170+ Special Days That Aren't On Your Calendar (yet)

*Please check back soon! This page is under construction as we revise the dates for our 2025-2026 Calendar.*

Dear Fellow Americans,

We’ve noticed that only a handful of holidays make it onto typical calendars, so we would like to introduce you to our 2024-2025 Care Calendar. This is a supplemental list of celebrations and observances that will give you every excuse you need to educate and spread cheer throughout the year. Check this post at the end of each summer to find an updated list just in time for the new school semester, and please do share when you come up with a creative way to incorporate them into your space!

Here’s to new traditions,

Amy and Tony

interested in specific animal days or environment

Looking for a printable list? (Use this one.)

August

1 – Respect for Fish Day
3 – National Friendship Day
6 – National Farmworker Appreciation Day
12 – International Youth Day
15 – National Relaxation Day
16 – National Tell a Joke Day
16 – International Homeless Animals Day
19 – World Humanitarian Day
25 – National Secondhand Wardrobe Day
27 – National Just Because Day
30 – National Beach Day
30 – National Grief Awareness Day

National Farmers Market Week (3rd-9th)

World Water Week (24th-28th)

International Peace Month

National Wellness Month

September

4 – National Wildlife Day
5 – National Food Bank Day
10 – National Swap Ideas Day
12 – National Day of Encouragement
12 – National Hug and High Five Day
12 – National Just One Human Family Day
13 – Positive Thinking Day
20 – National CleanUp Day
21 – International Day of Peace
21 – World Gratitude Day
22 – World Car-Free Day
28 – National Good Neighbor Day
28 – World Rivers Day
29 – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

National Suicide Prevention Month

Intergeneration Month

National Self-Care Awareness Month

National Organic Month

October

1 – World Vegetarian Day
1 – International Day of Older Persons
2 – World Day for Farmed Animals
2 – International Day of Non-Violence
3 – World Smile Day
4 – World Animal Day
5 – National Do Something Nice Day
10 – World Homeless Day
11 – National Costume Swap Day
12 – National Farmers Day
16 – World Food Day
21 – National Reptile Awareness Day
25 – National Make a Difference Day
28 – National First Responders Day

Global Diversity Awareness Month

National Bullying Prevention Month

National Animal Safety and Protection Month

Fair Trade Month

November

1 – World Vegan Day
3 – One Health Day
5 – National Stress Awareness Day
13 – World Kindness Day
15 – America Recycles Day
16 – International Day for Tolerance
17 – National Take a Hike Day
22 – National Adoption Day
28 – National Day of Listening
28 – Buy Nothing Day
28 – Fur-Free Friday

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (2nd-8th)

National Adoption Month

World Vegan Month

National Gratitude Month

December

2 – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
4 – World Wildlife Conservation Day
5 – World Soil Day
5 – International Volunteer Day
7 – National Letter Writing Day
10 – Human Rights Day
18 – International Migrants Day
20 – International Human Solidarity Day
26 – National Thank-You Note Day
31 – World Peace Meditation Day

Universal Human Rights Month

Learn a Foreign Language Month

January

1 – Global Family Day
3 – Memento Mori Day
5 – National Bird Day
6 – National Cuddle Up Day
10 – National Vision Board Day
11 – National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
11 – International Thank You Day
19 – Tenderness Toward Existence Day
20 – International Day of Acceptance
21 – National Hug Day
24 – Global Belly Laugh Day
24 – International Day of Education
24 – National Compliment Day
28 – Global Community Engagement Day
31 – National Seed Swap Day
31 – Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

National Mentoring Month

National Unchain a Dog Month

Poverty Awareness Month

Veganuary Month

February

2 – World Wetlands Day
4 – National Thank a Mail Carrier Day
7 – National Send a Card to a Friend Day
11 – National Make a Friend Day
14 – National Organ Donor Day
17 – National Random Acts of Kindness Day
20 – National No One Eats Alone Day
24 – World Spay Day
26 – National Letter to an Elder Day

Spay and Neuter Awareness Month

March

1 – World Compliment Day
3 – World Wildlife Day
6 – National Employee Appreciation Day
12 – National Plant a Flower Day
19 – National Let’s Laugh Day
20 – International Day of Happiness
20 – Great American Meatout Day
21 – International Day of Forests
21 – National Common Courtesy Day
22 – World Water Day
28 – World Day for End of Fishing
30 – National Take a Walk in the Park Day

National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week (1st-7th)

National Nutrition Month

April

2 – National Reconciliation Day
4 – International Day for Landmine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
5 – International Golden Rule Day
7 – World Health Day
10 – National Farm Animals Day
10 – National Siblings Day
11 – National Pet Day
13 – International Plant Appreciation Day
15 – World Art Day
16 – National High Five Day
20 – Volunteer Recognition Day
23 – National Take a Chance Day
24 – World Day for Lab Animals
28 – Global Pay It Forward Day

National Month of Hope

National Volunteer Month

National Humor Month

May

1 – Global Love Day
3 – World Laughter Day
5 – National Foster Care Day
5 – National Teacher Appreciation Day
13 – Fair Trade Day
15 – International Conscientious Objectors Day
16 – International Day of Living Together in Peace
16 – National Love a Tree Day
16 – Endangered Species Day
21 – World Meditation Day
25 – International Plastic Free Day
28 – World Hunger Day
30 – National Creativity Day
31 – National Smile Day

National Mental Health Awareness Month

June

1 – World Reef Awareness Day
1 – National Say Something Nice Day
1 – National Pen Pal Day
5 – World Environment Day
7 – National Animal Rights Day
7 – World Caring Day
8 – World Oceans Day
8 – National Best Friends Day
11 – National Making Life Beautiful Day
12 – World Day Against Child Labor
14 – National Children’s Day
15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
20 – World Refugee Day
22 – World Rainforest Day

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month

National Pollinators Month

July

3 – National Compliment Your Mirror Day
5 – International Day of Cooperatives
6 – International Kissing Day
7 – Global Forgiveness Day
11 – World Population Day
11 – National Cheer Up the Lonely Day
12 – National Simplicity Day
14 – World Chimpanzee Day
15 – National I Love Horses Day
15 – National Give Something Away Day
16 – World Snake Day
18 – World Listening Day
21 – National Be Someone Day
24 – International Self Care Day
27 – National Love is Kind Day
27 – National Parents Day
29 – International Tiger Day
30 – International Day of Friendship
31 – National Mutt Day

Plastic-Free July

What’s missing from this list? Comment below!