According to the official Pokémon Twitter account, July 1 will now be Bidoof Day for the foreseeable future. This is not the first time The Pokémon Company has given special attention to the Gen 4 beaver. For example, Pokémon's Twitter feed was populated with Bidoofs on April Fools' Day. But the announcement of Bidoof Day surprised many Pokémon fans. Among the questions that arose in the tweet's wake, perhaps the most resonant is simply, why Bidoof? Why not another, more appealing Pokémon?
Bidoof is undeniably popular, with many fans showing both sincere and ironic love for the Pokémon. It has been a meme among the community for years, as it is extremely weak in the games. Pokémon social media will mark the holiday with a splurge of "Bidoofery" - presumably various Bidoof antics. Pokémon GO's Bidoof Day promises celebrations beyond mere jokes, though, as it will allow players to earn 8x XP.
Regardless of Bidoof's fame (and infamy), plenty of other Pokémon deserve holidays: ironic Pokémon, funny Pokémon, seasonally appropriate Pokémon, etc. Here are a few excellent candidates The Pokémon Company should consider for its next holiday.
Pokémon That Deserve Holidays (That Aren't Bidoof)
Magikarp
If Bidoof Day is about celebrating the spirit of a weak Pokémon, why not go with the ultimate underdog? Magikarp is infamous for its utter uselessness; its signature move, Splash, doesn't even damage its opponent. And yet, after a lot of patience and hard work, Magikarp evolves into Gyrados, which remains one of the most powerful non-Legendary Pokémon. Magikarp is the ultimate inspirational story, proof that even those against whom the odds are stacked can eventually triumph. Magikarp has its own adorable song (aptly named "The Magikarp Song") and similarly adorable mobile game, Magikarp Jump, so it should have its own adorable holiday to celebrate its victories over adversity.
Chandelure
Many winter holidays feature plentiful candles and lights, warming the spirit as the days grow shorter and colder. Pokémon could do this with creatures like Lanturn or Minior, but a more interesting twist would be to focus on Chandelure. The Ghost/Fire type is the source of haunting Pokédex entries like, "In homes illuminated by Chandelure instead of lights, funerals were a constant occurrence - or so it's said," and, "Being consumed in Chandelure's flame burns up the spirit, leaving the body behind." Warm, candlelit visuals with a spooky flair could make for some compelling, The Nightmare Before Christmas-style Halloween vibes in December.
Bulbasaur
Several Pokémon are fit to herald the coming of summer. Eldegoss would make a lot of sense, as the Pokémon spreads nutrients to plants, but it doesn't quite match the popularity of Bidoof. Bulbasaur - a beloved and iconic Gen 1 Pokémon that grows as the sun nurtures the plant within the bulb on its back - could work instead, serving as a fun little metaphor for the transitional period between winter and summer.
For now, the most Pokémon fans can do is try to embrace this July 1 Bidoof Day in the hopes that more holidays might follow. There are more than twice the number of Pokémon than days on the calendar, so not all Pokémon can enjoy their own holidays. But surely there's room for more than Bidoof.