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Follow on Google News | Metal fans worldwide demand cultural recognition with International Day of Slayer holidayOn June 6, fans of heavy metal worldwide celebrate the International Day of Slayer to gain metal equal footing as a culture among many others in our pluralistic society.
By: Dag Hansen Growing up as a fan of heavy metal in Los Angeles, teenager Dag Hansen became frustrated with holidays. "Every time a holiday came around, it was culture this or culture that," he said. "I wanted one to reflect my culture, because in the land of malls and triplicate forms, I found more cultural value in heavy metal than any of the stuff other people called culture." Fast forward almost two decades and Hansen is part of a small group trying to get an "International Day of Slayer" accepted as a public holiday. Originally the National Day of Slayer, formed in response to the American "National Day of Prayer," the holiday has gained momentum over the last four years. Its message that heavy metal is a culture and deserves recognition alongside other cultures in our diverse world, while at first unorthodox, is gaining momentum. In the past year, movements have gained momentum to make Vulcan (of Star Trek fame) a legitimate category on the census form and to declare heavy metal an official religion in the UK. The International Day of Slayer is no different, but perhaps more focused. "We wanted a way to pay tribute to metal as a culture that didn't interfere with anything else," Hansen said. "A holiday is one day and while very symbolic, isn't going to break anything." The International Day of Slayer as proposed occurs on June 6 of every year starting at 6:00 AM (6/6/6 - get it?). Participants are urged to listen to Slayer at top volume, and not go to work or school so they can keep listening to Slayer. Those interested in celebrating can join the like-minded at nationaldayofslayer.org. http://www.nationaldayofslayer.org/ ABOUT SLAYER Slayer is a speed metal band from Long Beach, CA who specialize in themes of a mechanistic society manipulated by the occult. For over 20 years, their brand of high-intensity metal has been a watermark for the metal subculture. http://www.slayer.net/ ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SLAYER Heavy metal is a culture. It has customs, rituals, values, a dress code and language of its own. Slayer is the ultimate mascot of heavy metal because it is high-intensity, imaginative, compelling music. The two of these come together in the International Day of Slayer, originally a satire of the "National Day of Prayer" in the USA, but now a proposed holiday occurring yearly on June 6. International Day of Slayer PO Box 1004 Alief, TX 77411 (512) 553-4544 http://www.nationaldayofslayer.org/ # # # ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SLAYER Heavy metal is a culture. It has customs, rituals, values, a dress code and language of its own. Slayer is the ultimate mascot of heavy metal because it is high-intensity, imaginative, compelling music. The two of these come together in the International Day of Slayer, originally a satire of the "National Day of Prayer" in the USA, but now a proposed holiday occurring yearly on June 6. End
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