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ThuDec 19

National Emo Day – December 19, 2024

Did you rock skinny jeans, tight T-shirts, and studded belts? How about jet-black hair and long bangs? For many people, the word “emo” describes a sad teenager who dresses in a very deliberate way. But the emo subculture has a long, storied history that reaches back to the 1980s and continues to resonate today. On National Emo Day, we recognize the rich complexities of the emo movement and gain a greater appreciation of its place in popular music. Weezer anyone?

National Emo Day timeline

1985
Rites of Spring

This hardcore punk band released their only album, which later emo artists would cite as an important influence.

1996
"Pinkerton" released

Weezer's sophomore album received generally negative reviews, but young kids just getting into alternative music turned out in big numbers. The album helped establish the emo "look" and aesthetic.

2002
Emo's mainstream breakthrough

This year saw huge sales for Jimmy Eat World and Weezer albums — causing Spin magazine to declare it "the year of emo."

2004
Viral Emo Images

Aesthetically pleasing images of emo fashion and lifestyle began circulating on the social network site 'Orkut.'

National Emo Day Activities

  1. Listen to some emo

    Fall Out Boy. My Chemical Romance. The Used. Take a shuffle through what emo has to offer. You may be surprised by what you find!

  2. Raid your closet, put on your emo gear

    We're guessing you went through a bit of an emo phase, and you might still have some tight black T-shirts and white belts somewhere. Throw them on and ignore the haters!

  3. Hug an emo kid

    Seriously, they look so sad. Show them some love.

4 Popular Trends Emos Started

  1. Ear gauges

    The default millennial piercing option was first adopted by — you guessed it — the emo community.

  2. Social media

    Back when you couldn't see the point in getting a Facebook page, emos were tricking out their Myspaces with glitter, animations, and their favorite songs on autoplay.

  3. Selfies

    Emos pioneered the art of self-photography, before phones even had a selfie camera!

  4. Skinny jeans

    The official '00s pants style for both men and women started in the emo community first!

Why We Love National Emo Day

  1. Emo music's full of variety

    That's part of the fun, of course! From harsh D.C. emo to plaintive Midwestern emo, to emo pop, emo rap, and screamo, there's emo for every taste!

  2. Emo fashion looks good on everybody

    Part of the reason emo fashion caught on is that it's hard to look bad in it! Slimming black shirts, skinny jeans, retro sneakers — just go easy on the piercings!

  3. Emo is heartfelt

    Many proper adults find emo self-indulgent and depressing, but for a young person struggling with a lot of volatile new emotions, emo's honesty, earnestness, and willingness to tackle tough subjects are a breath of fresh air in an otherwise sterile pop landscape.

National Emo Day dates

YearDateDay
2024December 19Thursday
2025December 19Friday
2026December 19Saturday
2027December 19Sunday
2028December 19Tuesday

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