Days of Inspiration

The start of a new year causes people to compile lists of New Year's resolutions. Some good intentions are easily broken, while others become good habits. 

If you're looking for inspiration for your genealogy writing, as a conversation starter, or just a fun day to celebrate, check out the calendar dates below.  

January

• Jan. 1: New Year’s Day (Gregorian calendar)
• Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January)

February

• African-American History Month
• Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
• Feb. 29: Leap Year day (once every four years)
• Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February)

March

• March 17: St. Patrick's Day
• March 17: Evacuation Day
• March 20: Spring Equinox
• March 25: New Year's Day (Julian calendar)

April

• April 1: April Fools Day
• April 10: National Siblings Day
• April 16: National Librarian Day
• April 22: Earth Day
• Library Week (first week in April)
• Patriots Day (third Monday in April)
• Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work day (last Thursday in April)
• Arbor Day (last Friday in April)

May

• May 1: May Day
• May 2: Brothers & Sisters Day
• May 5: Cinco de Mayo
• May 8: V.E. Day: Victory in Europe Day
• May 22: National Maritime Day
• National Teacher's Day (Tuesday of the first full week of May)
• Mother's Day (second Sunday in May)
• Armed Forces Day (third Saturday in May)
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May)

June

• June 14: Flag Day
• June 17: Bunker Hill Day
• June 19: Juneteenth Day
• June 20: Summer Solstice
• Father's Day (third Sunday in June)

July

• July 4: Independence Day
• Parents’ Day (fourth Sunday in July)

August

• Friendship Day (first Sunday in August)

September

• Sept. 11: Patriot Day
• Sept. 17: Constitution Day
• Sept. 17: Citizenship Day
• Sept. 21: International Peace Day
• Sept. 22: Autumn Equinox
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Grandparents Day (Sunday after Labor Day)
• Native American Day (fourth Friday of September)

October

• Family History Month
• National Crime Prevention Month
• Oct. 5: World Teacher Day
• Oct. 31: Halloween
• Columbus Day (second Monday in October)

November

• National Adoption Month
• Native American Indian Month
• Nov. 1: All Saints Day
• Nov. 2: All Souls Day/Day of the Dead
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day
• Election Day (Tuesday following the first Monday of the month)
• Thanksgiving (Fourth Thursday in November)

December

• Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
• Dec. 21: Winter Solstice
• Dec. 25: Christmas
• Dec. 26: Kwanzaa begins
• Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve

Other Holidays & Fun Stuff

In addition to the dates above, there are “moveable” holidays that change every year, such as Easter, Chinese New Year, Yom Kippur, Ramadan, and Diwali. To keep up with those dates, visit Holiday Insights. You’ll also find many other reasons to celebrate on that site. And don’t forget Thomas MacEntee’s GeneaBloggers’ daily blogging prompts.

Need help organizing all the dates? Check out Create Your Own Calendar.