Today is National Handwriting Day, at least here in the US, though I don’t think too many people celebrate it with as much fanfare and enthusiasm as I do.
The date of January 23 was selected because it is also the birthday of John Hancock, best known for his legible-but-large signature on the US Declaration of Independence. So, in spite of continued cutbacks in funding for teaching handwriting in schools in the US, I still want to recognize the day with much fanfare and ballyhoo.
I went in search of handwritten examples of Handwriting Day enthusiasm and found some fun examples from friends old and new. I also enlisted the help of some of my more talented co-workers.
![Actual handwriting from Hallmark lettering artist Sarah Cole](http://wellapptdesk.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/happy-nh-day.jpg?w=584&resize=584%2C358)
![Handdrawn lettering by Hallmark designer/illustrator Lauren Schimming](http://wellapptdesk.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/ls-nhd.jpg?resize=500%2C209)
![From Thee Blog from 2012](http://wellapptdesk.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/theeblog-nhd.jpg?resize=560%2C385)
![photo by Ivan Romero](http://wellapptdesk.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/f2cf7570657711e2bacd22000a9e08df_7.jpg?w=584&resize=584%2C584)
![photo by Kyle Steed](http://wellapptdesk.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/d39a3796656b11e2ae2622000a1fb7e1_7.jpg?w=584&resize=584%2C584)
According to WTVY in Dothan, AL it is also Pie Day (according to the Pie Council — who knew we even had one) and Measure Your Feet Day. Now you know.