The days are full, aren’t they? Running kids to school, work responsibilities, sports practices, birthday parties, haircuts, piano lessons… the multitude of things that create busyness can drown our days in clutter. Do you ever sit back at the end of the day and ask, “Did I even engage with my kids?”
A mom I respect once told me the fun, spontaneous things that are not put on the calendar create the most memorable experiences.
Am I leaving time for the spontaneous?
Over the years I have taken this advice to heart and find that the mini celebrations we build into the year (which I actually have to write on my calendar) lead to some of our best memories made and often break the daily grind.
You can literally find something to celebrate on any day, but the below list contains my favorites. These random celebrations I am going to share with you are legit holidays people have called out as National days to celebrate. I write them with a pencil in my planner, and if the occasion makes sense with what is going on in my family, we make a big deal out of it!
Celebrating everything is impossible, that’s why they are in pencil. Nothing we plan has to be written in stone. This is just for fun, not to add any stress to the “I should be doing….” list. However, when National Chocolate Cake Day comes around, it’s hard not to make that a priority!
Celebrating off the wall days is a fun way to be creative with your people, feel as though you are being intentional and spontaneous with your kiddos, and make traditions that your family will love to remember! I can’t wait to see which ones make your list!
JANUARY
January 4 — National Spaghetti Day
January 6 — National Cuddle Up Day
January 8 — National Bubble Bath Day
January 18 — National Winnie The Pooh Day
January 19 — National Popcorn Day
January 21 — National Hugging Day
January 23 — National Pie Day
January 24 — National Peanut Butter Day
January 27 — National Chocolate Cake Day
January 29 — National Puzzle Day
January 30 — National Croissant Day
FEBRUARY
February 1 — Bubble Gum Day – First Friday in February
February 4 — National Thank a Mail Carrier Day, National Homemade Soup Day
February 7 — National Send a Card to a Friend Day
February 8 — National Kite Flying Day
February 9 — National Pizza Day
February 15 — No One Eats Alone Day
February 17 — National Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 24 — National Tortilla Chip Day
February 26 — National Tell a Fairy Tale Day
February 27 — National Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss Day), National Day of Unplugging – First Friday in March
MARCH
March 5 — National Pancake Day – IHOP – Changes Annually
March 6 — National Frozen Food Day
March 13 — National Good Samaritan Day
March 14 — National Potato Chip Day, National Pi Day, National Learn About Butterflies Day, National Children’s Craft Day, National Write Down Your Story Day (I mean you may just have to take the day off people! And homeschool mommas… this can be your day!)
March 16 — National Corn Dog Day – Third Saturday in March
March 18 — National Sloppy Joe Day
March 19 — National Let’s Laugh Day
March 22 — National Goof Off Day
March 23 — National Chip and Dip Day
March 30 — National Take a Walk in the Park Day
March 31 — National Crayon Day
APRIL
April 2nd — National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
April 3rd — National Walking Day – First Wednesday in April
April 4th — National Burrito Day – First Thursday in April
April 5th — National Nebraska Day (Since we live in Nebraska… but every state has their own day!)
April 7th — National No Housework Day (Can I hear an Amen!)
April 10th — National Siblings Day
April 11th — National Teach Children to Save Day
April 12th — National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 13th — National Scrabble Day
April 16th — National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day (Unless it gets you fired.)
April 18th — National High Five Day – Third Thursday in April
April 22nd — National Earth Day
April 23rd — National Picnic Day
April 25th — National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day – Fourth Thursday in April
April 26th — National Pretzel Day
April 27th — National Tell a Story Day
April 28th — National Superhero Day
MAY
May 1st — May Day, National Mother Goose Day
May 2nd — National Day of Prayer – First Thursday in May
May 4th — National Star Wars Day
May 5th — National Astronaut Day, Cinco de Mayo
May 9th — National Lost Sock Memorial Day
May 10th — National Clean Up Your Room Day (And you will probably find more lost socks…)
May 11th — National Eat What You Want Day, National Miniature Golf Day – Second Saturday in May
May 13th — National Apple Pie Day
May 19th — Take Your Parents To The Playground Day – Third Sunday in May
May 24th — Brother’s Day, National Scavenger Hunt Day
May 28th — National Hamburger Day
May 31st — National Smile Day
JUNE
June 1 — National Say Something Nice Day
June 2 — National Rotisserie Chicken Day
June 3 — National Egg Day
June 4 — National Cheese Day
June 5 — National Running Day – First Wednesday in June
June 6 — National Drive In Movie Day
June 7 — National Doughnut Day – First Friday in June (Many doughnut shops hand out free doughnuts this day so don’t forget to write this one down!)
June 9 — National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day
June 10 — National Iced Tea Day
June 11 — National Corn on the Cob Day
June 13 — National Weed Your Garden Day (My kids least favorite 🙂
June 14 — National Strawberry Shortcake Day, National Flag Day
June 17 — National Eat Your Vegetables Day
June 20 — National Ice Cream Soda Day
June 22 — National Onion Rings Day
JULY
July 5th — National Graham Cracker Day
July 7th — National Dive Bar Day, National Father Daughter Take a Walk Day
July 9th — National Sugar Cookie Day
July 11th — National 7-Eleven Day
July 12th — National Pecan Pie Day (The best recipe is right on the back of the Karo Syrup bottle!)
July 14th — National Mac & Cheese Day
July 21st — National Ice Cream Day – Third Sunday in July
July 23rd — National Hot Dog Day
July 24th — National Drive-Thru Day
July 25th — National Merry-Go-Round Day, National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
July 26th — National Aunt and Uncle’s Day
July 28th — National Waterpark Day, National Parent’s Day – Fourth Sunday in July
July 29th — National Chicken Wing Day
July 30th — National Cheesecake Day, National Father-in-Law Day
July 31st — National Avocado Day
AUGUST
August 2 — National Coloring Book Day, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
August 3 — National Watermelon Day
August 4 — National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, American Family Day – First Sunday in August
August 6 — National Root Beer Float Day
August 10 — National S’mores Day
August 12 — National Middle Child Day
August 16 — National Tell a Joke Day
August 18 — National Fajita Day
August 20 — National Radio Day (Listen to the radio or better yet tour a radio station!)
August 24 — National Waffle Day
August 30 — National College Colors Day (Go Big Red!)
SEPTEMBER
September 5 — National Cheese Pizza Day (Obviously we like to celebrate food!)
September 6 — National Read A Book Day
September 8 — National Grandparent’s Day – Sunday after Labor Day
September 11 — National Make Your Bed Day (We review the right way to make a bed and then have a bed making contest. )
September 13 — National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day
September 14 — National CleanUp Day – Third Saturday In September
September 15 — Wife Appreciation Day – Third Sunday in September (Can we write this on our hubby’s calendars?!)
September 16 — National Play-Doh Day
September 18 — National Cheeseburger Day
September 19 — National Punch Day (Check out my Celebration Punch recipe under “The Feed” on our website!
September 26 — National Johnny Appleseed Day
September 27 — National Chocolate Milk Day
September 28 — National Good Neighbor Day, National Strawberry Cream Pie Day
September 29 — National Coffee Day (Most coffee shops offer free coffee today! Yay!)
September 30 — National Chewing Gum Day
OCTOBER
October 1 — National Homemade Cookies Day
October 4 — National Taco Day
October 5 — National Do Something Nice Day
October 8 — American Touch Tag Day
October 18 — National Chocolate Cupcake Day
October 28 — National Chocolate Day
NOVEMBER
November 1 — National Men Make Dinner Day – First Thursday in November (Or National Take out Day ;))
November 3 — National Sandwich Day
November 6 — National Nachos Day
November 11 — Veterans Day
November 16 — National Fast Food Day
November 17 — National Take A Hike Day
November 18 — Mickey Mouse Birthday
November 19 — National Carbonated Beverage With Caffeine Day, National Play Monopoly Day
November 28 — National French Toast Day
DECEMBER
December 1 — National Eat a Red Apple Day
December 4 — National Dice Day
December 8 — National Brownie Day, Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day
December 12 — Gingerbread House Day
December 13 — National Cocoa Day
December 16 –– National Chocolate-covered Anything Day
December 21 — National Flashlight Day – First Day of Winter Solstice (Between December 20 and 23. It’s a great day to play flashlight tag!)
December 28 — National Card Playing Day
