There are hundreds of celebrations taking place across the world every day. In fact, there’s a holiday for just about anything. Here are ten top dates for your diary in the coming year.
1. Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, February 1st
It’s an official holiday, right? It would be rude not to participate. A balanced healthy diet is great, but what is all that balance for if not moments like this? I hear ice cream makes a great breakfast!
2. Take a Chance Day, April 23rd
Opportunities in life come and go. Sometimes the hardest thing is starting something, putting yourself out there, and taking a risk. Often, what we want most lies on the other side of our doubt and indecision. Use April 23rd as that little boost and motivation you need to take a chance, knowing that others around the world will be doing so as well!
3. International Talk Like a Pirate Day, 19th September
Yaaaar me hearties! It’s important to have a healthy outlet for the pirate within, and for those of us unfortunately landlocked, this holiday will have to suffice. Deck yourself out for sea-faring, give Polly a cracker and go find that treasure.
4. Star Wars Day, May 4th
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… in 1977 to be exact, Star Wars exploded onto the big screen and into our lives. Starting life as a motion picture trilogy, the franchise quickly grew to mammoth proportions. Star Wars was the original blockbuster and remains one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time.
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s famous line “May the force be with you” has given rise to commemorating Star Wars with a watch-a-thon on May the Fourth, or Star Wars Day. Over the past 40 years, Star Wars has enthralled generations with its galactic tales of good versus evil and lives on in our culture as a modern myth commemorated within its own holiday.
5. World Emoji Day, July 17th
We all have our favourites, what’s yours? With the rise of smartphones, Emojis have become a ubiquitous part of our lives and have permeated all areas of global culture. They have brought an added layer of nuance, connection, and humour to our digital lives. Celebrate your champion icons on this day!
6. Day of the Ninja, December 5th
Shh. You didn’t hear it from me, but December 5th is the perfect day to pay homage to your favourite concealed assassins. A perfect opportunity to use your ninja death stars (or shurikens, as they’re called in Japan) and spend the day cloaked in shadow.
7. Earth Day, April 22nd
We all know we could do more to reduce our carbon footprint and recycle, and unsurprisingly there’s a day dedicated to this noble goal. Earth Day aims to raise awareness of environmental issues. It’s not all doom and gloom though, the ethos behind Earth Day is to celebrate the beauty of nature.
It was founded in 1970 and many industries have joined year on year; from leading poker rooms to retailers, they all show their support for environmental protection. Now recognized in 192 countries, Earth Day is considered the largest secular holiday in the world. If you’re itching to hug a tree, be sure to mark April 22nd in your calendar.
8. Pluto Demoted Day, August 24th
A sad day for all who memorized the order of the planets as a child. On August 24th, we remember Pluto’s demotion from Planet to Planetoid status and weep. I know, it’s a tragedy.
9. International Friendship Day, 2nd August
We all get by with a little help from our friends. This handy holiday at the start of August is a great opportunity to reflect on your friendships and express gratitude for those people around you that make life what it is. Make it a friend date!
10. Saturnalia, 17th December
Before Christmas, there was Saturnalia. If you fancy trying something different in December or kicking off celebrations early, what better way to celebrate than with the Roman predecessor to Christmas? Saturnalia takes place on the 17th of December and is an ancient festival dedicated to the Roman god Saturn.
It has plenty in common with Christmas but it has its own vibe; it was originally a special day in the Roman calendar when the normal rules were reversed. Slaves were allowed to order around their masters and there was an emphasis on mischief-making and trickery. This merry-making caused poet Catullus to exclaim that Saturnalia was, truly, “the best of days!”
