How to Make Your Facebook Profile Pirate Themed

Well, blow me down and shiver me timbers! Pirates have been long ignored by our society, and it is time we gave them due credit. So how does a person celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day? By talking like a pirate, of course. And if you don't know pirate, that's ok, you can talk Klingon instead.

The first thing I plan to do is to borrow a bunch of my friends' favorite DVDs, and copy them to my computer's hard drive. What? You say it's not that kind of piracy? Oh. Well, of course I KNEW that.

To talk like a pirate, you might need a refresher course in pirateese. Did you know that since 2008, Pirate has been counted among the many languages that Google supports in its search engine? Make sure you check out Google's Pirate version here. And don't be too surprised if you find a pirated version circulating on the Internet soon.

Google isn't the only popular site online that gives a dubious honor to pirates everywhere. Facebook also has its very own pirate setting, right next to Upside Down English. Well, at least in the same menu.

To Change Facebook to the Pirate English Setting

The Pirate English setting on Facebook is easy to set up. The setting translates the entire Facebook interface into a language Pirates can relate to.

Log in to your Facebook account. Go to the Settings menu, and select Account Settings. You will see the My Account page. Click on the Languages tab. Now click on the Primary Language menu. Scroll most of the way down towards the end of the list. You will see English (Pirate). This language setting is not included at the beginning of the alphabetical list, so don't expect to see it next to the other English options.

While you are on Facebook, follow the Pirate Guys, on their International Talk Like a Pirate Day Facebook Group.

Learn the Five A's from the Official Pirate Guyes

Cap'n Slappy and Ol' Chum Bucket have prepared a pirate primer for you land lubbers who need to get your sea legs before the holiday celebrations go dry. Their online video describes the 5 a's, which will help you speak basic, if not fluent piratese. These 5 A's include ahoy, avast, aye, aye aye, and arrrrrrrgh. Please view their video for pronunciation tips and a detailed explanation on how to use these pirate phrases in social settings. You will have the upper peg (I mean leg) on the likes of Jack Sparrow and Black Beard.

Dress for Pirate Success

After you have brushed up on basic piratese, you will want to make a few changes to your appearance to get your pirate on. Most pirates will agree that you don't HAVE to wear leather to be fashionable, but a little bit helps. Whether you are going for a salty dog or saucy wench pirate look, make sure your clothing is flouncy, tattered, and a little bit, or a lot grungy.

And if you own a pair of thigh-high leather boots with a turn-down cuff, today's the day to wear them!

You don't need to lose an eyeball to become a pirate, but depending on who you are, the addition of an eyepatch may add some pirate savoire faire, or just make you look creepy. If you are young and hot like Keira Knightly (who played Elizabeth Swann Turner in the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean movies) go for it. If you are older, the look still may work for you.

Regardless of the clothing you decide to doff, make sure that you prepare well ahead of time, and neglect brushing your teeth for two or three days before the holiday. Doing so will add a certain je ne sais quoi to your pirate outfit.

Host a Pirate Party for Your Shipmates

Send invitations to your shin-dig or clam bake on a treasure map, with an x to mark the location of your house. Announce that you are hosting a private party for pirates only...no land lubbers will be allowed to enter. Land lubbers will be required to walk the plank!

Serve fish n' chips from Long John Silver's or some other sea-food themed fast food chain. Set up your own version of Davy Jones Locker and serve your cold beverages from that spot. Make sure you serve plenty of fish and sea-food themed foods and beverages. Every time someone reaches for a can of soda from the cooler, grab their hand, and with a passionate, wild-eyed glare tell them they have the black mark on their hand.

Serve Hershey's Treasures candies at all the tables, and use mardi gras necklaces and plastic money on the tables for centerpieces. Give your ship's cabin a "I've got so much treasure I simply don't care how it looks" decor.

Remember, this is TALK like a pirate day, not ACT like a pirate day. Wherever you go, generally, talking like a pirate is going to be permissable, but acting like a pirate may be considered a felony. Avoid plundering and pillaging. It isn't good for the resume (unless, of course you are a congressman looking for some bailout money for your constituency...then it may be allowed.)