Driftwood ship on New Brighton Beach near Wallasey, England, for Talk Like a Pirate Day

© Phil Noble/Reuter

Arrr! Shiver me timbers! And so on!. Talk like a pirate—or walk the plank

Blimey! The so-called Golden Age of Piracy, in the 17th and 18th centuries, has long captured our imaginations, inspiring books and movies about swashbucklers on the high seas. So much do Americans love pirates, that they created a holiday dedicated to blabberin' like one. Talk Like a Pirate Day was first imagined in 1995 by two Oregon residents who pitched the idea to columnist Dave Barry. From there, it went viral. These days, September 19 is celebrated internationally, with major brands and media personalities joining in the silliness. We’re fans, too. Just picture us typin' this here with an eye patch, peg leg, an' pocket-full o' swag doubloons. Arrrrrr!