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Panic Day (or Don't Panic Day)
"Don't Panic!"
In strange and shifting times, when the balance between staying calm, panicking, and thinking critically feels precarious, it helps to draw strength from enduring mottos and attitudes that promote both resilience and perspective.
Although the phrase “Don’t Panic” predates 1978, it became inextricably associated with Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, where it appeared on the cover of the fictional guidebook in large, friendly letters. From there, it filtered into popular culture and even into the technical jargon of operating systems—offering calm reassurance in moments of potential chaos.
That same spirit of composure is echoed in the iconic wartime phrase “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Created by the British Ministry of Information in 1939, the poster was intended for use in the event of an invasion and was never actually seen by the public during the war. Yet the phrase was designed to embody the quintessential British trait of the "stiff upper lip"—remaining resolute and unshaken in the face of adversity, which was arguably tested most during the darkest days of World War II.
The tartan inspired by this enduring message—Keep Calm and Carry On Tartan—was created to celebrate this national tenacity. Its palette is rich with meaning: black for uncertainty, gradually fading to grey as hope returns; green for renewal and calm; and red, white, and blue to reflect the spirit of Great Britain. It also serves as a tribute to the Ministry of Information, whose morale-boosting posters played an essential role in sustaining the British public during the war years.
In an uncertain world, this tatan reminder continues to resonate. Whether you turn to tartan, tradition, or a well-timed phrase—sometimes, the best thing we can do is to Keep Calm and Carry On. And most of all … Don’t Panic! ❤️ 🤍 💙 💚 🖤 🇬🇧
Although 2.45 million copies of the "Keep Calm and Carry on" poster were printed, and although the Blitz did in fact take place, the poster was hardly ever publicly displayed. A copy discovered in 2000 at Barter Books, a bookshop in Alnwick, gave rise to a resurgence of the phrase and design, and it has since become a highly popular internet meme.
For more From the Scottish register:
This tartan was created to celebrate the quintessential Britishness of the ‘stiff upper lip’ - renowned for remaining resolute and calm in the face of adversity and unsure times.
Black represents uncertain and worrying times and with the power of optimism the blackness turns to a lighter shade of grey. Followed by positive green, symbolising renewal, growth, calm and harmony. Red, white and blue represent the colours of Great Britain.
For more on the origin of this phrase, click the poster!