# This Thread is a Clearinghouse for Information About Obscure "Holidays" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 21, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638 "2006-04-21T15:55:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/1 "2006-04-21T15:55:57Z")
In [this GQ thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=366632), **lissener** laments the lack of a website or other central clearinghouse of information on ceremonial, “awareness,” or otherwise unusual observances on the calendar. By this I mean things like “National Vegetable Awareness Day” or “National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week.” I’ve decided I’m going to develop a website that lists what sort of ceremonial, awareness, or otherwise obscure observances are going on during any particular day, week or month of the calendar year. This will be a relatively simple site. The January page will have information about January as a whole (January is National Pickle Month, National Lithuanian-American History Month, etc.). Each Monday in January will have information about the following week (the first week in January is National Board Games Week, etc.). Each day in January will have the observances of that day (January 6th is National Kumquat Day). And so on. \*NOTE: All of the observances listed so far, and the dates associate with them, are, as far as I know, hypothetical and used for demonstrative purposes only. So anyway, post to this thread what you know about ceremonial and awareness observances. If you have a link to content, that would be great. For an observance day to be “official,” for the purposes of my website, it has to meet one of three criteria: [ul] [li]Legislative decree. IOW, if it has been signed into law.[/li][li]Created by an advisory committee. IOW, if the National Podiatric Council declares April 11th to be National Toe Fungus Day, that’s good enough for me. But if a teenage blogger decides that April 11th is National Pink Sock Day; well, no dice.[/li][li]Webmaster’s discretion. If an observance doesn’t meet any of the above criteria, but I still think it’s cool, I’ll include it. An example of this would be September 19th, [National Talk Like a Pirate Day](http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html), which will _definitely_ be included. 🆒 [/li][/ul] So please, post away! Share whatever you know about any and all ceremonial and awareness “holidays” in the US. TIA ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/2 "2006-04-21T18:00:15Z")
Well, let’s see. According to my calender-on-the-wall, April 25 is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Also this month, April 26 is Administrative Professionals Day in the US and Canada. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/3 "2006-04-21T22:25:24Z")
Well, the last week in April is [National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week](http://www.ascp.org/AboutUs/NatMed/default.aspx) formerly known as National Medical Laboratory Week. Apparently the name change reflects the lab as “people” not “place”. Yeah, right. I’m still just a monkey in a lab coat. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/4 "2006-04-21T22:50:56Z")
Last friday of July: National Sysadmin Day. [http://www.sysadminday.com/](http://www.sysadminday.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/5 "2006-04-21T23:06:36Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > I’m still just a monkey in a lab coat. If you could roller skate, now that would be something. I bet people would pay good money (at least a US dime) to see a monkey in a lab coat roller skating. Roller Skating Monkey Day is June 7th. (At least it _should_ be.) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/6 "2006-04-21T23:10:22Z")
Just so we’re clear, you _will_ be including [Steak and a Blowjob Day](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steak_and_Blowjob_Day) in your calendar. Great idea by the way, make it professional enough and you could probably get some advertising money out of Hallmark and FTD. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/7 "2006-04-21T23:34:16Z")
If you want a list of a bunch of holidays, observances, and historical anniversaries, you can always pick up a copy of _Chase’s Calendar of Events_. According to the United States Code, the following are all observances that the President of the United States must federally proclaim each year: American Heart Month- month of February Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month- month of May Cancer Control Month- month of April Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day- first Saturday after Labor Day Child Health Day- first Monday in October Citizenship Day- September 17 Columbus Day- second Monday in October Constitution Week- September 17-23 Father’s Day- Third Sunday in June Flag Day- June 14 Gold Star Mother’s Day- Last Sunday in September Honor America Days- June 14 through July 4 Law Day USA- May 1 Leif Erikson Day- October 9 (hinga-dinga-dürgen!) Loyalty Day- May 1 Memorial Day- Last Monday in May Mother’s Day- Second Sunday in May National Aviation Day- August 19 National Day of Prayer- first Thursday in May Nat’l Defense Transportation Day- third Friday in May Nat’l Disability Employment Awareness Month- October National Flag Week- the week Flag Day is in Nat’l Forest Product Week- week starting third Sunday in October Nat’l Freedom Day- February 1 Nat’l Grandparents Day- first Sunday in September after Labor Day Nat’l Hispanic Heritage Month- September 15- October 15 Nat’l Korean War Veterans Armistice Day- July 27 (ended 2003, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War) Nat’l Maritime Day- May 22 Nat’l Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day- December 7 (a date which will live in infamy) Nat’l Poison Prevention Week- third week in March Nat’l Safe Boating Week- week ending last Friday before Memorial Day Nat’l School Lunch Week- week beginning second Sunday in October Nat’l Transportation Week- week third Friday in May is in Pan American Aviation Day- December 17 Parents’ Day- fourth Sunday in July Peace Officers Memorial Day- May 15 Police Week- week May 15 is in Save Your Vision Week- first week of March Steelmark Month- May Stephen Foster Memorial Day- January 13 Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday- April 13 White Cane Safety Day- October 15 Wright Brothers Day- December 17 Patriot Day- September 11 ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/8 "2006-04-22T00:34:04Z")
> [@Rue DeDay](#): > > If you could roller skate, now that would be something. I bet people would pay good money (at least a US dime) to see a monkey in a lab coat roller skating. > > Roller Skating Monkey Day is June 7th. (At least it _should_ be.) Alas, I am an uncoordinated monkey. I could play an ocarina though. That ought to be worth a nickel at least. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/9 "2006-04-22T04:52:27Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Just so we’re clear, you _will_ be including [Steak and a Blowjob Day](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steak_and_Blowjob_Day) in your calendar. > > Great idea by the way, make it professional enough and you could probably get some advertising money out of Hallmark and FTD. You do realize that you’re saying “Blowjob Day,” “professional” and “Hallmark” in the same post, right? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/10 "2006-04-22T17:17:37Z")
> [@Doctor Jackson](#): > > Well, let’s see. According to my calender-on-the-wall, April 25 is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Remember, it’s a Hebrew Calender holiday, which means that it’ll fall on a different date every year (but always a week after Passover). ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/11 "2006-04-22T23:22:42Z")
May 19 is National Bike to Work Day. Usually the third Friday in May. Hope it doesn’t rain this year. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/12 "2006-04-24T23:47:08Z")
I don’t know how official it is, but this past Thursday was, at least so I’m told, National High Five Day. I didn’t enjoy it. I want a funny noises day, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_O\_Malley\_s\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Mrs\_O\_Malley\_s\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_O_Malley_s_Cow)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/13 "2006-04-25T00:28:38Z")
> [@Doctor Jackson](#): > > Well, let’s see. According to my calender-on-the-wall, April 25 is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Also this month, April 26 is Administrative Professionals Day in the US and Canada. /on soapbox Tomorrow is April 25 so lets all have a moment of silence in our own way to remember the Holocaust and if there are any events in your area, it is always a good idea to attend them. /off soapbox ;j ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/14 "2006-05-05T02:23:41Z")
Very cool. This thread cropped up while I was offline for a while, so I’m glad to have stumbled across it. I will definitely keep an eye on it. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/15 "2006-05-05T04:06:26Z")
Well…the third Thursday in April is [National High Five Day](http://nationalhighfiveday.com/index.html). The Monday after Easter is [Dyngus Day](http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/pages/1/index.htm). ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/16 "2006-05-05T04:25:35Z")
Yesterday was Star Wars Day. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/17 "2006-05-05T12:11:24Z")
According to [this Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus), Festivus is December 23. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/18 "2006-05-05T13:35:27Z")
May 5th 2006, Liberation Day. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/19 "2006-05-05T13:49:15Z")
[Dyngus Day](http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/) is celebrated in [Buffalo](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5349324) and South Bend on the Monday after Easter. > [@dyngusdaybuffalo.com](#): > > Historically a Polish-American tradition, Dyngus Day celebrates the end of the often restrictive observance of lent and the joy of Easter. Over the decades, Dyngus Day has become a wonderful holiday to celebrate Polish-American culture, heritage and traditions. In Buffalo, it’s almost quasi-official; it’s acceptable to stay home from work on Dyngus Day, and very little meaningful business gets done. St. Joseph Day, March 19, is also a big deal in Buffalo. New Engand seems to have a ton of obscure official holidays; Patriot’s Day, Bennington Battle Day, Town Meeting Day, Bunker Hill Day, Victory Day, and Evacuation Day. The civil calendar in Puerto Rico … every couple of weeks, there’s some official holiday where government offices are closed. Here’s what I found for 2004: Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day / Closed Jan. 6 - Three Kings’ Day / Closed Jan. 12 - Eugenio María de Hostos’ Birthday (second Monday in January) / Closed Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King’s Birthday (third Monday in January) / Closed Feb. 16 - Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February) / Closed March 22 - Emancipation Day / Closed April 9 - Good Friday / Closed April 19 - José de Diego’s Birthday (third Monday in April) / Closed May 31 - Memorial Day (last Monday in May) / Closed July 5 - Independence Day (United States) (July 4) / Closed July 19 - Luis Muñoz Rivera’s Birthday (third Monday in July) / Closed July 26 - Constitution Day (Puerto Rico) (July 25) / Closed July 27 - José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday / Closed Sept. 6 - Labor Day (first Monday in September) / Closed Oct. 12 - Columbus Day / Closed Nov. 2 - Election Day / Closed Nov. 11 - Veteran’s Day / Closed Nov. 19 - Discovery of Puerto Rico Day / Closed Nov. 25 -Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) / Closed Dec. 25 - Christmas Day / Closed ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638/20 "2006-05-05T14:20:10Z")
The exact date varies, but the happiest day of the year is [Free Comic Book Day](http://www.freecomicbookday.com/)! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-thread-is-a-clearinghouse-for-information-about-obscure-holidays/353638.md?page=2)