The tradition is named after American actor
Paul Newman after he said: "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
Originally started at
Bates College , the tradition has spread to other educational institutions, including his alma mater.
Newman Day is a collegiate drinking tradition in which 24 beers are consumed over 24 hours. The ritual was initiated by students of Bates College , in Lewiston, Maine .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] At its inception during the college's annual January 1976 Winter Carnival , a student exclaimed that Paul Newman once said "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case . Coincidence? I think not," as a rhetorical mandate .[ 6] [ 5]
Originally named Paul Newman Day , it was renamed Newman Day (sometimes known as Newman's Day ), and became an unofficial student tradition at Bates in the years to follow.[ 7] As time went on the tradition was picked up by his alma mater, Kenyon College , as well as Princeton .[ 8] At Bates, Newman Day occurs on the Friday of Winter Carnival, although other schools have opted to celebrate on April 24. In all cases, the event begins at 12:00 am and concludes at 11:59 pm. During his life Newman publicly opposed the tradition and asserted that the quote inspiring it was misattributed.[ 9]
The tradition has been spun off into new traditions and similar activities by West Virginia University and the University of Virginia .[ 10] At the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University in Minnesota, the same tradition is celebrated annually under the name of "Case Day".[ 11]
^ The Daily Princetonian : Carol Lu, "If I had a nickel for every beer I drank today." Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine April 24, 2007.
^ Nevin, David (1970). Muskie of Maine . Ladd Library, Bates College: Random House, New York. p. 99.
^ Woz, Markus (2002). Traditionally Unconventional . Ladd Library, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine: Bates College. p. 6.
^ "Newman's Own Letter | News | Bates College" . www.bates.edu . Retrieved 2016-02-13 .
^ a b The New York Times : "Newman's Day — forget it, star urges drinkers." Retrieved May 27, 2007.
^ "24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not" . Retrieved 2017-06-16 .
^ "Newman's Own Letter" . 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2017-06-16 .
^ Cheng, Jonathan (2004-04-22). "Film Legend Bothered by Use of Name in Stunt at Princeton" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2017-06-16 .
^ Cheng, Jonathan (2004-05-13). "Newman Day Called Cruel Joke by Actor" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2017-06-16 .
^ Cheng, Jonathan (22 April 2004). "Film Legend Bothered by Use of Name in Stunt at Princeton" . The New York Times . Retrieved 23 March 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
^ Record, CSB/SJU (17 April 2017). "Preparing for Case Day" . Retrieved 20 April 2022 – via csbsjurecord.com.