A big howdy to the assembled (and some-assembly-required) Dudeocracies out there. We at the Church of the Latter-Day Dude just want to send out some Halledudeyeahs in thanks for some very memorable days of rest in the whole durn human comedy.
First off, The Day of the Dude was a rousing success. We heard from Dudeists all over the world who went bowling, drank white russians, got baked, watched the sacred movie or did absolutely fuck all. One of our favorites was the one where Michigan’s own Bill Iddings won a bathrobe contest at the Harbor theater’s Dude’s Day showing of The Big Lebowski. Way to go Billy! And of course, our pal and official Dudey Satva Cathleen Falsani also had a very dudely to-do at a hip bookstore in Laguna Beach. Over in Asia, Dudeship of Thailand Aidan Tolhurst rolled excellently with a group of local Dudeists up in Chiang Mai, while the Dudely Lama vacationed down south on Phangan island, bowling on the beach with a children’s bowling set. Aside from lots of folks in the US, we also heard from Dudeists in the UK, in various countries in Europe, plus Australia and even one guy who said he lived in Dudesbekistan.
We’ll be posting pics of all the events soon. If any of you have photos of your own celebration, please send them here and we’ll add them at the bottom of the page so everyone can behold your balls. Check back again in a few days to see what’s been added.
But of course the peace-de-resistance, the whipped half-and-half on top of the Sunday was when the Dudely avatar himself, Jeff L. Bridges won the Academy Award for best actor. Of course he earned the accolade on his own merit, providing a performance for the ages in Crazy Heart, but we’d like to think that the shitload of prayers received by St. Da Fino’s Shrine of Our Special Lady helped just the tiniest bit. Seriously, Our Maude received almost as many prayers than that tortilla in Mexico that looked like it had Jesus on it.
St. Jeff, we salute you with a respectful and affectionate Dudeist bow (White Russian and jelly sandal raised). If more actors were like you, modern cinema seem more a beacon of inspirational light than a sea of glimmering tinsel.
Anyway, to keep the good times rolling, we’re already looking into when the next high holy day is going to be. Once we figure out when the beginning of the movie actually was supposed to take place (possibly either August 5th, 1990 or September 6th, 1991) we’ll likely announce that as our next holiday. And The Jesus Day will probably take place around the winter solstice and will consist of massive cathartic cussing via a huge online chat session and/or VOIP conference call. Imagine thousands of Dudeists letting the dirty undies of the last year out by letting off some Turrets-like steam! Of course, this has to do with The Jesus of TBL, not the uncompromised Galilean first draft. This purgative therapy is in keeping with the ancient tradition of the Roman Saturnalia. We sure hope nobody gets too offended.
Thanks to all those who participated and also those who participated by not participating. To paraphrase that cheesy pop song: “you do it best, by doing nothing at all.” Thankee Dudes. Catch ya further on down the trail.
Drew Allen and special lady friend (wife Rhea) in Nampa, Idaho (more here)
Cathleen Falsani and compeers in Laguna Beach, CA (more pics here)
Lukas Silberbauer, Vienna, Austria
Oliver Benjamin on Koh Phangan, Thailand
Dudeship of Thailand Aidan Tolhurst and local Dudeists in Chiang Mai (more here)
Ed, Klaus and Meekon5, regulars on the Dudeism Forum meeting up in Portsmouth, UK
(each taking a picture of the other taking a picture of each of them) 
Will Sheehan with his “frame of reference” in Los Angeles
Good men and thurrah at Lebowskipalooza, Winnipeg, Canada
More to come. Please send your “Day of the Dude” celebration photos to center@dudeism.com
Over here in France, this ex-pat Dudeist started the day with a looonnnggg candlelit bath, whilst listening to Hawkwind.
Some extreme lazing in the middle of the day.
Finished the day with a Dudeist party for his ex-pat chums, watching the Sacred Film & drinking the Holy beverage.
Perfect.
My week end of utter Dudeness was celebrated with my oldest Son D.J. whom had just graduated from Airborne school @ Fort Benning Ga. My daughter Ashley, her husband Nate, Granddaughter Payton & Grandson Mason, my youngst son Conner, and his lovely lady Renee.
Many of D.J.’s friends, My ex wife and her future ex husband.
Quite a night! It was warm enough in central Indiana to have a camp fire and moderate amounts of liquid libation, and I’m not sure what was burning on the front porch, but I was advised not to call the local volunteer fire department.
D.J. Who has been to Iraq and back, goes to Ft. Bliss, Texas, in hopes of getting into Ranger school.
He too, is a Dude worthy participant in this crazy world we live in. He just wants everyone to be safe and know that he will fight for all human beings of all races, creeds, and religions, to be free with out fear.
Listen to me, just rambling all over the place.
Well, anyway, I just want everyone to know that my boy is out there pulling for all of us, and I’m damned proud of that.
So,if you ever run into a young Army Specialist named D.J. Jones, be sure and tell him his old man is as proud as a dad can be. Gotta go, my eyeballs seem to be sweating rather profusely. Just know, us Joneses abide, Dudes.
Thank you Mr. Lama sir. I humbly submit that the next Day of the Dude is August 6, rather than the 5th. The Dude was born on Aug. 6, 1945, The day that “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima. It’s a perfect Yin/Yang thing. That heinous act of aggression was countered by the universe through the birth of a little boy who grew up to be the fat man who would restore the balance. The Dude was “86’d” (flushed away) by Treehorn’s goons on 8/6, his 45th birthday.
The film ends on Aug. 11, the originally scheduled day of the “Fat Man” (Nagasaki), with a funeral for the little boy Donny.
We could make the party a 2 day affair like the Festers do, say Aug. 6-7?
Mark it 8/6, dude.
On another note, I spent the Day of the Dude partying with 300 other friends of The Dude at the first annual LebowskiPalooza, at the center of the known universe, the middle of everywhere, Winnipeg, Man. Can., and what a night it was. Part one of a two part article will be posted up this week.
Until then, this dude abides. Thankee.
March 6th is the Birthday of the City of Toronto. I spent that Saturday evening in Toronto’s most ancient hall, with gas lights and music and food prepared by a lovely group of “church lady” members of the Old Town of York Heritage Society, celebrating Toronto’s 176th Birthday. For the first time in 40 years an old friend and I performed on the stage, on the same program. To my old time music friend I said “Dude” this is a great evening. That brought out the subject of Lebowski from the accordion player, and as the evening transpired we took the opportunity to lay back a bit. It was performance then, full of Dude “what a great room”, Dude that was “a cool song”, Dude…
Today, while sending the band a link to Dudeism.com, I see that March 6th was a magical date. Day of the Dude. We happened to get the message.
With all due respect to Robert the Dude, The Day of the Dude is celebrating the release date of the Sacred Film (3/6/98), not The Dude’s (or JB’s) birthday. For myself, I celebrated the day, by going bowling, taking a nice long bubblebath, and helping keep my mind limber. It ended with a viewing of The Movie. One great thing about it was that I was able to innerduce a few of my friends to the film, which has the added benefit of they now know what in god’s holy name I’m blathering about when I bring it up.
My fucking notebook is dead, and so I’m almost webless, forget about writing or sending pics. But I want to share that today I received kudos for the Italian website and this means that the ball has begun to roll here. I really liked to see your pics dudes, and every day happy to be a dudeist and have so many compeers. Far fucking out dudes.
Btw the Dude won because he rolls with the Tao, am I wrong? :)
Hello Dude1967, were you listening to The Dude’s story? I am not objecting to the current Day of the Dude, only answering The Dudely Lama’s question about the start date of the story, and hence the date of the next holy day, currently nameless. Perhaps we should start thinking of a name for that one?