There is always some kind of OMG reaction to CSS Naked Day whenever its annual "celebration" rolls around. Normally it is visitors freaking out in confusion and thinking the site has errors1. There can also be several website owners who would rather not take down the style they worked so hard to create.
While all that is understandable, I'm really quite shocked at how many people don't exactly get the whole point of the event. 
I think most would be surprised to know that it really has nothing to do with CSS. Sure, the acronym is in the title and it's deals with turning stylesheets off, but that is where the relationship ends.
The idea behind this event is to promote Web Standards. Plain and simple. This includes proper use of (x)html, semantic markup, a good hierarchy structure, and of course, a good 'ol play on words. It's time to show off your <body>. ~ CND
Nothing in that description says anything about perfecting CSS writing skills or even making your site look fabulous without it. What would be the point of that anyway if visitors only see the styling? Instead of thinking "Does my site look ok without CSS?" ask yourself this question: "Does my site structure actually work with CSS?"
What you may not realize is that well-structured and semantic content is actually more important than an eye-catching design. It is the meat and potatoes of the website stew; the sponge of the website trifle. 
If a website has good structure than it will provide several benefits to both the designer and visitor:
- Content will have more "meaning" - Anyone can read it, anyone can understand its organization and browsers can easily interpret content placement.
- SEO friendly - Search engines don't notice our pretty designs, only the content we offer in our pages. They also rank keyword weight based on semantic structure.2
- Standards love semantics - Two totally different concepts, but yet they work together to create cross-browser compatibility and faster loading pages.
This being the second time my site has stripped, I will honestly admit that I was completely on pins and needles the whole 24 hours in 2007. I was so sure I was going to lose visitors or get "your site is so oogly" comments that I was practically crying by the time the clock hit midnight. Yah, I was a wimp.
But this year I was happy to strip and even casually forgot my site had no style several times throughout the day, hehe. 
Maybe it's because I understand the "cause" better now. Or maybe I just believe more strongly in the goal to promote correctly structured websites.3
I've realized that achieving standards-valid code does not mean I have helped my website be any more readable to a search engine than sprinkling font and table tags throughout its markup. I've also learned that CSS can actually stifle the semantic value of a website's structure if not used correctly.
This isn't to say you need to strip your site's design (because the default white and black colors don't make its "nakedness" any less contrasting) but maybe it wouldn't hurt to view it in that way from time to time. Flaunt that <body>! 
Hopefully, this has better explained the true purpose of CSS Naked Day. 
I did not participate because as a general rule, I believe my coding to be craptastic! But I did use the Web Dev toolbar to turn my CSS off and see the chaos beneath… which actually turned out not to be chaotic at all, and works rather perfectly, if I do say so myself. So, that was nice to find that I’m not such a failure on the coding-end of things, anyway!
Aisling’s last blog post..Ballet Shoes and Blizzards!
Or I love what my friend said…
Cristina’s last blog post..Poopy.
I decided not to strip my site for CSS naked day, mostly because I’m a wimp and don’t first time visitors to think “OMG OOGLY”. Anyway, I have nothing against CSS naked day and I seriously don’t understand why some people are so deeply bothered by it. Maybe next year I’ll give it a try
Lene’s last blog post..Isn’t that irresponsible?
I participated, but I really hated doing so! I participated to show off what I have been trying to perfect for so long (I’m getting there!). Although my website isn’t perfect, it worked well without the CSS enabled which, in the end, is the most important thing!
I’ve been waiting to read this blog, but your site died right before I got to it. Thank god it’s back, am I right?
Sean’s last blog post..Changes Galore
I thought it was in October for some reason.
I have been in bed all week cuz I could hardly walk. But next year I hope I can do this. 
This was my first year. I hated my site, but I do have to say that yours & Jem’s were the best. But then I wasn’t able to surf that much on the 9th as I normally do.
This year was my first year to participate (I missed last year). The only reason why I was nervous was because I didn’t like the way I coded my markup.
But other than that, I’d say I enjoyed it. 
Noellium’s last blog post..http://www.impish.ca - ARTICLE: Tips for writing successful blog entries [del.icio.us]
Your site is gorgey without CSS.
Rachael’s last blog post..Ken Livingstone, you suck
Oh no I missed it! I guess it’s too late now? If many people are making a naked protest it’s a movement. If one nutter is naked, it’s just streaking.
What a shame I’ll have to try to remember for next year! I have to agree with all of your points about having good solid code underlying the prittie fancy stuff. :p