Winter is starting to feel too dark, cold, and wet and spring still seems very far away. I need a reason to celebrate and bring some joy into my life to help me get through the remainder of the cold days, and what better way to do that than with some holiday fun? And I’m not talking about Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, I’m talking about some ridiculous but very fun holidays that you might have never heard of. From National Pizza Day to National Tell a Fairy tale Day, here are five fun February holidays you’ve probably never heard of.
National Pizza Day: February 9
No one really knows exactly when or who started this cheesy celebration, but I’ll take every opportunity to eat pizza I can get. Deep dish, New York style, thin crust, pepperoni, cheese, meat lovers, margarita, desert, there are so many kinds of pizza and it only seems right that there is a day to celebrate all the varieties of this beloved comfort food. A slice of cheesy, greasy pizza makes me feel all warm and happy inside, which is just what I need when the weather is wet and cold. So whether you order in, go out, or make it yourself, I highly recommend indulging in some pizza on National Pizza Day.
2. National Tell a Fairy tale Day: February 26
To me this sounds like the perfect excuse to curl up with a blanket and retell the stories we loved as kids. Whether that means retelling them as they are, telling them with a twist, reading about them in books, or watching movie adaptations, this is a day to celebrate the magic stories bring into our lives. This also seems like a great day to read a fantasy book, because what is fantasy if not grown-up fairy tales? Real life is kind of boring, especially when compared with the magical worlds of books and stories, so it sounds nice to have a day to immerse yourself in the magic, though it may be more of an evening of magic this year since this lovely holiday falls on a Monday. Either way, I’m looking forward to this holiday and will be taking as much time to celebrate as my schedule allows.Â
3. National Muffin Day: February 20
Muffins are amazing and that is reason enough to celebrate them, but this holiday was
actually founded with more noble intentions. It all started with Jacob Kaufman, a man from California, just offering some muffins he’d baked to homeless people he saw in San Francisco. In 5 years he had baked over 4,500 muffins. He’d met some new people too, including a woman from New York named Julia Levy. They eventually founded National Muffin Day, a day to bake muffins and give them to the homeless. Giving a warm baked treat to someone when it’s cold and dreary out is a great way to give back to the community. If you do participate in the muffin-baking festivities, you can use #givemuffins to become part of the muffin-gifting gang.
4. National Random Acts of Kindness Day: February 17
Started over 40 years ago in the Bay Area of San Francisco, Random Acts of Kindness Day is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a day to do nice things for people just because you can. Obviously, every day is a day for random acts of kindness, but February 17 is a day to specifically focus on it. Sometimes it’s hard to remember to show people our appreciation and love for them, and I think this day is an excellent opportunity to be extra aware and mindful of showing how much we care. The world can always use more kindness, and especially in the winter months I think a moment of kindness, whether it’s giving or receiving, can go a long way in brightening your day or someone else’s.Â
5. National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day: February 18
Not only is this a day to start the morning off with a sweet treat, it’s also a day for childhood cancer awareness. The holiday was started by the family of Malia, a young girl with cancer
who passed away in 2010. They wanted a fun way to remember Malia and the way she approached life, so in 2013 they had a small celebration on February 18, Malia’s birthday, where they ate ice cream for breakfast and remembered her life. The goal of the holiday is to focus on the lives of childhood cancer patients and remember that they’re still kids, despite their disease, as well as to honor those who have died. If you choose to celebrate this wonderful holiday, you can show your support by posting pictures on Facebook or Instagram and tagging @eaticecreamforbreakfast.