Birthday
HydrangeasPrepared by the team at UFL flower delivery. International Left-Handers Day falls on 13 August. It was first held in 1976 by Dean Campbell, founder of Lefthanders International, and since 1992 the UK Left-Handers Club has promoted it. The aim is to remind us that tools, gadgets and even school desks are still designed for right-handers, while left-handedness is simply a natural trait.
How many people are left-handed
Handedness is set before birth by a mix of genes and brain development. In the 20th century many countries, including Ukraine, routinely forced left-handed children to write with their right hand, so there are fewer obvious left-handers among older generations. Today such retraining is considered harmful, causing fatigue, writing difficulties and stress.
Famous left-handers
| Field | Left-handers |
|---|---|
| Art and literature | Leonardo da Vinci (who wrote in mirror script from right to left), Lewis Carroll |
| Music | Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain — all three played guitar “upside down”, with reversed strings |
| Politics and business | Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey |
| Film | Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise |
| Sport | Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona (left-footed), Martina Navratilova, Oleksandr Usyk — a southpaw boxer |
An interesting case is Rafael Nadal: he plays tennis left-handed but is right-handed in daily life — his uncle and coach decided lefties have an advantage on court.
Myths and facts about left-handers
| Claim | The reality |
|---|---|
| Einstein, Mozart, Beethoven and Newton were left-handed | Myth: there is no reliable evidence, and photos and letters show them writing with the right hand. |
| Left-handers are smarter and more talented | Research finds no difference in intelligence. There are plenty of creative people among both left- and right-handers. |
| Left-handed children should be retrained | No — retraining is harmful and brings no benefit. |
| Left-handers win more often in combat sports and tennis | Partly true: opponents rarely practise against lefties, which gives a tactical edge. |
| Left-handedness is inherited | Partly: genes play a role, but most children of two left-handed parents are right-handed. |
Gift ideas for a left-hander
- Left-handed scissors, can opener, corkscrew or peeler — small things that make life easier.
- A “left-handed” mug whose design faces you when held in the left hand.
- A quick-drying pen that won’t smudge.
- A left-handed mouse, or a left-handed guitar for a musician.
- And flowers: an original bouquet says you value what makes someone different. See flowers for men, flowers in a box or gift baskets.
FAQ
When is Left-Handers Day?
13 August. It is an unofficial day marked in many countries since 1976.
What share of people are left-handed?
About 10–12%. Some people are ambidextrous and use both hands equally.
Was Einstein left-handed?
No, that is a popular myth. Einstein wrote and played the violin right-handed.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
