Folklore, especially Safganian folklore, had long spoken of the existence of the fabulous White Gorilla, a creature of immense beauty, strength and endurance, yet with a playful, even puckish nature.  But until relatively recently, little or no evidence had been found that there actually was a White Gorilla.

But (according to the March, 1967, National Geographic magazine) on October 1^st, 1966, an actual, living, breathing, white-haired, blue-eyed baby gorilla was discovered by a hunter in Equatorial Guinea.  He was given the name Copito de Nieve (Snowflake) and he lived at the Barcelona Zoo for over 37 years.  The gorilla, that is.  Not the hunter.

Because Snowflake was found on October 1^st, this date has been celebrated every year since as White Gorilla Day.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.   -- Proverbs 17:22

Consider this: October 1^st (White Gorilla Day) is exactly opposite April 1^st

No one is laughable who laughs at himself. -- Seneca

(April Fools Day) on the calendar.  Is this a coincidence?  Maybe.  Or maybe not!  Perhaps in the great grand scheme of things it was all planned this way, to provide a badly-needed balance to April Fools Day.

Thus, because the object of April Fools Day is to make a fool of others for one's own amusement, (a questionable practice at best!)

If you can't laugh at yourself, someone else will do it for you, and you won't enjoy it nearly so much.

the object of White Gorilla Day clearly should be to amuse others by making a fool of one's self.

So go ahead! 

Laughter is the best medicine.

There are many ways to celebrate.  Tell a stupid joke.  Even better, tell a White Gorilla joke.  Or two.  Put a stuffed White Gorilla in the window of your car or house.  Don a White Gorilla costume, and go from door to door in your neighborhood giving out candy, especially white chocolate candy.  Bake sugar cookies in the shape of White Gorillas, and take them into work.

Hang plastic bananas on your apple tree.  Hang plastic bananas on your neighbor's apple tree.  Take a day of vacation

You grow up the day you have your first real laugh at yourself.   -- Ethel Barrymore

to do something you've always wanted to do, but haven't because others might consider it too "frivolous."  Perhaps you could even visit the Zoo.  If you're like most people, a lot has changed since you were there last.

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.

White Gorilla Day is an excellent excuse to take advantage of the nice fall weather before winter sets in.

Question:	Are there any precautions one should take when meeting a white gorilla?
Answer:	Yes.  Never touch a white gorilla.  That, and that whole index finger right eye thing.  But, above all, never touch a white gorilla.
Question:	Under what circumstances is it safe to touch a white gorilla?
Answer:	None.
Question:	Are there any books or movies about White Gorillas?
Answer:	There is one rather awful movie, entitled The White Gorilla, which was re-released on DVD in 2004 for reasons I cannot fathom.  There is also a book, The White Gorilla, Asylum Falls by Bruce Holmberg, which I found to be quite entertaining.
Question:	Where does a 900-pound White Gorilla sleep?
Answer:	Anywhere it wants to.
Question:	Where can I find what I need to properly celebrate White Gorilla Day?
Answer:	White Gorilla Day is not one that should be celebrated in anything resembling a proper manner.  As for the items you may need to "do it up right," try a Yahoo, Google, or other Internet search for the words "White Gorilla."  Be sure to include the quote marks around the phrase "White Gorilla."
Question:	How many White Gorillas does it take to change a light bulb?
Answer:	Only one.  But it takes a lot of light bulbs.
Question:	Did Snowflake have any children?
Answer:	While at the Barcelona Zoo, he fathered twenty-one baby gorillas, and they in turn have produced ten or more "grandchildren," but alas, none of them are white.
Question:	What do you get if you cross a white gorilla with a parrot?
Answer:	I don't know, but if it talks, you had better listen!
Question:	Is Snowflake still alive?
Answer:	Sadly, Snowflake developed skin cancer, and when his vets saw that he was in pain, and there was nothing they could do for him, they put him to sleep on November 24, 2003.  Celebrating White Gorilla Day is one way of keeping his memory alive.