Rex Manning Day: How to Celebrate it and the Evolution of the Holiday
Today is Rex Manning Day. The second most important annual music-themed holiday after Record Store Day.* When I started the Rex Manning Day countdown clock three years ago, I did it not only for my love of the movie Empire Records, but also for the potential of bringing the film’s fandom together via Social Media and to spread the word that today, much like May the 4th (Be With You), National (Insert Food Here) Day** and Talk Like a Pirate Day, is a very legitimate and fun holiday to celebrate.
Each year, I put together a fun article about the holiday. I had planned as early as April 9th of last year for something very specific to write about for this Rex Manning Day, however, over the last couple of weeks, as fans of Empire Records and the holiday began tweeting their excitement for the coming day, I began noticing a trend.
Rex Manning Day is quite possibly beginning to take hold and reach a wider audience and level of recognition. I was utterly floored last year when the Huffington Post linked to my intentionally archaic countdown web page (If I could code it to look like a vintage Geocities site, I would), but this year, things are even more noticeable, because they are coming from the fans.
Rex Manning Day Cupcakes, via Ashley Scanlan and Jennifer C. on Pinterest
A couple of weeks ago, I began noticing lots of tweets about #RexManningDay celebrants planning to bake cupcakes for the holiday. Hey, who doesn’t like cupcakes, right? Plus they are featured in the movie. I have often joked, nay, been slightly serious when I’ve tweeted about “ironing my best purple shirt” for the day (it is in fact, prêt-à-porter).
Yes, I will be wearing this today. No, I won't be posting a selfie. Hand stenciled Lucas tie made by @lgbtshirts, available at Rainbow Alternative.
The other day, I ran across a post by Canadian blogger Jenn Errington. It really is quite well done and features many ideas for celebrating today which are utterly clever and deserve to shared. With Jenn’s permission, I am reblogging portions of her “How to Celebrate Rex Manning Day” post. Some of my favorite things from her article include:
3) If your boss isn’t named Joe, ask him (or even her!) if you can call them Joe, just for today. (Ed. Note: Brilliant!)
5) Eat pizza, brownies, cupcakes, and M&M’s. Drink beer in a red solo cup. Drink coffee with enough sugar to cause a diabetic coma. (Ed. Note: Okay, maybe not the last part.)
Which leads directly to:
6) Before you eat your M&M’s, make at least one decision by assigning different outcomes to different colours. Whatever color you pull out of the M&M bag first is what you do!
And my absolute favorite suggestion of Jenn’s:
7) Tell someone you love them by 1:37 PM exactly. Even better if it’s your secret crush!
That is such a lovely sentiment, one which I will be doing to my special someone. I encourage you to check out Jenn’s entire post, especially if you are an Empire Records fan who has read this far. (Also, high five!)
Is it just me, or does it feel like tomorrow is an actual holiday?? #RexManningDay (cc: @NikolNura)
— Elise Yacovone (@eliseyac) April 7, 2014
Yes, yes it does.
When you celebrate Rex Manning Day today, be brazen! While I don't recommend shaving your hair completely off (though it wouldn't surprise me if someone did), I do suggest you wear a purple shirt, the clothes you slept in or, as Twitter user Carly suggests:
I think we should all wear red bras, plaid skirts and combat boots tomorrow in honor of #RexManningDay @EmbryEthan @Rex_Manning_Day
— Carly/LacqueredLover (@LacqueredLover) April 7, 2014
Can't dress up that way to celebrate? Bake those cupcakes, make your to do lists, take the Which Empire Records Character Are You? quiz (I got A.J.) watch the movie, play the soundtrack on 11, but most importantly, tell a friend. Really.
Has Rex Manning Day reached the level of visibility of other holidays based on geekery like May the 4th, Talk Like a Pirate Day or Pi Day? Nope. Not yet. That is why it is your mission, dear readers, to get out there, to spread the word about our holiday and its traditions. Tweet or Facebook about what you are doing today with all the enthusiasm the employees (okay, except Debra) had during the “Video Killed the Radio Star” montage. If a friend or family member asks what is Rex Manning Day, tell them!
This exists, and it is awesome!
The truth is, while pretty much any awesome day you have during the year can and should be considered a Rex Manning Day for you, today, April 8th, is the day we come together like the employees of Empire Records did for the climactic party/fundraiser. To Damn the Man! And to Save the Empire!
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(Post credit scene) – Hey Ethan Embry, if you read this, how about that interview we talked about last year for next year’s Rex Manning Day? (Just think, what would Mark do?)
*Record Store Day is a vastly more important music holiday than Rex Manning Day simply because, without record stores, there would be no place like Empire Records (which was in fact inspired by the Tower Records #166 store in Phoenix, AZ) and therefore Rex Manning wouldn't be able to sign copies of his album in the comfort of a nice chair, have a nice lunch, or dessert in the count out room. It’s a chicken or the egg thing, really.
**Please note, National (Insert Food Here) Day is not an actual holiday about eating. But maybe it should be.
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