From Urban Legend to Celebrated Holiday 4/20

Author: Craigin Brown

Every culture has its own unique urban legends. Some that have transcended American culture include the deadly pop rocks and soda mix or the story of the lone female passenger who harbored a killer in her backseat without her knowledge. Last week many people of different ages revisited another such urban legend: 4/20.

No average multiple of two, 4/20 became popularized with the circulation of a rumor that the number was the police code name for marijuana-related incident.

Our generation has adopted the term to refer to April 20, the twentieth day in the fourth month of the year. Becoming an almost sub-cultural holiday, 4/20 will find students and peers often partaking in activities that would, let's just say, counteract the intentions of the police department.

The city of Burlington, along with a large contingent of University of Vermont (UVM) and Middlebury students, hosts the elusive "pot parade" down Church Street every year on April 20. Performers and vendors line the streets, creating a virtual utopia for all the obscenely happy people that line the streets. This year, UVM hosted Phish keyboardest Page McConnell's new band Vida Blue to help soothe the still present-Phish withdraw. Danny Greenstein '05, when asked about the concert, commented that "I don't know dude, it was pretty phat. I like seeing members of Phish doing their own thing."

Customarily on 4/20, a day of peaceful fun and indulgence is enjoyed by all. Won Park, '04 said, "I don't smoke, but I think [4/20] is great. I mean, why not?" Apparently, this appears to be the attitude of many Midd-kids, too.