Aren’t we all just waiting eagerly for that next whacky holiday coming around the corner? Why do we only need big festivals like Easter, Hanukkah, and Christmas when we can celebrate National Pig Day or National Crown Roast of Pork Day? No, really! Who cares about big holidays and spending billions of dollars buying things you don’t need with money you don’t have for people you never really liked, anyway! But kidding aside, there’s not just a day for everything, but even several things celebrated every day. Take March 23, 2021, for instance. No less than five special days are celebrated on this particular date.
We’ll bet you that only a few people are aware that this was the day in 1775 when Patrick Henry, the great American revolutionary and the first Governor of Virginia, boldly and famously declared to the Virginia legislature: “Give me liberty, or give me death!”
We’re equally sure that most folks aren’t aware that on March 23, 1903, the Wright brothers received their patent for the airplane, or that on this day in 1998, the film Titanic won 11 Oscars (Okay, you might know that one), or that on March 23, 1957, the United States Army sold the last of its homing pigeons!
Oddly enough, far more people probably know March 23 as Near Miss Day, National Puppy Day, World Agriculture Day, National Chip and Dip Day, and National Melba Toast Day!
Does that reflect poorly on our knowledge of history? By no means! All it shows is that we have far more things to celebrate today than ever before in the history of humanity. Why reserve the good times for a few days of the year when you can celebrate year-round? Is that the quickest way to attain that elusive thing called World Peace? Well, you decide. Our job is to show you the many things you can get busy with right through the month of March 2021. Mind you, this is by no means a comprehensive list of nationally and globally celebrated days. It’s merely a collection of what we thought was entertaining, significant, or just outright silly!
March 1
World Compliment Day - A wonderful day to use your superbly intuitive skills and tremendous insight to give an honest compliment to someone. See what we did there? Now you try it. This special day was the brainchild of ‘recognition professional’ Hans Poortvliet, who originally founded it as National Compliment Day in the Netherlands.
Plan a Solo Vacation Day - No, you don’t have to go traipsing off on your own this very moment. Hang on! Today’s just the day you plan that trip. The day is relatively recent, only having been founded in 2018. Little is known about the founder other than the fact that they promote it as a ‘bold and exciting adventure.’
National Peanut Butter Lovers Day - Why not just call it ‘The Thing 9 out of 10 People Love’ Day? After all, who doesn’t love a PB&J sandwich. And tell us, which dog in its right mind doesn’t go crazy with joy trying to get it off the roof of its mouth! More people love it smooth rather than chunky, but we all love it on any day of the week. Historically, the day was first promoted in 1990 by the National Peanut Board (obviously) and the Adult Peanut Butter Lovers Fan Club (man, they got a club for EVERYTHING!)
Peace Corps Day - President JFK formally set up the Peace Corps on this day in 1961, sixty years ago. Later that same year, Congress passed the Peace Corps Act. Over 200,000 people have served in the Peace Corps across 140 countries since then. There’s no record of when this day was first celebrated.
National Pig Day - Pigs are people, too! So, let’s all put down our pulled pork sandwiches and give these highly intelligent animals the respect they deserve on this special day for oinkers. National Pig Day began in 1972 when art teacher Ellen Stanley of Texas thought to celebrate the intelligence of pigs and be grateful for them.
March 2
Old Stuff Day - Nope, this is not the day you give away your old stuff or celebrate your vintage collection. It’s the day to recognize that most of us keep following the same routine and lifestyle. It is a day to shake things up and try… well, new stuff! Nobody seems to know the origins of this special day but we do know that it’s time to change old habits and do something you’ve never tried before.
World Teen Mental Wellness Day - This globally celebrated day is all about raising awareness about the mental health of the younger generation. Right now, that’s Generation Z or Gen Z, which experts say is the worst off in terms of the level of mental health. It’s important for teens to know that there’s a special day that’s all about being okay with not being okay. Social media puts a lot of pressure on teens to be “perfect” in different ways that are virtually impossible for one person to emulate. Today is the day for teens to take care of themselves and be a little more conscious about self-care.
March 3
Peach Blossom Day - This day is a time for girls to celebrate being girls. It’s also the day when peach blossoms bloom in Japan and parts of China and are associated with feminine traits such as daintiness, sweet-smelling fragrances, and so on. Some might be offended by the meaning behind this holiday but it is merely seen as an innocent celebration of girlhood.
National Anthem Day - Did you know that The Star Spangled Banner didn’t become the national anthem of the United States of America until March 3, 1931, when President Herbert Hoover made it official through a congressional resolution? Until then, it was merely one of several patriotic songs. President Woodrow Wilson signed an order in 1916 to make it official, but it was only 15 years and 40 failed attempts later that it officially passed through Congress.
If Pets Had Thumbs Day - Seriously? Isn’t it enough to just wonder about things like this? Do we really need a day for this? Apparently, we do! The opposable thumb is actually a big deal that only primates are blessed with. What if your pet Siamese cat or Doberman Pinscher had thumbs. Could they open their own cans of pet food? Would they play Solitaire when they’re bored? No wonder we need a whole day to think about these things! Hmm.
March 4
National Sons Day - This day is all about celebrating the boy child. It’s not as popular as National Father-Daughter Day, perhaps, but it’s still very important for those raising a son. This is the day we teach our sons the virtues of responsibility, integrity, and hard work. It’s also a great opportunity to teach them the little things, like changing a car tire or opening a bank account.
National Hug a G.I. Day - Government Issue, General Issue, Galvanized Iron, or Ground Infantry. There are many takes on how military personnel came to be known as G.I.s, but these men and women are the first ones to put their lives on the line so people like us can be safe at home and enjoy the good things of life. Hug a serviceman or woman on this day and make them feel special for the security they provide to their citizens.
March 5
Multiple Personality Day - There’s no record of who founded this day, but today it is widely known as a day to celebrate your inner ‘selves’. Multiple Personality Disorder or MPD is nothing to laugh at, but many people believe that we all have more than one personality inside of us. The one that people see outside is merely the one we wish to show the world. On this day, look inside and wish yourselves a happy multiple personality day. Just make sure you know how many people to wish.
National Day of Unplugging - This is something all of us sorely need - to unplug ourselves from the many electronic devices that control our lives. Unplugging on this day gives you the chance to unwind and do things that are totally unrelated to technology. This is a day for heading back to our non-electronic roots and be the people we were before we became addicted to screens, remote controls, controllers, and other devices.
National Salesperson Day - The final entry for March 5 was either going to be World Day of Prayer or National Salesperson Day. Obviously, prayer gets a lot more love than salespeople, so we picked the day that celebrates the engines of the capitalist economy - salespeople. Most of us scoff at sales folks, but the truth is, they’re the ones moving the economy. It’s hard and often humiliating work where a ‘no’ in your face is far more common than a sale. So, today, let’s celebrate the hard work of these professionals in sales divisions all around the world.
March 6
National Oreo Cookie Day - Truly an act of marketing genius. Which company can boast a ‘national’ day for one of its products? Not many. Oreos are actually world-famous, so it should be known as an international or global day. Nevertheless, it’s a great day to dunk it, lick the cream filling, crumble it over ice cream, or pop it into your mouth whole on this commemorative day for one of the most popular cookies of all time.
Dentist’s Day - A special day to smile and show people those pearly whites. This is the day you celebrate those hard-working men and women we spend so much time trying to avoid. Have you set up your six-monthly appointment yet? We thought not. Why not get over your fear of having a cavity discovered and give your friendly neighborhood dentist a call?
National Frozen Food Day - President Ronald Reagan officially declared this day in 1984 through Proclamation #5157, as requested by Congress’s Senate Joint Resolution 197. The process of flash-freezing foods was developed in 1927. Nearly a century later, we’re still eating the fruits of a $280 billion dollar global industry - and it’s delicious!
March 7
National Cereal Day - What’s your favorite cereal of all time? Some might say Captain Crunch was their favorite; some might herald Wheaties as the breakfast of champions. Whatever your delight, this day can only be traced back to 2005, which is strange because breakfast cereals have been around since the 1800s. Nevertheless, these humble dietary delicacies help us power through the day with all the goodness of healthy foods.
March 8
Be Nasty Day - Do we seriously need a special holiday for celebrating being nasty to each other? Apparently so! It appears that we’re not mean enough to each other. If you really want to celebrate this day, make sure it’s harmless. Get a bunch of insulting eCards and… don’t send them! You don’t want to rub people the wrong way on purpose - we do it enough on a regular basis as it is.
March 9
Panic Day - Another regrettably sad day to celebrate, but you’ll need to wait all year to hit the panic button. If things aren’t going your way, just stay calm and wait for March 9 to come around. On this day, you can panic as much as you like. Jokes aside, we need to remember that Anxiety Disorders affect as many as 1 in 5 people in America. It’s not something to take lightly, but somebody obviously did.
March 10
International Day of Awesomeness - How awesome is this day, huh? It’s fun to have a day where you celebrate the sheer awesomeness of the world around you. Whether it’s the emergence of a little butterfly from its cocoon or the cosmic grandeur of a meteor shower, this is the day to celebrate awesome things both big and small. It’s also time to marvel at all your blessings no matter how insignificant they may seem. Are you in a new relationship? That’s awesome! Did you make a new friend? Awesome! Did you learn to fry an egg or make your own coffee? Awesome, awesome! Be as a child and in awe of everything around you on this special day.
March 11
Johnny Appleseed Day - This day celebrates the legend that was John Chapman, who, for over forty years, planting apple trees and selling apple seeds across America. This is the day he is believed to have died in 1845 but the actual date is disputed. Some celebrate the day on September 26, which is the anniversary of his birth in 1776. You can celebrate this special day by making something with apples, like a pie or applesauce. The best thing you can do is emulate Mr. Chapman and plant a tree - an apple tree, of course.
Popcorn Lover’s Day - From apples to popcorn! Another American favorite that is now available in so many flavors that it’s hard to decide what to get. But there’s no denying that this classic salty snack is one of the most popular snack foods in history. Have it on movie night or any night of the week, but on this special day for popcorn lovers, just make sure you have lots of it!
March 12
Plant a Flower Day - This is the day to say it with flowers and plant your share of one of nature’s most beautiful and delicate creations. It’s a good day to take up gardening, or you could just plant a few flowering plants for your home garden. Flowers help brighten up anyone’s day, and there’s so much you can communicate with the simple bouquet of your favorite flowers. But remember, today is the day for planting them, not plucking them!
Girl Scouts Day - Millions of Americans await this very special day when the Girl Scouts of the USA pepper the streets with armfuls of boxes of cookies to sell. Support their efforts and buy a few boxes of cookies; you’re helping these young ones learn valuable life lessons when you buy from them. Did you know that there are only two commercial bakers currently licensed to make Girl Scout cookies? They’re Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers. Don’t forget to try the new Toast-Yay kind if they’re available in your area. Our all-time favorites are the Caramel Cholocate Chip and the Thin Mints.
March 13
International Fanny Pack Day - Remember the good old 80s? That’s when fanny packs created a revolution. Everyone had them and loved them. In fact, you could consider them the first hands-free devices because they carried everything for you, from your IDs to your keys and your wallet to your cosmetics. However, International Fanny Pack Day wasn’t started until more than two decades later, in 2007, when Portland, Oregon resident Nick Yates got the idea of distributing free food to the needy from a fanny pack. You can continue his tradition of giving gifts of food to those who need it. Or just volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, but remember to wear your fanny pack so you can keep your stuff in one place.
March 14
National Pi Day - This day, being represented as 3.14, is now celebrated as National Pi Day to commemorate one of the most fascinating numbers in mathematics that runs into infinite decimal points. Coincidentally, it is also the birth date of Albert Einstein, who was born on this day in 1879. It was officially passed as a non-binding resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009.
National Potato Chip Day - A true culinary marvel, the humble potato chip is the most favorite snack in the United States. Chocolate holds that crown at the global level but potato chips are definitely up there among the most popular snacks in the world. We don’t recommend that you overdo it on chip-eating on this day. Rather, why not try making your own potato chip variant with condiments you love the most? One great idea is to mix them up in a bag with olive oil until they’re lightly coated, then add powdered condiments to add flavor and shake it up again.
March 15
Ides of March Day - This is the day on which Julius Caesar was stabbed by Marcus Junius Brutus after having ignored the warnings of the soothsayers to “beware the Ides of March.” In the Roman New Year, this was the first day of the year - a good day to get rid of a tyrant? Perhaps. Well, at least 60 conspirators led by Brutus and Longinus thought so. For us, it should be an opportunity to learn from Caesar’s own words:
“It is better to create than to learn. Creating is the essence of life.”
On this day, try something creative like learning a new hobby or starting on a new language using an app. The road ahead of you is a long one. Make use of it to do more than travel.
Dumbstruck Day - On a lighter note, we are totally dumbstruck that nobody claims to have created this day. What? Who? Where? It seems everyone is clueless about this day to be dumbstruck by everything around you. Why not just walk around all day looking like you have absolutely no idea what’s going on?
March 16
Giant Panda Bear Day - Awww! This one ranks right up there with the cutest special days of all time. It’s the day we celebrate these cuddly but highly endangered species, of which there are only 2,000 known to be in existence today. It’s a great day to login to Smithsonian’s Giant Panda Cam webpage and watch Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji. It’s very calming to watch these gentle creatures moving about, munching on bamboo, and even fast asleep.
Freedom of Information Day - There’s no ‘National’ tag to this special day, but what it represents is certainly very special to James Madison, the 4th president of the United States and the “Father of the Constitution”, who believed strongly in the rights of the individual to know what’s going on in government.
“He once wrote, "[a] popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps, both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." In a similar vein, he asserted that "the advancement and diffusion of knowledge" is "the only Guardian of true liberty."”
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day - Green beer, leprechauns, and, of course, corned beef and cabbage. In commemoration of Ireland’s Patron Saint bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isles during the 400s, this is also celebrated as National Corned Beef and Cabbage day to remember the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal. Strangely enough, though, you’re not very likely to find this meal in Ireland, even on St. Patrick’s Day. Just as they are today in countries like India, cows were considered sacred in Gaelic Ireland. Pigs, rather than cows, were bred for meat, so you’re more likely to find bacon or pork than a bowl of corned beef and cabbage. The tradition began in America when Irish settlers found that corned beef was cheaper than bacon, hence the celebration of this day as National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day and the association with St. Patrick’s Day in the United States.
March 18
Absolutely Incredible Kids Day - This bizarre-sounding day is actually an innocent celebration of the ingenuity of kids. Started by Campfire USA in 1997, recommendations for this day include writing a letter to your kids, taking them out somewhere special, and generally treating them as if they were, in truth, miracles in your life. If you’re a parent, you’ll understand the sentiment. So, at least on this day, don’t just say “my kids are great”; say “they’re absolutely incredible”!
March 19
Poultry Day - “It tastes like chicken!” This is the day to celebrate one of the most consumed meats in the world. Did you know that over 98.5 million tons of chicken are eaten every year. A close second is pork at 94.3 million tons, which was displaced by chicken in 2019 when the African Swine Flu drastically cut consumption. On this day, eat an egg for breakfast, a chicken sandwich for lunch, and a roast chicken for dinner. You don’t want it to fall back into second place again, do you? Do your part!
March 20
Extraterrestrial Abductions Day - Have you spotted a UFO lately? Do you think the government is trying to hide something? Watch out or they’ll get you - the aliens, that is. This day, you can read up on all that science fiction you’ve been meaning to get to, watch some old X Files episodes, and don’t forget to put on your Martian hat. But if you spot a UFO, make a run for it! We don’t know who first suggested the idea for this special day but we suspect he’s millions of light years away by now!
March 21
Credit Card Reduction Day - Ah, there’s a useful day if ever there was one! Today is the day you take stock of your credit card debt and try to pay off as much as you can. For a long time, there was a myth that it would take you over 200 years to pay off your credit card debt if you only paid the minimum balance each month. That myth has long since been busted. In fact, credit card companies are required by federal law to include in your statement how long it will take you to pay off your card if you only pay the minimum.
The reality of it is that the more you make in monthly payments, the sooner you can close your credit card balances, and this is the day to formulate a strategy to do exactly that over the next few months. A useful day? Truly!
March 22
National Goof Off Day - And what better day to act all crazy than the very next day after behaving like a ‘responsible adult’? Well, it’s National Goof Off Day, of course. Do a 180 and play hooky from school, college, or work. If your teacher or boss celebrates the same holiday, you have nothing to worry about. It’ll be your little secret! Did you know that a company once surveyed people and found that video games were the most popular goof-off activity? No points for guessing that the company that did the survey was… tadaaaa… Nintendo!
The idea for National Goof Off Day apparently came from the granddaughter of the famous William D. Chase, who created Chase’s Calendar of Events, an annual release of all the world’s holidays, special days, anniversaries, and observances. It claims to be “the most comprehensive and authoritative reference available on special events, worldwide holidays and festivals, civic observances, historic anniversaries, famous birthdays and much more.”
March 23
Near Miss Day - On this day, we celebrate not being annihilated by asteroids striking Earth! In 1989, an asteroid about half a mile across came within 500,000 miles of Earth. In astronomical terms, it was a near miss. There have been several near-misses since then, but this was by far the largest chunk of rock, metal, and ice we have ever had NOT hit us since 1989. There was another one, much larger, back in 1937 as well. Thankfully, we’re still around. Somebody must be watching out for us because scientists say that “there may be at least a hundred objects that are half a mile or more across and that have orbits that send them skimming by Earth. And there may be thousands that are a few dozen feet across. Obviously the chance that perhaps one out of all these will finally strike Earth is far greater than the chance that a particular one, like the one that just missed us, will do so.”
March 24
National Chocolate-covered Raisin Day - It’s hard to tell whether this holiday was started by chocolate manufacturers or raisin makers (raisin raisers??), but who cares? Raisins are fruit (grapes) and chocolate is a vegetable (cocoa beans), so that makes this a healthy snack, right? Wink Wink. Nevertheless, Raisinets and other popular brands of chocolate-covered raisins are most definitely a snack of choice for millions around the world. As for the “healthy” part, you decide for yourself:
“In the spectrum of otherwise healthy foods that are dipped in chocolate (including every type of nut), raisins are really not a bad nutritional deal. The vitamins and minerals in the dried fruit aren’t lost when it’s covered in chocolate, so the treats deliver about 1 percent of the vitamin E recommended daily and tiny amounts of vitamins A and K. They also supply .77 milligrams of iron and trace amounts of zinc and potassium. The chocolate, of course, adds calories, fat and sugar to a dried fruit that already contains a lot of natural sugar. A 1/4-cup serving has 176 calories and 7.4 grams of fat — 6.6 grams of which are saturated.”
March 25
Feast of the Annunciation - This day is celebrated about nine months before Christmas Day; in other words, it celebrates the conception of Christ and commemorates the day on which the Archangel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary the good news of the child to be born. The festival is celebrated throughout Christianity and is believed to have first been celebrated around the forth or fifth century AD.
March 26
Live Long and Prosper Day - Trekkies consider this to be a very important holiday. It celebrates the famous lines of the most beloved of all Star Trek’s vulcan characters, Spock. Use this day to dig deep into the meaning of the words “live long and prosper”; go on a diet, start an exercise regime, quit smoking, relax a little, start saving money, do volunteer work, etc. This day should celebrate the essence of those famous words, and in the redoubtable spirit of the half-human, half-vulcan character who won the hearts of millions of earthlings.
March 27
National Joe Day - You’re supposed to have everyone call you Joe on this strange day. Joe is apparently ‘everyman’, and if you’re a woman, you can ask them to call you Josephine or Jody. The origins of this day are not known, but we suspect it was some Joe who didn’t like his given name. So, Joe, be Joe today and go back to being not-Joe tomorrow, because “there’s Joe day like today!”
Passover - This Jewish holiday, also known as Pesach, varies from year to year. In 2021, it begins at sundown on March 27. The Passover lasts for seven to eight days from the 15th day of Nisan, and commemorates the original passover that marked the freeing of the Jews and their subsequent Exodus from Egypt after several hundred years of slavery.
March 28
Palm Sunday - This year, Holy Week begins on March 28 with Palm Sunday. It celebrates Jesus Christ’s grand entry into Jerusalem and the laying down of palms along his path into the city. Palms are traditionally blessed at Mass and distributed in church. These palms are preserved until the following year, when they are burned and the ashes used for Ash Wednesday. Some people bury the old palms in their gardens or fields in the belief that it will bless that year’s crop or garden plants.
Weed Appreciation Day - Wait! Don’t go and roll a fat one yet. This day celebrates the presence of weeds in the garden, not “weed” as in the smokable kind. Weeds can actually be very beneficial - they’re just growing in the wrong place. Some are edible, some medicinal, and some even flower in beautiful colors. It’s important that you understand the value of weeds and appreciate them for what they are, especially on their special day.
March 29
National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day - Leave your Walmarts and Amazons and head to your local brick and mortar stores run by locals. Support these local businesses that are the backbone of any nation. You can show your appreciation by shopping there today, but don’t stop there. Make a commitment to support these entrepreneurs on a regular basis by buying what you can from them rather than shopping online or going to a superstore. Take it a step further: ask for their names, find out if they have kids, and so on. Be friendly, but don’t be nosy - you’re just trying to get to know them better, not write a dossier on them!
March 30
National Doctor’s Day - Doctors were one of the most hardworking and taxed frontline workers during the pandemic and remain under intense pressure day after day. Use this day to appreciate all the doctors you know in your social circles. Send an e-greeting, buy them flowers, or say a simple “thanks for being there.” Your appreciation will be gladly received by these tuckered-out professionals who put their lives on the line for us every day.
I Am in Control Day - When Secretary of State Alexander Haig said the words “I am in control” at the White House in the wake of the assassination attempt on then-President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1980, it was taken out of context and subsequently led to Haig’s resignation. The day became known thenceforth as I Am in Control Day, but it is now celebrated in a different context. Today is about taking control of your life and getting things in order. Has something been getting out of control but you’ve been ignoring it? Today is when you put a stop to it. It is a call to action on the part of every person to take charge of their lives, whether it’s finances, health, relationships, or work.
March 31
World Backup Day - Despite data being our most valuable resource today, most of us never back-up our data from the various devices we use - laptops, PCs, phones, tablets, etc. Take this opportunity to back-up your data to the cloud or a local storage device like a USB drive. It might take a little time but remember that these are your most valuable assets - photos from moments you can never get back, videos of precious memories, important files from work, and so on. Where possible, set your devices to sync automatically to the cloud (iCloud, etc.) or a local back-up (Time Machine on Mac, etc.) so you don’t have to do it manually the next time.
Clam on the Half Shell Day - To wind up the month of March 2021, savor these delectable shellfish. The right way to eat these is to first hold the shell in one hand and a shellfish fork (the smallest one) in the other; spear the clam on the fork, dip it in the sauce and pop it in your mouth in one bite. You can also dip your fork in the sauce, drizzle it on the clam and eat it that way. If you’re at a picnic, etiquette experts say it's okay to put the shell to your mouth and suck up the meat. If you’re allergic to shellfish, don’t worry: “be clam and eat chicken instead!”
