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Left-Handers Day: Surprising Facts About Being Left-Handed

Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

International Left-Handers Day is August 13, a day celebrating the 10 to 12 percent of people worldwide who favor their left hand. Discover surprising left-handed facts, history, and folklore—from old superstitions to the science behind handedness.

Years ago, some teachers insisted that all students, including left-handers, learn to write with their right hand. Teachers thought that students would have an easier time if they were not “different” from right-handed writers. Some thought that using the left hand was just a bad habit. Some even slapped or punished left-handed kids who had trouble!

left-hander facts

Now we know that everyone should use whichever hand is most comfortable. Today, 10 to 12 percent of the world’s population is left-handed. It’s not surprising that lefties sometimes feel “left out.” Plenty of superstitions and odd terms regarding left-handedness exist.

Left-Hander Superstitions and Terms

  • Sinistrophobia is the fear of left-handedness or things on the left side.
  • Many people believe that the devil is left-handed.
  • The Latin word for left, sinister, also means unlucky, evil, and suspicious.
  • The French word for left, gauche, also means clumsy.
  • A left-handed compliment is an insult.
  • It is believed that all polar bears are left-handed.
  • A left-handed baseball pitcher is called a southpaw. (And no, there’s no such thing as a northpaw!)

Why Are Some People Left-handed and Others Right-handed?

Scientists aren’t sure what causes left-handedness. Genetics plays a role, but it’s not the whole story. For example, identical twins have the same DNA, but it is common for one twin to be right-handed and the other to be left-handed.

Many left-handers have a symmetrical brain, meaning that the left and right portions of their brain are shaped alike. Right-handers often have an asymmetrical brain: The left cerebral hemisphere is often larger than the right cerebral hemisphere.

pinky promise left hand facts

No matter the shape of your brain or the hand you favor, here’s what we have—um—left:

Left-handed Facts and Trivia

The Left Test

There’s no sure way to measure “handedness.” One of the most widely used tests is called the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (developed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 1970s). This test asks participants which hand they most often use for a series of activities, including writing, eating, drawing, throwing, cutting with scissors, brushing teeth, and unscrewing a lid.

Left-handed Burgers? Baloney!

A full-page ad in USA Today in 1998 claimed that Burger King had developed the “left-handed Whopper.” The burger had the same fixings, but they were turned 180 degrees so that they wouldn’t drip out on left-handed customers. It was a joke! The ad ran on April 1 (April Fools’ Day).

Lefties Day

August 13 is International Left-Handers Day! The tradition was started by the Left-Handers Club, a group in the United Kingdom. Club members around the world give interviews and play left-handed games.

left handed facts folklore

Left-hander Heaven?

Lefties might want to travel to Left Hand, West Virginia, where there is a church, a school, and a post office. The village was so named because it sits on the left-hand fork of the Big Sandy River, not because of the way its citizens write.

Left-handed Reward

A few left-handers attending Juniata College in Pennsylvania have benefited from a scholarship just for left-handers established in 1979 by Mary and Frederick Beckley, two left-handers who met when they attended tennis class together in 1919.

If you’re right-handed, try writing with your left. If you’re left-handed, try brushing your teeth with your right. You’re likely to find these activities surprisingly difficult.

So, tell us below if you are a lefty or righty and what you’ve observed about this phenomenon called handedness!

Amusements

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the digital home of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She leads digital editorial strategy and publishing across a wide range of Almanac sub...

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Bob Lavallee</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 10:09
In the first picture of this article, the person holding the pen is obviously a right hander posing as a left hander. Why is that? How do I know the writer is right handed? A left hander does not wear a wristwatch on his or her left hand. you may surmise that I am left handed.
<span>Judy</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 13:08
I am lefty and wear my watch on my left wrist. Probably because I do many things right handed.
<span>Ro Lab</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 11:20
I wore a watch on my left.
<span>Lisa</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 10:35
I am totally Left handed and left footed. Which it you are a true lefty you will know what I mean by being left footed. Anyway I to also wear my watch on my left arm. So the comment about the person in the picture not being a lefty because of his watch is not true. Like I said I am totally left handed a d I wear my watch on my left!!
<span>Emma</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 10:28
Not true, my friend! I am very much left handed and also have ALWAYS worn my watch on my left wrist!
<span>Karen Williams</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 11:28
I am 100% left handed and left footed. I broke my left wrist a few years ago and it sure was awkward, especially brushing my teeth. Wearing my watch on my left wrist was always in the way of writing and was uncomfortable. It stays on my right wrist. All of my sports are left everything. When you go to have your eyes worked on, be sure to offer the information of being left handed, it does make a huge difference with certain surgeries. I enjoy being left handed and being different from most people.
<span>Beachgal</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 10:40
I too wear my watch/bracelets on my left wrist
<span>C Harris</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 10:00
Ever since I can remember I’ve always been a left hander!!!! I do everything using my left hand throw, bat left handed and even open doors left handed. I’ve tried using my right hand when writing and throwing now that is a real laugh!! I’m proud to be a left hander!!!!
<span>Marilyn</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 09:50
For most activities I am right handed but I learned to write with my left. That was probably because I broke my right arm when I was a toddler. I taught 3rd graders for many years to write in cursive (that was before it wasn't taught anymore and everyone used a computer and signed their name with a scribble.) I learned to write equally well with either hand to show the kids how to place their paper, hold a pencil, and write with their preferred hand. Writing with my left hand is preferred by me and now that I am retired I use my left to write. But if there are any 8 or 9 year olds wanting to learn cursive and they are either handed, I can show them how to do it.
<span>Fran</span> Sat, 08/13/2022 - 09:49
I'm left handed. When I was working many years ago, most office machines were made for the right hanud. If I wanted to use some of these, I had to learn to use my right hand. There were other things I had to learn right handed. Things have changed, but I feel as though being able to use both hands is a good thing. August 13 is my birthday, too so I am able to celebrate twice.