Christmas Eve
2025-12-24 | OH
Christmas Eve on December 24 kicks off a series of holiday traditions. Some are ancient practices with a modern spin, while others date back hundreds of years.

#ChristmasEve

Christmas Eve is filled with both religious and nonreligious traditions. Religious traditions center around the birth of Jesus. Different denominations have their own traditions. On Christmas Eve Roman Catholics and Anglicans hold Midnight Mass. Lutherans celebrate with candlelight services and Christmas carols. Many evangelical churches hold evening services where families celebrate Holy Communion.
Around the world, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a variety of foods. In Italy, they celebrate the Feast of Seven Fishes. Russians traditionally serve a 12-dish Christmas Eve Supper before opening gifts. Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, the Christmas Eve meal consists of an odd number of meatless dishes.
Besides food and religious services, the holiday is when Santa Clause takes to the sky in his sleigh to deliver Christmas gifts around the world. Other names for the white-bearded man in a red suit include Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and Saint Nicholas. No matter what he is called, the legend of Santa is based on a real-life man named Saint Nicholas of Myra. The early Christian bishop was known for secret gift-giving, as well as many miracles. Through the years, the legend of Santa grew to include the North Pole, a sleigh driven by reindeer, a naughty or nice list, and his jolly laugh, “ho, ho, ho.”
HOW TO OBSERVE CHRISTMAS EVE
What are some of your holiday traditions? How did they begin?
There are many ways to observe Christmas Eve. For many families, the most important thing is to make lasting memories with their loved ones. Here are some ways to celebrate:

Attend church for a candlelight service or Midnight Mass
Read the account of Jesus’ birth from the book of Luke
Put out milk and cookies for Santa
Pass out Christmas cookies and other goodies to your neighbors
Host an ugly Christmas sweater party
Gather around the tree with your family and cups of cocoa and share favorite holiday memories
Go caroling in your neighborhood or at a senior center
Make a gingerbread house
Hang up Christmas stockings
Read Christmas classics like The Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Carol
Watch a fun Christmas movie like Elf, Home Alone, or The Grinch
Rent a limo and look at Christmas lights

As you can see, there are many wonderful ways to celebrate Christmas Eve. While you wait for Santa Claus to come down the chimney (or through the window, down the fire escape, or your preferred entrance) you can explore the histories of other holiday personas in 5 Stories Behind Faces of Our Favorite Holidays. Share how you’ll be celebrating this special day by posting on social media with #ChristmasEve.
CHRISTMAS EVE HISTORY
Hearkening back to the 16th century when Christian traditions were first influenced by winter solstice celebrations, decorating and preparing for Christmas Day took place the evening before. This included putting up the tree, decorating with mistletoe and holly, bringing in the Yule log and making dishes for the Christmas meal.
Jewish traditions have historically influenced Christian practices, too. One such practice is that the church day traditionally begins in the evening. Christian churches have celebrated Christmas Eve in part because it is believed that Jesus was born at midnight. Many churches today hold Christmas Eve services or Midnight Masses. They may also hold candlelight vigils, Nativity productions or sing carols.
Source: National Day Calendar

National Regifting Day
2025-12-25
Each year on the Thursday before Christmas, people across the United States participate in National Re-gifting Day. The day acknowledges the office parties and the unique Christmas gift exchanges that they do. This particular December Thursday appears to be the most common day for companies to hold their annual employee/company Holiday parties.
#NationalRegiftingDay
As a method of recycling, approximately 14%, of those surveyed, believe that regifting is becoming more popular, for that reason alone.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL RE-GIFTING DAY
While it may be an official holiday in some states, we recommend caution when deciding to re-gift something. The term does suggest, after all, that the item is unwanted to begin with, and may be unwanted by its next recipient.
If at any point you find regifting a little bit exhausting, then you probably should reconsider re-gifting. On another note, the game of perpetual re-gifting in some families is celebrated year after year. Share your experiences with us.
You can also follow these 8 Tips Every Re-gifter Should Know.
Use #NationalReGiftingDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL RE-GIFTING DAY HISTORY
Colorado governor, Bill Ritter, Jr, made National Re-gifting Day official in 2008.
Regifting FAQ
Q. Is regifting tasteless?
A. Regifting doesn’t have to be tasteless, rude, impolite, lazy, or any of those descriptors. We live in a commercial society where the NEWEST, BRIGHTEST, and LATEST products find their way into our homes. For many people, regifting is not considered a means of getting rid of something unwanted, but it is a way to give something that is needed, wanted, and will be used.
Regifting Gifts to Try

Unused handmade gifts – Knitted scarves, sweaters, and blankets sometimes become cherished gifts. Leather or woodcraft items also make excellent gifts.
Books – Some people cherish used books much more than brand new copies. While the author might prefer that you give new, sometimes just sharing the story is the important thing.
Plants – If you’re not a plant person and received a plant, giving the plant to a plant person makes two species happy.
Duplicate high-end items – It happens. You receive two toasters, two rice cookers, and three sets of mixing bowls for your shower or house warming party. Well, you can return them or you can give them to someone you know will use them. Regift to another new homeowner, college student, or someone you know has been wanting that pressure cooker.
Sets of things – For example, wine glasses, coffee mugs, flower pots, and salt and pepper grinders. All of these are acceptable gifts under any circumstance. Chances are, you don’t have the receipt for these, and all of them will be enjoyed by the right person.
A family heirloom – Well cared for family heirlooms make great gifts – to the right person. Someone who doesn’t cherish family history will not appreciate this gift. Consider giving a framed copy of a family recipe, a piece of furniture, crockery, photo, or art.

Source: National Day Calendar

Christmas Day
2025-12-25
Every year on December 25th, over 2 billion people around the world celebrate Christmas Day. Traditionally, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Nonreligious people and those of different faiths celebrate the day as a cultural event.
#Christmas
Also known as Christmas Day, this holiday is derived from the Old English Crīstesmæsse which means Christ’s Mass. Today, Christmas is a public holiday in most countries. Only about a dozen countries do not recognize Christmas as a public holiday. Christmas traditions vary around the world and have evolved over time. They borrow from other traditions and cultures, too. Over time, beliefs and customs blended as peoples migrated and attitudes changed.
One of the most popular Christmas customs is gift-giving. This custom has its roots in the Magi who brought gifts to Jesus shortly after his birth. Unfortunately, the gift-giving aspect of Christmas has led to its commercialization. On average, Americans spend $700 on Christmas gifts and goodies. Altogether, this equals $465 billion. In recent years, there has been a call to simplify the holiday and to get back to the “reason for the season.”
Christmas Traditions

Candy canes
While plain, unflavored candy sticks and canes existed as early as the 1600s, it wasn’t until 1920 that the hooked version became exceptionally popular. Bob McCormack of Albany, Georgia took the peppermint candy, gave it a red and white striped twist. His handmade candies were given a manufacturing boost when his brother-in-law and priest, Gregory Keller, invented the machine that launched Bob’s Candies into mass production. However, Keller’s invention wasn’t the first of its kind.

Poinsettia
Another tradition that blossomed in the United States during the 1920s, the poinsettia’s legend takes place in Mexico. According to the legend, a girl wanted desperately to celebrate Jesus’s birthday. Worried, the girl feared she would have no gift to offer because she was so poor. An angel tells her to give any gift with love. After gathering weeds from alongside the road, the young girl placed them in the manger. Miraculously the weeds bloomed into beautiful red stars.

Christmas trees
Evergreens, fir trees, and other plants have been a part of the winter festivals and traditions since ancient times. The first person to place a tree in a house for the purposes of Christmas may have been the German preacher Martin Luther in the 16th century.

St. Nicholas
Legendary stories about the third century St. Nicholas later become part of the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus.

Mailing cards
In Victorian England, sending Penny Post was inexpensive and frequent. Not responding to it was equally inexcusable. Being popular and busy led Sir Henry Cole to invent a holiday card nearly out of necessity. In 1843, he asked his friend, J.C. Horsley to illustrate a design he had in mind. Soon, Cole was off to the printer and the first Christmas card mailed in the Penny Post.

Caroling
Wassailing and caroling history go hand in hand. Originally, wassail referred to a mulled, sweet drink. It came to be known as going from house to house during the winter months and eventually as caroling. The carolers are often given hot beverages to drink to keep them warm as they travel. Learn more about 7 Beloved Christmas Carols & Their Origins.

A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was published on December 19, 1843, and tells the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. So popular was the novella, the first theatre production took place within weeks of its publication. Since then, films, stage, and novels have presented a variety of adaptations much to the audiences’ delight.

Fruitcake
The American tradition of eating – or giving – fruitcake at Christmas is somehow connected to the Victorian tradition of serving Christmas pudding. Both are molded, but that’s about where the similarities end.

HOW TO OBSERVE CHRISTMAS
Most Christmas traditions are celebrated in the days leading up to Christmas. In the morning, see what Santa has delivered. Gather with family and open presents around a decorated tree or have a meal together.
Other traditions include:

taking pictures with Santa
baking cookies and goodies to exchange, such as fudge and gingerbread men
hanging lights
making ornaments
going to holiday concerts
watching holiday-themed movies, both old and new
opening Advent calendars

No wonder many people call this the most wonderful time of the year! On Christmas Day, many families open their gifts in the morning. A special Christmas dinner follows complete with lots of goodies for dessert. The best thing about Christmas is that you can choose which traditions you want to keep. You can also have fun coming up with new traditions. Share your favorite Christmas Day traditions on social media with #Christmas.

CHRISTMAS HISTORY
It is debatable whether Jesus was born on December 25th. Nowhere does the Bible provide the exact date of his birth. If this is the case, why does the world celebrate Christmas on this day? The first Christmas ever celebrated happened in 336. It was during the time the Roman Empire was ruled by Constantine. He was the first Christian Roman Emperor. Under Constantine, Christianity spread into Northern and Western Europe.
One of the earliest references to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ is in a homily by John Chrysostom, a 4th-century archbishop. Christmas is a relatively new celebration when considering church holy days. Passover, Lent, and Easter were celebrated long before Christmas.
Winter Solstice
These regions celebrated the Winter Solstice. Christmas adopted many of the customs associated with the Winter Solstice. These customs included decorating with evergreen trees and their boughs. It also included large feasts and a bearded man delivering gifts. In medieval times, Christmas was a solemn observance of the birth of Jesus Christ, and very little feasting, singing, and carousing was going on. The first record of the word “Cristes Maesse” being used was in a book from 1038 from Saxon England.
As Christianity spread into northern and western Europe, Christmas adopted many of the customs associated with the winter solstice. Decorating with evergreen trees and their boughs, holly, and mistletoe, a bearded man delivering gifts and even the large feasts all hearken back to these celebrations.
Caroling, Nativity scenes, and gift-giving (primarily to nobility with hopes of favors in return) began taking hold around the Renaissance period. Royalty and nobility had a considerable influence on this era. The Renaissance period covered a broad expanse of time (1300-1700) and was filled with an influx of inspiration, invention, and art. All of it influenced Christmas. Some Christians, like the Puritans didn’t celebrate Christmas at all. This was largely due to the holiday’s pagan background. Christmas was illegal in Massachusetts between1659 and 1681.
Christmas in The United States
One hundred years after the founding of the United States, Christmas became a federal holiday.
By the mid to late 1800s, communication and transportation were changing rapidly. Time and distance isolated people causing customs and traditions to be diverse from place to place. Celebrations occurring in Georgia were completely unique from those celebrated in New York. Nearly overnight that began to change. Telegraphs and railroads made the passage of information and people, if not instant, significantly faster than ever before. Longing for the old days, for times when the family was a central theme in American’s lives, Christmas brought those nostalgic feelings under one significant day.
Louis Prang, a German immigrant and printer by trade, introduced the American Christmas card in 1875. The Christmas card gradually replaced customs of personal visits or written Christmas letters.
As the population grew, so did commerce and an increase in both charitable and personal gift giving followed. However, many givers and recipients still valued handmade gifts over store-bought.
Literature such as Clement Moore’s poem An Account of Visit from Saint Nicholas (1823) and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1843) influenced the Norman Rockwell vision of the Christmas we celebrate today.
Source: National Day Calendar

New Year's Day
2026-01-01
Nearly the entire world recognizes New Year’s Day on January 1st. It’s also one of the most celebrated holidays of the year.
#NewYearsDaY
Celebrations will begin in the Pacific Ocean with Samoa celebrating the New Year before the rest of the world. The latest stroke of midnight will occur in the middle of the Pacific Ocean near Baker Island, which is halfway between Hawaii and Australia.

HOW TO OBSERVE NEW YEAR’S DAY
Traditions around the world:

Kiss at midnight the one person you hope to keep kissing the rest of the year.
Making noise, either in the form of fireworks, ringing bells, horns, blasting, or pistol shots are traditional around the world.
In Holland, they toast to the new year with spiced wine, wassail in England, or champagne in the United States.
Resolutions are not a modern tradition. The Babylonians made commitments to return borrowed objects and to pay old debts.

Use #NewYearsDay to post on social media.

NEW YEAR’S DAY HISTORY
The new year has been celebrated for millennia. The earliest record of new year’s celebrations occurred during Babylonian times. However, January 1st wasn’t always the designated day. For example, the first new moon after the vernal equinox ushered in the new year at one time. These festivities occurred in Martius (March), the first month in the early Roman calendar, which only had ten months.
King Pompilius later added the months Januarius (named for Janus, the pagan god of gates, doors and beginnings) and Februarius bringing the calendar to 12 months. It was Julius Caesar who created the Julian calendar, which most closely resembles the Gregorian calendar a majority of the world follows today.
Celebrating the first day of the year in the appropriately named month of January, Romans made sacrifices to Janus, giving gifts and general revelry. With his two faces, the god Janus was able to look toward the past and forward to the future.
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National Science Fiction Day
2026-01-02
National Science Fiction Day promotes the celebration of science fiction as a genre, its creators, history, and various media, too. On January 2nd annually, millions of science fiction fans across the United States read and watch their favorites in science fiction.

#ScienceFictionDay

The date of the celebration commemorates the birth of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. An American author and Boston University professor of biochemistry, Isaac Asimov was born Isaak Yudovich Ozimov on January 2, 1920. He is best known for his works of science fiction and his popular science books. Isaac Asimov, whose works are followed by many, died on April 6, 1992.
National Science Fiction Day is recognized by the Hallmark Channel and the Scholastic Corporation.

Considered a master of hard science fiction, Asimov, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, was considered one of the “Big Three” science-fiction writers during his lifetime. Many regard the Foundation Series as Asimov’s most outstanding piece. His other major series are the Galactic Empire Series and the Robot Series.
Some of the successful television shows recognized by science fiction fans include Star Trek-The Next Generation, The X-Files, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, and The Twilight Zone.
As we look back at some older science fiction in our current technology-infused world, how close do the writers come to imaging our futures? Long before Asimov created his first work, humans imagined machines that allowed them to soar like birds. Another man, Leonardo Di Vinci, looked to the future, too. He designed contraptions worthy of the science fiction in his time.
Science fiction impacts life in ways we may not even consider – even those who don’t enjoy reading or watching science fiction.

HOW TO OBSERVE SCIENCE FICTION DAY
The day encourages reading or watching science fiction. However, consider exploring science fiction in other ways. For example:

Introduce science fiction to an entirely new generation. Offer to read excerpts from your favorite science fiction author to a youth group at a library.
Explore the authors of science fiction you’ve never read before.
Study the history of science fiction and how it has impacted modern culture.
Share your favorite science fiction story or character.
You can also explore these 9 Books to Unleash the Time Traveler in You.

Use #ScienceFictionDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION DAY HISTORY
Since at least 2011, science fiction lovers have been honoring Isaac Asimov and other science fiction contributors. In 2013, asimovs.com published a guest editorial by Ed Finn. The writer talks about doomsday predictions while also looking toward the future – all moving toward the true meaning of National Science Fiction Day.
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National Thank God It's Monday Day
2026-01-05
National Thank God It’s Monday Day encourages us to celebrate the first Monday of the new year with vigor and energy.

#ThankGodItsMondayDay

Not only does the observance focus on the first Monday in January, but on every Monday throughout the year. Mondays are often full of new beginnings. New jobs often start on Mondays. Couples usually marry on weekends and a Monday represents the first work week of their new lives together. Many federal holidays take place on Mondays and therefore special occasions frequently take place on Mondays throughout the year.
Besides the scheduled events, many random events occur on a Monday. When Monday repeats between 52 and 53 times out of the year, important things will happen. It’s 1/7th of our life. Blaming Monday for our woes (traffic) doesn’t improve our personal track record in life (being late). Stop shaming Monday and look at what Monday has to offer.

Freshly brewed coffee to keep us perky
Opportunity for a bright future
52 chances to see a beautiful sunrise
A new week share your talents with the world
52 opportunities to teach someone a new skill that will better their lives
Each Monday offers the potential of meeting new people

HOW TO OBSERVE THANK GOD IT’S MONDAY
Enjoy the first Monday of the year. How will you use your Mondays? Let us know by using #ThankGodItsMondayDay to post on social media.
If you need more reasons to celebrate a Monday (any Monday) check out these 16 Events That Happened On A Monday.
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National Spaghetti Day
2026-01-04
National Spaghetti Day on January 4th offers an opportunity to pick your sauce and add it to that long, thin cylindrical pasta of Italian and Sicilian origin. Usually made from semolina flour, this pasta has been a worldwide favorite for ages and loved by millions.

#NationalSpaghettiDay

There are various pasta dishes based on spaghetti, and the sauce determines most of them. Some examples include spaghetti ala Carbonara, garlic and oil, tomato sauce, meat sauce, bolognese, Alfredo sauce, clam sauce, or other sauces. In addition, we traditionally serve spaghetti dishes topped with grated hard cheeses such as Pecorino Romano, Parmesan, and Grana Padano.
The word spaghetti is plural for the Italian word spaghetto, which is a diminutive of spago, meaning “thin string” or “twine.”

American restaurants offered spaghetti around the end of the 19th century as Spaghetti Italienne (which is believed to have consisted of noodles cooked past al dente and a mild tomato sauce flavored with easily found spices and vegetables such as cloves, bay leaves, and garlic). Decades later, cooks added oregano and basil to many recipes.
Spaghetti Origins
There is a significant debate on the origin of spaghetti. However, we do know that we’ve been consuming pasta for many, many years. There are records in the Jerusalem Talmud of itrium, a kind of boiled dough commonly available in Palestine from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD. A 9th-century Arab dictionary describes itriyyaas as string-like shapes made of semolina and dried before cooking. A 1154 writing for the Norman King of Sicily, mentions itriyya as being manufactured and exported from Norman Sicily. Dried pasta became popular in the 14th and 15th centuries due to its easy storage. People stored the dried pasta in ships when exploring the New World. A century later, pasta was present around the globe during the voyages of discovery. (Wikipedia)

On Top of Spaghetti
In March of 2009, the world record for the largest bowl of spaghetti was set and then reset in March of 2010 when a Garden Grove California Buca di Beppo restaurant successfully filled a swimming pool with more than 13,780 pounds of pasta.
Sung to the tune of “On Top of Old Smoky,” the fun children’s song, “On Top of Spaghetti,” was written and originally sung by folk singer Tom Glazer with the Do-Re-Mi Children’s Chorus in 1963.
“On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.”
COOK, EAT, CELEBRATE
Make your favorite spaghetti dish, and be sure to make enough to share. Of course, you can always invite friends to join you at your favorite Italian restaurant and split a plate. If you do, be sure to tag the restaurant and use #NationalSpaghettiDay to post on social media.
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National Trivia Day
2026-01-04
What National Day on January 4th celebrates those who accumulate and hoard tidbits of useless trivia? National Trivia Day, of course!

#NationalTriviaDay

The holiday recognizes the collectors of unconnected, irrelevant data, facts, history, and quotes each year. They are the ones who usually proffer these sometimes astounding bits of history when friends and family least expect it.
In ancient times, the term “trivia” was appropriated to mean something very new.
Nostalgic college students in the 1960s began to informally trade questions and answers about the popular culture of their youth. After writing trivia columns, Columbia University students Ed Goodgold and Dan Carlinsky created the earliest inter-collegiate quiz bowls. They tested culturally (and emotionally) significant yet virtually useless information. The students dubbed the tests trivia contests. TThey later published Trivia (Dell, 1966), the first book treating trivia in the revolutionary new sense. This book also achieved a ranking on the New York Times bestseller list.

Over time, the word “trivia” has come to refer to obscure and arcane bits of dry knowledge. It also refers to nostalgic remembrances of pop culture.
In North America, Trivial Pursuit peaked in 1984, when consumers bought over 20 million games.
Steven Point, Wisconsin, holds the largest current trivia contest at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s college radio station WWSP 89.9 FM. During the April 2013 event, the university hosted the 44th annual contest. Typically, 400 teams participate, ranging from 1 to 150 players. The competition is open to anyone. It spans 54 hours over a weekend with eight questions each hour.
The first season of the popular television trivia show Jeopardy! premiered on March 30, 1964.

HOW TO OBSERVED NATIONAL TRIVIA DAY
Are you into trivia? Challenge someone to a trivia contest, attend a trivia night, or host one at home. Show off your trivia savvy. While you’re at it, find out how much you know about the National Days. See if you can answer these questions. Some of them, we aren’t even sure of the answers.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
2026-01-09
Across the country on January 9th each year, citizens take the lead to show support on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

#LawEnforcementAppreciationDay

Law Enforcement Officers of every rank and file have chosen a profession that puts their life on the line every day for their communities. They’ve answered a call to public service that is demanding and often unappreciated.
From local, state, and federal, their duties command dedication. The jobs are often thankless and take them away from their families for long hours. Rarely do they know what their days have in store for them. Often law enforcement are the only paid emergency resource a community has. More often they work in coordination with other local, state, and federal organizations to make communities safer.
On National Law Enforcement Day, we have an opportunity to thank them for their service and offer a token of respect.

HOW TO OBSERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY
There are several ways to show your support. Send a note of thanks to your local, county or state police agency. Wear blue, turn your social media channels blue or shine a blue porch light to show your support. Share your support using #NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay to share on social media.
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY
Several organizations came together to create National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in 2015 to thank officers across the country for all the daily sacrifices they make for their communities. Some of the organizations supporting the observance include:

Concerns of Police Survivors
FBI National Academy Associates
Fraternal Order of Police
International Association of Chief of Police
Officer Down Memorial Page
Law Enforcement United
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
International Conference of Police Chaplains
National Troopers Coalition

Since then the inaugural celebration, nationwide many more organizations have joined forces to support National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to spread encouragement and respect to these dedicated men and women.
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National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
2026-01-10
National Cut Your Energy Costs Day encourages consumers to explore their options and keep up with scheduled maintenance. Each year, on January 10th, the observance provides information designed to help homeowners and businesses to reduce energy costs and improve efficiency. Did you know that tuning up your heating system can save you up to three to ten percent?

#CutYourEnergyCostsDay

It is often in the little things that you do that can save you big money on your energy bill, such as:

Weatherproof your home
Replace old windows with new energy-efficient windows
Replace old furnace with new energy-efficient furnace
Properly maintain furnace
Use solar heat if possible
Turn down thermostats
Turning off lights when leaving a room
Use energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs
Run dishwasher and washing machine only when fully loaded
Lower water heater temperature
Take shorter showers
Unplug unused appliances
Carpool whenever possible

The above list is just a few of the many ways to conserve energy. Use these tips, along with others you may already have in practice, many available online and you will be able to create energy and financial savings the entire year.

HOW TO OBSERVE CUT YOUR ENERGY COSTS DAY
Taking part in National Cut Your Energy Costs Day starts with a plan. Make a list of the things you can change right away. Then working on making improvements to your home to help lower your energy costs. With each improvement, you’ll be one step closer to an energy-efficient home all year long. Where will you start making changes?
As you start, share your favorite energy-saving tips and practices. Keep track of your changes as you go and involve the whole family, too. Show them how the improvements reduced expenses and improved efficiency. By involving your family, they will take that knowledge with them into the future.
Use #CutYourEnergyCostsDay on social media.
Source LinkNational Cut Your Energy Costs Day

National Bittersweet Chocolate Day
2026-01-10
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! National Bittersweet Chocolate Day on January 10th gives you the excuse to indulge in some chocolate satisfaction. (National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day is celebrated on November 7th.)

#BittersweetChocolateDay

Chocolate comes from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao, which has been cultivated for at least three millennia, is grown in Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America. The earliest known documentation of the use of cacao seeds is around 1100 BC. The cacao tree seed has an intensely bitter taste and must be fermented to develop the flavor.

Once the seeds have been fermented, the beans are then dried, cleaned, and roasted. After roasting, the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs. The cacao nibs are then ground into a cocoa mass which is pure chocolate in rough form. Usually, the cocoa mass is liquefied then molded with or without other ingredients. This is called chocolate liquor. The chocolate liquor may then be processed into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter.

Bittersweet chocolate is chocolate liquor to which sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla have been added. It does have less sugar and more liquor than semisweet chocolate. However, the two of them may be interchangeable when baking.
Studies have revealed that there are certain health benefits from eating bittersweet chocolate in moderation, such as lowering blood pressure and helping to protect the heart.

HOW TO OBSERVE BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE DAY
Bittersweet chocolate offers many ways to celebrate. We can go in so many directions with bittersweet chocolate. Add a little to your baking or sprinkle a little in your morning coffee. Do you like pudding or chocolate chip cookies? This is the chocolate for you. The choice is up to you which delicious chocolate creation you make. However, once you decide, be sure to share your creations, too.
Use #BittersweetChocolateDay to post on social media.
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Save the Eagles Day
2026-01-10
Each year on January 10th, Save the Eagles Day reminds us of the majestic raptors that soar above the Earth – whether they are well populated or endangered. Due to the work of scientists and the public, the bald eagle was removed from this list in June 2007. Poaching, pesticides, and other dangers continue to threaten eagle populations.

#SaveTheEaglesDay

While the day started as a way to save a specific pair of bald eagles and to raise awareness about the species, the observance has grown to encompass all species of eagles. Approximately 60 species of eagles populate the world. Most of the species are found in Eurasia and Africa. North, Central, and South America and Australia only account for about 14 species. However, no eagles are found in Hawaii. The most common species in North America are the bald and golden eagles.
Eagles are powerful birds of prey. An eagle’s sharp sense of sight paired with powerful muscles, piercing talons, and beak, make them primed for the hunt. They are also monogamous, mating for life.
HOW TO OBSERVE SAVE THE EAGLES DAY
Learn more about eagles. Watch documentaries or read about them. Visit an aviary or a bird sanctuary. We have provided a couple of books to review, too. Participate in preservation and conservation in your area, too.

The Eagle Watchers: Observing and Conserving Raptors Around the World by Todd E. Katzner
Eagles by Melissa Gish

Use #SaveTheEaglesDay to post on social media.

SAVE THE EAGLES DAY HISTORY
In 2015, Save the Eagles Day originated in the Village of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. The day is the result of an effort to save a pair of nesting bald eagles near the community. Late in 2014, Skymark Development Corp of Paramus brought a study forth arguing that a landfill near where the eagles nested posed health risks. The nesting pair, fondly named Alice and Al, had nested along Overpeck Creek since at least 2011. When the developer proposed a solution that included removing the tree the eagles nested in, the community and the Bergen County Audubon Society organized Save the Eagles Day on January 10, 2015.
Eventually, an agreement was formed to preserve an area of the land as an eagle park. Alice and Al continued to live out their days in Ridgefield Park and fly over the residents there. Read more about the environmental success of the area and about Alice and Al.
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Houseplant Appreciation Day
2026-01-10
One of the best ways to enhance a space is by adding house plants. The busy holidays cause many of us to neglect some of our regular routines, including houseplant care. National Houseplant Appreciation Day on January 10th serves as a reminder to give your houseplants a little extra attention to keep them thriving.

#HouseplantAppreciationDay
Those with green thumbs know that having houseplants come with several benefits, some of them are even backed by science.
Houseplant Benefits

Boost productivity – Some studies have shown that indoor plants may improve productivity and performance in the workplace and in school.
Reduce anxiety – Caring for plants provides therapeutic benefits. Similar to outdoor gardening, indoor gardening may help to ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and dementia.
Reduce air pollutants – In 1989, NASA published a study that showed plants may improve the air quality for indoor spaces. Since we all know from elementary science that plants consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, this study makes sense. The more plants you have the more effective they are at improving air quality. Specific plant species are more effective than others, too. For example, Boston ferns, spider plants, ficus, rubber trees, and bamboo palms clean the air more effectively than other plants.
Improved humidity – Especially in dryer climates and in the winter months, when plants release moisture into the air they improve the humidity in a room. Humidity enhances a home’s comfort level, and we also breathe easier when the humidity in our homes is balanced. Also, plants are prettier than humidifiers.

Houseplants offer much to be appreciated, as you can see. Beyond these benefits, houseplants bring the outdoors inside where it can be enjoyed all year long. They fill our homes with color.
You don’t have to have a green thumb to care for houseplants, either. Start with forgiving plants such as pathos, philodendron, sansevieria, or spider plant. These plants will bounce back if you forget to water them and won’t whine if you accidentally overwater them.

HOW TO OBSERVE HOUSEPLANT APPRECIATION DAY
During National Houseplant Appreciation Day, give your plants some love. Check their soil, make sure their roots are happy, and maybe talk to them. We also suggest:

Adding to your plant collection.
Pruning overgrown plants and offering the cuttings for trade.
Joining a plant group. These groups help plant lovers to troubleshoot plant problems. They also offer plant swaps for cuttings and full-sized plants.
Buying a plant for the first time. Be sure to select plants that are not harmful to pets and children.
Taking a class. You can learn how to care for plants, access resources, and improve your understanding of horticulture.
Sharing photos of your plant collection.

Be sure to join the conversation by using #HouseplantAppreciationDay on social media.
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National Clean Off Your Desk Day
2026-01-12
The second Monday of January each year recognizes National Clean Off Your Desk Day.

#CleanOffYourDeskDay

This day is an opportunity to begin your new year with a clean and organized workspace. Whether your desk is in a private or shared office, cubicle, home or a make-shift desk on the counter, having your workspace uncluttered and organized will help you work more efficiently. A clean workspace improves productivity and inspires us, too. It often gives us a sense of serenity.
HOW TO OBSERVE CLEAN OFF YOUR DESKTOP DAY
While there are those who say they know where everything is, we all know a clean start helps give us a new perspective.
Tips for Getting Organized

Remove everything from your desk. Yes, everything.
Clean the surface. As you replace items, clean them with the appropriate cleaning supply. Usually, a damp cloth is sufficient, but other electrical items need specific care.
Get out the shredder and the garbage can. Shred, file, scan documents, business cards, recipes, photos as needed.
Place all documents and photos in the appropriate locations.
Shred and toss outdated documents, non-working pens, junk mail.

Don’t forget to replace that old calendar hanging on the wall. While you’re at it, vacuum up those dust bunnies and sanitize your keyboard. Place a fresh box of tissues on your newly cleaned desktop. You’ll be ready for new clients in no time. Use #CleanOffYourDeskDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL CLEAN OFF YOUR DESK DAY HISTORY
While researching the origin of this tidy day, National Day Calendar staff uncovered information leading to A.C. Viero of Clio, Michigan as the founder of this annual holiday. Now that we can see the top of our desk, we can clearly see there will be more paperwork in our future!
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National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day
2026-01-11
On National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day, particular criteria must be present to celebrate. On January 11th, unless the ideal conditions prevail, some areas of the country may have to create them. So, can we really? Well, yes, the name of the day says you can! Life is short….let’s have fun! And good luck.

#StepInAPuddleAndSplashYourFriendsDay

If you are feeling somewhat mischievous (in a nice kind of way), join in on the celebration that all kids will love and all the young-at-heart adults will love just the same. Put on your boots, raincoats, slickers and grab some rubber duckies, too. Skip along the way. Splashing in puddles can be a terrific way to relieve stress. There’s no right or wrong way to splashing or stepping in a puddle. We’re going to get wet and probably a little dirty no matter how you do it. So splash away.
Now, if you live in a more frozen region of the country, we encourage you to find alternative ways to celebrate. We know you’ll be creative and safe.

HOW TO OBSERVE STEP IN A PUDDLE AND SPLASH YOUR FRIENDS DAY
On National Step in A Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day, invite your besties to join you for a fun-filled time reliving those days when you didn’t worry about getting your feet wet. Dance and splash in the puddles! Sing some splashing in puddle songs or check out this great video expressing the joy of splashing in puddles.
Use #StepInAPuddleAndSplashYourFriendsDay to post on social media.
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National Milk Day
2026-01-11
National Milk Day on January 11th commemorates the day many think the first milk deliveries in glass bottles began in the United States. Alexander Campbell of the New York Dairy Company professed to the New York State Senate that his company was the first to make these deliveries in 1878.

#NationalMilkDay
The United States and Australia export more milk and milk products than any other country. Those products include cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, cream, powdered milk, and much more. Throughout the world, more than 6 billion people consume milk and the products we make from it. One of the reasons is because milk provides nutrients such as calcium, potassium, vitamin B12, and vitamin A.
Production History
During the Middle Ages, people called milk the virtuous white liquor because alcoholic beverages were more reliable than water. In 1863, French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur made it possible for milk and other food and drinks to be stored for more extended periods. He developed a method of killing harmful bacteria that is now called pasteurization.
In 1884, an American doctor, Hervey Thatcher of New York City, developed the first modern glass milk bottle. He called it the “Thatcher’s Common Sense Milk Jar.” He used a waxed paper disk to seal the milk in the glass bottle. Later, in 1932, plastic-coated paper milk cartons were introduced commercially as a consequence of their invention by Victor W. Farris.
Modern industrial processes use milk to produce casein, whey protein, lactose, condensed milk, powdered milk, and many other food-additive and industrial products.
Animals
The females of all mammal species can, by definition, produce milk. However, cow milk dominates commercial production. In 2011. FAO estimates cows produced 85% of all milk worldwide. Apart from cattle, many kinds of livestock contribute milk used by humans for dairy products. These animals include buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, donkey, horse, reindeer, and yak. Like cattle, their milk produces cream, butter, yogurt, kefir, ice cream, and cheese, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MILK DAY
The ultimate way to celebrate is with a large glass of milk. However, a serving of anything made with milk would count, too! Does a milkshake sound good to you? We’ve gathered up some other ways to celebrate, too!

Make your own cheese
Add chocolate, strawberry, and malted flavorings to your milk. Then blindfold the kids and have a milk tasting!
Invite a friend for homemade hot chocolate
While drinking your milk, learn more about the nutrients in milk

Use #NationalMilkDay to post on social media.
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National Shop for Travel Day
2026-01-13
As the holiday season fades away, our minds turn to our next opportunity for a vacation. While that may seem far off, National Shop for Travel Day on the second Tuesday in January reminds us to start planning now!

#ShopForTravelDay

Today, there are more tools and resources than ever before to help us shop for that perfect trip. How we choose to travel, our accommodations, and where we relax and have fun has become mobile and virtual. Whether we’re planning a weekend getaway or our dream vacation, we can shop, compare, plan, and book all in just a few clicks.
Advancements made by travel technology innovators and intermediaries have not only provided us with the tools to expertly guide us through the booking experience, but they get us there, too. They connect us to the people who put us in the beautiful places we want to stay. Today, more than ever before, we can find just the accommodation we’ve been seeking and even tour it before we go, view ratings and firsthand accounts from other travelers, and catch a glimpse of what our trip will be like long before it begins.
Traveling for pleasure – or for work – can be a tremendous expense in both dollars and time, and you want the reassurance that you’re making the right choices whether you’re going home to visit old friends or visiting a city for the very first time. These apps and tools provide that confidence and actually make it fun to explore the limitless possibilities for travel.
Wherever and whenever you have your heart set to go, start shopping now. Whatever the trip may be, National Shop for Travel Day is the perfect time to visit an online travel company and book it.
Make that dream vacation come true.

HOW TO OBSERVE SHOP FOR TRAVEL DAY
Technology has made shopping for travel easier. Not only can we comparison shop, but it also makes planning a lot easier. Celebrate the day by making a list of the places you dream of going, need to go, and would like to see again.

Compare hotels, rentals, and other lodgings available. Secluded cabins, RV rentals, and camping gear are available, too.
Check flights, trains, or even routes for taking a road trip. Don’t forget to plan stops along some of the country’s most scenic byways and historic routes.
Ask friends and family for the best travel agents to help you make the most of your travel plans.
Also, ask those friends about their favorite trips – business and vacations. They can help you find the best places to explore.
Find the ideal times of the year to travel for business and pleasure. If you’re trying to avoid crowds, the offseason may be the best time of year to travel.
Discover unique vacations that are worth writing home about.
Look for adventures that take you away from the crowd and give you a unique view of the world.

Make a list of places you would like to go and check the dates. Start shopping on your favorite sites or contact your travel agent. Use #ShopForTravelDay to share on social media.
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National Pharmacist Day
2026-01-12
National Pharmacist Day on January 12th annually recognizes and honors all pharmacists across the nation.
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week on Spanning the Need w/Anthony Spano(Opens in a new browser tab)

#NationalPharmacistDay

The role of pharmacists has shifted over the years. Where once they served as the classical “lick, stick and pour” dispensary, they now serve as an integrated member of the health care team. Pharmacists are often directly involved in patient care and play a vital role in a patient’s recovery.
Historically, pharmacists primarily checked and distributed drugs to doctors for patient prescribed medication. In modern times, pharmacists advise patients and health care providers on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of prescriptions. Additionally, their role includes being a learned intermediary between a prescriber and a patient. By monitoring the health and progress of patients, pharmacists can then ensure the safe and effective use of medication.
Pharmacists work long hours, usually standing the entire time. Along with dispensing pills and providing advice on medications, pharmacists also administer immunizations. Pharmacists who conduct research discover and test new medications, too.

Do you wonder how Agatha Christie came to know so much about poisons for her murder mysteries? She was once a pharmacy dispenser during World War I.
Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Ginger Ale were all invented by pharmacists
Before running for President of the United States, Hubert Humphrey earned his pharmacy license and worked in his father’s pharmacy.
William Procter, Jr., (May 3, 1817 – February 10, 1874) dedicated his career to the science of pharmacy. He wrote the first textbook on pharmacy for students in the United States and advocated for the founding of the American Pharmaceutical Association. His dedication earned him the name Father of Pharmacy.

Spanning the Need’s Christmas Concert Special (TV Broadcast)(Opens in a new browser tab)
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PHARMACIST DAY
Anyone who has required the services of a pharmacist, take time to thank them today. Give them a shout-out. Whether they work in a facility or local pharmacy, they will appreciate the good word. If you’re considering a career, learn more about pharmacy. Use #NationalPharmacistDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL PHARMACIST DAY HISTORY
While we were unable to find the exact creator of this observance, it is indicated that it is likely an association of pharmaceutical groups that are founders.
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National Sticker Day
2026-01-13
National Sticker Day on January 13th recognizes all the ways stickers brighten up a page or send a special message. The day celebrates all things stickers, from the custom printing of them to sharing stickers. Every sticker has a story.

#NationalStickerDay

Historians credit the European merchants in the 1880s as the first to stick labels to their products, in an effort to promote their goods and wares to passersby.
These savvy, pre-industrial entrepreneurs used a gum paste to get the labels to adhere and, well, stick: hence “stickers.” By the 1900s a sticker-specific paste had been developed and was widely used, most notably on stamps, which dried and then would re-apply when moistened.
The observance is in honor of R. Stanton Avery, who was born on that day in 1907. Avery was the original creator of the adhesive label with removable backing.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL STICKER DAY
National Sticker Day offers so many ways to celebrate! We won’t limit it to any age group either, so be sure to invite everyone to the party. That means everyone deserves a sticker whether they are shopping online, promoting their business, or learning something new. While you are planning your celebration, be sure to check out these ideas, too.

Host a sticker collection contest. Award prizes for the largest, most colorful, and most original collections.
Stickers bring in business, too. Create a buzz around special days using stickers.
They inspire creativity in the classroom. Ask students to design stickers for events and campaigns.
Get organized! Color code your favorite projects with stickers that keep you on track.

Take photos of them to post on social media using #NationalStickerDay.
Learn more about the history behind National Sticker Day and Sticker Giant by reading Celebration Spotlight.
NATIONAL STICKER DAY HISTORY
StickerGiant, a promotional sticker and product label company based in Longmont, Colorado, created National Sticker Day in 2015 to celebrate all the fun stickers bring to all ages.
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National Rubber Ducky Day
2026-01-13
According to a 1973 Sesame Street calendar, Rubber Duckie’s Birthday is January 13th so around the country it’s National Rubber Ducky Day! A friend of Ernie and Big Bird, Duckie made his debut in a February 1970 episode.

#NationalRubberDuckyDay
The rubber ducky (also spelled duckie) has come a long way from his first concept as a chew toy for children. While the origin of the first rubber ducky is uncertain, many rubber molded toys came about when rubber manufacturing developed in the late 1800s. They produced a variety of toys from dolls and various animal shapes, including the rubber duck.
In 1928, Landon Smart Lawrence received the earliest patent for a rubber duck toy. His clever design weighted the toy so that when it tipped it returned to an upright position. The sketch included with the patent was that of a duck.
During World Wars I and II, rubber was a valuable commodity. Rationing became mandatory and by the 1940s with the advent of plastic, the rubber ducky began being produced in vinyl and plastic. Russian Sculptor Peter Ganine sculpted many animal figures. One, a duck, he later designed and patented into a floating toy that closely resembles the rubber ducky we have become familiar with today.
Sales of the iconic yellow rubber ducky we’ve come to know today soared in Britain in 2001. Why? A British Tabloid, The Sun, reported Queen Elizabeth II had a rubber duck in her bathroom that wore an inflatable crown.
The rubber ducky became a Toy Hall of Fame inductee in 2013. Founded in 1998, the Hall of Fame has only inducted 52 other toys.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKY DAY
Spend time with your favorite rubber ducky. Share photos of your rubber ducky collection. Discover all the different kinds of rubber duckies available. Use #NationalRubberDuckyDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKY DAY HISTORY
While our research did not uncover the creator of National Rubber Ducky Day, National Day Calendar® is pretty fond of the idea that it has to do with Sesame Street’s Rubber Duckie.
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National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day
2026-01-14
Pastrami lovers across the country look forward to their favorite sandwich on January 14th as they recognize National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day.

#HotPastramiSandwichDay

Popular delicatessen meat, pastrami is usually made from beef. Others make their pastrami sandwich with pork, mutton, or turkey. Before refrigeration, butchers originally created pastrami as a way to preserve meat. To make pastrami, they placed the raw meat in brine. Then they partially dried it and seasoned it with various herbs and spices to be smoked and steamed.
A wave of Romanian Jewish immigration introduced pastrami (pronounced pastróme), a Romanian specialty, in the second half of the 19th century. Early English references used the spelling “pastrama” before the modified “pastrami” spelling was used.
New York kosher butcher, Sussman Volk earns credit for producing the first pastrami sandwich in 1887. He claimed to have gotten the recipe from a Romanian friend in exchange for storing his luggage. Due to the popularity of his sandwich, Volk converted his butcher shop into a restaurant to sell pastrami sandwiches.

Classic Pastrami

When served, the deli typically slices the pastrami and places it between two slices of rye bread. Sometimes, the classic New York deli sandwich (pastrami on rye) is served with coleslaw and Russian dressing.
When pastrami and coleslaw combine, it’s called a Rachel sandwich. Similar to a Reuben which is made with corned beef and sauerkraut.
In Los Angeles, they serve the classic pastrami sandwich with hot pastrami right out of the steamer. They slice it very thin and wet from the brine then layered on double-baked Jewish-style rye bread. It is traditionally accompanied by yellow mustard and pickles.
In Salt Lake City, in the early 1960s, Greek immigrants introduced a hamburger topped with pastrami and a special sauce. This pastrami burger remains a staple of local burger chains in Utah.

HOW TO OBSERVE HOT PASTRAMI SANDWICH DAY
Serve up your favorite pastrami sandwich. What toppings will you add? Try making several versions. Here are some other suggestions for celebrating:

Add sliced green apples and sharp cheddar cheese to your sandwich.
Invite friends to build their own sandwiches.
Give a shout-out to your favorite restaurant and deli with the best pastrami sandwich.
While you’re at it, what’s the best beverage to wash down a hot pastrami sandwich?
Are you a master sandwich maker? Share your sandwich stacking tips.
When it comes to the bread only the best will do. Pastrami and rye are classic. What other bread makes terrific pastrami sandwiches?
Mix up a variety of spreads. Make them hot, spicy, sweet, sour, or creamy, and find out which one compliments pastrami best.
Read the Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli by Ted Merwin while munching on your creation.
Watch a food show while enjoying your delicious pastrami sandwich.

Try this Hot Pastrami Sandwich recipe.
Use #HotPastramiSandwichDay to post on social media.
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National Dress Up Your Pet Day
2026-01-14
National Dress Up Your Pet Day on January 14th provides a special day to celebrate with your pet and show off their fashion style. Pets do become part of one’s family. Whether you take a visit to the groomer or take it a step further and dress up in matching outfits, be sure your pet companion is safe and comfortable.

#NationalDressUpYourPetDay

Please remember to keep your pets safe and comfortable in the pet clothing and costumes that you choose.
Tips for dressing up your pet:

If your pet just doesn’t like dressing up, let them sit this holiday out.
Be sure it fits. Restricting movement or ability to breathe can cause injury or illness.
Many pets like to chew. Avoid loose or dangling pieces which can cause choking hazards.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL DRESS UP YOUR PET DAY
The name of the day tells you how to celebrate it; dress your pets up! Keep your pet’s comfort first and foremost. A visit to the groomer for a bit of polish and trim always improves our pet companion’s appearance. Get a snazzy bandana, bow, or collar to show off the fresh do. How about a sweater for chilly, long walks? If the tutu is too, too much, your pooch will let you know. Be sure to share your favorite pet poses with us. We love to see how you #CelebrateEveryDay. Use #DressUpYourPetDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL DRESS UP YOUR PET DAY HISTORY
National Dress Up Your Pet Day was founded in 2009 by Celebrity Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Behaviorist, Colleen Paige.
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National Bagel Day
2026-01-15
Toast up your favorite flavor on National Bagel Day. On January 15th, don’t forget to pick your favorite schmear, too. Make it for breakfast, lunch, snack, or all of the above!

#NationalBagelDay

This kosher carbohydrate brings complex flavors to the deli and sandwich bar. In the United States, we love our crunch-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside bread. So they’re a staple in our freezers and as a winter pick-me-up.

Bagel History
Polish-Jewish immigrants introduced the bagel to the United States. Throughout New York City and the surrounding boroughs, they grew thriving businesses. Of course, it didn’t take long for the bakers to organize. In 1907, they created the International Beigel Bakers’ Union. For decades, Bagel Bakers Local 338 held contracts with nearly all bagel bakeries for its workers in and around the city.
Until the 1960s, bakeries made bagels by hand. Then Daniel Thompson invented the bagel maker, and along came a heated debate of man versus the machine. Thereafter, the question of the better bagel dangled before customers. Was it the handcrafted beigel or the manufactured bagel?
The bagel became more common throughout North America during the last quarter of the 20th century. Credit for the bagel’s spread across the country goes in part to the efforts of bagel baker Harry Lender, his son, Murray Lender, and Florence Sender. Their pioneering efforts led to the automated production and distribution of frozen bagels in the 1960s. Murray also invented pre-slicing the bagel.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BAGEL DAY
Have your favorite bagel combinations. Invite friends to get a schmear or two with you. Try new combinations. Do you like yours toasted or not? Breakfast bagels, pizza bagels, cinnamon bagels, they all sound so delicious right now. Which one will you choose?
Brush up on the bagel’s history in the United States. It’s a vibrant and enduring one. Use #NationalBagelDay to share your favorites and give your favorite bagel shop a shoutout, too!
NATIONAL BAGEL DAY HISTORY
Once, the bagel shared a day with lox, but no longer. As of 2020, the bagel branched out on its own to celebrate all kinds of bagels.
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National Hat Day
2026-01-15
Hang on to your hats and celebrate in style on National Hat Day. Celebrated each year on January 15th, don your favorite fedora, cap, cloche, derby, or sunhat. Dig out your ceremonial best and tell the story behind it. Wear your warmest tuque, stocking cap, beanie, and share the name you give it. There are so many hats, fashions, and names we give them. Certainly, we could wear a hat a day and never get through them all.

#NationalHatDay

We wear hats for numerous reasons. Many hats protect us from elements or harm. Others were worn for ceremonial or religious reasons. Some hats just make us look good or cover up what we think doesn’t. Through the centuries, we’ve given our hats a lot of meaning.

In the Middle Ages, hats indicated social status.
In the military, hats may denote one’s nationality, branch of service, rank, and/or regiment.
A Thebes tomb painting depicts one of the first pictorials of a hat. The painting shows a man wearing a conical straw hat.
Structured hats for women began to be worn in the late 16th century.
Millinery is the designing and manufacture of hats.
The term “milliner” is derived from the city of Milan, Italy. The best quality hats were made in Milan in the 18th century.
Millinery traditionally began as a woman’s occupation, as the milliner created hats and bonnets and chose lace, trim, and accessories to complete any outfit.
In the mid-1920s, to replace the bonnets and wide-brimmed hats, women began to wear smaller hats that hugged their heads.

Depending on where you live, if you are outside in the middle of a cold January, you may definitely want to wear a hat on National Hat Day!

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL HAT DAY
Wear your favorite hat on National Hat Day. Celebrate an era or an occupation. Learn the history of a particular hat or try making a paper hat.
Be sure to wear a hat and use #NationalHatDay to post on social media. Educators, visit the National Day Calendar® Classroom for lessons designed around National Hat Day. If you’d like to learn more about hats, read 10 Iconic Hats From Pop Culture.
NATIONAL HAT DAY HISTORY
Since at least 1983, schools, libraries, and museums have observed National Hat Day has been observed in libraries, schools, and museums. They invited students and patrons to wear their favorite hats or hats of their occupation. People of all ages show up in pirate hats and football helmets. Patrol officers, postal workers, restaurant servicers also wear their hats to various events. That date also commemorates the day in 1797 when the first top hat made its appearance in court. Created by haberdasher John Hetherington, the judge claimed the tall hat, rather prominent hat disturbed the public.
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National Hot Buttered Rum Day
2026-01-17
It’s hot. It’s buttered. It’s hot buttered rum! Haven’t had it? No worries. January 17 is National Hot Buttered Rum Day and it’s the perfect opportunity to give it a try. Hot buttered rum is a mixed drink containing rum, butter, hot water or cider, sweetener, and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It dates back to colonial America, but likely originates from Europe. It’s most often enjoyed in the fall and winter, when it’s cold and cozy and has been described as “comfort food in a mug”. Craving a warm mug of it already? We are too.

National Winnie the Pooh Day
2026-01-18
Winnie the Pooh has been a childhood favorite for generations. Originally created in 1926, his stories have sparked wholesome, honey-loving, childhood dreams for nearly a century. Although there are many other characters within the Winnie the Pooh universe (Kanga, Rabbit, Roo, and Tigger — just to name a few), there is not doubt that the bear wearing a red shirt — with his fist shoved into a jar of honey — is most certainly a fan favorite. National Winnie the Pooh Day, on January 18, is your time to return to the Hundred Acre Wood!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2026-01-19
Each year on the third Monday of January we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day and reflect on the work that still needs to be done for racial equality. This January 16, make the holiday more than just a day off and take time to reflect and take action on civil rights issues across the globe.

Martin Luther King Day is observed every year on the third Monday of January — on January 16 this year. King was an influential civil rights leader — best known for his work on racial equality and ending racial segregation in the United States. His life and achievements are remembered and celebrated on this day.

The concept of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions. After King’s death, U.S. Representative John Conyers and U.S. Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday. The bill first came to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979; however, it fell five votes short of the number needed for passage. Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition, as King never held public office. At the time, only two other figures had national holidays honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus.

Soon after, the King Center looked for support from the corporate community and the general public. The success of this strategy was cemented when musician Stevie Wonder released the single ‘Happy Birthday’ to popularize the campaign in 1980 and hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. Six million signatures were collected for a petition for Congress to pass the law and is considered the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history.
President Reagan originally opposed the holiday, citing cost concerns. But on November 2, 1983, Reagan signed a bill, proposed by Representative Katie Hall, to create a federal holiday honoring King. The bill had passed the Senate by a count of 78 to 22, and the House of Representatives by 338 to 90. The holiday was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986. It’s observed on the third Monday of January rather than directly on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday because it follows the guidelines of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

National Popcorn Day
2026-01-19 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us on January 19 as we celebrate National Popcorn Day! Buttered, salted, kettled, drizzled with caramel, popcorn is one of those snacks perfect anytime, anywhere. It’s great on the go, in the theater, or in your living room! Just be prepared to dig some of it out of your teeth.Salted, buttered, or caramel, National Popcorn Day celebrates this delectable snack on January 19.

Did you know that the corn we eat and the corn we pop are two different varieties of maize? In fact, the corn you’d find on your dinner table is most likely unable to pop at all! Only one variety of corn is able to become popcorn: Zea mays everta. This particular corn variety has small ears, and the kernels burst when exposed to dry heat.
In 1948, small heads of Zea mays everta were discovered by Herbert Dick and Earle Smith in the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico. Ranging from smaller than a penny to about two inches, the oldest Bat Cave ears were about 4,000 years old. Several individually popped kernels were also discovered, which have since been carbon dated and shown to be approximately 5,600 years old. There’s also evidence of early use of popcorn in Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala, as well as other places in Central and South America.

Aztecs used popcorn to decorate their clothes, create ceremonial embellishments, and also for nourishment. Native Americans have also been found to consume and utilize popcorn in their day to day lives. In a cave in Utah, thought to be inhabited by Pueblo Native Americans, popcorn has been found that dates back to over 1,000 years ago. French explorers who traveled to the new world discovered popcorn being made by the Iroquois Natives in the Great Lakes region. As colonists moved around North America, and as the USA came to be, many people adopted popcorn as a popular and healthy snack.

National Cheese Lover's Day
2026-01-20
On January 20, get ready to ‘havarti’ a ‘gouda’ time, because it’s National Cheese Lover’s Day! Have you ever wondered how the first human discovered cheese? We’ve wondered that too, and we’ll probably never find out. All we know is that it was love at first bite; when the first human tasted the salty, tangy, delicious goodness of cheese, they were hooked. And we can definitively say that human history was forever changed. Cheese might have had mysterious beginnings over 7,000 years ago, but it’s insanely popular today. In the U.S, one-third of all milk produced in this country goes into cheese production. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry! We’re ready to celebrate it.

We celebrate and explore the wonderful flavors of cheese on National Cheese Lovers Day on January 20.
It seems like cheese has been around forever. There aren’t any records pinpointing the exact event when cheese was created, but the earliest record of pasteurizing cheese dates back to 5500 B.C. in the geographical region that’s now Poland. The earliest cheeses were mostly cottage cheese churned at home, and this is likely how cheesemaking started.
Thousands of years ago, milk was transported by people by storing it in the stomachs of sheep. When left for a few days, the milk would separate into whey and curd. Retaining this residue and preserving it with salt led to the formation of cheese. Today, there are more than 1,800 types of cheese in the world.

The rest of the history of cheese is as extravagant and full of flavor as cheese itself. Enjoyed by royalty, the poor, and modern-day consumers, there is something for everyone. Some parts of the world are very secretive about their cheese heritage, keeping the ingredients and techniques private.
Cheesemaking itself is a very sensitive process. Everything from the environment, to the temperature of the milk will impact the taste and aroma of the cheese.

Celebration of Life Day
2026-01-22
Though Celebration of Life Day, which lands on January 22, was originally instituted to celebrate the children in our lives, it has come to signify all that’s good about being alive. It’s easy to forget sometimes, but we are all fortunate to be here. Take time to celebrate that the good far outweighs the bad in this life. It all starts with gratitude and appreciation for where you are right now, and wherever you hope your dreams take you. Every life is precious, individual, and a huge gift, so take a little extra time today to celebrate it.

Though Ronald Regan originally established the holiday to send an anti-abortion message, the Celebration of Life Day has come to be a day to celebrate both the lives of children and ourselves. Celebration of Life Day was originally called National Sanctity of Human Life Day and was proclaimed in January 1984 by Ronald Regan. At the time, President Regan chose to harken back to the landmark abortion case Roe v Wade by placing National Sanctity of Human Life Day on the 11-year anniversary of the decision on the case.
Anti-abortion groups championed the holiday and felt that it expressed their sentiments on the importance of human life at all stages. This belief has been echoed in Donald Trump’s statement on the day from 2019. Organizations who champion the right to choose, like Planned Parenthood, denounced the day as a way of limiting women’s rights to autonomy over their bodies.

The history of National Sanctity of Human Life/Celebration of Life Day has been rocky. Though both Bush presidencies continued the holiday, it was discontinued for eight years under President Bill Clinton. Donald Trump has continued the holiday throughout his presidency, as well, and some churches have even marked it as a holy day on their calendars. The holiday routinely falls on a Sunday for this religious reason, although only in 2018 Donald Trump proclaimed it be celebrated on a Monday.
Today, many view the Celebration of Life Day as a day to spend extra time with their nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, or even just kids they babysit. Every human life is precious, and today is the day to remind ourselves we are all lucky to be here and lead the lives we do. Despite our individual and group challenges, there is always good to be found and gratitude to be shown – and what better day to find the positive than Celebration of Life Day?
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