Martin Luther King Day
2026-01-19
Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday in the United States on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr.
Related Post: Celebrate the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Through Song

World Buskers Festival
2026-01-23
Buskers, also known as street performers, gather in Christchurch, New Zealand for the ten-day World Buskers Festival. Comedians, jugglers, acrobats, magicians, and more entertain visitors for voluntary donations.

Burns Night
2026-01-25
Burns Night is celebrated in Scotland to honor the life and contributions of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, born on January 25, 1759. Burns’ best-known work is Auld Lang Syne.

The Great Kindness Challenge
2026-01-26
The Great Kindness Challenge: One Week. One Checklist. Infinite Happiness.
Empower your students to create a culture of kindness.
Related Post: Teach Kindness in Your Classroom

Australia Day
2026-01-26
Australia Day marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and the beginning of European settlement in Australia.
It is observed with national pride through events like parades, barbecues, and fireworks, as well as ceremonies for welcoming new citizens.
The day also invites reflection on Australia’s history, including discussions about Indigenous cultures and the impact of colonization.

Republic Day of India
2026-01-26
Republic Day of India has been celebrated since 1950. This day honors India’s constitution and is celebrated with grand celebrations, including a spectacular parade in New Delhi featuring cultural performances, military displays, and floats representing India’s diversity.
It is a time of national pride, honoring the country’s democratic values and rich heritage.

Up Helly Aa
2026-01-27
Up Helly Aa is a traditional Viking fire festival that takes place every year on the last Tuesday of January. It marks the beginning of the longer days and the new year.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day
2026-01-27
International Holocaust Remembrance Day honors the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and develops educational programs to help prevent future genocides.

International LEGO Day
2026-01-28
International LEGO Day marks the day when Danish carpenter, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, first submitted his patent for the original Lego brick in 1958.
The LEGO company was founded in 1932. The company made a variety of wooden toys and took the name Lego from the Danish words “LEg GOdt” which translates to “play well.”

Read Your World Day
2026-01-29
Read Your World Day, formerly Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) is an online and offline celebration that attracts thousands of supporters, educators, parents, caregivers, book reviewers, and quality authors and publishers who join forces to shine the spotlight on diversity in children’s and YA literature.
Celebrated annually, this global non-profit organization offers numerous free resources, including teaching tools, booklists, downloads, and a year-round initiative to get multicultural and diverse books into the hands of young readers.
Learn more.

Desert Festival, India
2026-01-30
The 3-day Jaisalmer Desert Festival looks at the desert culture of India. It features camel races, polo matches, puppeteers, jugglers, men with long mustaches, turban-tying competitions, and locals wearing colorful traditional dresses.

Tu B'Shevat
2026-02-01
Tu B’Shevat, also known as the “New Year of the Trees,” is one of the four “New Years” of the Jewish calendar.
It is a time to appreciate nature and environmental stewardship, often marked by planting trees and eating fruits associated with Israel, such as figs, dates, and pomegranates.

National Freedom Day
2026-02-01
National Freedom Day is observed on February 1st in the United States to commemorate the date in 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the joint resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery. It serves as a day to reflect on the importance of freedom, equality, and the ongoing pursuit of civil rights for all Americans.

Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action
2026-02-02
Black Lives Matter at School, a national coalition organizing for racial justice in education, encourages all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join the annual week of action during the first week of February each year.​

Setsubun
2026-02-03
Setsubun, the Bean-Throwing Festival, takes place before the first day of spring in Japan. Roasted soybeans called fuku mame (fortune beans) are thrown for good luck.

Rosa Parks Day
2026-02-04
Rosa Parks Day is an American holiday honoring the civil rights activist Rosa Parks, born on this day in 1913.

World Read Aloud Day
2026-02-04
Every year, on World Read Aloud Day, people around the globe read aloud and share stories to advocate for literacy as a human right that belongs to all people.
Click HERE for more information.

Global School Play Day
2026-02-04
Global School Play Day is all about restoring unstructured play to a generation of kids!
Provide time for free play without the use of screens, structured games, or adult direction. The idea is to let children explore their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions in an unstructured and spontaneous environment.

Sapporo Snow Festival
2026-02-04
The Sapporo Snow Festival is an annual winter event held in Sapporo, Japan, showcasing elaborate and intricate snow and ice sculptures. Millions of visitors from around the world attend the festival, which features large-scale sculptures, ice displays, and various winter activities.

Waitangi Day
2026-02-06
Waitangi Day, a public holiday in New Zealand, celebrates the Treaty of Waitangi, regarded as the nation’s founding document.

Milano Cortina Olympic Games
2026-02-06
The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially the XXV Winter Olympic Games, is an international multi-sport event from February 6 to 22 in Milan, Italy.
Related Post: Olympic Fever: Engaging Kids With the Excitement of the Summer Games

International Day of Women and Girls in Science
2026-02-11
International Day of Women and Girls in Science is a day established by the United Nations to recognize the essential role of women and girls in science and technology.

Carnival of Brazil
2026-02-13
The Carnival of Brazil is a festival held in Rio de Janeiro before Lent and is considered the biggest carnival in the world. The celebration includes vibrant parades, elaborate costumes, music, and street parties.

International Book Giving Day
2026-02-14
International Book Giving Day aims to increase children’s access to and enthusiasm for books. Share the love of books! #bookgivingday
Click Here for Information & Resources

Valentine's Day
2026-02-14
Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14 in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, and other countries around the world.

Presidents' Day
2026-02-16
Presidents’ Day, celebrated annually on the third Monday in February, honors all the presidents who have served in the United States.

Chinese New Year
2026-02-17
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of several Lunar New Years in Asia. It celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar.
2025 is the Year of the Snake.
Click Here for Information & Resources

Ramadan
2026-02-17
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. During Ramadan, believers abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset, breaking their fast with a meal called iftar each evening.
Click HERE for Information & Resources

Seollal
2026-02-17
Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays. It typically falls in late January or early February, marking the beginning of the lunar calendar year. The celebration lasts three days, including the day before and after Seollal.

Tết
2026-02-17
Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán, is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the most significant holiday in Vietnam. It marks the arrival of spring and the start of a new lunar calendar year. Typically celebrated in late January or early February, Tết is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and welcoming good fortune.
