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
March 13: Good Samaritan Day
March 14: Pi Day (3.14)
March 15: Everything You Think Is Wrong Day
March 16: Everything You Do Is Right Day
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 18: Johnny Appleseed Day, unlike all these birthday celebrations, this is the day Johnny Appleseed died in 1845 at the age of 71
March 19: Saint Joseph’s Day and Swallow’s Return Day
March 20: Quilting Day
March 21: Single Parents’ Day
March 22: National Goof-off Day
March 23: Organize Your Home Office Day
March 24: Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25: Pecan Day
March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
March 27: “Joe” Day — everyone who hates their name can be called “Joe”
March 28: Something on a Stick Day
March 29: Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day
March 30: Doctors’ Day, and the red carnation is a symbolic flower of this day
March 31: Tater Day
April 1: April Fool’s Day
April 2: Children’s Book Day, chosen because it is on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday
April 3: Find a Rainbow Day
April 4: World Pillow Fight Day
April 5: Read a Road Map Day
April 6: Good Friday and the first day of Passover; also Sorry Charlie Day
April 7: World Health Day, the date the World Health Organization’s Constitution went into effect in 1948
April 8: Easter; and All Is Ours Day
April 9: Name Yourself Day
April 10: Golfers’ Day
April 11: Jackie Robinson Day, the day he became the first black player in modern Major League Baseball in 1947 by playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees
April 12: Look Up at the Sky Day
April 13: Blame Somebody Else Day
April 14: Moment of Laughter Day
April 15: Officially Tax Day, which has only been the official IRS deadline since 1954, but is being observed on April 17 this year
April 16: Eggs Benedict Day
April 17: Cheeseball Day
April 18: Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day
April 19: Garlic Day
April 20: Look Alike Day
April 21: Kindergarten Day
April 22: Earth Day, which was first celebrated in 1970
April 23: Home Run Day, the day Hank Aaron hit his first Major League home run on his way to a beating Babe Ruth’s career home run record of 715 and retiring with 755 home runs
April 24: Pigs in a Blanket Day
April 25: Zucchini Bread Day
April 26: Pretzel Day
April 27: Arbor Day; and Tell a Story Day
April 28: Poetry Reading Day
April 29: Zipper Day, the day the patent was issued in 1913
April 30: Honesty Day
May 1: May Day
May 2: Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to remember the 6 million Jewish people who died
May 3: Lumpy Rug Day
May 4: Teacher Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo Day
May 6: No Diet Day
May 7: Paste Up Day
May 8: No Socks Day
May 9: Train Day
May 10: Clean Up Your Room Day
May 11: Twilight Zone Day
May 12: Nurses’ Day
May 13: Mother’s Day; and Leprechaun Day
May 14: Dance Like a Chicken Day
May 15: Chocolate Chip Day
May 16: Wear Purple for Peace Day
May 17: Pack Rat Day
May 18: Museum Day
May 19: Circus Day
May 20: Eliza Doolittle Day, from a line from “My Fair Lady”
May 21: Waitresses/Waiters’ Day
May 22: Buy a Musical Instrument Day
May 23: Penny Day
May 24: Escargot Day
May 25: Missing Children’s Day
May 26: Blueberry Cheesecake Day
May 27: “How to” Tip Day
May 28: Memorial Day; also, appropriately for picnics, National Hamburger Day
May 29: End of the Middle Ages Day
May 30: My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It Day
May 31: No Tobacco Day
June 1: Doughnut Day
June 2: Rocky Road Day
June 3: Egg Day
June 4: Cheese Day
June 5. World Environment Day, which began in 1972, has the theme this year of “Green Economy: Does it Include You?”
June 6: D-Day
June 7: Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8: World Ocean Day
June 9: Donald Duck Day
June 10: Iced Tea Day
June 11: King Kamehameha Day, which is a holiday in Hawaii and was first celebrated in 1871 — long before it achieved statehood in 1959
June 12: Magic Day
June 13: Race Unity Day
June 14: Flag Day
June 15: Smile Power Day
June 16: Fudge Day
June 17: Father’s Day; and Eat Your Vegetables Day
June 18: Picnic Day
June 19: World Sauntering Day
June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day
June 21: Cuckoo Warning Day, reportedly if you hear a cuckoo on June 21, you will have a wet summer
June 22: Chocolate Eclair Day
June 23: Pink Day
June 24: UFO Day
June 25: LEON Day (“Noel” spelled backwards; marking six months until Christmas)
June 26: Chocolate Pudding Day
June 27: Columnists’ Day
June 28: Paul Bunyan Day
June 29: Camera Day
June 30: Meteor Day, named for the day a meteor struck Tunguska, Siberia, in 1908, reportedly releasing the energy equal to 185 atomic bombs
July 1: Build a Scarecrow Day
July 2: Visitation Of The Virgin Mary Day
July 3: Stay Out of the Sun Day
July 4: Independence Day
July 5: Workaholics Day
July 6: Fried Chicken Day
July 7: Macaroni Day
July 8: Video Games Day, although kids might say every day is video games day, the first game is reported to be “Tennis for Two” and debuted in 1958
July 9: Sugar Cookie Day
July 10: Teddy Bear Picnic Day
July 11: Cheer Up The Lonely Day
July 12: Paper Bag Day
July 13: French Fries Day
July 14: Bastille Day
July 15: Tapioca Pudding Day
July 16: Juggling Day
July 17: Ice Cream Day
July 18: Caviar Day
July 19: Stick Out Your Tongue Day
July 20: Moon Day, named for July 20, 1969, when U.S. astronauts landed on the moon for the first time
July 21: Junk Food Day
July 22: Ratcatchers’ Day
July 23: Mosquito Day
July 24: Amelia Earhart Day, the aviator’s birthdate in 1897; she disappeared flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937
July 25: Threading the Needle Day
July 26: All or Nothing Day
July 27: Take Your Pants for a Walk Day; and first day of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
July 28: Milk Chocolate Day
July 29: Lasagna Day
July 30: Cheesecake Day
July 31: Parents’ Day, established in 1994 after thousands of years of service
Aug. 1: Friendship Day
Aug. 2: Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Aug. 3: Watermelon Day
Aug. 4: Coast Guard Day, the recognized birthday of the military branch in 1790
Aug. 5: Underwear Day
Aug. 6: Wiggle Your Toes Day
Aug. 7: Sea Serpent Day
Aug. 8: World Cat Day
Aug. 9: Rice Pudding Day
Aug. 10: Lazy Day
Aug. 11: Play in the Sand Day
Aug. 12: Middle Children’s Day
Aug. 13: Blame Someone Else Day
Aug. 14: Creamsicle Day
Aug. 15: V-J Day; and Relaxation Day
Aug. 16: Roller Coaster Day
Aug. 17: Thriftshop Day
Aug. 18: Bad Poetry Day
Aug. 19: Aviation Day
Aug. 20: Radio Day
Aug. 21: Homeless Animals Day, 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the day to raise awareness about the overpopulation affecting animal shelters
Aug. 22: Be an Angel Day
Aug. 23: Spongecake Day
Aug. 24: Waffle Day
Aug. 25: Kiss and Make Up Day
Aug. 26: Women’s Equality Day
Aug. 27: Petroleum Day
Aug. 28: Dream Day
Aug. 29: More Herbs, Less Salt Day
Aug. 30: Toasted Marshmallow Day
Aug. 31: Trail Mix Day
Sept. 1: Emma M. Nutt Day, celebrating the woman who in 1878 became the first female telephone operator
Sept. 2: Blueberry Popsicle Day
Sept. 3: Labor Day; and Skyscraper Day
Sept. 4: Newspaper Carrier Day
Sept. 5: Be Late for Something Day
Sept. 6: Read a Book Day
Sept. 7: Neither Rain nor Snow Day
Sept. 8: Literacy Day
Sept. 9: Teddy Bear Day
Sept. 10: Swap Ideas Day
Sept. 11: Patriot Day
Sept. 12: Grandparents’ Day
Sept. 13: Positive Thinking Day
Sept. 14: National Cream-filled Doughnut Day
Sept. 15: Make a Hat Day
Sept. 16: Working Parents’ Day
Sept. 17: Rosh Hashannah; and Citizenship Day
Sept. 18: Play-doh Day
Sept. 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sept. 20: Punch Day
Sept. 21: World Gratitude Day
Sept. 22: Dear Diary Day
Sept. 23: Checkers Day
Sept. 24: Punctuation Day
Sept. 25: Comic Book Day
Sept. 26: Yom Kippur; and Good Neighbor Day
Sept. 27: Crush A Can Day
Sept. 28: Ask a Stupid Question Day
Sept. 29: Poisoned Blackberries Day, believed to be attributed to an obscure legend that had the devil poisoning all the blackberries in Scotland
Sept. 30: Mud Pack Day
Oct. 1: World Vegetarian Day
Oct. 2: Name Your Car Day
Oct. 3: Captain Kangaroo Day
Oct. 4: World Animal Day
Oct. 5: Do Something Nice Day
Oct. 6: Come and Take It Day
Oct. 7: Frappe Day
Oct. 8: Columbus Day; and Tag Day
Oct. 9: Moldy Cheese Day
Oct. 10: Angel Food Cake Day
Oct. 11: No News Is Good News Day
Oct. 12: Farmers’ Day
Oct. 13: Face Your Fears Day
Oct. 14: Be Bald and Free Day
Oct. 15: Grouch Day
Oct. 16: Bosses’ Day
Oct. 17: Gaudy Day
Oct. 18: Alaska Day, which marks the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the U.S. in 1867. Alaska became a state in 1959.
Oct. 19: Evaluate Your Life Day
Oct. 20: Monster Mash Day
Oct. 21: Babbling Day
Oct. 22: Nut Day
Oct. 23: Mole Day
Oct. 24: Bologna Day
Oct. 25: Denim Day
Oct. 26: Mule Day
Oct. 27: Sylvia Plath Day, marking the birthdate of the American poet and short-story writer
Oct. 28: Plush Animal Lover’s Day
Oct. 29: Hermit Day
Oct. 30: Candy Corn Day
Oct. 31: Halloween
Nov. 1: All Saints’ Day
Nov. 2: Deviled Egg Day
Nov. 3: Sandwich Day
Nov. 4: Candy Day
Nov. 5: Gunpowder Day, named for the planned date of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 — a failed assasination attempt on King James I of England and VI of Scotland
Nov. 6: Marooned Without a Compass Day; also date of the presidential election
Nov. 7: Hug a Bear Day
Nov. 8: Dunce Day
Nov. 9: Chaos Never Dies Day
Nov. 10: Forget-Me-Not Day
Nov. 11: Veterans Day, which is observed as when the fighting stopped in World War I in 1918
Nov. 12: Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day
Nov. 13: Gaming Day
Nov. 14: Operation Room Nurse Day
Nov. 15: America Recycles Day
Nov. 16: Button Day
Nov. 17: Take a Hike Day
Nov. 18: William Tell Day, reportedly the day in 1307 that William Tell shot an apple off of his son’s head with a crossbow. Several versions of this story exist, but it is believed Tell was forced to make the shot or he and his son would be executed.
Nov. 19: Have a Bad Day Day
Nov. 20: Adoption Day
Nov. 21: World Hello Day
Nov. 22: Thanksgiving; also Start Your Own Country Day
Nov. 23: Cashew Day
Nov. 24: Use Even if Seal Is Broken Day (not necessarily the views of this newspaper)
Nov. 25: Parfait Day
Nov. 26: Cake Day
Nov. 27: Pins and Needles Day
Nov. 28: Make Your Own Head Day
Nov. 29: Square Dance Day, celebrating a dance that has its roots in 15th-century England
Nov. 30: Stay at Home Because You’re Well Day
Dec. 1: World AIDS Day, established by the World Health Organization in 1988
Dec. 2: Fritters Day
Dec. 3: Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
Dec. 4: Wear Brown Shoes Day
Dec. 5: Ninja Day
Dec. 6: Mitten Tree Day
Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Day, the day Japan bombed the U.S. Naval base in Hawaii in 1941, killing 2,400 Americans and drawing the U.S. into World War II
Dec. 8: First day of Hanukkah; and Brownie Day
Dec. 9: Pastry Day
Dec. 10: Human Rights Day, recognizing the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly in 1948
Dec. 11: Noodle Ring Day
Dec. 12: Poinsettia Day
Dec. 13: Violins Day
Dec. 14: Bouillabaisse Day
Dec. 15: Lemon Cupcake Day
Dec. 16: Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Dec. 17: Underdog Day
Dec. 18: Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day
Dec. 19: Oatmeal Muffin Day
Dec. 20: Games Day
Dec. 21: Look at the Bright Side Day, which will be good to remember regardless of how ancient predictions turn out
Dec. 22: Date-Nut Bread Day
Dec. 23: Roots Day
Dec. 24: Egg Nog Day
Dec. 25: Christmas Day; and Pumpkin Pie Day
Dec. 26: Boxing Day; Start of Kwanzaa; and Whiners’ Day
Dec. 27: Fruitcake Day
Dec. 28: Card Playing Day
Dec. 29: Pepper Pot Day
Dec. 30: Bicarbonate Of Soda Day
Dec. 31: Make Up Your Mind Day
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