by Lorelei Cohen

Created on: May 14, 2010

Yep, for all you official rat catchers out there you do indeed have a special day devoted to you, and your goodly deeds. Rat Catcher's Day is the official date each year when rat catchers everywhere are recognized for their bravery in ridding communities of that oh so frightening pest known ever so commonly as the RAT.

There are actually two official dates that people celebrate Rat Catcher's Day on. So depending on where you reside, and which day you prefer to celebrate it, Rat Catcher's Day can fall on either June 26 or July 22. There is a very logical reason why this confusion over the true date exists. Rat Catcher's Day came into being to commemorate the fabled story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and was to be celebrated on the very date that the Pied Piper led the rats out of Hamelin. There are however two very famous sitings of this tale, it is June 26 1284 that the Brothers Grimm place as the day in which the Pied Piper led the rats out of Hamelin, while July 22 1376 is the date Robert Browning voices this momentous occasion as occurring on. So you can see how the confusion as to which day to celebrate arises. It is therefore acceptable to celebrate Rat Catcher's Day on either, or both, of these official dates.

Now for a little rat catcher trivia. Did you know that Alberta Canada is designated as a rat free province. Yep, it is true. Alberta spends around $500,000. each year to insure that no rats enter their province. They have official rat catchers out searching for any rat that just might manage to find it's way into that Canadian province. It all started back in the 1950's and continues on today. Not only are wild rats not welcome in this province, but tame ones are just as deligently hunted down, and removed. Don't consider sneaking one in with you, or your furry little buddy will be quickly, and officially escorted right back out of the province again. It is illegal to own a pet rat in Alberta and rats are just not welcome in Alberta. Although there was a "rat in the province scare" not long ago and a rat was actually found with the borders of this rat free province, it is believed that rat catchers within the province are doing a very good job there. So for all the official Alberta rat catchers out there, a tip of the hat, you have an official day when your good deeds are recognized, I sure hope that you have a great Rat Catcher's Day party.

 Canada is not the only country that has rat catcher's so be aware that these hard working folks are spread out across the very globe that we reside on. If you are a rat catcher, or know an official rat catcher, both Rat Catcher's June 26 and July 22 are dates when you can officially celebrate the grandness of this profession.

Have a great Rat Catcher's Day.

Sources:

http://www.sciencealberta.org/res/Rat_Free_July_2007 .pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratcatcher%27s_Day

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/09/01/ca lgary-rat-free.html

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