In the book “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams the towel is the most important item they bring along with them in their adventure. In this book, the towel is used for hygiene, comfort and even as a weapon. The towel has both practical value and psychological value. It can be used to make a sail, build beach forts, protect you from the sun, keep you warm, shield you from the sun, can be wetted for use in hand-to-hand combat, and keep you dry.

Quote from the book: “Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odd, win through, and still know where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with.” Psychologically the towel was used to convince a strag that the hitchhiker also has other items in his possession which will encourage the strag to lend the hitchhiker other items that he may have lost. The towel made its way into the book Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy through the author Douglas Adams own personal experience hitchhiking and traveling through Europe during which he kept losing his own towel. His travels are ultimately the inspiration for his book. The towel gives control in life to the hitchhiker and due to its importance in this book May 25th is recognized as Towel Day officially since 2001.