What I found is, the truly official ones — such as Sept. 11 being deemed National Day of Service and Remembrance — is the result of the submission of a bill that is then approved by Congress and the president.
Below that level of approval, there are a host of other days that are submitted to calendar publishers for recognition; as was the case with the day before Halloween being named Candy Corn Day.
And then there is another level of “national” days that seem to just exist because someone says so and it catches on, usually fueled by marketers and perpetuated by Web sites.
But, regardless of how they get to us or how official they are, at the very least these little nicknames add a little color to the average day.
So, here is a completely unofficial, fun list of what the days of 2010 are also known as, culled from multiple sources and calendars. For the days that had multiple titles, we went with the one most often “observed.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com. Louderbacks.com, About.com and Andrews McNeel Publishing contributed to this report.
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
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: Pharmacist Day
Jan. 13: Make Your Dream Come True Day
Jan. 14: Dress Up Your Pet Day
Jan. 15: Hat Day
Jan. 16: National Nothing Day
Jan. 17: Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day
Jan. 18: Winnie the Pooh Day (and Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Jan. 19: Popcorn Day
Jan. 20: Day of Renewal and Reconciliation
Jan. 21: Hugging Day
Jan. 22: Blonde Brownie Day
Jan. 23: Measure Your Feet Day
Jan. 24: Compliment Day
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
Feb. 3: The Day the Music Died
Feb. 4: Create a Vacuum Day
Feb. 5: Disaster Day
Feb. 6: Lame Duck Day
Feb. 7: Charles Dickens Day
Feb. 8: Boy Scouts Day
Feb. 9: Toothache Day
Feb. 10: Umbrella Day
Feb. 11: Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
Feb. 12: Plum Pudding Day
Feb. 13: Get a Different Name Day
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day
Feb. 15: Gum Drop Day (and Presidents Day)
Feb. 16: Mardi Gras
Feb. 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day (and Ash Wednesday)
Feb. 18: 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
Feb. 27: Polar Bear Day
Feb. 28: Public Sleeping Day
March
March 1: Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
March 2: Read Across America Day
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: Johnny Appleseed Day and Worship of Tools Day
March 12: Girl Scouts Day
March 13: Good Samaritan Day
March 14: Potato Chip Day
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: Swallow’s Return Day
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: Pecan Day
March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
March 27: National “Joe” Day (Everyone who hates their name can be called “Joe.”)
March 28: Something on a Stick Day
March 29: Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day (and Passover begins)
March 30: Doctors’ Day
March 31: Tater Day
April
April 1: April Fool’s Day
April 2: Children’s Book Day
April 3: Find a Rainbow Day
April 4: World Pillow Fight Day (and Easter)
April 5: Read a Road Map Day
April 6: Sorry Charlie Day
April 7: No Housework Day
April 8: All Is Ours Day
April 9: Name Yourself Day
April 10: Golfers’ Day
April 11: Jackie Robinson Day
April 12: Look Up at the Sky Day
April 13: Blame Somebody Else Day
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
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: Pretzel Day
April 27: Tell a Story Day
April 28: Poetry Reading Day
April 29: Zipper Day
April 30: Honesty Day (and Arbor Day)
May
May 1: May Day
May 2: Holocaust Remembrance Day
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 (and Mother’s Day)
May 10: Clean Up Your Room Day
May 11: Twilight Zone Day
May 12: Nurses Day
May 13: Leprechaun Day
May 14: Dance Like a Chicken Day
May 15: Chocolate Chip Day
May 16: Peace Day
May 17: Pack Rat Day
May 18: Museum Day
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: “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 (and Memorial Day)
June
June 1: Doughnut Day
June 2: Rocky Road Day
June 3: Egg Day
June 4: Cheese Day
June 5. Environment Day
June 6: Yo-yo Day
June 7: Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8: Name Your Poison Day
June 9: Donald Duck Day
June 10: Iced Tea Day
June 11: King Kamehameha Day
June 12: Magic Day
June 13: Race Unity Day
June 14: Flag Day
June 15: Smile Power Day
June 16: Fudge Day
June 17: Eat Your Vegetables Day
June 18: Picnic Day
June 19: World Sauntering Day
June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day (and Father’s Day)
June 21: Cuckoo Warning Day
June 22: Chocolate Eclair Day
June 23: Pink Day
June 24: UFO Day
June 25: LEON Day (Noel backwards; six months until Christmas)
June 26: Chocolate Pudding Day
June 27: Columnists Day
June 28: Paul Bunyan Day
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: Caviar Day
July 18: Ice Cream Day
July 19: Stick Out Your Tongue Day
July 20: Moon Day
July 21: Junk Food Day
July 22: Ratcatcher’s Day
July 23: Mosquito Day
July 24: Amelia Earhart Day
July 25: Threading the Needle Day
July 26: All or Nothing Day
July 27: Take Your Pants for a Walk Day
July 28: Milk Chocolate Day
July 29: Lasagna Day
July 30: Cheesecake Day
July 31: Parents’ Day
August
Aug. 1: Friendship Day
Aug. 2: Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Aug. 3: Watermelon Day
Aug. 4: Coast Guard Day
Aug. 5: Waffle Day
Aug. 6: Wiggle Your Toes Day
Aug. 7: Sea Serpent Day
Aug. 8: Dollar 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: Relaxation Day
Aug. 16: Roller Coaster Day
Aug. 17: Thriftshop Day
Aug. 18: Bad Poetry Day
Aug. 19: Aviation Day
Aug. 20: Radio Day
Aug. 21: Homeless Animals Day
Aug. 22: Be an Angel Day
Aug. 23: Spongecake Day
Aug. 24: Waffle Day
Aug. 25: Kiss and Make Up Day
Aug. 26: Women’s Equality Day
Aug. 27: Petroleum Day
Aug. 28: Dream Day
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: Blueberry Popsicle Day
Sept. 3: Skyscraper Day
Sept. 4: Newspaper Carrier Day
Sept. 5: Be Late for Something Day
Sept. 6: Read a Book Day (and Labor Day)
Sept. 7: Neither Rain nor Snow Day
Sept. 8: Literacy Day
Sept. 9: Teddy Bear Day
Sept. 10: Swap Ideas Day
Sept. 11: Day of Service and Remembrance
Sept. 12: Grandparents’ Day
Sept. 13: Positive Thinking Day
Sept. 14: National Cream-filled Donut Day
Sept. 15: Make a Hat Day
Sept. 16: Working Parents 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
Sept. 22: Dear Diary Day
Sept. 23: Checkers Day
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 (and Columbus Day)
Oct. 12: Farmers Day
Oct. 13: Face Your Fears Day
Oct. 14: Be Bald and Free Day
Oct. 15: Grouch Day
Oct. 16: Bosses Day
Oct. 17: Gaudy Day
Oct. 18: Alaska Day
Oct. 19: 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
Oct. 29: Hermit Day
Oct. 30: Candy Corn Day
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
Nov. 7: Hug a Bear Day
Nov. 8: Dunce Day
Nov. 9: Chaos Never Dies Day
Nov. 10: Forget-Me-Not Day
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Nov. 12: Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day
Nov. 13: Mom and Dad’s Day
Nov. 14: Operation Room Nurse Day
Nov. 15: America Recycles Day
Nov. 16: Button Day
Nov. 17: Take a Hike Day
Nov. 18: William Tell Day
Nov. 19: Have a Bad Day Day
Nov. 20: Adoption Day
Nov. 21: World Hello Day and False Confessions Day
Nov. 22: Start Your Own Country Day
Nov. 23: Cashew Day
Nov. 24: Use Even if Seal Is Broken Day
Nov. 25: Parfait Day (and Thanksgiving)
Nov. 26: Cake Day
Nov. 27: Pins And Needles Day
Nov. 28: Make Your Own Head Day
Nov. 29: Square Dance Day
Nov. 30: Stay at Home Because You’re Well Day
December
Dec. 1: Eat a Red Apple Day
Dec. 2: Fritters Day
Dec. 3: Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
Dec. 4: Wear Brown Shoes Day
Dec. 5: Sacher Torte 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: Ice Cream and 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: Pumpkin Pie Day (and Christmas Day)
Dec. 26: 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
About the Author