Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

2K Shares
2K Shares
FriMar 1

National Pig Day – March 1, 2024

National Pig Day, celebrated annually on March 1, is the perfect time to celebrate how much pigs have become part of American culture. We see pigs in art, costumes, stuffed animals, collectables, piggy banks, movies, books and, of course, on the dinner table. Pigs have lived throughout the country on farms and in zoos for many years and even in our homes as pets! It’s only fitting to have a day dedicated to this easily recognizable, endearing creature and learn more about how they are part of our culture and history.

History of National Pig Day

Fossil records show pigs roamed the Earth as early as 40 million years ago, and the animals’ descendants are believed to have first been domesticated around 9,000 years ago in current day China and parts of western Asia. Later, about 3,500 years ago, Romans introduced breeding for pigs. Pork consumption was banned in parts of Asia and the Middle East, however, Europans continued refining purpose-driven pig breeds up to the 1500’s.

It was around this time when domesticated pigs first set “hoof” on North American soils. Christopher Columbus is believed to have eight pigs along his journey while travelling to Cuba in 1493 after his initial voyage to the “New World.” Columbus’ successor in exploring the America’s, Hernando de Soto, brought 13 of the animals with him when first landing in today’s Tampa Bay, Florida, making the first domesticated pigs in what would become the United States of America.     

National Pig Day began in 1972 when two sisters, Ellen Stanley and Mary Lynne Rave, decided it was time “to accord to the pig its rightful, though generally unrecognized, place as one of man’s most intellectual and domesticated animals”. 

The first official celebration took place that year with the intent of the holiday to respectfully remember the pig as opposed to serving it as the main meal. Since then, cities across the country plan fun events such as a “snort off” competition, pig parades, and pig-themed arts and crafts activities.

As with dogs and cats, potbellied pigs have made great pets and there are over 1 million of them throughout the US and Canada today. For most people, the most frequent interaction with pigs is indeed at the dinner table. Pork is the most popular meat worldwide with over 80 million tons produced each year making up 40% of all meat consumption. We would be remiss to not mention our appreciation for all things pork as we celebrate National Pig Day.

National Pig Day timeline

200 BC
Pigs join the Chinese Zodiac

People begin using the Chinese zodiac as a predictor of the future, dividing into repeating cycles of 12 years with each year represented by an animal, one of which is the pig.

1539
Pigs come to North America

Spanish explorer, Hernando DeSoto, “father of the American pork industry”, first introduces domesticated pigs to the U.S. bringing 15 to Tampa Bay, Florida.

1935
Th-th-th-that’s all folks!

Porky Pig debuts on the big screen and is the longest standing Looney Tunes character of all time.

2014
Oldest pig ever

The oldest pig on record, Ernestine, lives to the ripe old age of 22 years and 359 days; she passes in 2014 in Alberta, Canada.

2021
A New Guinness World Record

At 23 years old, Baby Jane becomes the oldest pig in captivity ever.

National Pig Day FAQs

What is the biggest breed of pig in the world?

The world record for the heaviest pig so far is held by Big Bill, owned by Elias Buford Butler of Jackson, Tennessee. It was a Poland China breed of hog that tipped the scales at 2,552 lb in 1933.

Is March 1 National Pig Day?

National Pig Day is a holiday that is dedicated to the celebration of the pig. This holiday – which is celebrated on March 1st every year – is celebrated in most parts of the Midwest in the United States.

What is the smallest pig in the world?

The smallest breed of domesticated pig in the world is the Kunekune. However, it is not the size of the kunekune breed that makes it most suitable as a pet. It’s personality, temperament and ease of management which has been celebrated for over hundreds of years and generations.

How To Celebrate National Pig Day

  1. Learn about some famous pigs

    We know several lovable, fictitious pigs! Read a book or watch a movie about some of America’s favorite and most famous swine. The top 10 most famous piggies include Wilbur, from the book Charlotte’s Web, Porky Pig, Plopper, Homer Simpsons’ adopted pig and of course, Miss Piggy!

  2. Visit a local farm

    Learn about pigs from the experts. There are many petting zoos on local farms that allow visitors to get up close and personal to their drove plus hear about how they live, what they eat and how they are cared for.

  3. Volunteer at a pig rescue farm

    As with cats and dogs, when the adoption of a potbellied pig doesn’t work out, they can be surrendered to a pig rescue farm. Clearly not the ideal ending to an adoption so if there is one in your area, today would be a wonderful day to visit, volunteer and play with these sweet piggies.

5 Fascinating Facts About Pigs

  1. ​That squeal

    A pig’s squeal can reach 115 decibels, which is 3 decibels above a supersonic jet!

  2. Super taste buds

    Pigs have 15,000 taste buds compared to the 9,000 of a human being.

  3. ​Fast movers

    ​Pigs can run up to 11 miles per hour.

  4. Thirsty animals

    Pigs can drink up to 14 gallons of water per day.

  5. They communicate

    ​Pigs communicate with each other using 20 different vocalizations.

Why We Love National Pig Day

  1. They are smart

    Pigs are believed to be one of the smartest animals! Only the chimpanzee, dolphin and elephant are ranked smarter in the animal kingdom. Pigs are easier to domesticate than dogs and they have been trained to do some pretty cool things including play video games, distinguish smells, use a litter box and recognize symbols. They even understand mirrors are reflections and not windows. We don’t just love them for their beauty but also for their brains!

  2. They look on the bright side

    Pigs are curious and love to explore. While this ties into their intelligence, it also makes them optimists. Their zest for learning new things coupled with their social nature and natural intuition make them happy animals.

  3. Bacon

    This one word packs a powerful punch. We’ve all heard the saying “bacon makes everything better.” Bacon is one of the oldest meats in the world and, with over 2 billion pounds produced each year, it continues to make many of us very happy.

National Pig Day dates

YearDateDay
2024March 1Friday
2025March 1Saturday
2026March 1Sunday
2027March 1Monday
2028March 1Wednesday

Let’s get social

Here are some special hashtags for the day.

#pig #hamburger #lovable

Festival of Owls Week
Hearing Awareness Week
National Aplastic Anemia & MDS Awareness Week
National Ghostwriters Week
National Invest in Veterans Week
National Will Eisner Week
National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week
North Dakota Winter Show
Universal Human Beings Week
Universal Human Beings Week
Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day
Baba Marta
Baby Sleep Day
Denim Day for Dementia
Endometriosis Awareness Day
Independence Movement Day
International Ideas Month
International Martisor
International Women of Color Day
Mărțișor
National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day
National Dadgum That's Good Day
National Day of Unplugging
National Dress in Blue Day
National Employee Appreciation Day
National Fruit Compote Day
National Horse Protection Day
National Hotel Slipper Day
National March First Day
National Minnesota Day
National Peanut Butter Lover's Day
National Pig Day
National Sage Day
National Speech and Debate Education Day
National Texas Stress Day
National Wedding Planning Day
National Welsh Corgi Day
Overseas N.H.S. Workers Day
Peace Corps Day
Plan a Solo Vacation Day
Public Risk Management Awareness Day
Refired Not Retired Day
Self-Injury Awareness Day
Share a Smile Day
St. David's Day
Tsagaan Sar
World Civil Defense Day
World Compliment Day
World Day of Prayer
World Day of Prayer
World Seagrass Day
Yap Day
Zero Discrimination Day
Academy Awards Month
Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
Alport Syndrome Awareness Month
American Red Cross Month
Berries and Cherries Month
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Colic Awareness Month
Color Therapy Month
Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month
Dolphin Awareness Month
Employee Spirit Month
Endometriosis Month
Essential Tremor Awareness Month
Exotic Winter Fruit & Leeks and Green Onions Month
Expanding Girls' Horizons in Science and Engineering Month
Eye Donor Awareness Month
Frozen Food Month
Gardening, Nature and Ecology Books Month
Gender Equality Month
Greek-American Heritage Month
Honor Society Awareness Month
Humorists are Artists Month
International Mirth Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
Listening Awareness Month
Mad for Plaid Month
Malignant Hyperthermia Awareness and Training Month
March Madness
Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal
Mental Retardation Awareness Month
Middle Level Education Month
MS Awareness Month
National Athletic Training Month
National Bed Month (U.K.)
National Breast Implant Awareness Month
National Caffeine Awareness Month
National Celery Month
National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
National Cheerleading Safety Month
National Clean up Your IRS Act Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Craft Month
National Credit Education Month
National Crochet Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
National Ethics Awareness Month
National Flour Month
National Kidney Month
National March Into Literacy Month
National Music in Our Schools Month
National Noodle Month
National Nutrition Month
National Optimism Month
National Peanut Month
National Professional Social Worker's Month
National Reading Month
National Sauce Month
National Umbrella Month
National Women's History Month
NZ Book Month
Play the Recorder Month
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Read an E-Book Month
Red Cross Month
Save Your Vision Month
Sing With Your Child Month
Small Press Month
Social Work Month
Spiritual Wellness Month
Supply Management Month
The Great Daffodil Appeal
Trisomy Awareness Month
Trisomy Awareness Month
Vascular Anomalies Awareness Month
Veggie Month
Women’s Month (Philippines)
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Youth Art Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.