The History of National Relaxation Day

August 15, 1985

Ronald Reagan is President, Shout by Tears For Fears is at the top of the charts, movie theatres are teaching us that DeLoreans can time travel, and 9-year old Sean Moeller creates National Relaxation Day.

Sean’s Grandfather created Chase’s Calendar of Events in 1957. The Calendar of Events was an annual publication that included special events, holidays, federal and state observances, historic anniversaries, and more unusual celebratory traditions. Part of the benefits of being one of Bill Chase’s Grandkids was that you got to make up a holiday. Sean felt the world needed to relax more telling the Des Moines Register; “People don’t think enough about relaxing. They think too much about working, and that’s not good because if you work too hard, then you can get a fever or get run-down and maybe even get sick.” Sage advice from the 9-year old.

Fast forward 33 years and we’re still celebrating Sean’s day.