1. National Donut Day
Back in 1938, the Salvation Army created National Donut Day to honor the women—called “Doughnut Lassies”—who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. It was originally a fundraising event during the Great Depression, but the sugary legacy stuck, according to Brandon Drenon of the BBC. Now, every first Friday in June, people line up for free donuts and social media goes full glaze-mode. Most folks have no clue it started as a charity effort, not a marketing stunt.
Fast-forward to today and major chains like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ offer free donuts, turning it into an unofficial foodie holiday. It’s a mix of nostalgia and corporate enthusiasm that somehow works. Donuts are beloved, so no one really questions the origins too hard. If free pastries are involved, America’s on board.
2. Sweetest Day
Sweetest Day was dreamed up in 1921 by a group of Cleveland candy makers who wanted to boost sales, according to Kadie Daye from WYRK. They pitched it as a day to give candy to the less fortunate, but let’s be honest—this was a strategic business move. The idea didn’t quite hit nationwide, but the Midwest, especially Ohio and Michigan, embraced it. It falls on the third Saturday of October, conveniently timed before Halloween.
Despite its commercial roots, it’s now treated as a second Valentine’s Day in some regions. People buy cards, chocolates, and flowers, and there’s even light pressure to celebrate it romantically. Hallmark and candy companies have leaned in hard, which keeps the tradition going. It’s proof that if you wrap a sales pitch in kindness, it might just stick.
3. Talk Like a Pirate Day
What started as a joke between two friends in Oregon in 1995 somehow exploded into an annual celebration. John Baur and Mark Summers picked September 19 for no particular reason, and started using phrases like “Arrr matey!” just for fun, according to Chelsea Brasted of Axios. The holiday didn’t catch fire until columnist Dave Barry mentioned it in 2002, giving it national attention. After that, the internet did its thing.
Now you’ll find themed parties, pirate puns, and even businesses like Krispy Kreme offering freebies to customers in pirate attire. It’s a goofy, no-stakes kind of holiday that lets adults be silly without shame. Nobody’s demanding gifts—just bad accents and eye patches. It’s charmingly ridiculous, which might be why it endures.
4. Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday was coined in 2005 by a marketing team at the National Retail Federation to promote online shopping, according to Zoe Malin from NBC News. The idea was that people would return to work after Thanksgiving and use their office internet to grab deals they missed in-store. It was a PR term that stuck almost immediately thanks to rising e-commerce. Retailers saw the trend and leaned into it hard.
Now it’s basically an extension of Black Friday, lasting several days and generating billions in sales. The name might feel organic now, but make no mistake—it was a calculated invention. Shoppers don’t really care how it started, as long as they get deals. It’s the perfect example of a fake holiday going fully mainstream.
5. Galentine’s Day
This one came straight from a TV script—literally. Galentine’s Day was invented by Leslie Knope, Amy Poehler’s character on Parks and Recreation, in a 2010 episode. It takes place on February 13 and celebrates female friendships with brunch, waffles, and heartfelt compliments, Eleri Griffiths of the BBC explains. Fans loved the idea so much, they made it real.
Brands like Target and Etsy now sell Galentine’s-themed products, and events pop up nationwide. It’s become a counterbalance to Valentine’s Day—fun, inclusive, and friendship-focused. Even people who’ve never watched the show now participate. Not bad for a fictional holiday that started as a sitcom subplot.
6. National Pancake Day
IHOP declared National Pancake Day in 2006, offering free short stacks to customers and asking for charitable donations in return. It was a clever mix of marketing and philanthropy, supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other causes. Though the date has shifted over the years, it’s typically held in February or March. The campaign has raised millions, but let’s be honest—it’s also about getting people in the door.
Other pancake-centric promotions have popped up since, but IHOP’s version is the OG. People happily wait in long lines for their syrupy reward, turning breakfast into an annual event. It’s one of the few “made-up” holidays that comes with a good cause. Free food plus charity? That’s hard to argue with.
7. Festivus
Festivus is the anti-holiday holiday, created in a 1997 episode of Seinfeld by George Costanza’s eccentric dad. With traditions like the “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength,” it mocks the commercialization of the season. It was inspired by a real celebration writer Dan O’Keefe’s father held in the ’60s, but Seinfeld gave it its cultural legs. December 23 is now unofficially Festivus Day.
What started as satire now includes real Festivus poles (aluminum, of course) and themed parties. It’s embraced by those who love a good eye-roll at traditional holiday cheer. While it’s rooted in fiction, its message about resisting consumer culture struck a chord. Somehow, not celebrating became a celebration in itself.
8. National Siblings Day
This heartfelt day was started by Claudia Evart in 1995 to honor the memory of her brother and sister who died young. She founded the Siblings Day Foundation and chose April 10—the birthday of her late sister—as the annual date. It’s not federally recognized, but it’s grown thanks to social media and celebrity posts. Each year, feeds fill up with throwback photos and shoutouts to siblings.
Though it’s not tied to any company or commercial agenda, brands have started to notice. You’ll see sibling-themed promotions, matching T-shirts, and even gift suggestions. Its grassroots origin gives it emotional weight, making it more than just another hashtag holiday. It’s a made-up day with real sentiment.
9. Singles Awareness Day
Held on February 15—right after Valentine’s Day—Singles Awareness Day (or S.A.D., if you’re cheeky) flips the script on romantic pressure. It began as a counter-celebration in the early 2000s, giving single folks a space to embrace independence. People were tired of feeling left out by all the hearts-and-flowers hype. So they made their own day, complete with self-love affirmations and solo treats.
Some celebrate with friends, others indulge in “me-time” or even host anti-Valentine’s parties. Retailers have started marketing toward it with cheeky slogans and discounted candy. Like many others on this list, it grew from a personal gripe into a public event. It’s a reminder that you don’t need a partner to enjoy a holiday.
10. National Pet Day
Animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige launched National Pet Day in 2006 to encourage adoption and raise awareness for shelter animals. Held on April 11, it’s now a popular day for people to post cute pet pics and share adoption stories. The message is serious, but the execution is full of fluff—literally. The internet’s love for animals did the rest.
Major pet brands, shelters, and influencers all get involved now. There’s often a bump in donations and adoptions around the day. It’s sweet, easy to support, and gives people a reason to dote on their furry friends. It might be unofficial, but it’s officially adorable.
11. National Coffee Day
Coffee lovers rejoice every September 29, thanks to this buzz-worthy “holiday” with uncertain origins. It likely started in the early 2000s as a way for coffee shops and brands to give back—and give out freebies. Over time, it’s become a major promotional day with deals, limited-edition brews, and caffeine-fueled celebrations. Whether Starbucks, Dunkin’, or your local roaster, someone’s usually handing out a free cup.
Despite no official founding group or legislation, it’s taken on a life of its own. Social media drives the excitement, and coffee-themed content spikes annually. It’s low-commitment and universally appealing—because who doesn’t love coffee? A made-up holiday that energizes the nation, literally.
12. National Nothing Day
Yes, this is real—and wonderfully absurd. Journalist Harold Pullman Coffin proposed National Nothing Day in 1972 as a day to do absolutely nothing. It’s observed on January 16 and is meant to counter the overload of manufactured holidays. No cards, no gifts, no celebrations—just glorious nothing.
It’s never caught on commercially, which is kind of the point. Still, people occasionally observe it by opting out of social obligations or just taking a breather. It’s the holiday equivalent of a deep sigh. In a world of constant hustle, that might be exactly what we need.
