Little-Known Summer Holidays
Summer’s known for trips to the beach, vacations to new places, eating ice cream under the sun, and so much more. However, there are plenty of other ways to have fun during this season, and by plenty, we mean new holidays to celebrate. Read our curated list of holidays you’ll want to consider acknowledging. But don’t stop with our selections! Research and learn more about other holidays to add more pizzazz to your life.
International Yoga Day—June 21
Ring in the new season by getting your well-being in check. June 21 is International Yoga Day—meaning it’s time to put on some leggings and the comfy top of your choice and do some poses on your yoga mat. This holiday has been celebrated annually since 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi proposed the idea during a speech, and the date was chosen because of its significance to many cultures. You can celebrate this holiday such as participating in a mass yoga event at a local park, decluttering your space, going tech-free for a few hours, and showing gratitude—whatever can help bring you peace and relaxation!
National Selfie Day—June 21
Take out your phones and share some selfies on this little-known holiday. There’s something for everyone, and if tech is something you love, this holiday is right up your alley. On this day, people are encouraged to take creative self-portraits and share them with family, friends, and the public. You could skydive and take a selfie. Or you could wear a maxi dress and summer-ready accessories and take photos fitting for the season. This holiday was first celebrated in 2014 and was started by DJ Rick McNeely to get people to enjoy taking selfies of themselves.
International Joke Day—July 1
This holiday encourages people to partake in our everyday joy of laughter. Do you have jokes you love to tell? Use this day as a time to share them with the world! Perhaps you’ve always wanted to brush up on your joke-telling skills. On this day, you can learn how to be a better comedian. You could always just go see a stand-up comedy act. Because this is an international holiday, research to see what other cultures find humorous and note the similarities and differences. Maybe you could even learn a joke in another language!
National Ice Cream Day—Every Third Sunday in July
What’s summer without ice cream? Thanks to President Reagan, this holiday is celebrated annually in the United States. About 90 percent of Americans enjoy this treat. Due to recent developments, more people can enjoy this treat. That’s because you can find ice cream made with almond milk, oat milk, and so many other ingredients. Do you love to learn new recipes? Try making your own ice cream! You could always dress up in shorts and a matching graphic T-shirt and head to an ice cream shop that might have a deal going on for the holiday. Some places even give out free ice cream!
International Day of Friendship—July 30
This beautiful holiday was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendships can act as a bridge between communities. There’s so much in this world that we can collectively improve to make this planet better for everyone. A small step you can take is observing this holiday! There’s so much you can do. You could catch up with an old friend—maybe over coffee or via a virtual meeting. You could send cards to the people you love. You could even make a new friend in your community. For a summer-themed way to celebrate this holiday, put on a swimsuit and spend a day at the beach or pool with your bestie!
National Book Lovers Day—August 9
This holiday is one for all the bibliophiles out there! Summer can be about escapism—exploring a national park or the streets of a new city. However, book lovers understand how much one can get lost while flipping through a book. Books can take you to a new world, another time, and more! The origin of this unofficial holiday is unknown. Whatever the case, buy that new book you’ve been meaning to purchase or pick out one from your library that you still haven’t read. Then, cozy up under a blanket while wearing comfy clothes and read away!
National Nonprofit Day—August 17
This holiday, created in 2017, recognizes the impact of nonprofits on our communities. Giving back occurs year-round beyond special days and the holiday season. People dedicate a huge portion of their lives to causes through volunteering, raising funds, or other efforts. Give a shout-out to your favorite nonprofit on this holiday. You could even find a way to volunteer your time to a cause, such as through tutoring or cleaning up a local park.
National Dog Day—August 26
Of course, there’s a holiday for man’s best friend! Your labs, pugs, and corgis deserve to be celebrated for just being who they are—dogs! However, there’s more to this day than buying a new personalized dog bed for your furry family member. This holiday serves to educate the public about the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and the ways dogs are there for humans, from supporting law enforcement and the military to aiding the blind.
We hope this list inspires you to learn more about new holidays! Choose your favorite and add them to your calendar. Hopefully, your summer will be even more fun than you had planned!