For daily wit & wisdom, get the Almanac newsletter.

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

More Like This

Comments

<span>Jenni M</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 13:28
I'd guess that it's because you are probably better coordinated to adjust the clothing with your left as you iron with your right.
<span>Charlotteleigh</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 08:35
I'm a southpaw and do almost everything with my left hand. I do throw a baseball with my right hand. I have no problem using a computer mouse with my right hand. Scissors and manual can openers are the most painful things for me to use. When I was little, my dad was appalled that I was left handed telling me often that I was left handed in a right handed world. He attempted to force me to write with my right hand. I am thankful my mom stood up to him and allowed me to develop as a southpaw.
<span>Melanie Falkner</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 06:12
Lefties do it Right is my motto. I'm a lefthanded red headed only child. My coworkers call me unique and say that explains things about me lol Living in a right handed world I always had to sit in a right handed desk. My elbow was always floating in the air as I wrote. In my view lefties write forward and righties write backwards. As an elementary teacher I've found it difficult to teach and model for righties. It's always a great joy to have a leftie enter my classroom for the year:)
<span>Michael C</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 02:15
Being born a natural lefty but growing up in a family of five right handed people I was taught to do everything right handed. (Eat, bruch teeth, throw a ball, swing a bat, bowl, shoot guns, hammer nails etc...) but everything still comes natural as can be left handed. Although I prefer to use my right hand to drink with and shoot a rifle.
<span>Ben N..</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 01:43
I have found that most left handed people are like me. Do a lot of things right handed. And are stronger in their right arm. I think it's from growing up around right handed people. Who taught us right handed. Plus so many things are made for right handed people. I can do most anything with either hand. Eat. Write. Throw. Bat. Hammer. Paint with a brush.
<span>Brandon Wyman</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 01:38
I am right handed. I wear my watch on my left hand. I drink with my left hand. I fish with a pole & reel setup for a lefty.
<span>Sandy Cano</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 00:15
I'm a lefty and have observed the following: I use a fork or spoon with my left hand, knife in right hand if cutting meats, when eating. Right handed people can't agree on this one. Some use fork in left hand, knife in right hand to eat. Some put the knife down and switch fork to right hand. fun site cheers
<span>Bridget Walsh</span> Sat, 08/13/2016 - 17:21
When I'm having dinner, I have fork in left hand and knife in right. Eat with a spoon in left hand. If I'm carving meat, the fork in the meat is held with right hand while I carve with knife in left hand. It's because I would chop off fingers if I had to carve the other way round. No real control over right hand whereas precision carving done with the left, lol.
<span>Ben N..</span> Fri, 08/14/2015 - 01:38
I noticed that too. But what I realized is. Not all left handed people do this. Just the ones who do some things right handed. People who do everything left handed do the same thing right handed people do. They swap hands
<span>Gail</span> Sat, 08/13/2016 - 16:32
I do everything left handed.. when cutting meat the fork is in my right hand the knife in my left. when I'm done, I put the knife down and move the fork to my left hand. I cut my meat, one piece at a time and it drives myfamily crazy..