Seize the Day: Celebrating National Carpe Diem Day on February 26

February 26 is more than just another date on the calendar—it’s a call to action. National Carpe Diem Day invites us to step out of “someday” thinking and into the present moment with intention, gratitude and courage.

In a world driven by notifications, deadlines and endless scrolling, it’s easy to postpone dreams. We tell ourselves we’ll write the book someday. We’ll take the trip someday. We’ll reconnect with that old friend someday. National Carpe Diem Day gently but firmly reminds us: today is that day.

What Does “Carpe Diem” Really Mean?

The phrase “carpe diem” originates from the Roman poet Horace in 23 BCE. While commonly translated as “seize the day,” the more literal meaning is “pluck the day”—as if life were a perfectly ripened piece of fruit, ready to be enjoyed before it spoils.

Horace:

I.XI

Tu ne quaesieris (scire nefas) quem mihi, quem tibi

finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios

temptaris numeros. Ut melius quicquid erit pati!

Seu pluris hiemes seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam,

quae nunc oppositis debilitat pumicibus mare               5

Tyrrhenum, sapias, vina liques et spatio brevi

spem longam reseces. Dum loquimur, fugerit invida

aetas: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.

Translation:

You, do not seek (it is a crime to know) the end which the gods have given to me and to you, Leuconoe, nor attempt the Babylonian numbers. How it is better to endure whatever will be! Whether Jupiter allotted many winters or a final one, which now weakens the Tyrrhenian sea with placed against stones: be wise, may you strain wine and may you restrain long hope for a brief while. While we speak, envious time will have fled: seize the day, to the least extent possible trusting in the next one.

It’s not about reckless abandon. It’s about mindful appreciation. Recognizing that this moment—right now—is fleeting and valuable.

The Heart Behind the Holiday

National Carpe Diem Day was founded in 2007 by Yvette Erasmus (later Yvette Francino) in honor of her friend, Alberto “Albert” Lucas. Albert was known for his vibrant energy and wholehearted embrace of life. He passed away in a skiing accident on February 26, 2005—doing something he loved.

Rather than allow grief to define the date, Erasmus chose to transform it into a celebration of living fully. The day also honors Craig Dunham, another friend who embodied the spirit of carpe diem even while facing an ALS diagnosis. Their legacies serve as powerful reminders that life’s length is uncertain, but its depth is ours to choose.

Breaking Free from Autopilot

Modern life has a way of putting us on autopilot. We rush from one obligation to the next, often missing the beauty unfolding around us. When was the last time you truly noticed a sunset? Enjoyed dinner without a phone nearby? Took the long way home simply for a different view?

National Carpe Diem Day challenges us to unplug and pay attention. Presence is the simplest—and often the most profound—way to celebrate.

Five Simple Ways to Celebrate

You don’t need skydiving reservations or a passport stamp to honor the day (though you certainly can). The spirit of carpe diem can be found in small, intentional choices:

• Do the thing you’ve been postponing. Book the class, start the project, make the call.

• Disconnect before bedtime. Turn off devices an hour early and allow your mind to rest.

• Take a mindful walk. Focus on sounds, textures and colors around you.

• Host a Carpe Diem dinner party. Invite friends to dress up and toast to bold living.

• Reconnect. Visit a family member or friend you haven’t seen in far too long.

At its core, the day is about action—however modest. It’s about choosing courage over delay and appreciation over distraction.

Make Today Count

National Carpe Diem Day isn’t about cramming a lifetime into 24 hours. It’s about honoring the present. It’s about recognizing that waiting for the “perfect time” often means waiting forever.

So on February 26, pause. Look up. Make the call. Take the step. Savor the moment.

After all, the fruit is ripe—and today is yours to pluck.

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/