Hi friends! Today I want to talk about Weird holidays. My wife and I have been running a holiday calendar for more than five years now, and whenever people find out about our website, the first question they usually ask is: “So what’s the weirdest holiday you’ve ever seen?”
Or they immediately start telling us, “Hey, did you know there’s actually a holiday for this or that? Isn’t that weird?” — and then giggle about it.
The funny thing is, after so many years, we’ve adapted so much to unusual holidays that we barely even notice which ones might seem silly or strange to someone else. Personally, the weirdest holidays for me are the ones whose dates are determined in truly bizarre ways — something like “the first Monday of the only full week of the month that happens to have a double new moon, but only if Jewish Passover fell in April that year.” Now those are the holidays we love. 😉
In second place are all those ancient holidays dragging their traditions from prehistoric times. Sure, maybe thousands of years ago it was perfectly normal to whip young women who didn’t greet you with ceremonial bread, but today such holidays definitely fall under the “unusual” category.
Although, to be fair, the traditions we grew up with can look pretty strange from the outside too. I mean — a bird saved by a goddess, magically turned into a rabbit so it wouldn’t freeze to death, and then this rabbit spends every spring bringing her eggs as gifts? Sounds like an excellent plot for some creepy arthouse festival film starring Willem Dafoe, if you ask me.
Weird Holidays Around The World: Printable PDF
Our subscribers already received our special PDF collection of the weirdest holidays celebrated around the world. Here’s the download link for you as well. And if you’re curious to know what holiday is happening today (well… technically tomorrow, since we send the list the day before), make sure to subscribe.
In the PDF file you will find the dates and descriptions of the following weird holidays: La Befana, Burns Night, National Man Watcher’s Day, National Nothing Day, Brew a Potion Day, Bean Throwing Day, Splattered Ice Cream, Galactic Tick Day, White Day & Black Day, International Tom Hanks Day, Vappu, Easter Whipping of Girls, World Naked Gardening Day, Cow Milked in an Airplane Day, Hug Your Cat Day, National Sleepyhead Day, National Rat Catcher’s Day, Christmas in August, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Devil’s Spit Day / Michaelmas, Put a Pillow on Your Fridge Day, Día de los Muertos, Guy Fawkes Night, Krampusnacht, Night of the Radishes, Yule Cat, Christmas Caterpillars, Count Your Buttons Day, Takanakuy Fistfights, The Candy-Pooping Log, Day of the Holy Innocents, Kumari, the Living Goddess.
Weird, Funny, and Just Interesting Holidays
Now, let’s get straight to the stupid holidays. But honestly, we’ve stepped a bit away from focusing purely on “stupid” or “strange” holidays — we already put the quirkiest ones into our PDF collection. Here, we just want to expand that list a little and highlight a few fun celebrations that might appeal to a wider audience. Something your friends and Instagram followers would actually enjoy sharing — not just the absurd ones, but the genuinely entertaining, light-hearted, and conversation-starting holidays too.
We know many of you search for ready-made images to share with friends on Instagram, so we prepared them for you. Feel free to use them without limitations — just keep our link visible on the image, it really makes us happy.
Star Wars Day — May 4
A fan-driven celebration of the Star Wars franchise, built around the pun “May the Fourth (be with you).” Fans watch the films, dress up, share memes, and celebrate the entire Star Wars culture.
Alien Abduction Day — March 20
A playful tribute to extraterrestrial lore, dedicated to the themes of alien abductions and UFOs. Sci-fi fans and UFO enthusiasts mark the day with stories, theories, and cosmic humor.
Hug Your Cat Day — June 4
A light-hearted celebration for cat lovers to give their feline companions some extra affection. It’s a perfect excuse to cuddle, spoil, and bond with your pet.
International Astronomy Day — Varies (spring and fall)
A day aimed at promoting astronomy and inspiring people to look up at the skies. It occurs twice a year and includes telescope events, public viewings, and science outreach activities.
Celebrated twice a year on a Saturday near the first-quarter moon, once in the spring and once in the fall.
International Cat Day — August 8
A global appreciation day for domestic cats, recognising their companionship and importance in human lives. It’s also used to raise awareness about cat welfare and adoption.
International Talk Like a Pirate Day — September 19
A quirky holiday inviting everyone to talk like a stereotypical pirate — think “Arrr!” and “Avast!” It often involves costumes, jokes, and humorous social-media posts.
National Bobblehead Day — January 7
A celebration of bobblehead figurines, those fun nodding collectibles from sports and pop culture. People showcase collections or gift bobbleheads to friends.
National Pizza Party Day — Third Friday in May
A food-themed event encouraging friends, families, or coworkers to gather and enjoy pizza together. A perfect excuse for a casual social gathering.
National Spaghetti Day — January 4
A quirky holiday inviting everyone to talk like a stereotypical pirate — think “Arrr!” and “Avast!” It often involves costumes, jokes, and humorous social-media posts.
World Circus Day — Third Saturday in April
A global celebration of circus arts, from acrobats and clowns to animal performers. Circus groups often host shows or public outreach activities.
World Compliment Day — March 1
A positivity-focused day encouraging everyone to give sincere compliments. The goal is to spread kindness, encouragement, and goodwill through simple, genuine words.
World Poetry Day — March 21
Established by UNESCO to honour poetry as a unique creative expression. The day features readings, workshops, and appreciation of poetry’s cultural role.
Bean Day — January 6
A light-hearted celebration of beans — nutritious, affordable, and versatile foods. Many use the day to share recipes or spotlight bean-based dishes.
Best Friends Day — June 8
A day to honour the special bond between best friends. It encourages appreciation, spending time together, and expressing gratitude for supportive friendships.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Day — January 3
Dedicated to the beloved treat of chocolate-covered cherries. People enjoy them, make them, or share them as a sweet indulgence.
Chocolate Day — July 7
A universal celebration of chocolate in all its forms — bars, truffles, desserts, and drinks. A perfect day for sharing sweet moments with others.
Daylight Appreciation Day — June 21
A lesser-known observance encouraging people to appreciate natural daylight. It highlights the importance of light for mood, well-being, and outdoor activity.
Go Skateboarding Day — June 21
An international celebration promoting skateboarding for all ages. It encourages people to skate, join events, and celebrate skate culture and community.
Houseplant Appreciation Day — January 10
A day to care for and celebrate indoor houseplants. It’s a reminder to repot, clean leaves, or bring home a new plant — and to appreciate their positive impact on our spaces.
Hugging Day — January 21
Also known as National Hug Day, it encourages hugging friends, family, and loved ones (with consent). It highlights the emotional benefits of physical connection.
International Joke Day — July 1
A cheerful day dedicated to jokes, humour, and laughter. People share funny stories, post jokes, and enjoy light-hearted moments together.
International Picnic Day — June 18
A celebration of outdoor relaxation, shared meals, and nature. People gather with food, friends, and family to enjoy time outside.
National Apricot Day — January 9
A food holiday celebrating sweet apricots — fresh, dried, or preserved. It’s a great day to enjoy apricot-based dishes or learn more about the fruit.
National Chocolate Chip Day — May 15
A tribute to chocolate chips — the beloved ingredient in cookies, cakes, and countless desserts. It inspires baking, creativity, and plenty of tasty treats.
Weird Holidays or Funny and Interesting?
BTW, when it comes to weird holidays, I wouldn’t judge how strange or silly any of them are. Just look around — the world is full of unusual people, and if you think someone is strange, chances are they think the same about you. So a holiday that seems bizarre to one person might actually be someone else’s absolute favorite.
That’s why I suggest we stop calling such holidays weird and start calling them interesting. It’s friendlier—and no one gets offended that way. Although… feeding a wooden log and taking care of it just so it will one day poop out candy is, well, undeniably interesting in its own very special way. 🤣
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