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Celebrate Petrov day as if the button had been pressed

by Flying buttress
25th Sep 2025
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Tomorrow (September 26th, Friday) is Petrov day, the day when nuclear war did not start in 1983.

From provoking existential terror

Raemon in Meetup Month has a great overview of classic rationalist celebration[1] that goes over the history of humanity potentially culminating in red button being pressed.

To increasing chances of survival

Personally in 2025 I don't feel lack of existential terror, so I will be celebrating Petrov's day as if the button had been pressed. Some suggestions:[2]

  • Simulate nuclear detonation in the place where you live

  • Figure out what would be the safest place in your home to hide[3]

  • Turn on your battery-powered or dynamo radio to listen to official instructions[4]

  • Review nuclear preparedness guide and official local disaster preparedness instructions

  • Make a meal from the ingridients you have at home[5]

    • Bonus points for using only non-perishable food[6]
    • Bonus points for using water from your stash of 3 liters of water[7] per person per day[8] or purified water
    • Bonus points for not using electricity (e.g. to boil water)
    • Bonus points for boiling water (e.g. on gas stove)
    • Bonus points for making a meal you actually like[9]
    • You are allowed to cheat and stock up your pantry and water today

  • Acquire portable power station for home backup

  • Plan a nice camping trip

    • This is one of less dread-inducing ways to get durable gear (clothes, shoes, backpacks, etc)

  • Gift your loved ones some jewellery to trade for food

  • Put on a show: being able to entertain yourself and others will be good for moral[10]

Share your pre-post-nuclear/disaster celebration ideas in the comments![11]

  1. Complete with 35 page booklet and Amazon candle & candle holders recs ↩︎

  2. I hate thinking about this stuff but I think it is useful and making it a holiday celebration a) gives it a deadline (no pun intended) b) makes it fun enough for me to overcome the dread ↩︎

  3. Basement, or room separated from the outside by as many walls as possible, avoid windows ↩︎

  4. Get one now ↩︎

  5. Remember those good old early COVID lockdowns! I think there was a hashtag... ↩︎

  6. Although I guess eating as many of frozen items (before they go bad without electricity) is useful practice too? ↩︎

  7. 100 oz ↩︎

  8. That you will replenish afterwards ↩︎

  9. I hope you like beans ↩︎

  10. I plan to lean into my natural flexibility and attempt contortionism. Juggling, card tricks, and ventriloquism are also solid options. ↩︎

  11. I am taking my family to a submarine (in a museum) so we can play-pretend Vasili Arkhipov. ↩︎