In case you missed it, Tuesday, January 26, 2010 was the inaugural launch of San Diego's most important civic holiday, "UCAN DAY."

Be advised that as of today, there are only 362 shopping days until UCAN EVE, (the night before UCAN Day) on January 25, 2011, so mark your calendar.

"UCAN DAY" was created by San Diego Supervisor Dianne Jacobs and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, with the support of Supervisors Greg Cox, Pam Slater-Price, Ron Roberts, and Bill Horn.  (You can learn more about the elaborate ceremony and see the County's handsomely inscribed and hand-signed vellum certificate here).

So what does this mean to you as a concerned consumer?

Allow me to speculate.

First, it seems to me that the next step is to make this a national holiday.

What we really need is to make UCAN DAY a Federal holiday in accordance with (5 U.S.C. 6103). Utility Consumers' Action Network Day is the ONLY holiday on record that is specifically dedicated to the important issue of consumer advocacy. In a sense, this makes UCAN DAY everyone's holiday because we are all consumers.

This is YOUR holiday and it shouldn't be limited to small niche groups like veterans, mothers and fathers, or presidents. And unlike Valentine's Day, you don't need to be lovable to participate. UCAN day doesn't require religious or political affiliation. UCAN DAY is the only holiday on record that is all-inclusive. Everybody can celebrate.

Let's keep it that way.

Second, banks should not be allowed to close.

Obviously for a holiday as important as this, the banks will want to close, but I say make them work.

Banks have too many holidays anyway. UCAN DAY must be a day for people who actually have real jobs that contribute to the economy. On UCAN DAY, all retail establishments selling non-perishable goods, (except for banks) should be required to close and give their employees the day off.  Unlike other holidays, UCAN DAY should not be associated with commerce, other than perhaps generous donations to credible charities.

Third, there must be wholesome and inexpensive recreational activities that happen on UCAN DAY.

And this is where you, Dear Reader, can play a critical role. We need to develop a body of UCAN DAY traditions, foods, and rituals that are passed down through the generations, so that the joy of UCAN DAY can be shared with consumers everwhere.

Our hope is that together, we can create a holiday that is not dependent on money or vulgar consumerism.  So to get the ball rolling, I'd like to run these ideas up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes. My hope is that you will comment below with suggestions, improvements, and hopefully better ideas.

UCAN DAY MYTHS AND STORIES

The First UCAN DAY:  How about a story about how on the first UCAN DAY, a very long time ago, corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, and public utilities officials were exposed by earnest citizen investigators and forced to repay their ill-gotten gains?

The tale of the Many and the Moneyed few: The heartwarming story of a magical land where 37 million of us didn't live in poverty, and where the top 10% of the population doesn't control nearly 50% of the wealth. It is a special place where the government is run by freely elected representatives, not Goldman Sachs or the big energy companies.  In this fairy tale, there are actually laws against usery, and the free market rewards companies that contribute to the common wealth!

UCAN DAY TRADITIONS

The Big Oil Hog. Forget about "yule logs," lets roast an Oil Hog instead. Good eats!

The UCAN DAY TREE. The UCAN tree would be decorated on UCAN Eve, the night of January 25. Just thinking out loud here, but what could be more joyful than dancing around a tree decorated with the shrunken heads of corporate criminals, swindlers and corrupt regulators?  It warms the heart.

Well, those are my best ideas. Now its your turn. Please add your public comments in the form below (you can even do it anonymously if you like).

And remember, there are only 363 shopping days until UCAN DAY!

*5 U.S.C. 6103 states that for Federal employees who work on a Monday through Friday schedule, when a holiday falls on a non workday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday), or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).