If you’re left-handed, mark your calendars — 13 August is your day.

International Left-Handers Day is a celebration of lefties everywhere and a chance to spotlight their experiences in a world largely built for right-handed people. Around 10–12% of the global population are left-handed, says a report by BBC. And while they might wrestle with right-handed scissors now and then, there are plenty of reasons why being a lefty is pretty special.

TBS illustration.

Culture, history and superstition

For centuries, left-handers faced bias. In parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, the left hand has traditionally been seen as unclean. Language hasn’t always been kind either: French “gauche” means both “left” and “clumsy,” while English “left” comes from an Old English word meaning “weak.” In Latin, “sinister” originally meant “left.”

In medieval Europe, left-handers were sometimes accused of witchcraft — and punished severely. But archaeological evidence shows left-handedness dates back at least 500,000 years to Neanderthals, identified by distinctive scratch patterns on ancient teeth.

Why are some people left-handed?

Scientists aren’t certain. Hand preference may be linked to genetics, but no single “left-handed gene” has been identified. A study by psychologist Peter Hepper found that babies who sucked their left thumb in the womb were more likely to become left-handed later in life.

By age two, most children begin showing a clear hand preference — and for the majority, it’s the right.

Why so rare?

One theory is social cooperation. In shared communities, using the same handmade tool made use and coordination easier, so right-handedness became the norm over generations.

The left-handed brain

Our brains are cross-wired: the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, and vice versa. Research at the University of Oxford found lefties’ brain hemispheres are often more connected, particularly in language areas. This may explain why they sometimes approach tasks differently.

While claims that left-handers are more creative remain unproven, author Chris McManus notes that their unique brain organisation can sometimes give them unusual skills.

Whether you’re a lefty yourself or just know one, 13 August is a chance to appreciate the quirks, talents, and history that make left-handers stand out.