Remembering the Good Old Days

How to Observe National Retro Day

Go back to a time when face to face connection was the norm, not texting, social media, and video chatting; to a time when dinner was more often eaten around a table than in front of a television or with smartphones in the hand; to a time when children spent more time outside and played games that didn’t require the internet. The day should be spent without social media, smartphones, or the internet. The following are some ideas on how to celebrate National Retro Day:

Eat dinner around a table with your family or friends.

Call someone on a landline telephone. You could use one in a home or a business, or you could use a payphone. Using a rotary telephone may be the most appropriate for the day, but push-button telephones are okay as well.

If you have a classic car, vehicle, or motorcycle, make sure to drive it.

See a movie at a drive-in theater.

Go to an arcade.

Play retro video games such as Atari 2600, Sega Genesis, Nintendo, or Super Nintendo.

Show off your collection of vintage memorabilia. Perhaps you have a collection of action figures, sports cards, or Coca-Cola items that you could show your friends.

Listen to music from the second half of the twentieth century on vinyl, 8-track tape, cassette, or even on compact disc. Pick a genre or an artist, or listen to many of both. Some popular genres from decades past that you could listen to include rock and roll, disco, soul, funk, punk rock, country, hip hop, and pop.

Listen to music on a non-internet jukebox.

Watch episodes of musical shows such as The Midnight Special, The Ed Sullivan Show, Soul Train, or Hullabaloo.

Watch an old television show, such as The Andy Griffith Show, M*A*S*H, All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Cheers, Happy Days, Starsky and Hutch, and I Love Lucy. You could also watch a documentary about past decades, such as the miniseries The Sixties or the other CNN documentaries that followed it.

Watch a retro film. From the 1950s, you could watch Rebel Without a Cause, On the Waterfront, North by Northwest, Some Like it Hot, Sunset Boulevard, or Vertigo; from the 1960s, you could watch The Graduate, Dr Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Psycho, The Apartment, In the Heat of the Night, Easy Rider, or Cool Hand Luke; from the 1970s, you could watch Taxi Driver, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Harold and Maude, Network, All the President’s Men, Jaws, Star Wars, or The Godfather; from the 1980s, you could watch Back to the Future, The Goonies, Ghostbusters, The Breakfast Club, E.T., or The Terminator; from the 1990s, you could watch Jurassic Park, The Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, Fargo, or American Beauty. While watching any of the above programs or movies, it is best to watch them on VHS or laser disc, or perhaps DVD, or on actual film if you really want to get retro. Although many of them are available on streaming services, as you are not to use the internet today, that should not be the way that you view them.

Read a print newspaper.

Write a letter to someone by hand.

Play a board game such as Battleship, Monopoly, or Sorry.

Buy or wear retro clothes. Styles vary by era. Some often-worn retro clothes include bell bottoms, leather jackets, platform shoes, and leisure suits.

Slick back your hair, make it into an afro, or put it up into a beehive.

Get outside and play some sports or go for a bike ride. You could also head to a roller rink.

Eat at the oldest or most historic restaurant in your community.

Eat at a drive-in restaurant.

One of the official suggestions of the day is to share what you are doing that is retro on social media using the hashtag #NationalRetroDay. This seems ironic, as you also are supposed to avoid the internet or smartphones on the day. Perhaps you could use a retro camera to take pictures of your experience and then put them online tomorrow. The day also has a Facebook page that you could access. In past years, an official party has been held on the day, and information about it has been listed on the Facebook page.

And you can check out one of local wineries here in NH The Summit Winery.

Darren & Judy of The Summit Winery

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“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.” —Bertrand Russell

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More on the day

National Retro Day, celebrated on February 27th, is a nostalgic journey back in time, embracing the iconic styles, trends, and cultural phenomena of past decades. This observance invites people to reminisce about the music, fashion, technology, and pop culture of yesteryear, celebrating the timeless classics and memorable moments that continue to captivate our imaginations.

Participating in National Retro Day involves embracing the spirit of nostalgia and paying homage to the bygone eras that have left an indelible mark on our collective consciousness. Whether it’s donning vintage clothing, listening to classic tunes, or indulging in retro-inspired activities, the goal is to transport ourselves back in time and relive the magic of days gone by.

One of the key aspects of observing National Retro Day is celebrating the enduring appeal of retro aesthetics and cultural icons. From the vibrant colors and bold patterns of the 1980s to the groovy vibes of the 1970s, each decade has its own unique charm and style that continues to influence contemporary trends and inspire creative expression.

National Retro Day also provides an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of technology and pop culture throughout the decades. From the dawn of television and the birth of rock and roll to the rise of video games and the internet age, each era has been shaped by its own set of innovations and milestones that have reshaped the way we live, work, and play.

In addition to its celebration of nostalgia, National Retro Day can also serve as a reminder of the timeless values and lessons of the past. Whether it’s the spirit of rebellion and individualism of the 1960s or the optimism and innovation of the 1950s, each decade has its own lessons to teach us about resilience, creativity, and the human experience.

Overall, National Retro Day offers a fun and festive opportunity to celebrate the enduring appeal of past decades and the cultural legacies that continue to inspire us today. By embracing the spirit of nostalgia and honoring the iconic styles, trends, and moments of the past, we can rediscover the magic of retro and create new memories that will last a lifetime.