For our list, care was taken to note the name of the day we believe to be most often observed by calendar watchers and idle optimists worldwide.
This annual list also adds something each year that will make that compilation distinctive as compared to previous years — in essence, a way to make every year special, too.
For 2011, we added the names for months of the year; for 2012, we noted some historic facts behind those days.
For 2013, there is a sprinkling of notable news, sports and entertainment events that happened on that same date in 2012 — a sampling of mini-anniversaries, if you will.
So we hope you enjoy these names, either just for today or throughout the year, and have a very happy 2013!
JANUARY
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day
Jan. 2: Run up the Flag Pole and See if Anyone Salutes Day
Jan. 3: Festival of Sleep Day
Jan. 4: Trivia Day
Jan. 5: Bird Day
Jan. 6: Bean Day
Jan. 7: Old Rock Day
(In 2012: Beyonce and Jay-Z welcomed baby daughter Blue Ivy.)
Jan. 8: Man Watchers’ Day
Jan. 9: Apricot Day
Jan. 10: Peculiar People Day
Jan. 11: Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day
Jan. 12: Pharmacists’ Day
Jan. 13: Make Your Dream Come True Day
Jan. 14: Dress Up Your Pet Day
Jan. 15: Hat Day
Jan. 16: Nothing Day
Jan. 17: Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day
Jan. 18: Winnie the Pooh Day
(In 2012: The Stop Online Piracy Act blackout became the largest protest in the history of the Internet.)
Jan. 19: Popcorn Day
Jan. 20: Day of Renewal and Reconciliation
Jan. 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Hugging Day
Jan. 22: Blonde Brownie Day
(In 2012: Longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who had been fired by the university for his “failure of leadership” during the Jerry Sandusky scandal, died at age 85.)
Jan. 23: Measure Your Feet Day
(In 2012: The European Union agreed to embargo Iranian oil in protest against Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program.)
Jan. 24: Compliment Day
(In 2012: GM reclaimed its 2007 title of world’s largest automaker; taking it back from Japan rival Toyota.)
Jan. 25: Opposite Day
Jan. 26: Australia Day
Jan. 27: Chocolate Cake Day
Jan. 28: Kazoo Day
Jan. 29: Puzzle Day
Jan. 30: Escape Day
Jan. 31: Backwards Day
FEBRUARY
Feb. 1: Freedom Day
Feb. 2: Groundhog Day
(In 2012: A cold snap across Europe killed more than 100 people, en route to killing more than 400 by Feb. 8.)
Feb. 3: “The Day the Music Died,”
when a plane crash in 1959 killed musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson.
Feb. 4: Create a Vacuum Day
Feb. 5: Disaster Day
(In 2012: The New York Giants beat the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI.)
Feb. 6: Lame Duck Day
(In 2012: Queen Elizabeth II began her Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years as queen of England.)
Feb. 7: Charles Dickens Day
Feb. 8: Boy Scouts Day
Feb. 9: Toothache Day
Feb. 10: Chinese New Year, 2013 is Year of the Snake; and Umbrella Day
Feb. 11: Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
(In 2012: Whitney Houston was found dead at age 48.)
Feb. 12: Mardi Gras and Darwin Day
Feb. 13: Ash Wednesday and Get a Different Name Day
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day
Feb. 15: Gum Drop Day
Feb. 16: Women’s Heart Health Day
Feb. 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
Feb. 18: Presidents Day and Battery Day
Feb. 19: Chocolate Mint Day
Feb. 20: Hoodie Hoo Day
Feb. 21: Love Your Pet Day
Feb. 22: Be Humble Day
Feb. 23: Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
Feb. 24: Tortilla Chip Day
Feb. 25: Pistol Patent Day
Feb. 26: Pistachio Day
(In 2012: Unarmed Trayvon Martin, 17, was shot and killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in Florida, sparking racial controversy)
Feb. 27: Polar Bear Day
Feb. 28: Public Sleeping Day
MARCH
March 1: Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
March 2: Read Across America Day
(In 2012: The NFL broke the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, in which Saints players allegedly were paid for injuring other players. Also, tornadoes killed at least 27 people in Indiana and Kentucky.)
March 3: National Anthem Day
March 4: Holy Experiment Day
March 5: Multiple Personalities Day
March 6: Dentist Day
March 7: Crown Roast of Pork Day
March 8: Working Women’s Day
March 9: Panic Day
March 10: Festival of Life in the Cracks Day
March 11: Worship of Tools Day
March 12: Girl Scouts Day
March 13: Good Samaritan Day
(In 2012: Encyclopedia Britannica announced, after 244 years, that it will no longer produce printed versions of its encyclopedia.)
March 14: Pi Day (3.14)
March 15: Everything You Think Is Wrong Day
March 16: Everything You Do Is Right Day
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 18: Johnny Appleseed Day
March 19: Saint Joseph’s Day and Swallow’s Return Day
(In 2012: Wendy’s overtook Burger King to become the second best-selling hamburger chain. McDonald’s was still the tops by far, recording $34 billion in sales as compared to $8.5 billion for Wendy’s.)
March 20: Quilting Day
March 21: Single Parents’ Day
March 22: National Goof-off Day
March 23: Organize Your Home Office Day
March 24: Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25: Passover starts and Pecan Day
March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
March 27: “Joe” Day — everyone who hates their name can be called “Joe”
March 28: Something on a Stick Day
March 29: Good Friday and Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day
March 30: Doctors’ Day
(In 2012: The Mega Millions lottery hit a world record total of $640 million.)
March 31: Easter and Tater Day
APRIL
April 1: April Fool’s Day
April 2: Children’s Book Day
(In 2012: The University of Kentucky beat the University of Kansas to win the men’s NCAA basketball title.)
April 3: Find a Rainbow Day
April 4: World Pillow Fight Day
April 5: Read a Road Map Day
April 6: Sorry Charlie Day
April 7: World Health Day
April 8: All Is Ours Day
April 9: Name Yourself Day
(In 2012: “The Lion King” became the highest grossing Broadway show, earning $853.8 million since 1997. It overtook “The Phantom of the Opera,” which has earned $853.1 since 1988.)
April 10: Golfers’ Day
(In 2012: Apple Inc. claims a value of $600 billion, making it the largest company by market capitalization in the world.)
April 11: Jackie Robinson Day
April 12: Look Up at the Sky Day
(In 2012: Brad Pitt reportedly popped the question to Angelina Jolie around this date.)
April 13: Blame Somebody Else Day
(In 2012: A dozen Secret Service agents were relieved of duty due to alleged misconduct in Columbia.)
April 14: Moment of Laughter Day
April 15: Tax Day
April 16: Eggs Benedict Day
April 17: Cheeseball Day
April 18: Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day
(In 2012: Dick Clark died at age 82.)
April 19: Garlic Day
April 20: Look Alike Day
April 21: Kindergarten Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 23: Home Run Day
April 24: Pigs in a Blanket Day
April 25: Zucchini Bread Day
April 26: Arbor Day and Pretzel Day
April 27: Tell a Story Day
April 28: Poetry Reading Day
April 29: Zipper Day
April 30: Honesty Day
MAY
May 1: May Day
May 2: Holocaust Remembrance Day
(In 2012: Edvard Munch’s famous painting “The Scream” sold for $119.9 million, setting a new world record for a work of art sold at auction.)
May 3: Lumpy Rug Day
May 4: Teacher Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo Day
May 6: No Diet Day
May 7: Paste Up Day
May 8: No Socks Day
May 9: Train Day
(In 2012: President Barack Obama officially stated his support for same-sex marriage.)
May 10: Clean Up Your Room Day
May 11: Twilight Zone Day
May 12: Mother’s Day and Nurses’ Day
May 13: Leprechaun Day
May 14: Dance Like a Chicken Day
May 15: Chocolate Chip Day
May 16: Wear Purple for Peace Day
May 17: Pack Rat Day
May 18: Museum Day
(In 2012: Facebook went public at $38 per share; share costs quickly plummeted.)
May 19: Circus Day
May 20: Eliza Doolittle Day
May 21: Waitresses/Waiters’ Day
May 22: Buy a Musical Instrument Day
May 23: Penny Day
May 24: Escargot Day
May 25: Missing Children’s Day
May 26: Blueberry Cheesecake Day
May 27: Memorial Day and “How to” Tip Day
May 28: National Hamburger Day
May 29: End of the Middle Ages Day
May 30: My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It Day
May 31: No Tobacco Day
JUNE
June 1: Doughnut Day
June 2: Rocky Road Day
June 3: Egg Day
June 4: Cheese Day
June 5. World Environment Day
June 6: D-Day
June 7: Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8: World Ocean Day
June 9: Donald Duck Day
June 10: Iced Tea Day
June 11: King Kamehameha Day
(In 2012: The Los Angeles Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils to win the NHL’s Stanley Cup.)
June 12: Magic Day
June 13: Race Unity Day
June 14: Flag Day
June 15: Smile Power Day
June 16: Father’s Day and Fudge Day
June 17: Eat Your Vegetables Day
June 18: Picnic Day
June 19: World Sauntering Day
June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day
June 21: Cuckoo Warning Day
(In 2012: The Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the 2012 NBA Finals.)
June 22: Chocolate Eclair Day
June 23: Pink Day
June 24: UFO Day
June 25: LEON Day; “Noel” spelled backwards; marking six months until Christmas
June 26: Chocolate Pudding Day
(In 2012: Screenwriter and director Nora Ephron died at age 71.)
June 27: Columnists’ Day
June 28: Paul Bunyan Day
(In 2012: Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise after more than five years of marriage. The divorce was final Aug. 21.)
June 29: Camera Day
June 30: Meteor Day
JULY
July 1: Build a Scarecrow Day
July 2: Visitation of The Virgin Mary Day
July 3: Stay Out of the Sun Day
July 4: Independence Day
July 5: Workaholics Day
July 6: Fried Chicken Day
July 7: Macaroni Day
July 8: Video Games Day
July 9: Sugar Cookie Day
July 10: Teddy Bear Picnic Day
July 11: Cheer Up The Lonely Day
July 12: Paper Bag Day
July 13: French Fries Day
July 14: Bastille Day
July 15: Tapioca Pudding Day
July 16: Juggling Day
July 17: Ice Cream Day
July 18: Caviar Day
July 19: Stick Out Your Tongue Day
July 20: Moon Day
(In 2012: A mass shooting at an Aurora, Colo., theater killed 12 – including Springfield native Matt McQuinn, 27 – during a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.”)
July 21: Junk Food Day
July 22: Ratcatchers’ Day
July 23: Mosquito Day
July 24: Amelia Earhart Day
July 25: Threading the Needle Day
(In 2012: The Summer Olympics began in London.)
July 26: All or Nothing Day
July 27: Take Your Pants for a Walk
July 28: Milk Chocolate Day
July 29: Lasagna Day
July 30: Cheesecake Day
July 31: Parents’ Day
(In 2012: Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian, earning his 19th medal at the London Games.)
AUGUST
Aug. 1: Friendship Day
Aug. 2: Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Aug. 3: Watermelon Day
Aug. 4: Coast Guard Day
Aug. 5: Underwear Day
Aug. 6: Wiggle Your Toes Day
Aug. 7: Sea Serpent Day
Aug. 8: World Cat Day
Aug. 9: Rice Pudding Day
Aug. 10: Lazy Day
Aug. 11: Play in the Sand Day
Aug. 12: Middle Children’s Day
Aug. 13: Blame Someone Else Day
Aug. 14: Creamsicle Day
Aug. 15: V-J Day; and Relaxation Day
Aug. 16: Roller Coaster Day
Aug. 17: Thriftshop Day
Aug. 18: Bad Poetry Day
Aug. 19: Aviation Day
Aug. 20: Radio Day
(In 2012: The Augusta National Golf Club admitted its first female members.)
Aug. 21: Homeless Animals Day
Aug. 22: Be an Angel Day
Aug. 23: Spongecake Day
(In 2012: Lance Armstrong was stripped of his record-seven Tour de France titles and barred for life from cycling for doping.)
Aug. 24: Waffle Day
Aug. 25: Kiss and Make Up Day
(In 2012: Astronaut and Wapakoneta native Neil Armstrong died at age 82.)
Aug. 26: Women’s Equality Day
(In 2012: New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko, 15, became the youngest LPGA Tour event winner and the first amateur winner since 1969.)
Aug. 27: Petroleum Day
Aug. 28: Dream Day
(In 2012: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was officially nominated as the Republican Party’s candidate for president.)
Aug. 29: More Herbs, Less Salt Day
Aug. 30: Toasted Marshmallow Day
Aug. 31: Trail Mix Day
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1: Emma M. Nutt Day
Sept. 2: Labor Day and Blueberry Popsicle Day
Sept. 3: Skyscraper Day
Sept. 4: Rosh Hashanah and Newspaper Carrier Day
Sept. 5: Be Late for Something Day
Sept. 6: Read a Book Day
Sept. 7: Neither Rain nor Snow Day
Sept. 8: Grandparent’s Day
Sept. 9: Teddy Bear Day
Sept. 10: Swap Ideas Day
Sept. 11: Patriot Day
Sept. 12: Grandparents’ Day
Sept. 13: Yom Kippur and Positive Thinking Day
Sept. 14: National Cream-filled Doughnut Day
Sept. 15: Make a Hat Day
(In 2012: The NHL lockout began.)
Sept. 16: Stepfamily Day
Sept. 17: Citizenship Day
Sept. 18: Play-doh Day
Sept. 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day
Sept. 20: Punch Day
Sept. 21: World Gratitude Day
(In 2012: The iPhone 5 was released in U.S. and Europe.)
Sept. 22: Dear Diary Day
Sept. 23: Checkers Day
(In 2012: Iran blocked the use of Google as a search engine.)
Sept. 24: Punctuation Day
Sept. 25: Comic Book Day
Sept. 26: Good Neighbor Day
Sept. 27: Crush A Can Day
Sept. 28: Ask a Stupid Question Day
Sept. 29: Poisoned Blackberries Day
Sept. 30: Mud Pack Day
OCTOBER
Oct. 1: World Vegetarian Day
Oct. 2: Name Your Car Day
Oct. 3: Captain Kangaroo Day
Oct. 4: World Animal Day
Oct. 5: Do Something Nice Day
Oct. 6: Come and Take It Day
Oct. 7: Frappe Day
Oct. 8: Tag Day
Oct. 9: Moldy Cheese Day
Oct. 10: Angel Food Cake Day
Oct. 11: No News Is Good News Day
Oct. 12: Farmers’ Day
(In 2012: The European Union won the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize, sparking a series of critical commentary.)
Oct. 13: Face Your Fears Day
Oct. 14: Columbus Day and Be Bald and Free Day
Oct. 15: Grouch Day
Oct. 16: Bosses’ Day
Oct. 17: Gaudy Day
Oct. 18: Alaska Day
Oct. 19: Sweetest Day and Evaluate Your Life Day
Oct. 20: Monster Mash Day
Oct. 21: Babbling Day
Oct. 22: Nut Day
Oct. 23: Mole Day
Oct. 24: Bologna Day
Oct. 25: Denim Day
Oct. 26: Mule Day
Oct. 27: Sylvia Plath Day
Oct. 28: Plush Animal Lover’s Day
(In 2012: The San Francisco Giants, who had beaten the Cincinnati Reds in seven games, swept the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series.)
Oct. 29: Hermit Day
(In 2012: Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeastern U.S., killing at least 128. Also, publishing companies Penguin and Random House merged to form the world’s largest publisher.)
Oct. 30: Candy Corn Day
(In 2012: Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion.)
Oct. 31: Halloween
NOVEMBER
Nov. 1: All Saints’ Day
Nov. 2: Deviled Egg Day
Nov. 3: Sandwich Day
Nov. 4: Candy Day
Nov. 5: Gunpowder Day
Nov. 6: Marooned Without a Compass Day
(In 2012: President Barack Obama was reelected. Also, U.S. territory Puerto Rico votes to become a U.S. state. Congress would have to take action to make that happen.)
Nov. 7: Hug a Bear Day
(In 2012: Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington approved measures for same-sex marriage.)
Nov. 8: Dunce Day
Nov. 9: Chaos Never Dies Day
(In 2012: CIA Director David Petraeus resigned due to an extramarital affair.)
Nov. 10: Forget-Me-Not Day
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Nov. 12: Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day
Nov. 13: Gaming Day
Nov. 14: Operation Room Nurse Day
Nov. 15: America Recycles Day
(In 2012: BP settled its 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill lawsuit for $4.5 billion.)
Nov. 16: Button Day
(In 2012: “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2” grossed $500 million in 24 hours to become the biggest entertainment launch of all time.)
Nov. 17: Take a Hike Day
Nov. 18: William Tell Day
Nov. 19: Have a Bad Day Day
Nov. 20: Adoption Day
(In 2012: Toshiba unveiled a robot designed to help in nuclear disasters.)
Nov. 21: World Hello Day
Nov. 22: Start Your Own Country Day
Nov. 23: Cashew Day
Nov. 24: Use Even if Seal Is Broken Day
(In 2012: “Gangnam Style” became the most viewed YouTube video, surpassing 808 million views.)
Nov. 25: Parfait Day
Nov. 26: Cake Day
(In 2012: The cost of Hurricane Sandy to New York expected to total $32 billion.)
Nov. 27: Hanukkah starts and Pins and Needles Day
Nov. 28: Thanksgiving and Make Your Own Head Day
Nov. 29: Square Dance Day
Nov. 30: Stay at Home Because You’re Well Day
DECEMBER
Dec. 1: World AIDS Day
Dec. 2: Fritters Day
Dec. 3: Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
(In 2012: Prince William and Kate Middleton announced the princess was pregnant. Also, Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, reached the end of our solar system and entered interstellar space.)
Dec. 4: Wear Brown Shoes Day
Dec. 5: Ninja Day
Dec. 6: Mitten Tree Day
Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Day
Dec. 8: Brownie Day
Dec. 9: Pastry Day
Dec. 10: Human Rights Day
Dec. 11: Noodle Ring Day
Dec. 12: Poinsettia Day
Dec. 13: Violins Day
Dec. 14: Bouillabaisse Day
Dec. 15: Lemon Cupcake Day
Dec. 16: Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Dec. 17: Underdog Day
Dec. 18: Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day
Dec. 19: Oatmeal Muffin Day
Dec. 20: Games Day
Dec. 21: Look at the Bright Side Day
Dec. 22: Date-Nut Bread Day
Dec. 23: Roots Day
Dec. 24: Egg Nog Day
Dec. 25: Christmas Day
Dec. 26: Boxing Day, start of Kwanzaa and Whiners’ Day
Dec. 27: Fruitcake Day
Dec. 28: Card Playing Day
Dec. 29: Pepper Pot Day
Dec. 30: Bicarbonate Of Soda Day
Dec. 31: Make Up Your Mind Day
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