Lots of days to celebrate in 2013

We rounded up names for each day on the calendar.

For the fourth straight year, this newspaper has compiled a list of the unofficial names for each day on the calendar.

The names of these days are sometimes deemed “national” or “world” days, but most are culled from a variety of sources — websites, calendars, book publishers, education publications, health initiatives, savvy marketers, etc.

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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