Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

Zombie Awareness Month – May 2025

Zombie Awareness Month is celebrated every May in the U.S. to raise awareness about the possibility of a zombie apocalypse and what we should do in such a situation. Of course, there is a very slim chance of a zombie apocalypse, but it’s still a lot of fun to join the festivities. Zombie Awareness Month is a big hit on social media, and people dress up as zombies and enact their favorite scenes from zombie movies and T.V. shows! Have you ever wondered what you would do during a zombie apocalypse? Perhaps you should…

History of Zombie Awareness Month

In 2007, the Zombie Research Society (Z.R.S) declared May as Zombie Awareness Month. They mark the month by organizing charity events and conventions and encouraging participants to wear gray ribbons to help spread awareness. Over the years, the celebration has been adopted by various state governments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zombie Awareness Month foregrounds the living dead and prepares us for a zombie apocalypse. People celebrate the month by consuming their favorite zombie films, books, and video games.

Zombie Awareness Month is observed in May because several renowned zombie films were set during this month. In addition, the spring season is often associated with revival and optimism, contrasting the devastation caused by a zombie apocalypse. Gray ribbons are worn by those who celebrate to signify the dangers of such an event.

The Z.R.S. emphasizes the living dead’s historical, cultural, and scientific study. They are dedicated to sharing information from experts and academics about potential causes, preparations, and preventions for the zombie apocalypse. People join in with their own stories about and tips for surviving such an event. Although few of us believe in the inevitable zombie apocalypse, Zombie Awareness Month can still be a lot of fun. People love to dress up as zombies, put on makeup, and play make-believe!

Zombie Awareness Month timeline

1985
“Day of the Dead”

One of the most popular movies about the zombie apocalypse is released.

2007
The Zombie Research Society

Author and zombie expert Matt Mogk establishes the organization and declares May Zombie Awareness Month.

2010
“Warm Bodies”

Isaac Marion’s bestselling book about zombies is published.

2019
“World War Z”

A video game based on a book and movie about the zombie apocalypse is released.

Zombie Awareness Month FAQs

What are zombie symptoms?

Mad Cow Disease reduces people to a zombie-like state, with symptoms such as seizures, twitchy muscles, hallucinations, and diminished coordination.

Why do zombies eat brains?

Zombie films portray zombies as needing to eat human brains to feel better!

Who invented zombies?

In his films, Romero crafted a new type of zombie that differed from Haitian folklore, and it was this version that has shaped zombie popular culture since the late 20th century.

Zombie Awareness Month Activities

  1. Attend a convention

    Celebrate Zombie Awareness Month by attending a zombie convention. If you don’t believe in zombies or an upcoming apocalypse, maybe a zombie convention will change your mind!

  2. Host a zombie party

    A fun way to observe Zombie Awareness Month is by organizing a zombie party. Dress up as zombies and decorate your house like a bunker. Get your friends and family to dress up too, and don’t forget to wear gray ribbons in honor of the month!

  3. Watch your favorite zombie movies

    There’s no end to movies and T.V. shows about zombies. The best way to celebrate Zombie Awareness Month is by catching up with your favorite shows, books, movies, and video games about zombies.

5 Facts About Zombies That You Didn’t Know

  1. The word comes from the African language

    It is believed to have been taken from the African word for God, ‘nzambi.’

  2. Zombie fans have a name

    Zombie fans are known as ‘zombiephiles.’

  3. There are two ways to kill zombies

    To kill a zombie, aim for its brain or cut off its head.

  4. George Romero created modern zombie cinema

    Known as the “Father of Zombie Film,” Romero has directed the most zombie films in history.

  5. Becoming a zombie is illegal

    A law in Haiti allegedly makes it a criminal offense to turn someone into a zombie.

Why We Love Zombie Awareness Month

  1. The zombie apocalypse might happen

    The Z.R.S. earnestly believes that the zombie apocalypse can happen at any time. Though there’s no way to confirm this, celebrations like Zombie Awareness Month help us prepare for the worst.

  2. It’s a fun holiday

    Because Zombie Awareness Month can be celebrated with parties and by watching reruns of your favorite zombie movies and shows, the month-long celebrations can be a lot of fun.

  3. It celebrates a niche interest

    Most of us don’t believe that the zombie apocalypse will happen, but some do. Zombie Awareness Month is a celebration of niche interests, and like-minded people can gather to indulge in a shared love.

Zombie Awareness Month dates

Year Date Day
2025 May 1 Thursday
2026 May 1 Friday
2027 May 1 Saturday
2028 May 1 Monday
2029 May 1 Tuesday
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 
Hurricane Preparedness Week
National Physical Education and Sport Week
Agriculture and Labor Day
Beltane
Blessing Day
Calan Mai
Couple Appreciation Day
CSS Reboot Day
Executive Coaching Day
Frequent Flyer Day
Global Love Day
International Doodle Dog Day
International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day
Labor Day Philippines
Learn to Ride a Bike Day
Lei Day
Marshall Islands Constitution Day
May Day
Mother Goose Day
National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day
National Chocolate Parfait Day
National Day of Prayer
National-Day-of-Reason
National Day of Reason
National Infertility Survival Day
National Loyalty Day
National Mantra Day
National Purebred Dog Day
National Rotate Your Beer Day
New Homeowners Day
Phone in Sick Day
Save The Rhino Day
School Principals' Day
Silver Star Banner Day
Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day
World Password Day
Worthy Wage Day
ALS Awareness Month
American Cheese Month
American Wetlands Month
Anxiety Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Awareness of Medical Orphans Month
Be Kind to Animals Month
Bealtaine Festival
Better Sleep Month
Better Speech and Hearing Month
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Building Safety Month
Celiac Awareness Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month
Clean Air Month
Community Action Month
Correct Posture Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Date Your Mate Month
Deck Safety Month
EDS Awareness Month
Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
Food Allergy Action Month
Fungal Infection Awareness Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month
Get Caught Reading Month
Gifts From The Garden Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Heal the Children Month
Healthy Vision Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Homeschool Awareness Month
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
Indian Heritage Month
Internal Audit Awareness Month
International Business Image Improvement Month
International Civility Awareness Month
International Drum Month
International Respect for Chickens Month
International Victorious Woman Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Labor History Month
Latino Books Month
Leaders of Tomorrow Month
Lettuce Month
Local and Community History Month
Lung Health Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Make May Purple /Action On Stroke Month
Maternal Mental Health Month
May Measurement Month
MCS Awareness Month
Meditation Month
Mediterranean Diet Month
Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Military Appreciation Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
National Asparagus Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Barbecue Month
National Bicycle Safety Month
National Blood Pressure Month
National Chocolate Custard Month
National Comfort Month
National Digestive Disease Awareness Month
National Duckling Month
fried egg on national egg month
National Egg Month
National Foster Care Month
National Hamburger Month
National Heritage Month
National Inventors Month
a nurse on National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Moving Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Pet Month
National Photography Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Preservation Month
National Prom Graduation Safety Month
National Recommitment Month
National Salad Month
National Salsa Month
National San Architect Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
National Share a Story Month
National Show Your Smile Month
National Sight-Saving Month
National Strawberry Month
National Teen Self-Esteem Month
National Tennis Month
National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month
National Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Vinegar Month
National Walking Month
National Youth Traffic Safety Month
Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month
Neurofibromatosis Month
Older Americans Month
Personal History Awareness Month
Pet Sitter Safety Month
REACT Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Revise Your Work Schedule Month
Small Business Month
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
Steelmark Month
Strike Out Strokes Month
Stroke Awareness Month
Syringomyelia Awareness Month
Teen CEO Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
Ultraviolet Awareness Month
Women's Health Month
Zombie Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

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