Roald Dahl Day

Roald Dahl Day for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Wednesday, September 13th. There are until the next observance.

Roald Dahl, a former RAF fighter pilot, intelligence officer, and diplomat, is best recognized as one of the world’s most beloved authors. Dahl immersed readers in his brilliantly unique imagination with vividly detailed worlds, hilarious characters, and emotional narratives in tales such as “Matilda,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “James and the Giant Peach.” His children’s stories, which have been turned into a lot of plays and movies, are full of bad adults, brave kids, and strange worlds.

📆 When is Roald Dahl Day?

This year, Roald Dahl Day is on September 13th. It is the 2nd Wednesday in September; in 2024, it is on Friday.

→ Did you know: Dahl produced hundreds of new words (“frobscottle”) and names (“Oompa Loompas”) for his imagined language, Gobblefunk, to enhance his wildly creative worlds.

You can also learn all cool things you didn’t know about and facts about September 13, 2023.

📜 History of Roald Dahl Day

Dahl, named after the Norwegian adventurer Roald Amundsen, was born with an adventurous temperament. After finishing school, he worked for Shell Petroleum in modern-day Tanzania before joining the Royal Air Force in 1939, just as World War II was looming. Dahl was appointed assistant air attaché at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., after narrowly surviving a desert crash landing and the Battle of Athens. During this time, he gave Winston Churchill information, which helped bring the British Prime Minister and American President Franklin D. Roosevelt closer together.

Much of Dahl’s early work was influenced by his military service. His first published tale is about a crash landing, and his first children’s book, “The Gremlins,” is about naughty critters that damage RAF planes. He continued to be inspired by his surroundings, basing many of his settings and scenarios on the real characteristics of Great Missenden, the Buckinghamshire village where he and his family lived. He went on to create over 30 novels, producing legendary characters such as Willy Wonka, Matilda, and Mr. Fox, as well as dozens of screenplays for television series such as “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”

His literary style is noted for its distinctive, frequently unusual language, hilarious poetry, and ability to write from the perspective of a child. Despite their dark undercurrents and horrific settings, his stories eventually portray nice and compassionate youngsters triumphing over evil, selfish adults.

☑️ Roald Dahl Day facts

✅ The Chocolate Factory is inspired by Cadbury’s
Cadbury’s chocolate firm used to taste-test its delicacies at Dahl’s school when he was a kid. Dahl envisioned producing his own chocolate formula that would amaze Mr. Cadbury himself.

✅ He worked alongside James Bond’s creator
Dahl collaborated with another spy, Ian Fleming, as a British intelligence officer during WWII. Fleming went on to write the James Bond novels and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” which Dahl adapted for the big screen.

✅ Dahl wrote for Playboy
Despite being best recognized as a children’s novelist, Dahl also penned a number of short stories for adults. His R-rated work appeared in a number of periodicals, including Playboy.

✨ Things to do on Roald Dahl Day

⚡ Reread your favorite book
Have you read your favorite Dahl novel in a long time? Dust it out and immerse yourself in one of his magical realms—or discover a new one!

⚡ Watch your favorite movie adaptation
Dahl’s works have been made into a number of popular films. Choose your favorite version of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Matilda,” or other Dahl stories for a family movie night.

⚡ Donate some books to your local library
If you’re a Roald Dahl lover, consider giving a handful of his books to your local library so that others can enjoy them as well.

📅 Roald Dahl Day Observances

Explore all September holidays, including Special Interest and other Books holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Roald Dahl Day. So be sure to check back soon.