International Nose Picking Day

International Nose Picking Day is a holiday for nose picking gesture.

Do you know nose-picking? This is the act of removing mucus from the nose using one's own fingers and may include subsequent swallowing of the extracted mucus. However, there is a holiday for this gesture on April 23rd every year.

History of International Nose Picking Day

Chances are you've celebrated this holiday more days in the past year than it did just one day. Studies show that up to 99% of people pick their noses depending on how much or how often, often or occasionally. It was found that people who picked their noses did so about four times a day on average. 91% of respondents from a 1995 survey admitted to picking their noses. With so many companies and organizations, it's a lot of fun to celebrate nose-picking day.

The technical term for nose picking is rhinotillexis. This comes from the Greek words "rhino," meaning nose, and "tillexis," meaning habit of picking. Nose pickers use their fingers to pick up dry mucus from the nose, commonly known as boogers. Mucous membranes produce wet mucus to help remove dust and pathogens when someone breathes in. The cilia move mucus toward the throat, where it is swallowed, but not all mucus makes it there. Some dry out after exposure to air. This causes unpleasant itching, causing people to pick their noses. People also pick their noses because the mucus might interfere with their ability to breathe or because they're worried that the mucus might be seen by others.

Nose picking is taboo in most cultures. When watching people pick their noses, most people feel both surprised and amused. Sometimes ingesting mucus called mucophagy, follows picking. This act caused even more disgust and delight.

Some medical risks are caused by picking nose. Nose infections will increased too much when the fingers are so dirty. It is extremely rare, but these infections can spread to the brain. Nosebleeds are also caused by nose picking. If the pickers have a cold, flu, or another virus, the disease can easily spread if they don't wash their hands after picking. Another rare case is a perforation of the nasal septum. This is most likely caused by rhinorrhea, i.e. excessive nose picking. Most nose picking doesn't go up to this level. One thing that is not affected by nose picking is the sense of smell, as the olfactory nerves are located further away from the nose and are not reached by nose picking.

How to celebrate International Nose Picking Day

Depending on how you do it today, today could be a day to pick your nose as much as possible or a day to focus on not picking and raising awareness of the dangers and risks of nose picking. If you want to pick your nose today, you can do it without shame. If someone is looking at you with disgust as you pick your nose, be sure to tell them that today is International Nose Picking Day.  Besides, they will take part in the celebration with the beginning of picking your nose and gloating at each other. You can also spend the day sharing stories with your friends about times you've seen people pick their noses in public.