MAGNET MONDAY

Magnet Monday is one of the earliest and most widely recognized observances associated with the International Holiday Group. Its origins are traditionally traced back to James Cartwright, whose personal actions are said to have inspired both the practice and symbolism of the day.

According to early accounts preserved in IHG correspondence, Cartwright first introduced the tradition in the late 1890s during a visit to a Native American community in the Great Lakes region. At the time, small manufactured magnets were still relatively uncommon, and the object itself was considered unusual. Cartwright reportedly presented one half of a simple iron bar magnet, which he had carefully split and polished, keeping the other half for himself.

Before parting, he explained, through a translator, according to later retellings, that the two pieces would always “seek each other,” no matter how far apart they were kept. The gesture was intended as a sign of continued friendship and mutual goodwill.

What makes the story distinctive is what followed. Rather than treating the exchange as a one-time symbolic act, Cartwright returned the following year, and then again the year after that. Each visit was marked by a small, consistent ritual: the two halves of the magnet were brought together, allowed to connect, and then separated again before he departed. Some records suggest this moment was accompanied by shared meals or brief spoken reflections, though details vary.

This annual practice continued for the remainder of Cartwright’s life. Early members of the International Holiday Group, many of whom only knew the story through letters, began to adopt the idea in their own way. By the early 20th century, references appear to a designated Monday set aside for similar acts of reconnection.

Over time, Magnet Monday developed into a broader observance. The physical magnet remained a central symbol, but the meaning expanded. It came to represent the quiet forces that draw people back together: memory, intention, and the willingness to return.

Common traditions today include:

• Exchanging small magnets or splitting a magnet between two people

• Reuniting with someone after a long period of distance

• Repairing a strained relationship, even in a small way

• Placing magnets in visible spaces as reminders of connection

In some IHG circles, it is customary to briefly join two magnets together at some point during the day, often in silence, as a simple act of reflection.

While historians within the Group continue to debate the exact details of Cartwright’s visits, the story has endured because of its clarity. Two separate pieces, drawn back together—not by force, but by their nature.

That idea remains at the heart of Magnet Monday.