At National Today, we believe it’s incredibly important to stand up for what you believe in and make the world a better place. We’re passionate about commemorating 95 cause holidays each year.
| Date | Holiday | Category | Tags | Region |
|---|
| National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| National Cut Your Energy Costs Day | Cause | Financial | U.S. |
| National Youth Day | Cause | Children, Parents | World |
| Martin Luther King's Birthday | Cause | Historical | U.S. |
| National Daisy Day | Cause | Environment | U.S. |
| National Get Up Day | Cause | Lifestyle | U.S. |
| World Cancer Day | Cause | | World |
| International Day of Women and Girls in Science | Cause | | World |
| International Polar Bear Day | Cause | Environment | World |
| National Read Across America Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| World Wildlife Day | Cause | Environment | World |
| National Hug a G.I. Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| International Women's Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| National Proofreading Day | Cause | Educational | U.S. |
| Red Nose Day | Cause | | World |
| National Biodiesel Day | Cause, Environmental, Technology | | U.S. |
| International Day of Happiness | Cause | | World |
| Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® | Cause | Children, Parents | U.S. |
| World Water Day | Cause | Environment | U.S. |
| RAINN Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| Tax Day | Cause | Financial | U.S. |
| Tiradentes Day | Cause | Cultural, Historical | World |
| Earth Day | Cause, Environmental | Environment | World |
| World Migratory Bird Day | Cause | Environment | World |
| National Endangered Species Day | Cause | Environment | U.S. |
| International Day for Biological Diversity | Cause | Environment | World |
| Learn About Composting Day | Cause | Environment | U.S. |
| World Environment Day | Cause | Environment, Health, Wildlife | World |
| World Oceans Day | Cause | | World |
| World Elder Abuse Awareness Day | Cause | | World |
| International Day of the African Child | Cause | Children, Cultural, Parents | World |
| Juneteenth | Cause | American, Cultural, Historical | U.S. |
| National American Eagle Day | Cause | Environment | U.S. |
| World Refugee Day | Cause | | World |
| National Insurance Awareness Day | Cause | Financial | U.S. |
| World Population Day | Cause | | World |
| Orangemen's Day | Cause | Historical, Irish | Ireland |
| National Nude Day | Cause | | U.S., World |
| Terry Fox Day | Cause | Activities, Canadian, Health, Historical | Canada |
| National Women's Day | Cause | | World |
| International Youth Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| World Humanitarian Day | Cause | | World |
| National Secondhand Wardrobe Day | Cause | Environment | U.S. |
| International Day of Charity | Cause | | World |
| International Literacy Day | Cause | | World |
| Patriot Day | Cause | Civic | U.S. |
| International Day of Democracy | Cause | | World |
| International Day of Peace | Cause | | World |
| National Voter Registration Day | Cause | Civic | U.S. |
| International Day of Older Persons | Cause | Elderly | World |
| International Day of Non-Violence | Cause | | World |
| World Cerebral Palsy Day | Cause | Health | World |
| National No Bra Day | Cause | Awareness | U.S. |
| Maths Day | Cause | Educational | World |
| World Food Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| National Pets for Veterans Day | Animal, Cause | | U.S. |
| National Immigrants Day | Cause | Civic | U.S. |
| National Chicken Lady Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| S.T.E.M. - S.T.E.A.M. Day | Cause | Educational | U.S. |
| World Kindness Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| National Philanthropy Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| International Day For Tolerance | Cause | | World |
| International Men’s Day | Cause | | World |
| World Toilet Day | Cause | | World |
| Transgender Day of Remembrance | Cause | | U.S. |
| Universal Children’s Day | Cause | | World |
| International Survivors of Suicide Day | Cause | Health | U.S., World |
| International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women | Cause | | World |
| National Day of Mourning | Cause | Cultural, Historical | U.S. |
| Giving Tuesday | Cause | | U.S. |
| National Disability Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| International Mountain Day | Cause | Environment | World |
| Monkey Day | Cause | | U.S. |
| National Wreaths Across America Day | Cause | Historical, Military | U.S. |
| Boxing Day | Cause | Shopping | World |
| National Bird Feeding Month | Cause | | U.S. |
| Irish-American Heritage Month | Cause | Cultural, Irish | U.S. |
| Poison Prevention Awareness Month | Cause | | U.S. |
| Distracted Driving Awareness Month | Cause | | U.S. |
| Scottish-American Heritage Month | Cause | Cultural | U.S. |
| Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | Cause | Cultural, Historical | U.S. |
| National Teen Self-Esteem Month | Cause | | U.S. |
| Pride Month | Cause | | U.S. |
| Be Nice to Jersey Week | Cause | Obscure | U.S. |
| Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week | Cause | | |
| Hispanic Heritage Month | Cause | Cultural | Mexico, U.S. |
| German-American Heritage Month | Cause | Cultural, German | U.S. |
| Global Diversity Awareness Month | Cause | Children, Civic, Cultural, Historical | World |
| Italian-American Heritage Month | Cause | Civic, Cultural | U.S. |
| National Bullying Prevention Month | Cause | Children, Family, Parents | U.S. |
| National Domestic Violence Awareness Month | Cause | Family | U.S. |
| National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week | Cause | Children, Health, Parents | U.S. |
| No-Shave November | Cause | Health | U.S. |
| PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month | Cause | Children, Health | U.S. |
| Safe Toys and Gifts Month | Cause | Children, Parents | U.S. |
| Universal Human Rights Month | Cause | | World |
Where did cause holidays come from?
Throughout humanity, people have looked out for others and advocated for human rights. However, one of the first organized movements started with the publication of a fateful book called The Jungle. Upton Sinclair was a journalist who turned to fiction to portray the exploited conditions of immigrants in Chicago—and raise a public outcry.
When his book was published, it shocked and galvanized readers. But there's a twist: he wrote about the meatpacking industry as the backdrop to his story, and readers were most shocked at the health violations he revealed. This led to massive reforms like the Meat Inspection Act that we still hold dear today.
The Jungle was only one of the movements that made organizers realize if they caused a stir, people would listen. So they started creating entire days to bring attention to their causes, from animal rights days like World Spay Day (Jan. 23) to human-centric holidays such as World Cancer Day (Feb. 4).
Submit your favorite cause holidays
If you're passionate about a cause that's not listed on National Today, we'd love to hear from you. Head over to our holiday submission page to submit you special day, and make sure you've compiled a bit of information about the day for context. What is its track record of media coverage? Is it celebrated widely? We'd love to hear from you!
