Towel Day – May 25, 2020

Mon May 25


History of Towel Day

Towel Day is celebrated on May 25, the same day Adams died because fans noticed that it was the only date mentioned which had the most significant following. The day has over time built up status as a kind of ‘‘geek holiday’’ due to linkage with the popular series. 

Why a towel? It’s said the towel holds much importance in ‘‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’’ with much detail. Adams wrote about the importance of towels as being the most helpful item for an interstellar traveller. In chapter three of the book, Adams says, “A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value – you can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapours; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.”

This is not all. Adams has a lot more content on towels and their uses, reiterating the strength of the towel especially on this day. Adams strongest phrase was ‘‘never go anywhere without your towel.’’ This day has been celebrated now for 19 years and is a great occasion for science fiction fans all over the world to come together and rejoice…with their towels. It is said that Adams was a humorous writer and witty character and that this day reflects his lovable silliness.

Towel Day timeline


What Is the Universe For?



The Good Towels



Mind Bogglingly Big



Wrap It

The first towel day ever is celebrated on May 25, 2001.


In The End

Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977, the same day as Adams foreboding death.

Towel Day FAQs

How do people celebrate Towel Day?


Why do you need a towel in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?


Do you know where your towel is?


Towel Day Activities

  1. Carry a towel


  2. Use a line from the series

    Weave in some of the phrases from the ‘‘Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’’ into your conversations. Try "life, the Universe, and Everything", "humans are not proud of their ancestors, and rarely invite them around to dinner", "time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so", or "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by." It may confuse folks around you, but those who know, know.

  3. Visit the website

    Check out the website and see what everyone else is up to on this day. Inspire yourself and find other ways to celebrate or join in with others as a group, in your area, or even your country. Or be a go getter and make your own towel day event that fans can attend.

5 Facts About Towel Day

  1. His and hers

    In the Netherlands, fans don towels, and are told to wear lilac on Towel Day in honor of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

  2. A leaf as a legal tender

    Adams apparently predicted an environmental emergency in ‘’Last Chance to See.’’

  3. It was the Sunday afternoons

    In Italy, fans celebrate the day before Towel Day because it is a Sunday, a religious day.

  4. Rainbow-hung earth

    Adams was an environmentalist and loved animals, campaigning on behalf of endangered species most his life.

  5. Islington alleys

    In London, there’s a yearly ‘‘Stand Up for Towels Day’’ with a tour of the Hitchhikers relevant sites.

Why We Love Towel Day

  1. Online antics

    You can get loads of information on the day from the twitter account @towelday and the official website, You can find out stuff like information on the life of Douglas Adams, details on the “Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” radio series, and interact with the 7,000 + fans who follow this day.

  2. Book marathon

    This holiday gives us a chance to read or reread Adams life’s work. Go back and immerse yourself in the trilogy of  “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” and how about “Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency”, “The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul” and so many more titles that made Adams so beloved.

  3. Galaxy binge session

    This day also gives us a chance to binge on the shows linked to Adams. So, watch a movie, or a TV series derived from his books. Do it with your friends and carry your towels together. Celebrate this great author and come together to watch some good and classic TV.

Towel Day dates

2020May 25Monday
2021May 25Tuesday
2022May 25Wednesday
2023May 25Thursday
2024May 25Saturday