social media holiday calendar

By Jacqueline Dooley | Updated on December 22, 2020

Plan your social media posts with the holidays listed below, or download our calendar.

While most U.S. companies are familiar with the ten Federal Holidays (eleven, if you include Inauguration Day), there are literally hundreds of additional observed and seasonal holidays (both national and global) that companies can incorporate into their content marketing and promotional strategies each year.

Are you a purveyor of toys and puppets? Make sure you plan a promotion around World Puppetry Day (March 21st). 

Do you need an excuse to reach out to your existing clients to say “Thank You For Your Business?” Send them a voucher for a free donut on National Glazed Donut Day (January 12th). Now’s the time to start planning for that one!

We’ve gone ahead and categorized more than 300 holidays as a quick and easy reference so you don’t have to. We’ve broken down our list into five sections as follows:

  1. 2021 U.S. National Holidays: National, observed, and “other” holidays celebrated or observed in the U.S.
  2. Educational Calendar: These aren’t holidays in the traditional sense, but include a list of key dates which are observed and/or celebrated throughout the world (e.g., Global Family Day).
  3. Food-themed Calendar – There are a staggering number of food-focused holidays observed primarily in the U.S. No need to worry, we’ve listed all of them.
  4. Fun Holidays – This list provides great fodder for content, promotions, and events.
  5. Sports Holidays – (See fun holidays, above)

Key:

Federal Holiday – Official holiday established by the U.S. Federal government

Observed – A public holiday which is celebrated on a different day than the actual event date (e.g., if a holiday falls on a Saturday but is observed the Friday before)

Religious HolidayA faith-based holiday relevant to a specific religion (Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, etc.) In some cases, religious holidays are also federal holidays (e.g., Christmas Day).

Other Events worth noting that do not fall under the category of an official holiday, but may be worth promoting in your marketing or event calendar (e.g., the Super Bowl, the first day of spring, etc.)

Import Our Social Media Calendar

To make your planning simple, we’ve created a Google calendar which you can import and get automatic notifications. If you want to jump ahead with your social media planning for 2021, just click on the +Google Calendar in the bottom right corner and add our comprehensive calendar to your business or personal account.

DATE HOLIDAY NOTES
January 2021
1 Global Family Day[2]
1 Polar Bear Swim Day Various organizations in Canada
1 New Year’s Day Federal Holidays
2 National Science Fiction Day (United States)
4 World Braille Day (birthday of Louis Braille) World Health Organization
7 Orthodox Christmas Day Orthodox Holiday
10 Cut Your Energy Costs Day
11 Clean Off Your Desk Day 2nd Monday in January
11 National Gluten-Free Day 2nd Monday in January
14 Orthodox New Year Orthodox Holiday
17 World Religion Day 3rd Sunday in January
19 Popcorn Day
20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holidays
21 National Hugging Day (United States)
23 National Pie Day
24 Compliment Day
24 National Peanut Butter Day
27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day United Nations General Assembly
27 National Chocolate Cake Day
28 Tu Bishvat/Tu B’Shevat
28 National Blueberry Pancake Day
29 Puzzle Day
30 School Day of Non-violence and Peace Llorenç Vidal Vidal
30 National Croissant Day
31 Street Children’s Day Jugend Eine Welt
31 National Hot Chocolate Day
February 2021
1 Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
2 World Wetlands Day
2 Groundhog Day Observed
4 Thank Your Mailman Day
5 World Nutella Day
5 National Wear Red Day 1st Friday in February
6 National Frozen Yogurt Day
8 Clean Out Your Computer Day 2nd Monday in February
9 National Pizza Day
11 World Day of the Sick Instituted by Pope John Paul II
11 International Day of Women and Girls in Science UN Women
12 Chinese New Year Chinese Holiday
12 Darwin Day
12 Red Hand Day Child Soldier Awareness
12 Lincoln’s Birthday NY State holiday
13 World Radio Day UN UNESCO
14 Valentine’s Day Observed
15 President’s Day Federal Holidays
15 International Childhood Cancer Day Childhood Cancer Foundation
16 Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Christian Holiday
17 Random Act of Kindness Day
17 Ash Wednesday Christian Holiday
20 World Day of Social Justice
22 World Thinking Day
25 National Chili Day 4th Tuesday in February
26 Purim Jewish Holiday
26 Tell a Fairy Tale Day
27 National Strawberry Day
March 2021
1 National Pig Day (USA)
1 Self-Injury Awareness Day Also known as Self-Harm Awareness Day
2 Read Across America Day Observed
3 World Wildlife Day
5 Employee Appreciation Day 1st Friday of March
6 National Oreo Day
7 National Cereal Day
8 International Women’s Day
10 Ranch Dressing Day
11 Isra and Mi’raj Muslim Holiday
14 Pi Day
14 Daylight Savings Time Starts
17 St. Patrick’s Day Christian Holiday
19 Let’s Laugh Day
20 March Equinox Season
20 International Day of Happiness
21 International Colour Day
21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 World Poetry Day
21 World Down Syndrome Day
21 World Puppetry Day
21 International Day of Forests
22 World Water Day
22 National Water Day
23 World Meteorological Day
23 National Puppy Day
25 International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
25 Tolkien Reading Day
25 International Waffle Day
27 World Theatre Day
28 Palm Sunday Christian Holiday
28 Passover (first day) Jewish Holiday
April 2021
2 World Autism Awareness Day
2 International Children’s Book Day
2 Peanut Butter & Jelly Day
2 Walk to Work Day 1st Friday of April
2 Good Friday Christian Holiday
4 Easter Sunday Christian Holiday
7 World Health Day
7 National Beer Day
8 National Empanada Day
10 Siblings Day
12 National Grilled Cheese Day
13 National Peach Cobbler Day
13 Ramadan Starts Muslim Holiday
15 Tax Day
15 National High Five Day (USA) 3rd Thursday of April
16 Wear Pajamas to Work Day
21 Day of Silence 2nd Friday in April
22 Earth Day
22 International Mother Earth Day
23 Take our Sons/Daughters to Work Observed
26 National Pretzel Day
29 International Dance Day
30 International Jazz Day
30 Honesty Day (USA)
30 Orthodox Good Friday Orthodox Holiday
May 2021
1 May Day
2 Orthodox Easter Orthodox Holiday
2 World Laughter Day 1st Sunday in May
3 World Press Freedom Day
4 Star Wars Day
4 Teacher’s Day Tuesday of the first full week in May
5 Cinco de Mayo
6 National Nurses Day
7 National Day of Prayer
8 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
8 Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation -Lives Lost WWII
9 World Fair Trade Day 2nd Saturday in May
9 Mother’s Day Observed
10 National Shrimp Day
13 National Apple Pie Day
13 International Hummus Day
13 Eid al-Fitr Muslim Holiday
15 International Day of Families
15 National Chocolate Chip Day
16 National BBQ Day
17 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
17 Shavuot Jewish Holiday
18 International Museum Day
20 World Bee Day
21 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
22 International Day for Biological Diversity
23 Pentecost Christian Holiday
23 World Turtle Day
25 Memorial Day Federal Holidays
25 National Missing Children’s Day Observed
25 National Wine Day
26 National Paper Airplane Day (USA)
27 Sun Screen Day
29 International Day of UN Peacekeepers
June 2021
1 World Milk Day
1 Say Something Nice Day
3 World Bicycle Day
4 International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
4 National Cheese Day
4 National Donut Day 1st Friday in June
5 World Environment Day
6 D-Day
7 National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
8 World Oceans Day
10 National Iced Tea Day
12 World Day Against Child Labour
12 World Wide Knit in Public Day 2nd Saturday in June
13 Cupcake Lover’s Day
14 World Blood Donor Day
18 Autistic Pride Day
19 World Juggling Day Saturday closest to June 17
19 Juneteenth Observed
20 World Refugee Day
20 International Surfing Day 3rd Saturday in June
20 American Eagle Day Observed
20 Father’s Day Observed
21 World Humanist Day
21 Go Skateboarding Day
21 International Yoga Day
22 National Onion Ring Day
25 Take Your Dog to Work Day Friday after Father’s Day
July 2021
1 International Joke Day
3 Independence Day Federal Holidays
6 Fried Chicken Day
7 National Macaroni Day
11 World Population Day
12 Malala Day
13 National French Fry Day
14 Bastille Day
15 World Youth Skills Day
17 World Day for International Justice
17 World Emoji Day
18 National Ice Cream Day 3rd Sunday in July
23 Vanilla Ice Cream Day
24 Cousins Day
25 Parents’ Day Observed
29 International Tiger Day
30 International Friendship Day
August 2021
1 Girlfriends Day
3 National Watermelon Day
9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
9 Book Lovers Day
12 International Youth Day
13 International Lefthanders Day
13 Left-Handers Day
19 World Humanitarian Day
20 World Mosquito Day
21 Senior Citizens Day Observed
21 National Honey Bee Day 3rd Saturday of August
23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
26 Women’s Equality Day Observed
28 Bow Tie Day
29 International Day against Nuclear Tests
30 Toasted Marshmallow Day
September 2021
5 International Day of Charity
7 Labor Day Federal Holidays
7 Rosh Hashanah Jewish Holiday
8 International Literacy Day
10 World Suicide Prevention Day
13 Positive Thinking Day
12 National Grandparent’s Day Observed
15 International Day of Democracy
16 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
16 Yom Kippur Jewish Holiday
18 World Water Monitoring Day
18 National Cheeseburger Day
18 National CleanUp Day 3rd Saturday in September
21 International Day of Peace
21 Miniature Golf Day
22 Hobbit Day
22 September Equinox Season
23 International Day of Sign Languages
25 National Lobster Day
29 World Heart Day
29 National Coffee Day
October 2021
1 World Vegetarian Day
1 World Smile Day 1st Friday in October
2 International Day of Non-Violence
4 National Taco Day
5 World Teachers’ Day
6 National Noodle Day
10 World Mental Health Day
11 International Day of the Girl Child
11 National Coming Out Day
12 Columbus Day Federal Holidays
12 National Gumbo Day
15 Global Handwashing Day
15 I Love Lucy Day
16 World Food Day
17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
24 United Nations Day
28 National Chocolate Day
29 National Cat Day (USA)
30 National Candy Corn Day
31 Halloween Observed
November 2021
1 World Vegan Day
1 All Saints’ Day Christian Holiday
2 Election Day 1st Tuesday following the first Monday in November
3 National Sandwich Day
4 National Candy Day
4 Diwali/Deepavali Hindhu Holiday
6 National Nachos Day
8 National Cappuccino Day
10 World Science Day for Peace and Development UNESCO
11 Veterans Day Federal Holidays
11 National Sundae Day
13 World Kindness Day
15 Day of the Imprisoned Writer
16 International Day for Tolerance
17 International Students Day
19 World Toilet Day
18 World Philosophy Day 3rd Thu in Nov
20 National Absurdity Day
21 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 3rd Sun in Nov
25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25 Thanksgiving Day Federal Holidays
26 National Day of Listening (USA) November (Day after Thanksgiving)
28 National French Toast Day
29 Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day) Jewish Holiday
December 2021
2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
3 Make a Gift Day
5 World Soil Day
5 International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
7 International Civil Aviation Day
7 Letter Writing Day
10 Human Rights Day
13 National Cocoa Day
17 Ugly Sweater Day 3rd Friday in December
18 National “I love honey” Day
21 December Solstice Observed
25 Christmas Day Federal Holidays
26 Kwanzaa (first day) Observed