National Paranormal Day is on Monday, May 3, 2027, and it falls on May 3 every year. It’s a day for ghosts, hauntings, UFOs and everything science can’t easily explain. Believers and skeptics alike can enjoy a good ghost story.
When Is National Paranormal Day?
It’s always May 3. It’s an unofficial day, marked mostly online and by ghost-tour companies and haunted attractions.
Who Started National Paranormal Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: how belief in ghosts has changed
Belief in the paranormal has grown in the U.S. A 1978 Gallup poll found just 11% of Americans believed in ghosts, the Marist Poll notes. By 2023, an Ipsos poll found 39% did, with another 22% unsure.
Personal experiences are reported more often, too. In 1990, 9% of Americans told Gallup they had seen or been in the presence of a ghost. In a 2021 Ipsos poll, 24% said so.
Pew Research Center found a similar trend. The share of U.S. adults who said they’d been in the presence of ghosts doubled from 9% in 1996 to 18% in 2009.
Why Celebrate the Paranormal?
Ghost stories are among the oldest kinds of storytelling, and they bring people together around a campfire or a flashlight. The day celebrates curiosity about the unexplained.
It’s also a chance to think critically. Many “hauntings” turn out to have ordinary explanations, such as drafts, old wiring or creaky floors.
Poll numbers deserve a skeptical eye, too. The Marist Poll points out that newer surveys often offer a “not sure” option, which older ones didn’t, so results aren’t perfectly comparable over time.
How to Celebrate National Paranormal Day
- Take a ghost tour: many historic towns offer evening walking tours of “haunted” sites.
- Visit a historic site: read up on the real history behind a local legend.
- Tell ghost stories: turn off the lights and share spooky tales with flashlights, keeping them age-appropriate for younger listeners.
- Watch a paranormal movie: pick a classic haunted-house film or a documentary about famous cases.
- Play skeptic: look for natural explanations behind a famous “haunting.”
- Stargaze: watch for satellites and meteors, a common source of UFO sightings.
- Read local lore: your library may have books on regional legends, folklore and the real history behind famous haunted houses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as paranormal?
Anything beyond normal scientific explanation, such as ghosts, psychic powers, cryptids like Bigfoot and UFO encounters.
How many Americans believe in ghosts?
About 39% in a 2023 Ipsos poll, with 22% unsure. Results vary depending on how the question is asked.
Are ghost tours suitable for kids?
Many are family-friendly, but some are aimed at adults. Check the tour company’s age guidance before booking.