National For Twelves Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Activities Appreciation Sports
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Every April 12
Holiday emoji:: 🏈

National For Twelves Day, observed every April 12, shines a spotlight on the dedicated football fans known as the ’12th man.’ This day celebrates their loyalty and constant support, which are vital to the game. Show your appreciation for fellow fans, wear your team colors, and amplify the spirit that makes football so exciting.

History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

History of National For Twelves Day

Before we had numbers, the world used lines to write. Places like Egypt and Greece used |, ||, |||, and Asia wrote with ―, =, ≡. Since counting these lines and slashes would have taken forever, symbols eventually became the new numbers. Over time, as remembering each symbol also got confusing, multiple civilizations independently came up with a system to count objects, but these symbols would only represent the major numbers. And then, in around the 7th century, Indian mathematicians created a system of counting called the ‘decimal system,’ that could represent any number using only ten unique symbols — the numbers zero to nine.

As life got more complex, there was a necessity to count more too, usually to numbers higher than ten. The number 10 — which was an important number in the decimal system — was then used to derive names for many higher numbers in the English language. That’s where the name ‘twelve’ comes from — it is a derivative of the Old English ‘twelf’ and ‘tuelf,’ which meant “two is left after counting to 10.”

The passage of time granted the number 12 immense significance in various areas, including math, astronomy, religion, and even mythology. The Western and Chinese zodiacs have 12 signs, there are 12 stations of the Moon and the Sun, and Jupiter takes 12 years to orbit the Sun. On the mythical side, Hercules had to perform 12 heroic labors to make amends for another Greek God’s actions, there were 12 Titans, and before them, 12 Olympians. Religion also prominently features this number in Christianity (Jesus Christ’s 12 Apostles), Hindusim (Sun God Surya has 12 names), and Islam (Prophet Muhammad had 12 legitimate successors), among others.

Twelve is also a significant number in sports, particularly in soccer and American football. The fans are the 12th player of the 11-member teams in these sports — this is so ingrained in the sport that Bayern Munich, Hammarby, Feyenoord, Atlético Mineiro, Flamengo, Seattle Seahawks, Portsmouth, and Cork City will not even allow their field players to wear number 12 jerseys because they are reserved for the fans. With so much affection for this number, is it any surprise that the inventors of this day are also athletes? The Honolulu Sea Hawkers established National For Twelves Day in 2019 to recognize all the number 12s on every football club — the fans!

National For Twelves Day timeline

10th Century

Origin of the “12 Jurors”

King Æthelred II, King of the English, forms a local investigative body made up of 12 people — which is a likely origin of the present “12 juror” tradition in many judiciaries around the world.

1922

The 12th Man

The Texas A&M football team runs very low on reserve players and calls on sophomore E. King Gill to play — he's ready and waiting all through the game, inspiring a tradition called the “12th Man” at Texas A&M which honors the unity, loyalty, and willingness of these extra players and fans to serve when they are called upon.

1934

12’s Important Role in This “Whodunnit”

Agatha Christie's “Murder on the Orient Express” takes place on a train with 12 passengers — plus lead character Hercule Poirot — and a victim that's been stabbed 12 times.

2004 — 2009

The Number 12 in “Battlestar Galactica”

Twelve plays an important role in this sci-fi series — the characters come from the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, and they worship 12 gods of this place too.

National For Twelves Day FAQs

When is National For Twelves Day?

In 2027, National For Twelves Day is observed on Monday, April 12. This mid-week placement offers a chance to bring fan appreciation into the workplace or school.

What is the '12th man' in football?

Historically, the ’12th man’ concept originated with Texas A&M University, where a former player was called from the stands to be ready to play due to injuries. This act of readiness became a lasting symbol of fan loyalty and readiness to support the team.

How many people follow American football?

Globally, the NFL claims over 300 million fans, indicating the sport’s immense reach beyond its domestic borders. This global fan base contributes significantly to the sport’s cultural and economic impact each year.

Is National For Twelves Day an official holiday?

While not officially recognized by government bodies, National For Twelves Day holds cultural significance for millions of football enthusiasts. Its unofficial status allows for a more personal and community-driven celebration of fan loyalty.

National For Twelves Day Activities

Play a “buy a dozen” challenge
Determine the items you require are sold in 12-packs, then go out and acquire them. Roses, eggs, colored pencils, beer, and other beverages are some simple examples. You can even create a unique National For Twelves Day party for yourself and your family, complete with 12 meals cooked from the items you purchased!
Wear your favorite athlete's number 12 jersey
Go to a game or watch it on your T.V. while wearing your favorite player's number 12 jersey. You could also invite pals over for a dual sports-cum-National For Twelves Day party.
Learn more about the number 12
What was its historical significance? How many holy books highlight the number 12? Why is it important in astrology and math? Find out all you can about this amazing and versatile number from research papers, books, or even movies.

5 Ways The Number 12 Shines

Famous athletes have worn this number
Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath, and more recently Tom Brady, have all had number 12 as their jersey number.
It's significant in mathematical terms too
Twelve's the smallest number that can be divided by six others — one, two, three, four, six, and 12 itself.
Writing the number 12
Common writing rules dictate that 12 is the last double-digit number to be written in words, and every number after that appears numerically — of course, this is not binding on all prose writing.
Number 12 in space
Starting from 1969, 12 astronauts have walked on the Moon.
Groups of 12
The English name for a group of 12 objects — ‘dozen’ — comes from the French word 'douzaine,' which means “exactly 12.”

Why We Love National For Twelves Day

It is a key element in various areas
It is central to timekeeping, and not just the Western calendar. It is also mathematically convenient, which makes it significant for astrology and astronomy, as these fields have been developed by early mathematicians. The number 12 appears in various religious texts and scriptures too. These are just a few things we can think of — we know there are so many more areas where the number 12 is significant.
It's a ubiquitous number
It appears everywhere, even in our daily life. In the calendar, on our clocks, and even in a courthouse.
It has an old history
The old English names for twelve first appeared in written text as early as the 10th century, in the Lindisfarne Gospels' ‘Book of John.’ That's how long the word has been in the English written language; we can almost guarantee the spoken word would have been around long before this.