEEDLE DAY
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Host a sewing or mending circle and encourage people to patch up old clothes or fix missing buttons instead of buying new ones.
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Challenge followers to try the yoga pose or perform a soccer/basketball "thread the needle" pass on video.
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Test your patience and motor skills by trying a maze or precise hand-eye coordination game.
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Put on your glasses and thread a needle and post the entire attempt on social media using the hashtag #ThreadTheNeedleDay.
NATIONAL THREAD THE NEEDLE HISTORY
Our research was unable to identify the origin of National Thread The Needle Day.