I have an unexplainable affinity for the slighty off-kilter, and so of course I'm drawn to all manner of interesting, yet little-known, holidays and celebrations. And if they have a peculiar back-story, all the better! Here's a list of the ones I've researched and written about (so far), presented in chronological order. Just click on the link of any that strike your fancy, or your funny bone, as the case may be:
VARIOUS MONTHS
Friday the 13th - not little-known, but fun in a creepy way...
Blame Someone Else Day - first Friday the 13th of the year
Sandcastle and Sculpture Days/Competitions
JANUARY
New Year's Dishonor List Day - New Year's Day
Old Rock Day, and I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore Day - January 7th
Word Nerd Day - January 9th
Where's the Beef Day - January 10th
National Handwriting Day - January 12th
Appreciate a Dragon Day - January 16th
National Nothing Day - January 16th
Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement - January 26th
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day - January 28th
FEBRUARY
National Read in the Bathtub Day - February 9th
Plimsoll Day - February 10th
Umbrella Day - February 10th
Be Electrific Day - February 11th
Thumb Appreciation Day - February 18th
National Chili Day - February 25th, or maybe 26th, or maybe 22nd
Let's Eat Right Day, and Quiet Day and (sometimes) Fat Tuesday - February 25th
Tell a Fairy Tale Day - February 26th
Paczki Day - day before the start of Lent (AKA Fat Tuesday)
MARCH
National Pig Day, Share a Smile Day, Peanut Butter Lover's Day - March 1st
Read Across America Day - March 2nd (Not weird. Definitely not. Just really, really important.)
International Day of Awesomeness - March 10th
Johnny Appleseed Day - March 11th (or September 26th)
Save a Spider Day - March 14th
Pluto is a Planet Day - March 13th
St. Patrick's Day - March 17th (OK,so this one's not little-known, but still one of my favorites!)
Something on a Stick Day - March 28th
APRIL
National Frog Month
Find a Rainbow Day - April 3rd
Draw a Picture of a Bird Day - April 8th
National Cherish an Antique Day - April 9th
International Moment of Laughter Day - April 14th
Look-Alike Day - April 20th
National Jelly Bean Day - April 22nd
Talk Like Shakespeare Day - April 23rd
Pigs in a Blanket Day - April 24th
National Crayola Day, and World Penguin Day - April 25th
National Hairball Awareness Day - last Friday in April
MAY
Mr. Potato Head Day - May 1st
No Socks Day - May 8th
Limerick Day - May 12th
No Dirty Dishes Day - May 18th
Lucky Penny Day - May 23rd
The Defenestration of Prague - May 23rd
Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee - 3rd weekend in May
Mike the Headless Chicken Festival - 3rd weekend in May
National Grape Popsicle Day - May 27th
JUNE
King Kamehameha Day - June 11th
Pig Callers Day - June 14th
Stupid Guy Thing Day - June 22nd
National Pink Day, and Let It Go Day - June 23rd
National Forgiveness Day - June 24th
JULY
International Joke Day - July 1st
More on International Joke Day
Bowdler Day - July 11th
St. Swithin's Day - July 15th
Teddy Bear Picnic Day - July 10th
Gruntled Workers Day - July 13th
Stick Your Tongue Out Day - July 19th
Mosquito Day - July 23rd
Merry-Go-Round Day - July 25th
AUGUST
National Failures Day - August 5th
Wiggle Your Toes Day - August 6th
Sea Serpent Day - August 7th
Sneak a Zucchini on Your Neighbor's Porch Night - August 8th
Left-Handers' Day - August 13th
"Black Cow" Root Beer Float Day - August 19th
Toilet Paper Day - August 26th
SEPTEMBER
Fight Procrastination Day - first Wednesday in September
National Beheading Day - September 2nd
International Literacy Day - September 8th (not wacky, but too important not to include)
Chrysanthemum Day - September 9th
Wonderful Weirdos Day - September 9th
National Chocolate Milkshake Day - September 12th
Talk Like a Pirate Day - September 19th
More Talk Like a Pirate Day – with books! - September 19th
Elephant Appreciation Day - September 22nd
National Punctuation Day - September 24th
One-Hit-Wonders Day - September 25th
Banned Books Week - last week in September (not wacky, but way important)
OCTOBER
Moldy Cheese Day - October 9th
National Chocolate Covered Insect Day - October 14th
National Grouch Day - October 15th
Count Your Buttons Day - October 21st
National Mole Day - October 23rd
Mule Day, and National Mincemeat Day - October 26th
Cranky Co-Workers Day - October 27th
National Frankenstein Day - October 29th
National Candy Corn Day - October 30th
Mother-in-Law's Day - 4th Sunday in October
Carve a Pumpkin Day - October 31st
NOVEMBER
Plan Your Epitaph Day - November 2nd
Bean Day, and Cliché Day - November 3rd
National Men Make Dinner Day - 1st Thursday in November
Pencil Day - November 19th
False Confession Day - November 21st
DECEMBER
National Roof Over Your Head Day - December 3rd
International Volunteer Day - December 5th (not wacky, but so important)
National Ding-A-Ling Day - December 12th
National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day - December 16th
Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day - December 18th
