Sourest Day is celebrated every year on October 25th, giving everyone permission to embrace their inner grump as a playful counterpoint to Sweetest Day just a week earlier.
History of Sourest Day
Sourest Day was created in 1977 by Richard Ankli of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a humorous counterpoint to Sweetest Day, which falls earlier in October. Ankli chose the date specifically to honor a friend and roommate whose last name was Sauer, whose birthday happened to land on October 25th. What began as a personal tribute has since grown into a lighthearted, widely shared observance, embraced as both a day to celebrate sour foods and a chance to let out a little dramatic grumpiness.
Unlike most observances that encourage positivity, Sourest Day leans entirely into the opposite spirit, inviting people to fully commit to a sour mood, sour treat, or both, purely for fun.
10 Ways to Celebrate Sourest Day
- Snack on sour candy, like sour gummies or sour patch candies
- Enjoy naturally sour foods, like pickles, sauerkraut, or citrus
- Make a batch of homemade lemonade or a tart cocktail
- Fully commit to an exaggerated grumpy mood for a few hours, just for laughs
- Create a “cranky pants” playlist filled with moody or dramatic songs
- Share your sourest face or mood on social media using #SourestDay
- Try a sour beer or kombucha if you’re a fan of tart, fermented drinks
- Host a sour food taste test with friends or family
- Offer a kind word to someone who seems genuinely sour or stressed that day
- Compare Sourest Day to Sweetest Day and decide which mood suits you better
Fun Facts About Sourest Day
- Sourest Day was created in 1977 by Richard Ankli of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- The date was chosen to honor Ankli’s friend, whose last name was Sauer and whose birthday fell on October 25th.
- Sourest Day falls roughly a week after Sweetest Day, positioning it as a playful opposite.
- Sour taste is one of the five basic tastes the tongue can detect, alongside sweet, salty, bitter, and umami.
- Some people celebrate the day by focusing on sour foods, while others lean into the “sour mood” theme instead, and there’s no wrong way to participate.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Sourest Day?
Sourest Day is celebrated annually on October 25th.
Who created Sourest Day?
Richard Ankli of Ann Arbor, Michigan, created the observance in 1977, naming it in honor of a friend whose last name was Sauer.
Is Sourest Day about food or mood?
Both, depending on who you ask. Some people celebrate by eating sour foods and candy, while others embrace a playfully grumpy mood for the day.