National Throw Short People Day: How the Internet Joke Started

National Throw Short People Day is an unofficial internet holiday celebrated on October 21. The joke is that tall people are supposedly allowed to pick up and throw their shorter friends for an entire day.

Every October, social media fills with memes about short people being launched across rooms, thrown onto couches, or carried away by their taller friends. Naturally, nobody has actually been given permission to throw anyone. The whole thing started as an online joke, and October 21 has become its unofficial date.

How National Throw Short People Day Started

The exact origin of National Throw Short People Day is unclear. It spread through social media memes and jokes about height differences, particularly between tall people and their shorter friends.

The humor is deliberately ridiculous. Someone might post a picture of their five-foot-tall friend with a caption announcing that October 21 is approaching, or share an edited image of a person flying through the air.

As more people shared these jokes, the name and date became familiar across social media. October 21 eventually became the day associated with the meme, although there’s no official organization or historical event behind it.

How Short Do You Have to Be?

There’s no official height requirement for National Throw Short People Day. Some memes mention people under 5’5″ (165 cm), but that’s simply a number used in online jokes.

Someone who’s 5’4″ might be considered short by a six-foot-tall friend, but perfectly average in another group.

In most versions of the meme, anyone shorter than the person making the joke is supposedly eligible. That gives taller friends plenty of opportunities to tease each other about their height differences.

National Throw Short People Day Is October 21

October 21 is the date most commonly associated with National Throw Short People Day. You’ll see people posting countdowns, tagging their shorter friends, and sharing memes as the date approaches.

There’s no documented historical reason for October 21. It’s simply the date that became attached to the joke online.

Some people even post warnings to their shorter friends, telling them to stay home or avoid tall people for the day. Others joke about preparing to defend themselves from their taller siblings or partners.

How People Celebrate It

Most people celebrate by sharing funny memes, tagging friends, or posting photos that exaggerate height differences.

A tall person might caption a photo with their shorter partner, “October 21, I’m ready.” Their partner might respond with a joke about hiding indoors until October 22.

Others post edited pictures of people flying through the air or make videos pretending to prepare for the big day.

Of course, the throwing is supposed to remain imaginary. Picking someone up without permission or attempting to throw them could cause serious injuries, even among friends.

Why Some Short People Dislike the Joke

Height jokes can be funny between friends who enjoy teasing each other, but plenty of people are tired of hearing comments about being short.

Someone who’s spent years being called tiny, mistaken for a child, or teased about their height may have little interest in another joke about their body.

And even if someone laughs at a meme, that doesn’t mean they want to be picked up or touched.

The best way to participate is to keep the humor between people who enjoy it and leave the actual throwing out of the celebration.

A Holiday Made for Memes

National Throw Short People Day has become another unofficial internet tradition, alongside countless other unusual dates created through social media.

Every October 21, tall friends get an excuse to tease their shorter friends, short people post jokes about avoiding tall people, and the same flying-person memes make another appearance.

If you’re short, you might want to prepare a funny comeback. If you’re tall, a meme will do just fine. Everyone can enjoy the joke with both feet safely on the ground.