Geohashing Day

The Algorithm as shown in xkcd comic #426, published on 21 May 2008.

The Algorithm that defines the sport of geohashing was first published on 21 May 2008. The anniversary of that date is therefore a special date for geohashers and deserving of special observances.

Date of Celebration

The official Geohashing Day is May 21st of each year, but for those who cannot geohash on weekdays, the following Saturday is designated Geohashing Day (observed), also known as Mouse Over Day. Both are appropriate days for celebrating.

Celebrating Geohashing Day

The best way to celebrate Geohashing Day is to geohash. On this date, make a special effort to have a unique adventure and to invite new people to join geohashing. Get out there and do something you wouldn't normally do. It doesn't matter if you make the coordinates, as long as you have an adventure!

Sample celebrations

After the first Geohashing Day has passed, you will be able to browse the Category:Geohashing Day achievement to see a list of expeditions claiming this achievement. Perhaps some of the more noteworthy will be linked here.

Retrohashing

It is strongly preferred that you attempt to visit the coordinates generated for the actual date of your expedition. The current day's coordinates are always the first choice. There may be a geohasher in your graticule who does not use the wiki or peeron so has no way of knowing that you are going to an alternate location.

But, acknowledging that many graticules do not have even marginally accessible coordinates every day, and in order to expand the possibilities for adventure, Geohashing Day and Geohashing Day (observed) celebrations can include a retro hash to the coordinates for May 21st of any year since the announcement of the algorithm. Another possibility is to do both the actual geohash and one or more retrohashes. Perhaps you can find one near enough the days' coordinates to make that feasible.

Remember that for most awards other than the Geohashing Day ribbon you must reach the coordinates for that day. For example, you cannot claim Virgin Graticule, Consecutive geohash, Golf Geohash, Admit One Geohash or any other lucky location achievement if you are retrohashing.

Warning to all - May 21st 2008 and earlier was before the 30W changeover.

Cake

Cake is also highly recommended, especially if you succeed in transporting it to the geohash intact. Sharing cake with strangers at the geohash is a good way to tell people about geohashing. People willing to accept cake from strangers in party hats are probably the sort of people who would consider geohashing.

Ribbons

(To be made, need icons).

1. Geohashing Day achievement for celebrating May 21st [year] by [celebration type] at [geohash]

2. Geohashing Day (observed) achievement for celebrating May 23, 2009 by [celebration type] at [geohash].

Other

Mouse Over Day will occasionally fall on Towel Day (May 25th).