At Last, February’s Obscure Holidays Step into the Limelight

We all know that February is the month of Valentine’s Day, but does that mean overlooking all of the other great holidays that take place? Even though February is the shortest month of the year, it is filled with amazing national holidays almost every single day. Forget all the hearts and roses; let’s take a moment to go over a few of the key dates that are sometimes overlooked.

Alongside Valentine’s Day itself, February 14 is National Donor Day. Just as you might give your heart to someone on this special day, it also is a day to bring awareness to the need to donate organs to others in need.

If February 14 is National Donor Day (and Valentine’s Day), what could possibly follow? Singles Awareness Day, of course! So even if you don’t feel like celebrating the day of love, there’s always a chance to celebrate a day of singleness.

There are many national food days in February, the most notable being National Dark Chocolate Day, Pizza Day, Plum Pudding Day, Almond Day, and Chili Day, among many others. The most notable, though, in my opinion, are the pasta days. You’ll be glad to know that there are not one but two different pastas to celebrate in February: National Fettuccine Alfredo Day (February 7) and National Tortellini Day (February 13). This year, they even fall within the same week, which makes it pasta-bly the best week ever.

Next up is a more serious day: International Polar Bear Day. This national holiday has been recognized since at least 2011 and advocates saving the polar bears. These bears and their habitats are grappling with climate change, which has led to a declining population worldwide. This day is to be spent educating yourself (and others) on ways that you can strengthen your conservation efforts.

The last day that caught my eye was February 28, or Rare Disease Day. This is another day dedicated to educational purposes, spreading awareness about all of the rare diseases that have been recorded over the years. The goal of this day, according to rarediseases.org, is to “harness the creativity and energy of the millions of people with rare diseases–and the millions who care about and assist them–to raise awareness and generate action.” It is a worthy goal, indeed.

Clearly, February is not just about Valentine’s Day. The month is filled with tons of quirky days to celebrate–every day! Now get to it.