Why Is There a Hole in The Old Farmer's Almanac?

Why is there a hole in The Old Farmer’s Almanac? We’re talking about the punched-out hole in the upper top left corner of the book. It’s not a mistake. It’s part of our history. Enjoy learning the “hole” story!

The classic Almanac paperback has a hole drilled in the top left corner corner of the paperback Old Farmer’s Almanac. Every wondered why? When did it start? And what do we do with the punched-out holes? These are deep questions.

The Hole in the Almanac Was Started by Readers

It began in the late 1700s, when we made our earliest Almanacs. Readers discovered how useful the Almanac was in their daily lives and wanted it close at hand. They’d nail a hole into the corner to hang the Almanac in a handy spot, such as the barn or kitchen, or even the outhouse.

When the Almanac Started Making the Hole

About 100 years ago, in the 1900s, after the technology became available, The Old Farmer’s Almanac had these holes put in commercially, to make it easier for our readers. We pre-drill the holes in the corner at the plant when we print the paperback.

The hole will allow you to put a string through the Almanac and hang it in your kitchen, barn, or bathroom. Or, you could put it around your belt and take it to the garden; you can attach it to your backpack or tie it around your telescope. You can take it just about anywhere!

Or, just enjoy the hole as a piece of history and nostalgia—a reminder of simpler days!

Note: It’s the classic Old Farmer’s Almanac paperback, such as found at the newsstand or the Almanac store, which features the hole. We also produce a hardcover edition and put no hole in it, of course. We produce a “softcover” edition at the request of bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, which does not have a hole in the corner because it is too thick to punch. 

What Do We Do With the Holes?

After all the almanacs are printed, we’re left with nearly 400 million teeny tiny little pieces of paper.

That’s a lot of paper! We do recycle all that paper—although they would make great confetti!

What do you think? Do you use the hole or want to revive this tradition? All you need is a piece of string!  We hope you enjoyed this Almanac trivia—and would love to hear where you put your Almanac!

P.S. You can find a copy of this year’s Old Farmer’s Almanac on Amazon, in our own Almanac Web store, and at your local retail store. See where to buy in your area!