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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>Danile C Smith</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:37
The Bible considers left handed soldiers superior to right handed ones. I believe it's due to the element of surprise in drawing a sword in battle.
<span>Lisa Magliocca</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:37
I'm a lefty and I have trouble using many kitchen tools. Especially older ones. Old ladles only have a pour spout on one side so lefties can't make it work. Very hard to ladle hot jam into jars using my right hand. Too many things to list here.
<span>Lorrimackey</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:37
I am married to a lefty , and he can not see the man in the moon. I started asking other lefties if they could see the man in the moon . 9 out of 10 of lefties could not see the man in the moon .
<span>Carol Poe</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:27
I have found that the world is made for right handed people especially when it comes to tools and kitchen appliances...ever tried to open a can using an old fashioned can opener using your left hand? odd for me though is that if I play golf or softball, I do what a right handed person would do
<span>Tizzylish</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:27
I am a lefty, and cannot do much of anything with my right hand. I think it is funny that the article says that only 10-12% of the world's population is left handed and then goes no to state that it isn't uncommon for identical twins to have opposite predominant handedness. If there are only 10-12% of us out of the total population then nothing about left handedness is common, lol
<span>Lisa Coulter</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:25
What a good story, my husband and I are both left handed. So when you come to visit with us everything is setup for left handed people.
<span>Melinda Firestone</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:25
My grandpa was left handed and forced to switch to being right handed. He ended up with balance and inner ear problems. I learned how to do things by watching my great grandma and other elders as if I were watching through a mirror instead of side by side. It just seemed easier for me to learn that way. I am proud to be left handed as is my son.
<span>Amber Savage</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:25
I am left handed, but I only write n eat with left hand. Any sport activities I do I use my right hand. Everyone made fun of me being left handed but I that is was cool because I was different from everyone else
<span>Jmr</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:46
I also only eat and write with my left hand. I think I play sports right handed because the people who taught me how to play were right handed. I like being ambidextrous because a true lefty has to use special scissors or kitchen tools, etc.
<span>Cheryl H</span> Thu, 08/13/2015 - 15:14
I am a leftie. And we are all special. I was even born backwards. Feet first. I am the only one in my family that is left handed. Things can be a challenge. God bless those special persons that make our world beautiful.