
We start every year with a holiday, end every year with a holiday, and spend the 12 months in between inundated by holidays.
At their best, holidays can help us honor and celebrate. At their worst, holidays are thinly veiled marketing ploys meant to sell you stuff. But beauty is in the eye of the beerholder: celebrate what you support!
Official Holidays 2021
There are only two types of holidays:
- Holidays that get us off work
- All other holidays
The holidays that get us (Americans) off of work are called Federal Holidays and are dictated determined by the government. There are 11 Federal Holidays in 2021:
- January 1st: New Year’s Day (Friday)
- January 18th: MLK Day (Monday)
- January 20th: Inauguration Day (Wednesday)
- February 15th: Washington’s Birthday (Monday)
- May 31st: Memorial Day (Monday)
- July 5th: Independence Day (Monday)
- September 6th: Labor day (Monday)
- October 11th: Columbus Day (Monday)
- November 11th: Veteran’s Day (Thursday)
- November 25th: Thanksgiving Day (Thursday)
- December 24th: Christmas Day (Friday)
We all know that Independence Day is on July 4th, but the observed holiday (aka your day off) occurs on Monday, July 5th. That’s because when a federal holiday lands on a Sunday the observed day gets pushed back to Monday; if the actual holiday is on a Saturday the observed holiday is pulled forward to Saturday. These dates are established years in advance (see future Federal holidays: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030)
All Holidays 2021
Now it’s time to tame the hoard of holiday squatters that arbitrarily lay claim to the precious real estate on our calendars and in our hearts.
Staying true to our name, we’ve limited our list to one holiday per calendar day. They’ve been selected from actual holidays observed each year with the intent to inform, amuse, educate, and entertain.
It’s an admittedly non-scientific approach based upon Editor’s Choice, but when you’ve got Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr. competing for market share with Avocados and IPAs, somebody has to draw a (non-yellow) line in the snow. Holidays without links require further research.
January Holidays
- January 1: New Year’s Day (Friday)
- January 2: Self-Betterment Day (Saturday)
- January 3: Work from Home Day (Sunday)
- January 4: World Braille Day (Monday)
- January 5: National Screenwriters Day (Tuesday)
- January 6: National Bean Day (Wednesday)
- January 7: National Bobblehead Day (Thursday)
- January 8: National Bubble Bath Day (Friday)
- January 9: National Vision Board Day (Saturday)
- January 10: National Houseplant Appreciation Day (Sunday)
- January 11: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (Monday)
- January 12: National Shop for Travel Day (Tuesday)
- January 13: Korean American Day (Wednesday)
- January 14: Ratification Day (Thursday)
- January 15: National Hat Day (Friday)
- January 16: National Religious Freedom Day (Saturday)
- January 17: World Religion Day (3rd Sunday in January) (Sunday)
- January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday)
- January 19: National Popcorn day (Tuesday)
- January 20: Inauguration Day (Wednesday)
- January 21: National Granola Bar Day (Thursday)
- January 22: World Foodie Day (Friday)
- January 23: National Pie Day (Saturday)
- January 24: International Day of Education (Sunday)
- January 25: National Opposite Day (Monday)
- January 26: National Spouses Day (Tuesday)
- January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Wednesday)
- January 28: Data Privacy Day (Thursday)
- January 29: National Puzzle Day (Friday)
- January 30: National Croissant Day (Saturday)
- January 31: National Hot Chocolate Day (Sunday)
February Holidays
- February 1: National Freedom Day (Monday)
- February 2: National Groundhog Day (Tuesday)
- February 3: National Missing Persons Day (Wednesday)
- February 4: World Cancer Day (Thursday)
- February 5: World Nutella Day (Friday)
- February 6: National Chopsticks Day (Saturday)
- February 7: Superbowl (Sunday)
- February 8: National Kite Flying Day (Monday)
- February 9: National Pizza Day (Tuesday)
- February 10: World Pulses Day (Wednesday)
- February 11: National Inventors’s Day (Thursday)
- February 12: Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday (Friday)
- February 13: World Radio Day (Saturday)
- February 14: Valentine’s Day (Sunday)
- February 15: Singles Awareness Day (Monday)
- February 16: National Almond Day (Tuesday)
- February 17: National Random Acts of Kindness Day (Wednesday)
- February 18: National Drink Wine Day (Thursday)
- February 19: Brotherhood Day (Friday)
- February 20: World Day of Social Justice (Saturday)
- February 21: International Mother Language Day (Sunday)
- February 22: National Margarita Day (Monday)
- February 23: National Tile Day (Tuesday)
- February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day (Wednesday)
- February 25: National Clam Chowder Day (Thursday)
- February 26: National Pistachio Day (Friday)
- February 27: Anosmia Awareness Day (Saturday)
- February 28: Rare Disease Day (Sunday)
March Holidays
- March 1: Self-Injury Awareness Day (Monday)
- March 2: National Read Across America Day (Tuesday)
- March 3: World Wildlife Day (Wednesday)
- March 4: National Grammar Day (Thursday)
- March 5: Employee Appreciation Day (First Friday in March) (Friday)
- March 6: National Frozen Food Day (Saturday)
- March 7: National Cereal Day (Sunday)
- March 8: International Women’s Day (Monday)
- March 9: National Crabmeat Day (Tuesday)
- March 10: National Mario Day (Wednesday)
- March 11: National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day (Thursday)
- March 12: National Girl Scout Day (Friday)
- March 13: National Good Samaritan Day (Saturday)
- March 14: National Pi Day (Sunday)
- March 15: World Payback Day (Monday)
- March 16: National Freedom of Information Day (Tuesday)
- March 17: St. Patrick’s Day (Wednesday)
- March 18: National Awkward Moments Day (Thursday)
- March 19: World Sleep Day (Friday)
- March 20: International Day of Happiness (Saturday)
- March 21: National Single Parent Day (Sunday)
- March 22: World Water Day (Monday)
- March 23: National Puppy Day (Tuesday)
- March 24: National Cheesesteak Day (Wednesday)
- March 25: Unborn Child Day (Thursday)
- March 26: Epilepsy Awareness Day (Friday)
- March 27: World Theatre Day (Saturday)
- March 28: National Shish Kabob Day (Sunday)
- March 29: National Vietnam War Veterans Day (Monday)
- March 30: National Doctor’s Day (Tuesday)
- March 31: International Transgender Day (Wednesday)
April Holidays
- April 1: April Fools Day (Thursday)
- April 2: International Children’s Book Day (Friday)
- April 3: National Film Score Day (Saturday)
- April 4: National Jeep 4×4 Day (Sunday)
- April 5: National Deep Dish Pizza Day (Monday)
- April 6: National Student Athlete Day (Tuesday)
- April 7: National Beer Day (Wednesday)
- April 8: National Zoo Lovers Day (Thursday)
- April 9: World Stay Indoors Day (Friday)
- April 10: National Siblings Day (Saturday)
- April 11: National Pet Day (Sunday)
- April 12: National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day (Monday)
- April 13: Thomas Jefferson Day (Tuesday)
- April 14: National Ex-Spouse Day (Wednesday)
- April 15: Tax Day (Thursday)
- April 16: World Voice Day (Friday)
- April 17: World Malbec Day (Saturday)
- April 18: World Heritage Day (Sunday)
- April 19: National Garlic Day (Monday)
- April 20: 420 (Tuesday)
- April 21: National Tea Day (Wednesday)
- April 22: National Earth Day (Thursday)
- April 23: World Book Day (Friday)
- April 24: Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (Saturday)
- April 25: National DNA Day (Sunday)
- April 26: National Pretzel Day (Monday)
- April 27: National Babe Ruth Day (Tuesday)
- April 28: National Superhero Day (Wednesday)
- April 29: International Dance Day (Thursday)
- April 30: International Jazz Day (Friday)
May Holidays
- May 1: National Loyalty Day (Saturday)
- May 2: World House Keepers Day (Sunday)
- May 3: World Press Freedom Day (Monday)
- May 4: International Firefighters Day (Tuesday)
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo (Wednesday)
- May 6: National Nurses Day (Thursday)
- May 7: Military Spouse Appreciation Day (Friday before Mother’s Day) (Friday)
- May 8: Teacher’s Day (Saturday)
- May 9: Mother’s Day (Sunday)
- May 10: National Shrimp Day (Monday)
- May 11: World Surrealism Day (Tuesday)
- May 12: World Homer Day (Wednesday)
- May 13: World Cocktail Day (Thursday)
- May 14: National Anti-Monopoly Day (Friday)
- May 15: International Day of Families (Saturday)
- May 16: National Barbecue Day (Sunday)
- May 17: National Walnut Day (Monday)
- May 18: International Museum Day (Tuesday)
- May 19: World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day (Wednesday)
- May 20: World Bee Day (Thursday)
- May 21: Love at First Sight Day (Friday)
- May 22: National Maritime Day (Saturday)
- May 23: World Turtle Day (Sunday)
- May 24: Brother’s Day (Monday)
- May 25: National Missing Children’s Day (Tuesday)
- May 26: National Paper Airplane Day (Wednesday)
- May 27: World Black Light Day (Thursday)
- May 28: National Hamburger Day (Friday)
- May 29: National Paperclip Day (Saturday)
- May 30: National Creativity Day (Sunday)
- May 31: World No-Tobacco Day (Monday)
June Holidays
- June 1: International Children’s Day (Tuesday)
- June 2: National Running Day (1st Wed in June) (Wednesday)
- June 3: World Bicycle Day (Thursday)
- June 4: National Cheese Day (Friday)
- June 5: World Environment Day (Saturday)
- June 6: National Eyewear Day (Sunday)
- June 7: World Food Safety Day (Monday)
- June 8: National Best Friends Day (Tuesday)
- June 9: Start A Business Day (Wednesday)
- June 10: World Witchcraft Day (Thursday)
- June 11: Universal Alien Day (Friday)
- June 12: National Loving Day (Saturday)
- June 13: International Albinism Day (Sunday)
- June 14: Flag Day (Monday)
- June 15: Global Wind Day (Tuesday)
- June 16: Bloomsday (Wednesday)
- June 17: National Mascot Day (Thursday)
- June 18: Autistic Pride Day (Friday)
- June 19: Juneteenth (Saturday)
- June 20: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June) (Sunday)
- June 21: World Music Day (Monday)
- June 22: World Rainforest Day (Tuesday)
- June 23: National Hydration Day (Wednesday)
- June 24: National Pralines Day (Thursday)
- June 25: Take Your Dog To Work Day (Friday After Father’s Day) (Friday)
- June 26: World Refrigeration Day (Saturday)
- June 27: National Onion Day (Sunday)
- June 28: Tau Day (Monday)
- June 29: National Camera Day (Tuesday)
- June 30: International Asteroid Day (Wednesday)
July Holidays
- July 1: National Postal Worker Day (Thursday)
- July 2: World UFO Day (Friday)
- July 3: International Drop A Rock Day (Saturday)
- July 4: Independence Day (Sunday)
- July 5: National Bikini Day (Monday)
- July 6: National Fried Chicken Day (Tuesday)
- July 7: World Chocolate Day (Wednesday)
- July 8: World Bucket List Day (Thursday)
- July 9: Mind Over Matter Day (Friday)
- July 10: National Kitten Day (Saturday)
- July 11: National 7-Eleven Day (Sunday)
- July 12: National Different Colored Eyes Day (Monday)
- July 13: National French Fry Day (Tuesday)
- July 14: National Grand Marnier Day (Wednesday)
- July 15: National Give Something Away Day (Thursday)
- July 16: National Personal Chef Day (Friday)
- July 17: World Emoji Day (Saturday)
- July 18: National Ice Cream Day (3rd Sunday in July) (Sunday)
- July 19: National Daquiri Day (Monday)
- July 20: International Chess Day (Tuesday)
- July 21: First Step Day (Wednesday)
- July 22: National Hot Dog Day (Thursday)
- July 23: World Help Day (Friday)
- July 24: National Tequila Day (Saturday)
- July 25: National Wine and Cheese Day (Sunday)
- July 26: National Aunt & Uncle’s Day (Monday)
- July 27: National Scotch Day (Tuesday)
- July 28: Buffalo Soldiers Day (Wednesday)
- July 29: National Chicken Wing Day (Thursday)
- July 30: International Friendship Day (Friday)
- July 31: National Avocado Day (Saturday)
August Holidays
- August 1: World Jeep Day (Sunday)
- August 2: National Coloring Book Day (Monday)
- August 3: National Watermelon Day (Tuesday)
- August 4: National Coast Guard Day (Wednesday)
- August 5: National Oyster Day (Thursday)
- August 6: World Wide Web Day (Friday)
- August 7: National Lighthouse Day (Saturday)
- August 8: International Cat Day (Sunday)
- August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (Monday)
- August 10: National S’mores Day (Tuesday)
- August 11: World Sports Bar Day (Wednesday)
- August 12: International Youth Day (Thursday)
- August 13: International Left Handers Day (Friday)
- August 14: National Garage Sale Day (Saturday)
- August 15: National Relaxation Day (Sunday)
- August 16: National Rum Day (Monday)
- August 17: No Place Like Home Day (Tuesday)
- August 18: National Fajita Day (Wednesday)
- August 19: National Aviation Day (Thursday)
- August 20: National Radio Day (Friday)
- August 21: Senior Citizens Day (Saturday)
- August 22: National Tooth Fairy Day (Sunday)
- August 23: World Mamba Day (Monday)
- August 24: National Waffle Day (Tuesday)
- August 25: National Park Service Founders Day (Wednesday)
- August 26: Women’s Equality Day (Thursday)
- August 27: World Chimney Day (Friday)
- August 28: National Red Wine Day (Saturday)
- August 29: National Sports Day (Sunday)
- August 30: International Day of the Disappeared (Monday)
- August 31: International Overdose Awareness Day (Tuesday)
September Holidays
- September 1: World Letter Writing Day (Wednesday)
- September 2: Speak Softly Day (Thursday)
- September 3: Welsh Rarebit Day (Friday)
- September 4: World Sexual Health Day (Saturday)
- September 5: International Charity Day (Sunday)
- September 6: Labor Day (First Monday in September) (Monday)
- September 7: National Salami Day (Tuesday)
- September 8: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses’ Day (Wednesday)
- September 9: National Teddy Bear Day (Thursday)
- September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day (Friday)
- September 11: Patriot Day (Saturday)
- September 12: National Grandparents Day (Sunday after Labor Day) (Sunday)
- September 13: National Peanut Day (Monday)
- September 14: National Anthem Day (Tuesday)
- September 15: International Day of Democracy (Wednesday)
- September 16: Mayflower Day (Thursday)
- September 17: National Citizenship Day (Friday)
- September 18: Airforce Day (Saturday)
- September 19: Talk Like A Pirate Day / Privateer (Sunday)
- September 20: National Fried Rice Day (Monday)
- September 21: National Chai Day (Tuesday)
- September 22: Car Free Day (Wednesday)
- September 23: International Day of Sign Languages (Thursday)
- September 24: National Punctuation Day (Friday)
- September 25: World Pharmacist Day (Saturday)
- September 26: International Daughter’s Day (4th Sunday in September) (Sunday)
- September 27: World Tourism Day (Monday)
- September 28: National Good Neighbor Day (Tuesday)
- September 29: World Heart Day (Wednesday)
- September 30: International Translation Day (Thursday)
October Holidays
- October 1: International Coffee Day (Friday)
- October 2: International Day of Non-Violence (Saturday)
- October 3: Unsung Hero Day (Sunday)
- October 4: National Taco Day (Monday)
- October 5: World Teachers’ Day (Tuesday)
- October 6: National Coaches Day (Wednesday)
- October 7: Space Photography Day (Thursday)
- October 8: National Pierogi Day (Friday)
- October 9: World Post Day (Saturday)
- October 10: World Mental Health Day (Sunday)
- October 11: National Coming Out Day (Monday)
- October 12: National Farmer’s Day (Tuesday)
- October 13: International Day for Disaster Reduction (Wednesday)
- October 14: National Dessert Day (Thursday)
- October 15: Boss Day (Oct 16th or previous work day) (Friday)
- October 16: World Food Day (Saturday)
- October 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (Sunday)
- October 18: World Vasectomy Day (Monday)
- October 19: Mother Teresa Day (Tuesday)
- October 20: World Statistics Day (Wednesday)
- October 21: Reptile Day (Thursday)
- October 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day (Friday)
- October 23: World Plastic Surgery Day (Saturday)
- October 24: World Daredevil Day (Sunday)
- October 25: World Pasta Day (Monday)
- October 26: National Pumpkin Day (Tuesday)
- October 27: Navy Day (Wednesday)
- October 28: National Chocolate Day (Thursday)
- October 29: National Cat Day (Friday)
- October 30: National Trick or Treat Day (Last Sat. Oct) (Saturday)
- October 31: Halloween (Sunday)
November Holidays
- November 1: National Author’s Day (Monday)
- November 2: Rules for Living Day (Tuesday)
- November 3: National Sandwich Day (Wednesday)
- November 4: Diwali (Thursday)
- November 5: World Smartphone Day (Friday)
- November 6: National Nachos Day (Saturday)
- November 7: Daylight Savings Time Ends (Sunday)
- November 8: International Day of Radiology (Monday)
- November 9: World Freedom Day (Tuesday)
- November 10: World Science Day for Peace and Development (Wednesday)
- November 11: Singles Day (China) (Thursday)
- November 12: World Pneumonia Day (Friday)
- November 13: World Kindness Day (Saturday)
- November 14: National Pickle Day (Sunday)
- November 15: National Philanthropy Day (Monday)
- November 16: International Day for Tolerance (Tuesday)
- November 17: World Prematurity Day (Wednesday)
- November 18: National Play Monopoly Day (Thursday)
- November 19: World Toilet Day (Friday)
- November 20: Universal Children’s Day (Saturday)
- November 21: World Underdog Day (Sunday)
- November 22: World Hello Day (Monday)
- November 23: World Continuous Improvement Day (Tuesday)
- November 24: Evolution Day (Wednesday)
- November 25: Thanksgiving (Thursday)
- November 26: Black Friday (Friday)
- November 27: Small Business Saturday (Saturday)
- November 28: Hanukkah first day Jewish (Sunday)
- November 29: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Monday)
- November 30: National Giving Day (Tuesday after Thanksgiving)
December Holidays
- December 1: Rosa Parks Day (Wednesday)
- December 2: Special Education Day (Thursday)
- December 3: National Bartender Day (First Friday in December) (Friday)
- December 4: National Cookie Day (Saturday)
- December 5: Repeal Day (World Alcohol Day) (Sunday)
- December 6: St. Nicholas Day (Monday)
- December 7: Pearl Harbor Day (Tuesday)
- December 8: National Brownie Day (Wednesday)
- December 9: International Anti-Corruption Day (Thursday)
- December 10: Human Rights Day (Friday)
- December 11: International Mountain Day (Saturday)
- December 12: Gingerbread House Day (Sunday)
- December 13: National Guard Birthday (Monday)
- December 14: Monkey Day (Tuesday)
- December 15: National Cupcake Day (Wednesday)
- December 16: Day of Reconciliation (Thursday)
- December 17: Wright Brothers Day (Friday)
- December 18: World Ballet Day (Saturday)
- December 19: International Human Solidarity Day (Sunday)
- December 20: Space Force Day (Monday)
- December 21: National Crossword Puzzle Day (Tuesday)
- December 22: World Beautification Day (Wednesday)
- December 23: Festivus (Thursday)
- December 24: National Eggnog Day (Friday)
- December 25: Christmas (Saturday)
- December 26: Boxing Day (Sunday)
- December 27: National Fruitcake Day (Monday)
- December 28: National Card Playing Day (Tuesday)
- December 29: National Hero Day (Wednesday)
- December 30: World Brainstorming Day (Thursday)
- December 31: New Years Eve (Friday)
Real Holidays vs. Fun Holidays
The difference between a real holiday and a fun holiday can be hard to identify. We consider a “real holiday” to be one that is:
- Created for authentic purposes (not solely marketing)
- Generally accepted by a group of key stakeholders
- Selected for a specific date with meaning and purpose
We’ve refrained from labeling “Fun Holidays” as “Fake Holidays” because if a tree falls in a forest next to a guy celebrating a fake holiday by himself, the holiday still exists.
That being said, it’s worthwhile to give the “real holidays” some special attention; “fun holidays” that prove their worth can always make the leap from JV to Varsity.
- United Nations International Holidays
- Independence Days
- Country-specific Holidays
- US Federal Government Holidays
- State & Local Holidays (ex: Maryland)
- Religious holidays
- Famous birthdays
There are also holiday weeks, holiday months, and even holiday years and decades, but we didn’t want to put all of our eggs in one Easter Basket (so we put them in 365).