If you are an obsessive observer of holidays and commemorations, you can stay busiest in December—there is a holiday every day.
We Alabama folks even have a day of our own – Alabama Day. No, it’s not for football. It is the anniversary of the day Alabama became a state, December 14, 1819. That’s the year for which 1819 News gets its name. December 14, 2024, marks the 205th anniversary of Alabama becoming a state.
Two other December days have special meaning in Alabama. Rosa Parks Day is December 1. December 31 is the ReliaQuest Bowl featuring Alabama vs. Michigan in a rematch of their 2024 New Year's Day College Football Playoff match.
There's Hanukkah and Christmas, but some holidays are not well-known or well-observed.
Some are even strange-sounding:
Eat a Red Apple Day. National Cookie Cutter Day. Safety Razor Day. National Jello Day. Dozens more, just in December.
Who makes up these holidays? Do they get paid to do this? Are some of them joking?
Other than official federal holidays (by an act of Congress) or official state holidays (by an act of the state legislature), all other commemorations are unofficial, but some are quite well known and well observed.
December 1
Christmas Book Day
Cyber Safety Sunday
Day With(out) Art Day
Eat a Red Apple Day
First Sunday of Advent
National Christmas Lights Day
National Cookie Cutter Day
National Peppermint Bark Day
National Twin With Your Dog Day
National Women Support Women Day
Rosa Parks Day
Wear a Dress Day
World Aids Day
December 2
Cyber Monday
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
National Build Joy Day
National Fritters Day
National Mutt Day
National Skip School Day
Play Basketball Day
Safety Razor Day
Special Education Day
Walt Disney Day
World Computer Literacy Day
World Pollution Prevention Day
December 3
Giving Tuesday
International Day of People with Disabilities
Let’s Hug Day
Make a Gift Day
National Green Bean Casserole Day
National Heather Day
National Roof Over Your Head Day
World Trick Shot Day
December 4
Cabernet Franc Day
Candle Day
Carols by Candlelight
Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day
International Cheetah Day
International Day of Banks
National Cookie Day
National Dice Day
National Package Protection Day
National Sock Day
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting
Santa’s List Day
Wear Brown Shoes Day
World Wildlife Conservation Day
December 5
Bathtub Party Day
International Ninja Day
International Volunteer Day
National AFL-CIO Day
National Blue Jeans Day
National Communicate With Your Kids Day
National Repeal Day
Sacher-Torte Day
World Soil Day
December 6
Faux Fur Friday
Mitten Tree Day
National Bartender Day
National Gazpacho Day
National Microwave Oven Day
National Miners’ Day
National Pawnbrokers Day
National Salesperson Day
St. Nicholas Day
December 7
Candle Day
Chester Greenwood Day
Coats and Toys for Kids Day
Crate Day
Global Fat Bike Day
International Civil Aviation Day
National Letter Writing Day
National Cotton Candy Day
National Joy Day
National Rhubarb Vodka Day
National Pearl Harbor Day of Remembrance
National Slime Day
Tree Dressing Day
December 8
Bodhi Day
Constitution Day
National Blue-Collar Day
National Brownie Day
National Donair Day
National Health Savings Account Day
National Lard Day
Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day
Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
World Choral Day
December 9
Christmas Card Day
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Genocide Prevention Day
Green Monday
International Anti-Corruption Day
International Day of Veterinary Medicine
National Llama Day
National Opal Apples Day
National Pastry Day
Weary Willie Day
World Techno Day
December 10
Dewey Decimal System Day
Human Rights Day
International Animal Rights Day
Jane Addams Day
National Lager Day
National Salesperson Day
Nobel Prize Day
December 11
Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day
International Mountain Day
National App Day
National Have A Bagel Day
National Noodle Ring Day
National Tango Day
UNICEF Day for Change
December 12
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Gingerbread House Day
International Universal Health Coverage Day
National Ambrosia Day
National Ding-a-Ling Day
National Poinsettia Day
December 13
Day of the Horse
Friday the 13th
Lost & Found Day
National Cocoa Day
National Cream Cheese Frosting Day
National Guard Birthday
National Salesperson Day
National Violin Day
Pick a Pathologist Pal Day
December 14
Christmas Bird Count Week
Gingerbread Decorating Day
Halcyon Days
International Shareware Day
More Good Today Day
National Bouillabaisse Day
National Energy Conservation Day
National Screwdriver Day
National Wreaths Across America Day
Monkey Day
Roast Chestnuts Day
Sustainable Entrepreneurship Day
December 15
Bill of Rights Day
Cat Herders Day
National Cupcake Day
National Lemon Cupcake Day
National Wear Your Pearls Day
December 16
Barbie and Barney Backlash Day
Day of Reconciliation
Las Posadas
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Stupid Toy Day
December 17
National Device Appreciation Day
National Maple Syrup Day
Pan American Aviation Day
Saturnalia December
Wright Brothers Day
December 18
Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day
Bake Cookies Day
Flake Appreciation Day
International Migrants Day
National Roast Suckling Pig Day
World Arabic Language Day
December 19
Look for an Evergreen Day
National Emo Day
National Hard Candy Day
National Heroes and Heroines Day
National Oatmeal Muffin Day
National Re-Gifting Day
December 20
Cathode-Ray Tube Day
Games Day
Go Caroling Day
Mudd Day
National Sangria Day
National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
Sacagawea Day
Underdog Day
December 21
Don't Make Your Bed Day
Gravy Day
Humbug Day
International Dalek Remembrance Day
International Energy Drink Day
Look On The Bright Side Day
National Coquito Day
National Crossword Puzzle Day
National French Fried Shrimp Day
National Flashlight Day
National Homeless Persons' Remembrance Day
National Short Girl Appreciation Day
National Short Story Day
Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day
Ribbon Candy Day
Winter Solstice
World Basketball Day
World Snowboard Day
December 22
Forefathers' Day
Mathematics Day
National Cookie Exchange Day
National Date Nut Bread Day
National Short Person Day
Mathematics Day
National Cookie Exchange Day
December 23
Festivus
National Christmas Movie Marathon Day
National Pfeffernusse Day
National Roots Day
December 24
Christmas Eve
Christmas Book Flood
Last-Minute Shopper’s Day
National Eggnog Day
December 25
A’Phabet Day or No “L” Day
Christmas Day
Hanukkah
National Pumpkin Pie Day
December 26
Boxing Day
Day After Christmas
Day of Goodwill
First day of Kwanzaa
National Candy Cane Day
National Thank You Note Day
National Whiners' Day
Proclamation Day
St. Stephen's Day
December 27
Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
National Fruitcake Day
National Leftovers Day
Visit the Zoo Day
December 28
Holy Innocents Day
National Call a Friend Day
National Card Playing Day
National Chocolate Candy Day
National Download Day
National Short Film Day
Pledge of Allegiance Day
Sunday, December 29
Falls Festival
International Cello Day
Pepper Pot Day
Still Need To Do Day
Tick Tock Day
December 30
Falling Needles Family Fest Day
National Bacon Day
National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
National Resolution Planning Day
December 31
ReliaQuest Bowl. Alabama v. Michigan
Hogmanay
Make Up Your Mind Day
National Champagne Day
New Year’s Eve
No Interruptions Day
Universal Hours of Peace
Unlucky Day
Last day for 2024 income tax deductions
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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