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MAKE EVERY DAY SPECIAL

A year’s worth of celebrations, from significant to silly

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 10:51 AM Tuesday, January 10, 2012

For the third straight year, despite this year’s report coming fashionably late, the Dayton Daily News has put together a list of the unofficial names assigned to each day on the calendar.

This tradition is rooted in the now yellowed lists of the last two years that we hear have been posted in classrooms, offices and homes throughout the Miami Valley, and which have helped people celebrate some of the previously overlooked days.

For example, “Moment of Laughter Day” on April 14 gets a proud seat near the more widely known “Earth Day” on April 22, while “Start Your Own Country Day” will share the bounty with “Thanksgiving” this year on Nov. 22. And, even “Underdog Day” will take center stage on Dec. 17.

As with last year’s sequel list, which included unofficial names for the months of the year, this year we have provided another element.

Peppered into the list of days and holidays this year are some historical notes behind the naming of these days, as well as some notable dates for 2012.

We again include the disclaimer that many of these days have multiple unofficial names, but our research has found these names to be the most observed.

So, enjoy each day for its own special charm — be it “cheese” or “positive thinking” — and have a happy new year!

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Jan. 1: New Year’s Day

Jan. 2: Run up the Flag Pole and See if Anyone Salutes Day

Jan. 3: Festival of Sleep Day

Jan. 4: Trivia Day

Jan. 5: Bird Day

Jan. 6: Bean Day

Jan. 7: Old Rock Day

Jan. 8: Man Watchers’ Day

Jan. 9: Apricot Day

Jan. 10: Peculiar People Day

Jan. 11: Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day

Jan. 12: Pharmacists’ Day

Jan. 13: Make Your Dream Come True Day

Jan. 14: Dress Up Your Pet Day

Jan. 15: Hat Day

Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day; in other years known as Nothing Day

Jan. 17: Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day

Jan. 18: Winnie the Pooh Day

Jan. 19: Popcorn Day

Jan. 20: Day of Renewal and Reconciliation

Jan. 21: Hugging Day

Jan. 22: Blonde Brownie Day

Jan. 23: Chinese New Year begins, and 2012 is Year of the Dragon; this day is also known as Measure Your Feet Day

Jan. 24: Compliment Day

Jan. 25: Opposite Day

Jan. 26: Australia Day

Jan. 27: Chocolate Cake Day

Jan. 28: Kazoo Day

Jan. 29: Puzzle Day

Jan. 30: Escape Day

Jan. 31: Backwards Day

Feb. 1: Freedom Day

Feb. 2: Groundhog Day

Feb. 3: The Day the Music Died

Feb. 4: Create a Vacuum Day

Feb. 5: Disaster Day

Feb. 6: Lame Duck Day

Feb. 7: Charles Dickens Day, since he was born on this day

Feb. 8: Boy Scouts Day, when Boy Scouts of America debuted in 1910

Feb. 9: Toothache Day

Feb. 10: Umbrella Day

Feb. 11: Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

Feb. 12: Darwin Day, since today is his birthday

Feb. 13: Get a Different Name Day

Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day

Feb. 15: Gum Drop Day

Feb. 16: Women’s Heart Health Day

Feb. 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day

Feb. 18: Battery Day

Feb. 19: Chocolate Mint Day

Feb. 20: Presidents Day; and Hoodie Hoo Day

Feb. 21: Mardi Gras; and Love Your Pet Day

Feb. 22: Ash Wednesday; and Be Humble Day

Feb. 23: Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

Feb. 24: Tortilla Chip Day

Feb. 25: Pistol Patent Day

Feb. 26: Pistachio Day

Feb. 27: Polar Bear Day

Feb. 28: Public Sleeping Day

Feb. 29: Leap Day, which is also known as Leap Year Day and happens every four years. This also has been known as Bachelor’s Day, and is a date singled out for women to propose marriage.

March 1: Peanut Butter Lover’s Day

March 2: Read Across America Day, which was chosen since today is the birthday of Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Seuss Geisel)

March 3: National Anthem Day, named for the day in 1931 when U.S. Congress recognized “The Star Spangled Banner” as the country’s national anthem

March 4: Holy Experiment Day

March 5: Multiple Personalities Day

March 6: Dentist Day; and day of Ohio Primary election

March 7: Crown Roast of Pork Day

March 8: Working Women’s Day

March 9: Panic Day

March 10: Festival of Life in the Cracks Day

March 11: Worship of Tools Day

March 12: Girl Scouts Day, believed to be the date of the first Girl Scout meeting in 1912 — 100 years ago today