20 Unique January Holidays to Celebrate This Month

January is a month filled with a diverse range of holidays, each celebrating unique aspects of history, culture, and personal joy. From honoring iconic figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Benjamin Franklin to quirky celebrations like National Cheese Lovers Day and Belly Laugh Day, the first month of the year offers something for everyone.

These January holidays provide an opportunity to reflect, laugh, indulge, and connect with others. Whether you’re savoring your favorite cheese or dressing up for Big Wig Day, there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of the start of the year.

 

Make safe and right decisions on the road (55 mph Speed Limit Day)

January 2 – By Xiaotong Meng

In the “first oil crisis” in 1973, there was no hope of domestic oil production in the United States to meet the increasing demand of oil, in this case, President Nixon proposed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act to reduce gas usages, setting up the speed limit for 50 mph for passenger vehicles and 55 mph for trucks and buses.

On January 2, 1974, the bill became a law, which required each state to accept the limit or risk losing federal funding for highway repairs.

In 1995, the Congress gave back the power to each state to set up their own speed limits.

As a result, 55 mph Speed Limit Day is introduced to remember President Nixon’s proclamation of speed limit.

Today is also a reminder for us to take a step back and think about road safety and energy consumption. Speed limits are extremely important because they help us to avoid thousands of accidents every day.

 

We are not enemies but friends (Humiliation Day)

January 3 – By Xiaotong Meng

We celebrate Humiliation Day on January 3 each year, with the purpose of abandoning our pride and being humble.

The idea of humiliation came from Protestant Christianity, which means to leave one’s pride behind and grow as an equal human being with others before God.

Back to 1775, the Congress issued an observance of setting up a day of humiliation, fasting and praying. Four years later, the Commander-in-Chief George Washington called out for the soldiers to fast, pray and stop all the activities for one day.

Later in 1798, President John Adams brought back this tradition to the citizens in which they could halt unnecessary events and keep grounded.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln announced this holiday for each individual to find their inner peace and prayer to please God.

Today is an important day for all of us to create a loving community, accept the differences of one another and stop judging people based on their appearances.

 

Start a conversation by using a fun trivia (National Trivia Day)

January 4 – By Xiaotong Meng

“What element does the chemical symbol Au stand for?” The answer is the element gold. 

January 4 is National Trivia Day. If you know a lot of random and insignificant facts about the world, today is the time to showcase your knowledge.

On the 1940s radio program “Take It or Leave It”, the first well-known trivia game entered numerous Americans’ houses. During the 60s, trivia night wiped out many colleges across the nation.

People’s love for seeking the hidden truth never stopped, no matter what form it is, either through online debating or in person gaming.

Take advantage of today to gather with a group of friends and have an unforgettable trivia night. It is a great way to learn new things and icebreaker with those friends who haven’t been in touch for a long time.

 

Keto diet can help treat certain diseases (National Keto Day)

January 5 – By Xiaotong Meng

January 5 is National Keto Day, a reminder that people who are on ketogenic diets cut carbs in each meal, and let their bodies consume fats for energy.

The ketogenic diet can be dated back to the 1920s as a treatment used in the medical field for epilepsy in adults and children. 

In 1994, Hollywood producer Jim Abrahams established the Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies after his son’s epilepsy condition was controlled by ketogenic diets. Afterwards, this organization published many scientific studies of ketogenic, which increased people’s awareness both domestically and internationally.

Today, ketogenic diets are recognized as a therapy to treat epilepsy patients to avoid seizures, increase our cognitive brain functions and help people lose weight.

Keep in mind when you decide to go on keto diets, make sure to apply it correctly to prevent side-effects and ask for help from the doctors if you ever need it.

 

An apple a day keeps illness away (Apple Tree Day)

January 6 – By Xiaotong Meng

Back to the 17th century, apple farming has become the leading fruit production in the U.S. Therefore, apple trees are rooted significantly in our culture.

On January 6 each year, we celebrate Apple Tree Day.

This holiday is originally in honor of a two-century-old apple tree, but today it turned into a celebration of apple cultivation and its numerous benefits.

From apple cider to pies, we can always find some apple flavored snacks or beverages somewhere throughout the day. There is no food with as many nutritious values like apples.

Apples also build a great commercial export for the country with the outside world, gaining millions of dollars in revenue every year.

On this day, feel free to visit the apple orchard, buy some apples, bake an apple pie or even plant one of your own apple trees in the backyard.

 

Thank you WONKS for advocating better lives for us (National WONK Day)

January 9 – By Xiaotong Meng

A “WONK” means someone who is excessively interested in a specific field. The phrase usually describes a person who is deeply involved in politics.

January 9 is National WONK Day, recognizing those hard working political officers in Washington D.C. who fight for the greater good for the citizens.

In 2009, iHeartRadio introduced Washington’s WONK-FM to commemorate political enthusiasts in the capital of the United States.

In such a case, iHeartRadio states, “We think WONKS deserve a day of recognition and a radio station to match! You work hard, and you deserve to play hard.” 

WONKS are an essential part of our society. If you have never heard about this term, utilize today to turn on your radio, learn about their huge contribution and passion toward politics.

 

Become a shareholder to change the world (National Shareholders Day)

January 10 – By Xiaotong Meng

National Shareholders Day is celebrated on January 10 each year.

A shareholder is often used to describe a person, company or legal entity that is registered by the corporation as a legal owner of shares of a public or private corporation.

This type of ownership provides them a lot of opportunities to make the company succeed.

Additionally, shareholders can also be regarded as members of a corporation. The business can gain beneficial ownership of the shares by utilizing this kind of collaboration.

Therefore, use today to do some research about the stock market because shareholding is a great way to make income from interests on invested stocks. It is your opportunity to generate impressive interests.

 

You look good with red hair (Kiss A Ginger Day)

January 12 – By Xiaotong Meng

Redheads around the world celebrate Kiss a Ginger Day on January 12 every year.

Based on research, only 2% of the population has natural red hair, even though sometimes we would dye our hair and get the color. There is one in four chances of your child being born with redheads if both parents have the gene.

Many people contain stereotypes about redheads, which they think an individual with red hair must be an Irish, British or European trait. However, that is not the case.

Red hair starts to become a unique trend when people consider changing their hair color. As a result, this holiday is a reminder for us to appreciate red hair people and celebrate the beauty of redheads.

The color of red always represents warmth and passion, so do those redheads. If you know someone in your life has red hair, you are so lucky, give ‘em a kiss today.

 

Go ahead, blame someone today (National Blame Someone Else Day)

First Friday the 13th of the year – By Xiaotong Meng

If you are in blame mode, don’t feel bad. Utilize today to get rid of all your negativity and frustration because Every year’s first Friday the 13 is National Blame Someone Else Day.

Fridays have been considered unlucky to the public, and so do the number 13. People have believed in the connection of bad luck with these two elements until the 19th century.

This holiday was started for the first time on Friday the 13th in 1982 when Anne Moelle’s alarm failed to go off and resulted in a full day of bad luck.

In such a case, feel free to take this opportunity to blame people who are at fault for whatever happens. Today also reminds us to accept, embrace our mistakes from the past and get ready for a better tomorrow.

 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” — Martin Luther King Jr. (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

Third Monday of January – By Xiaotong Meng

We observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day (aka MLK Day) on the third Monday of January each year.

Dr. King was an influential civil rights leader who kept fighting for racial equality and human rights for the African American community. We take today to remember and celebrate his achievements and contributions to the United States.

When Dr. King delivered one of his famous and iconic speeches, “I Have a Dream” at the Lincoln Memorial, where over 200,000 participants got involved in the march in Washington D.C. became one of the defining moments of the civil rights movement.

The event emphasizd people’s demand for racial equality as well as the nonstop continuation of combating with discrimination and segregation for the colored people.

This holiday was advocated by labor unions. After the death of Dr. King, U.S. Representative John Conyers and U.S. Senator Edward Brooke wrote a bill in Congress, with the purpose of developing Dr. King’s birthday into a national holiday.

However, lacking five voters for passing the bill in Congress. 

One argument about establishing this federal holiday was because the opponents think it would be too expensive to have a paid holiday for its employees. Another disagreement was about Dr. King had never held public office, therefore, there was no need to set up a holiday and honor a private citizen.

Later on, musician Steve Wonder organized the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981, in response to the need for the King Center to look to the public for support. Afterwards, six million signatures were collected for Congress to pass the bill, which was considered as the largest petition in U.S. history.

As a result, the Congress made the bill become a law. Because of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, this holiday was founded on the third Monday of January instead of Dr. King’s birthday.

Today is not just a day off from work. We encourage everyone to take some time to learn about Dr. King in depth, gain a deeper understanding about the significance of the civil rights movement and create a conversation with your friends to share your opinions.

 

“Well done is better than well said,” said Benjamin Franklin (Benjamin Franklin Day)

January 17 – By Xiaotong Meng

Benjamin Franklin Day is celebrated on January 17 every year in honor of one of the greatest Founding Fathers of the United States.

In case you don’t know the significance of Franklin, you can take a look at a $100 bill, and you will know why this man deserves a day of his own for us to remember him. Moreover, Franklin had also made countless contributions across different areas of study, including education, politics, science, music, literature and a lot more.

Let’s learn about some highlights of his achievements in his life.

In 1731, Franklin established the first subscription library, the Library Company of Philadelphia. Ten years later, the pamphlet had educated a lot of young people in Pennsylvania, which directly affected the foundation of the well-known school: University of Pennsylvania.

In the science field, the invention of the lightning rod in 1752 turned into one of his outstanding accomplishments. He also created many terms that we frequently use today, such as battery, charge, conductor, etc.

Additionally, Franklin also made endless contributions to the United States. In 1757, Franklin began to serve as a representative for the state of Pennsylvania. By the 1700s, he became the first American ambassador to France. He was also part of the committee who drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Although Franklin ended his formal education at the age of 10, he continued on an enduring path of learning by himself and fighting for a better country for its citizens. There is definitely no doubt of having such a celebration only for himself.

Franklin has brought out numerous meaningful and valuable lessons for us to learn. So, use today to check out the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and discover his life experiences.

Besides reading his introduction and works online, you can also take some time to visit his grave and the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia. It would definitely be a great road trip that could probably bring you some inspirations for life and writing ideas.

 

A museum selfie helps me to bond with other people (Museum Selfie Day)

Third Wednesday of January – By Xiaotong Meng

When we go to a museum, we can see the “no photography” signs everywhere. The reason for not allowing people to take pictures is because camera flashes may hurt the quality of conserved works and arts.

However, in a rapidly changing technological world today, many museums have relaxed their rules for photography, with the purpose of creating more engagement with the public.

The third Wednesday each year is Museum Selfie Day, a holiday observed by a London blogger Mar Dixon. From that moment, this trend has progressively gone worldwide, and we could see a lot of creative photos posted on social media.

The history of taking a selfie came from an American photographer, Robert Cornelius. He took the first picture of a self-portrait in 1839. Later in 2002, an Australian doctor posted a photograph of his face after drinking. Then he apologized for the quality as it was a “selfie”.

One year later, an Italian media artist Alberto Frigo began taking photos of different objects in his right hand. In the same year, Sony introduced its first mobile phone with a front-facing camera to the world.

If you are a big fan of visiting different museums, don’t forget to take a picture today, whether it is a dinosaur skeleton or just a selfie of yourself in front of a museum. There are over 35,000 museums in America, make a fun discovery with a group of friends to a museum that you haven’t been to yet.

Today is the best time for you to be creative with your museum selfies. If you lack an idea of what you should do for a museum selfie, don’t worry, different social media platforms have been tracking museum selfie ideas since the establishment of this holiday. As a result, feel free to look through others’ pictures online from all over the world to get inspiration.

 

Live the cheese life (Cheese Lover’s Day)

January 20 – By Xiaotong Meng

If you are a big fan of cheese, you should know the fact that one-third of all milk produced in the United States will go into cheese production.

On January 20, we celebrate and explore different flavors of cheese on National Cheese Lover’s Day.

An interesting fact about cheese is that we don’t have any clue about the exact time when cheese was created. All we know is that the first humans were obsessed with the taste when they savored its full flavor of cheese, and the earliest cheese was mostly cottage cheese.

Thousand years ago, people stored and transported milk in the stomachs of sheep. After a few days, the milk would separate into whey and curd, then preserving it with salt could lead to the formation of cheese.

The cheesemaking process takes a lot of time and energy. A person needs to pay close attention to the temperature of the milk and the surrounding environment because these principles will impact the taste of the cheese.

In some regions of the world, people are very secretive about the cheesemaking, therefore, they would keep the ingredients and techniques private.

Today, there are more than 18,000 types of cheese in the world. It is a great opportunity for us to taste and learn about the finest cheese in the world. Some restaurants even offer cheese on their special dish menu for customers to try out.

Therefore, check your local stores to find something new other than cheddar and parmesan cheese. If you like a strong flavor, pick up blue cheese or brie. If you prefer something light, feta, mozzarella or goat cheese would definitely satisfy your taste buds.

Moreover, you can also buy some ingredients and make your own cheese at home. Nothing better than enjoying and sharing homemade cheese with your loved ones.

Trust me. You will never go wrong because it is cheese. Have a great National Cheese Lover’s Day!

 

Are you a well-known Pedro? (National Pedro Day)

January 23 – By Xiaotong Meng

Every year on January 23, it’s the observation of National Pedro Day as well as National Pie Day, turning into a double celebration for the Pedros.

Pedro is a Spanish and Portuguese male-given name that came from the latin word “petra”, which means stone or rock.

In ancient Spain and Portugal, Peter was equivalent to Pedro. Therefore, in 1195, Ralph Peter became the first recorded spelling of the last name. Later in 1911, the name became a popular surname in the state of New Mexico.

In addition to distinguishing Pedro in people’s names, it also appeared in the form of art. In 1960, a Hindi album called “Pedro” that was created by Bulo Rani with five featured songs came out to the public. Afterwards, in 2008, the first Pedro American film was released.

Some well-known people have had the name. For instance, a Portuguese military leader and explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral, known as the European Discoverer of Brazil, led the first significant exploration of South America in 1500.

Another notable figure, Pedro Juan Rosselló González was the governor of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001 as well as a physician and politician. From 1991 to 1999, he developed into a supervisor of the New Progressive Party. Later in 2003, he became the party’s president. Two years later, he represented the District of Arecibo in the Senate.

The name has been on the American naming charts for decades. It has a long history ever since with a common usage among the growing Hispanic and Latino populations in the United States.

Names are a unique way to identify different people. Take today to celebrate with people because their names can make them feel good, regardless of how odd or fun it sounds.

If you know someone named Pedro who signifies a long and important Spanish tradition, buy a box of chocolate or write a warm card to surprise them on this special day.

 

It’s a beautiful day to laugh (Belly Laugh Day)

January 24 – By Xiaotong Meng

Every year on January 24, we celebrate Belly Laugh Day in a way that will possibly get you a stomach cramp.

Laughter has always been an interesting topic for many philosophers and thinkers to talk about. 

Back to the ancient Greek, a writer classified laughter into three different types: “those who are innocent of wrongdoing, but ignorant of their vulnerability,” “those who are mad,” and “those who are overconfident.”

Moreover, several philosophers and writers also released a lot of work related to the importance of laughter. In the early 20th century, a French philosopher published a work called “Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic.”

In Ramon Mora Ripoll’s scientific research “The Therapeutic Value of Laughter in Medicine”, it showed that laughter could treat certain ailments in patients, reduce blood pressure and stress. He shared a lot of the benefits of laughter on human bodies.

In 2005, a professional yoga teacher introduced this holiday to celebrate laughter. Oftentimes we only celebrate love, relationship and gratitude in life but ignore the significance of laughter.

As a result, this day is a reminder for us to take a break from the stress and simply have some fun together with other people. Research has also shown that couples who laugh more will build a better relationship and develop strong bonds with each other.

Laughter can make our blood vessels expand and increase blood flow, which creates a positive and happy feeling in our brains. You can also watch a funny movie or read an interesting book to laugh and relax. Share your happiest moment on social media, let everyone know today is Belly Laugh Day and encourage other people to smile and laugh. 

Hence, don’t be shy and just start having a good, deep laugh. What great ways to celebrate this nice day!

 

Raise awareness on the use of Fluoride (Fluoride Day)

January 25 – By Xiaotong Meng

Fluoride Day is observed on January 25 with the purpose of dedicating to the chemical compound Fluoride that has made huge impacts on human lives.

In 1901, a dental student, Frederick McKay, went to Colorado Springs to set up his dental practice. When he got there, he discovered that many locals had brown teeth, known as Colorado Brown Stain, which they believed were the consequences of high meat consumption and substandard milk.

McKay knew the brownness of teeth was caused by something else, therefore, he went through all of his dental literature and books but was unable to find the reasons. 

However, McKay didn’t give up. Instead he started to do research and was determined to find the root of this problem. During the process, Dr. G.V. Black assisted McKay to find out the cause behind Colorado Brown Stain. 

Many years later, they made several discoveries. One of them was that young children who had not developed their permanent teeth had a higher risk of getting Colorado Brown Stain. Also, the locals who had calcified teeth usually didn’t have brown teeth.

Another discovery was that the people who were affected by Colorado Brown Stain, their teeth were resistant to decay. Later on, with the help of the Chemist H.V. Churchill and his assistant, McKay found that Fluoride in water at cosmetically safe levels can fight tooth decay.

If you think the story of McKay and Dr. Black who found water-borne Fluoride in Colorado Springs very interesting, feel free to dig deeper and learn more about the historical facts that you have never heard before.

Fluoride can be dangerous, but it can help people fighting tooth decay by using the right amount. Thus, today allows us to learn more about Fluoride and educates others how to use this chemical compound safely.

 

You look like a superstar in your clashing outfit (Clashing Clothes Day)

Fourth Thursday of January – By Xiaotong Meng

Have you been wearing the same black and white outfits every day? Do you get bored of not having something fun to wear? No worries. We’ve got your back.

Every year, the fourth Thursday in January is Clashing Clothes Day.

Clothing has existed for over 100,000 years. In ancient times, people would find natural materials, such as animal skin and big leaves, to make clothes, in order to protect themselves from rough rocks, stones, insects and different weather conditions.

Over time, clothes are not only designed as a protection to people, but it becomes a fashion and lifestyle that consistently leads to new development.

Around the 1800s, many designers set up a fashion house in France with brand-new, innovative and never used materials and designs. At that time, people were shocked and intrigued.

After that, various fashion trends took over the world, spreading from Europe to all over the globe. A lot of categories began to emerge, including sportswear, business wear, loungewear, etc. 

Designers, celebrities, models and a lot more influential people around the world play important social roles for setting up fashion trends, which established some unofficial fashion rules. 

Many people would follow those then decide what to wear, however, today is a great opportunity to dress in clashing clothes from head to toe. Everyone is encouraged to show off your mixed color, feature and printed outfit, without the fashion rules blocking your creativity.

A holiday like this allows us to stand out and tolerate differences from one another. No matter what clashing outfit you choose to wear, you will certainly slay throughout the entire day with confidence.

A little tip for you: don’t forget to share your catchy outfit on social media. You never know, it might become an inspiration for others to put together their clashing looks.

 

Let’s get “wiggy” today! (Big Wig Day)

Final Friday of January – By Xiaotong Meng

National Big Wig Day is celebrated on the last Friday of January annually.

Today, wearing wigs has gradually become a lifestyle and a fashion trend. The history of the use of a wig can be dated back to ancient Egypt when people wore wigs to protect their shaved heads from sunlight.

From the 16th to 18th century, the Europeans began to use wigs to combat baldness as a result of the syphilis epidemic. It gradually developed into a form of fashion after receiving the approval from King Louis XIV.

Later on in the 20th century, different types of wigs were introduced, and a lot more people started to dress up while wearing wigs.

On January 2, 2016, the inventor of this holiday, Patty Sharkey, posted a “wigged out” selfie of herself having a raspberry and chocolate-colored curly wig on Facebook, writing “Happy National Wig Day.”

Surprisingly, people from all over the world started to share this silliness and craziness with Sharkey while raising funds and creating a charity forum for a cause.

Therefore, while we are having fun with our favorite silly wigs, keep in mind that the highlight of this holiday is to encourage people to donate as little as $1 to the American Cancer Society or other charities.

It is a special day for people not only to enjoy a good time of sharing their coolest wig looks, but also to bring out awareness to donate funds for those who are suffering from cancer or other illnesses.

Aside from the fun part, it is amazing to see that every human being displays a sense of humanity, compassion and affection toward those who need a little extra help by donating money to various nonprofit organizations.

Our world has become a better place because of the contribution of each and everyone of us.

What a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday by seeing both the young and the old generations unite together to fundraise, with the purpose of supporting people who keep battling cancer.

 

Let us all be brave and fight for freedom (Martyrs’ Day)

January 30 – By Xiaotong Meng

Martyrs’ Day is observed on January 30 each year, which is the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, known as “Bapu” or “Father of the nation” in India.

Gandhi was recognized as one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, who successfully led his country free from the control of the British Empire.

Gandhi was borned in a small town of Gujarat, he studied to become a barrister and lived a very smooth life until he made his first trip to South Africa.

Everything has changed. His life in South Africa has exposed him to unequal rights and class divisions, which shaped him to fight for human rights and equality. On top of that, the pain of losing his first child at the age of 16 also made him to challenge the idea of child marriage.

While battling against the Britishers, Gandhi has always advocated for nonviolence movements and peaceful demonstrations. He also negotiated a lot of peace treaties with the Britishers before their final departure from India.

Moving forward, Gandhi took an almost impossible task of building an independent nation out of other countries’ colonization.

Gandhi was strongly opposed to the idea of partition of India even after the declaration of independence. He has given regular speeches to emphasize his resistance.

However, on the eve of January 30, a Hindu violent extremist shot Gandhi three times at point-blank. Gandhi’s lifelong promotion of non-violence movements ended with a bullet in his chest.

On this day, Indians from all over the world will commemorate the countless contributions of Gandhi. Without his resilience and courage to fight for freedom, India would still continue struggling for independence.

Today also reminds us that freedom and democracy aren’t free, and everything we gain has its price. Therefore, it is our responsibility to take actions to keep the democratic values alive.

 

Add Brussels sprouts to your daily meals (U.S. Eat Brussel Sprouts Day)

January 31 – By Xiaotong Meng

On January 31, we celebrate Eat Brussels Sprouts Day.

Brussels sprouts, a type of leaf vegetables that we can find everywhere in the grocery store. They can be classified as the Gemmifera group of cabbages, which are grown for their edible buds.

Back to the 5th century, Brussels sprouts were first found in northern Europe. In 1587, the first written record of this crop appeared. Later on, in the 16th century, these mini cabbages became exceedingly popular in the southern Netherlands and eventually northern Europe.

In the late 18th century, some French colonists brought this green ball-shaped vegetable to the United States, specifically in Louisiana, which marked the beginning of the production of this healthy food nationwide. 

Today, the U.S. produces an average of 32,000 tons of Brussels sprouts along with over 82,000 tons in Europe.

These green superfoods are rich in vitamins, fiber and minerals, which could end up bringing numerous benefits to people, including lower blood pressure, avoid diabetes, maintain good bone health, improve immune functions and a lot more.

Although these green little cabbages have brought many benefits to human bodies, a lot of people don’t like them because they find them extremely bitter. Based on the scientific research, this is because of the TAS2R38 gene that controls the taste of bitterness.

This chemical is often present in sprouts and some other green foods, therefore, people with that gene would hardly fall in love with Brussels sprouts.

Anyway, no matter whether you like them or not, there are so many recipes online for making this vegetable. Use today to play around and try different ways to cook these mini cabbages.

You can also head out to the grocery store and pick up some frozen Brussels sprouts. Keep them in your fridge, simply heat them up and add some greens to your diet every day.

 

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, January holidays are more than just dates on the calendar — they’re moments to embrace fun traditions, historical reflections, and personal passions. Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge of history, share a hearty laugh, or simply celebrate a unique day like Clashing Clothes Day, January has something to offer everyone.

So, why not make the most of these holidays and create your own memorable experiences? After all, the start of the year is the perfect time to start new traditions and enjoy the festivities that January brings.