Seasonal & Holidays

Popcorn, Penguins, Peculiar People And Pie: January Holidays

New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Day aren't the only things we'll have to celebrate in the first month of the year.

It makes sense as an Iowan dealing with frigid temperatures that January would be the month to celebrate soup, oatmeal and hot tea, but those are just a few of the offbeat things to honor as we start a new year, according to Days of the Year. There's a holiday — or five or six — for every day of the month.

But first, let's give a nod to those things that earn a whole month's recognition, like the hot foods and beverages above. January is the time to celebrate 11 obscure month-long observations, including "Get Organized" month and "Clean up Your Computer" month, which makes sense if you want the new year to be a clean slate.

January also is "Be Kind to Servers" month, but shouldn't that really be a standard for the whole year — along with "Celebration of Life" month? Then there's "Get a Balanced Life" month, and Hobby, Creativity and International Brainteaser months to recognize in January.

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Onto special recognition by day. It's obvious that "Weigh-in Day" would be Jan. 1, but many of the remaining things to celebrate are head-scratchers. Here are some of the daily celebrations throughout the month. You can find the full list and explanations behind the celebrations at daysoftheyear.com.

Jan. 1: Weigh-in Day, Polar Bear Swim Day, Commitment Day

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2: Buffet Day, Science Fiction Day, Personal Trainer Awareness Day

3: Chocolate Covered Cherry Day, Festival of Sleep Day

4: Hypnotism Day, Pop Music Chart Day

5: Whipped Cream Day, Bird Day

6: Cuddle Up Day, Three Kings Day (Epiphany)

7: Bobblehead Day, Tempura Day

8: Bubblebath Day, Clean Off Your Desk Day

9: Apricot Day, Static Electricity Day

10: Houseplant Appreciation Day, Peculiar People Day

11: Milk Day, Learn Your Name In Morse Code Day

12: Marzipan Day, Pharmacist Day

13: Rubber Duckie Day, Sticker Day

14: Dress Up Your Pet Day, Organize Your Home Day

15: Hay Day, Strawberry Ice Cream Day

16: International Hot and Spicy Food Day, Appreciate a Dragon Day

17: Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day, Cable Car Day

18: Thesaurus Day, Winnie the Pooh Day

19: Popcorn Day, Tin Can Day

20: Disc Jockey Day, Penguin Awareness Day

21: Hugging Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day

22: Hot Sauce Day, Answer Your Cat's Questions Day

23: Pie Day, Handwriting Day

24: Beer Can Appreciation Day, Belly Laugh Day

25: Opposite Day, Irish Coffee Day

26: Peanut Brittle Day, International Fun at Work Day

27: Chocolate Cake Day, Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day

28: Data Privacy Day, Blueberry Pancake Day

29: Puzzle Day, Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

30: Croissant Day, Inane Answering Message Day

31: Gorilla Suit Day, Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

Good luck getting your boss to pay for time off for any of these holidays, with the exception, perhaps, of New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Jan. 15.

Maybe you can at least have a good time at the office on International Fun at Work Day.

Image via Kevin Carbonaro/Pixabay

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