Why October 23rd Is Known as Swallows Depart from San Juan Day

Alright y’all, here’s one that made me chuckle. So, every Thursday I’ve been writing about those “National Days”, you know, the random holidays we don’t learn about in school but somehow always end up celebrating on Facebook. I’ve come across some pretty wild ones, but when I saw National Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day… I had to stop and laugh.

What Day is Swallow Day?

Before you question it, yes, it's a real thing, because the internet said so. It happens every year on October 23rd, and it starts the migration of thousands swallows from San Juan Capistrano, in California. These little birds are known for showing up and leaving like clockwork. Folks say they fly south for the winter, heading toward Argentina.

Now, here’s where it gets kinda sweet. The story goes back to the 1700s, when an innkeeper near the Mission didn’t want those swallows nesting under his roof. So, he knocked their nests down. A priest named Father St. John O’Sullivan saw it happen and told the birds, “Come on, swallows! I’ll give you shelter.” From then on, the birds made their home at the Mission every year. That’s been their spot for generations, kinda like how some of us keep going back to the same bar every Friday night.

I found all this over on NationalDayCalendar.com, and while it’s a cool little piece of history, I gotta admit,  the word swallow got me laughing because, well, I work with a guy named Soileau every day. And let me tell ya, when you say it fast enough, it just fits too perfect. But don’t worry, I don’t think Mike Soileau’s ever “departed San Juan”, unless you count that big cruise he takes every December.

So yeah, while the real swallows are flapping their wings and heading south for the winter, Mike’s is packing his shorts and sunscreen doing the same thing. Guess that makes him an honorary swallow too, huh?

So when you’re having your coffee or headed to work today, take a second to picture thousands of little birds flying south together. It’s one of those little things mother nature does every year, and a reminder that  even the smallest creatures have better travel plans than we do.