It's happening: World Tessellation Day (June 17)

I live by the maxim that if you say it is so long enough, then it becomes true. With the help of the amazing online Twitter community of #nerdy #awesome math nerds and tessellation geeks, I am launching:

World Tessellation Day: June 17

What? You're just going to create your own holiday?

Well, the idea may have been mine, but like so much in this world, I am not taking ownership over it (though I do own the Facebook page I just started for it!). This holiday will be for everyone who loves pattern -- natural pattern, manmade pattern, wallpaper pattern, art drawing pattern, manufacturing pattern, whatever your particular tessellation love may be.

Just how does one go about creating her own holiday?

Thanks for asking! To make a holiday, you pretty much have to prove that it exists before it is an official thing. You have to prove that people are celebrating the holiday on a particular calendar day so that the event/holiday will make it into Chase's Calendar of Events for the FOLLOWING year.

Here's a nice explanation from CNN.com about how the process works.

In the coming months, I'm going to be suggesting a myriad of ways (and looking for you to suggest some, too!) for how individuals and groups can celebrate World Tessellation Day on June 17.

Why June 17? Because the amazing Twitter friends supporting my children's book Tessalation! helpfully suggested that I make World Tessellation Day on 6/17, which is the birthday of M.C. Escher, the Dutch graphic designer and artist famous for making all of those compelling tessellation works.

More is coming! But for now, "like" the Facebook page, post some of your favorite tessellations, and if your work involves tessellations in any way, tell us about it on FB!

Click here to go to the FB page for World Tessellation Day and post a picture of your favorite tessellation!