A Reminder That #BigBlockOfCheeseDay Is Not About Cheese

By Vivian Kane | Miscellaneous | January 13, 2016 |

By Vivian Kane | Miscellaneous | January 13, 2016 |

If you haven’t heard, today is a great, important day: Big Block of Cheese Day. If you’re a West Wing fan, hearing that name probably makes you giggle and grin at least a tiny bit. And that’s because you know that that was the day we all learned we’ve been doing maps wrong our whole lives.

Now, Big Block of Cheese Day doesn’t really have anything to do with cheese. I mean, it kind of does, in that it’s based around Andrew Jackson’s two ton block of cheese from nearly 200 years ago, but really, it’s about giving a voice to the people, about— oh hell, let’s just let Leo tell it. He loves giving the speech.

So today, for the third annual actual White House Big Block of Cheese Day, White House officials, Cabinet officials, and members of Congress are answering your questions, sometimes while wearing funny hats.

We're ready to kick off #BigBlockOfCheeseDay! @LaborSec Perez is here ready to take your questions. pic.twitter.com/0BPJBevUKf

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 13, 2016

Ok! Cheddar is better with Tech & Data! @USCTO and I are ready for your questions! #BigBlockOfCheeseDay pic.twitter.com/8NPbQn69yo

— DJ Patil (@DJ44) January 13, 2016

Unfortunately, the hashtag #BigBlockOfCheeseDay has gotten more than a little clogged up with people who seem to think this day is on par with holidays like (the very real) National Hat Day, Ice Cream Day, and International Skeptics Day. (That last one is, amazingly, today, January 13th. I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t believe me.)

If you're celebrating #BigBlockOfCheeseDay, celebrate responsibly https://t.co/aVp0WUqCbK pic.twitter.com/Bx7yxRzWpb

— Serious Eats (@seriouseats) January 13, 2016

Who the fuck makes this up? #BigBlockOfCheeseDay I need this job!

— Kobe For Infinity!! (@qwik800) January 13, 2016

It's #BigBlockOfCheeseDay…so, stop judging and get @morosemedia a fork.(Yes…that's ALL cheese) Thanks Stumler's! pic.twitter.com/mQq331DMA4

— 1023TheMax (@1023TheMax) January 13, 2016

#BigBlockOfCheeseDay I forgot to put in a pic'tyah'! lol! THE Easiest Mac 'n Cheese, evah'! https://t.co/X6mnejyg9d pic.twitter.com/3y16CoFRh7

— Ailsa Forshaw (@AilsaForshaw) January 13, 2016

Congratulations @JenKirkman, it's #BigBlockOfCheeseDay!

— Lloyd Dobler's Ghost (@LloydDobler89) January 13, 2016

Are you celebrating #BigBlockOfCheeseDay ? We are at #TheCleverRoot! What's your favorite cheese?

— TheCleverRoot (@TheCleverRoot) January 13, 2016

#BigBlockofCheeseDay exists, and @DiBrunoBros is here to help you celebrate. https://t.co/PaG1MpN7m4 pic.twitter.com/BblQ70rXTB

— Bigcommerce (@Bigcommerce) January 13, 2016

Oh mannnnn #BigBlockOfCheeseDay ?! I gave up cheese and it's my favorite food. But I could go for a big block of all cheeses.

— Andria Kleis (@AndriaKleis) January 13, 2016

Sorry to disappoint you cheese-lovers. This day has nothing to do with your ability to process lactose. It’s simply about trying to give a voice to the concerns of the masses. What does this lapse in our recognition mean, though? Are we finally living in a post-political world, where we can mention an important day in history, and our minds instead go to fats and dairy? Or maybe it’s just a post-Sorkin world, where references from one of the greatest television shows of the aughts go unheard? It doesn’t really matter. At least there’s still one person who will always remember.

There's a $19 billion backlog in maintenance projects for our National Parks. What is the plan to address this problem? #BigBlockOfCheeseDay

— Josiah Bartlet (@Pres_Bartlet) January 13, 2016

And he’s still got his sense of humor.

Do I get royalties for that line about curing cancer? Just curious. #BigBlockOfCheeseDay

— Josiah Bartlet (@Pres_Bartlet) January 13, 2016

H/T Jezebel.