Fun & Unofficial Holidays
Quirky celebrations for every day of the year
July 9
No quirky holidays on our list for today — browse the calendar below for the next celebration.
84 holidays shown
January
- January 2Internet Culture
National Science Fiction Day
Celebrates sci-fi storytelling and often coincides with Isaac Asimov’s birthday.
- January 4Fun
National Trivia Day
A day to quiz friends, play pub trivia, and celebrate curious facts.
- January 15Food
National Strawberry Ice Cream Day
An unofficial food holiday dedicated to pink, fruity scoops of strawberry ice cream.
- January 19Food
National Popcorn Day
Honours one of the world’s favourite movie and snack-time treats.
- January 21Awareness
Squirrel Appreciation Day
A quirky awareness day encouraging kindness toward neighbourhood squirrels.
- January 24Fun
National Compliment Day
Encourages people to say something kind and lift someone’s mood.
- January 25Fun
Opposite Day
A playful day when right might mean left and no might mean yes.
- January 28Awareness
Data Privacy Day
Raises awareness about protecting personal information online.
- January 29Fun
National Puzzle Day
Celebrates jigsaws, crosswords, and brain-teasers of every kind.
- January 30Food
National Croissant Day
A buttery excuse to enjoy fresh croissants and French bakery culture.
February
- February 2Fun
Groundhog Day
Folklore weather day when a groundhog’s shadow predicts more winter.
- February 5Food
World Nutella Day
Fans of the hazelnut cocoa spread celebrate with spoonfuls and recipes.
- February 7Fun
National Send a Card to a Friend Day
A reminder to post or leave a thoughtful note for someone you care about.
- February 9Food
National Pizza Day
One of the best-known unofficial food holidays dedicated to pizza lovers everywhere.
- February 11Awareness
Inventors’ Day
Celebrates creativity and innovation, especially noted in the United States and some European countries.
- February 17Awareness
Random Acts of Kindness Day
Encourages small, unexpected good deeds toward strangers and friends.
- February 20Fun
Love Your Pet Day
A day to spoil companion animals and appreciate the joy they bring.
- February 22Food
National Margarita Day
Bartenders and fans toast the classic tequila cocktail.
- February 26Food
National Pistachio Day
Celebrates the crunchy green nut with snacks, ice cream, and recipes.
- February 27Awareness
International Polar Bear Day
Raises awareness of polar bears and the Arctic habitat they need.
March
- March 1Fun
World Compliment Day
A global nudge to give genuine compliments and brighten someone’s day.
- March 10Internet Culture
Mario Day
Fans celebrate Nintendo’s iconic plumber — because MAR10 looks like Mario.
- March 14Fun
Pi Day
Celebrates the mathematical constant π (3.14) — often with pie.
- March 20Awareness
International Day of Happiness
A UN-recognised day promoting happiness as a shared human goal.
- March 21Awareness
World Poetry Day
UNESCO’s day celebrating poets, poems, and the power of language.
- March 22Awareness
World Water Day
Highlights freshwater conservation and access to clean water worldwide.
- March 23Fun
National Puppy Day
Celebrates puppies and promotes adoption of dogs in need of homes.
- March 25Internet Culture
Tolkien Reading Day
Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien gather to read and discuss Middle-earth.
April
- April 1Fun
April Fools’ Day
The classic day of pranks, hoaxes, and lighthearted news spoofs.
- April 7Awareness
World Health Day
Marked by the World Health Organization to spotlight global health topics.
- April 10Fun
National Siblings Day
Honours brothers, sisters, and the bonds of sibling relationships.
- April 11Fun
National Pet Day
A day to celebrate pets and support animal welfare causes.
- April 12Food
National Grilled Cheese Day
Dedicated to the crispy, melty comfort of grilled cheese sandwiches.
- April 12Awareness
Yuri’s Night
A worldwide space party marking Yuri Gagarin’s first human spaceflight.
- April 13Fun
National Scrabble Day
Word-game fans celebrate Scrabble and competitive letter play.
- April 22Awareness
Earth Day
A global environmental observance for climate action and conservation.
- April 23Awareness
World Book Day
UNESCO’s celebration of reading, publishing, and copyright.
- April 25Awareness
DNA Day
Commemorates the discovery of DNA’s double helix and genetic science.
- April 26Food
National Pretzel Day
A salty celebration of soft and hard pretzels alike.
May
- May 4Internet Culture
Star Wars Day
May the Fourth be with you — an unofficial holiday for Star Wars fans.
- May 5Fun
Cinco de Mayo
Commemorates the Battle of Puebla and is widely celebrated with Mexican-inspired food and culture.
- May 9Fun
Lost Sock Memorial Day
A tongue-in-cheek day mourning every sock that vanished in the laundry.
- May 20Awareness
World Bee Day
Raises awareness of bees and other pollinators crucial to food systems.
- May 21Awareness
World Day for Cultural Diversity
UNESCO day promoting dialogue and cultural exchange.
- May 21Internet Culture
National Talk Like Yoda Day
A Star Wars fan day for speaking in Yoda’s distinctive word order.
- May 25Internet Culture
Towel Day
A tribute to Douglas Adams — always know where your towel is.
- May 28Food
National Hamburger Day
Celebrates the classic burger in all its regional styles.
June
- June 5Awareness
World Environment Day
The UN’s flagship day for environmental protection campaigns.
- June 8Awareness
World Oceans Day
Focuses on ocean conservation and healthy marine ecosystems.
- June 10Food
National Iced Tea Day
A refreshing unofficial holiday for sweet and unsweet iced tea fans.
- June 21Awareness
International Day of Yoga
A UN observance promoting yoga’s benefits for mind and body.
- June 21Fun
World Music Day
Also known as Fête de la Musique — free performances fill streets worldwide.
July
- July 1Fun
International Joke Day
A day to share punchlines and keep laughter circulating.
- July 2Fun
World UFO Day
Encourages open-minded curiosity about unidentified aerial phenomena.
- July 7Food
World Chocolate Day
Celebrates cacao and chocolate in every form from bars to hot cocoa.
- July 17Internet Culture
World Emoji Day
Created by Jeremy Burge — a global celebration of emoji culture.
- July 30Awareness
International Day of Friendship
A UN day recognising friendship as a foundation of peace.
August
- August 8Fun
International Cat Day
Created by International Fund for Animal Welfare to celebrate cats.
- August 10Food
National S’mores Day
Toast marshmallows, sandwich chocolate, and celebrate campfire snacks.
- August 13Awareness
International Lefthanders Day
Raises awareness of left-handed people’s everyday challenges and talents.
- August 19Fun
World Photography Day
Marks the importance of photography as art and documentation.
- August 26Fun
National Dog Day
Celebrates dogs and encourages adoption of pets in shelters.
September
- September 5Food
National Cheese Pizza Day
A cheese-only spin on pizza appreciation — simple toppings, big flavour.
- September 8Awareness
International Literacy Day
UNESCO day highlighting literacy as a human right.
- September 13Fun
Positive Thinking Day
Encourages optimism and constructive mindsets for the week ahead.
- September 19Fun
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Ahoy, matey — the famous unofficial holiday for pirate speak and sea shanties.
- September 21Awareness
International Day of Peace
A UN observance devoted to peace and non-violence.
- September 22Internet Culture
Hobbit Day
Celebrates Bilbo and Frodo’s shared birthday from Tolkien’s stories.
- September 29Food
National Coffee Day
Widely marked by free cups and coffee-shop promotions across the US.
October
- October 1Food
International Coffee Day
An industry-backed global day celebrating coffee growers and drinkers.
- October 4Awareness
World Animal Day
Raises awareness of animal welfare and the human–animal bond.
- October 5Awareness
World Teachers’ Day
UNESCO day recognising educators and the profession of teaching.
- October 10Awareness
World Mental Health Day
Highlights mental health awareness and access to support.
- October 16Awareness
World Food Day
FAO’s day tackling hunger and sustainable food systems.
- October 31Fun
Halloween
Costumes, candy, and spooky fun on All Hallows’ Eve.
November
- November 1Food
World Vegan Day
Marks the founding of The Vegan Society and plant-based living.
- November 13Awareness
World Kindness Day
Promotes kindness as a global force for connection.
- November 15Fun
National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
A practical quirky day to tidy the fridge before holiday cooking.
- November 21Awareness
World Television Day
A UN day noting television’s role in informing and connecting people.
December
- December 5Awareness
International Volunteer Day
Recognises volunteers and community service worldwide.
- December 9Food
National Pastry Day
A sweet unofficial holiday for croissants, danishes, and bakery treats.
- December 21Fun
Crossword Puzzle Day
Celebrates the classic grid puzzle beloved by word lovers.
- December 23Internet Culture
Festivus
The Seinfeld-inspired “Festivus for the rest of us” with airing of grievances.
- December 30Fun
National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
A quirky chemistry-and-kitchen day honouring versatile baking soda.
About unofficial holidays
Alongside public holidays and religious festivals sits a sprawling calendar of unofficial “national days” — National Pizza Day, Star Wars Day, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and hundreds more. Most are not government-declared. They catch on through brands, fan communities, awareness charities, or someone who simply picked a date and shared it widely enough that it stuck.
This page gathers well-known recurring observances with fixed month-and-day dates. Some are playful food and pop-culture celebrations; others are serious awareness campaigns that happen to sit outside formal public holiday schedules. Dates can vary by country, and a few observances move with the moon or fall on a particular weekday — those are left off this fixed MM-DD list.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides these holidays?
There is no single authority. Some days start with fan groups or marketing campaigns, others with charities or UN agencies, and many spread simply because people enjoy marking them. “National” in a holiday name rarely means a government decree — it usually means the observance is popular in a particular country.
Are unofficial holidays the same as public holidays?
No. Public holidays usually come with legal time off; unofficial days generally do not. You can celebrate National Pizza Day at work with a lunch order, but you will not get a bank holiday for it unless your local government has formally designated one.
Can I submit a new one?
We only list observances that are already widely recognised online or by major calendars — not brand-new inventions created just for this page. If a quirky day has clear, recurring recognition and a stable calendar date, you can tip us off via the contact page and we may add it in a future update.