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Writing Lessons & Advice: Literary Holidays

  • Writer: Katie Johns
    Katie Johns
  • Jan 4
  • 4 min read

Updated: Apr 14





It seems like every day can be a holiday and every month is one for some kind of recognition, remembrance, or awareness. Many are established by various organizations or special interests, so keeping up can be hard if you’re not affiliated or in-the-know in some way. 


Similar organizations and interests of literary culture have managed to get their values recognized with their own various holidays and months. This Lessons & Advice post gives a rundown on several special times dedicated to reading, writing, readers, authors, words, grammar, genres, and more! Click the arrow tabs for each month's list.


Side note: leaving off the actual dates was something of a logistical choice, so this list isn’t “limited” to a specific year. You’ll have to internet-search the ones of your interest and take note of when they occur. Also, some have a mix of regional to international recognition. (Nearly all of these should be, at minimum, U.S. based unless noted otherwise.) A few may turn up twice or multiple times in a year as well with some variations. Not to mention, several have correlating Lessons & Advice that will be linked where applicable. 


January

National Science Fiction Day (see lesson on genres

Universal Letter-Writing Week (see lesson on writing letters)

National Word Nerd Day

Thesaurus Day (see lesson on synonyms)

National Handwriting Day (see lesson on cursive

Book Publishers Day

JRR Tolkien Day

Library Shelfie Day

Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday

February

Library Lovers Month/Day

African-American Read-in Month

Take Your a Child to the Library Day

Read a Book in the Bathtub Day

Tell a Fairy Tale Day

World Read Aloud Day

Clean Out Your Bookcase Day 

Judy Blume Day

Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week

Charles Dickens’ birthday

National Essay Day (see essay help lessons) 

Freelance Writers Appreciation Week (see lesson on blogging) 

Pinocchio Day

March

National Reading Month (see lesson on reading

National Grammar Day (see grammar and basics lessons

Dr. Seuss Day

Read an E-book Week

Jewish Book Week

World Poetry Day (see lesson on poetry

World Folk Tales and Fables Week

Bibliomania Day

Texas Cowboy Poetry Week

Words Matter Week

National Proofreading Day (see lesson on proofreading

National Speech and Debate Day (see lesson on speeches

Read Across America Day

Bologna Children's Book Fair (Italy)

OK Day (dedicated post coming soon!)

April

National Poetry Month (see lesson on poetry

National Literacy Month

National Librarian Day

Shakespeare Day  (see lesson on poetry

International Haiku Poetry Day (see lesson on poetry

Independent Bookstore Day (see lesson on gift ideas for writers

Children’s Book Day

National Poem in Your Pocket Day

National Library Day/Week

Drop Everything and Read Day

World Book Day

School Library Month

International English Language Day (see lesson on Standard English

National Bookmobile Day

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Scrabble Day (Lesson on word games to come)

Donate a Book Day


May

International Harry Potter Day

Limerick Day (see lesson on poetry

Sherlock Holmes Day

Latino Book Month

National Creativity Day (see lessons on boosting creativity or writer's block

Free Comic Book Day

Short Story Month (see lessons on word count and creative writing

Children's book Week (U.S.)

June

Audiobook Appreciation Month

National Pen Pals Day (see lesson on writing letters)

Anne Frank’s Birthday

Rainbow Book Month

Bloomsday

National Writing Day (UK)

Rick Riordan's birthday


July

Alice in Wonderland Day

Paperback Book Day

J.K. Rowling’s and Harry Potter’s birthdays

National Tom Sawyer Day

Ernest Hemingway's birthday


August

National Poets Day

Love your Bookshop Day

Book Lovers Day

Bad Poetry Day

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Day (USA/West Virginia)

Folklore Day

Frankenstein Day

National Book Festival (USA)

Ranch Verse (Texas)

September

International Literacy Month/Day

National Punctuation Day (see various lessons on general and specific punctuation) 

Dear Diary Day (see lesson on journaling

Banned Books Week (see lesson on banned books

Hobbit Day

Roald Dahl Day

Stephen King’s birthday

Library Card Sign-up Month

Buy a Book Day

World Ampersand Day (lesson to follow!)

Jane Austen Festival

F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthday

October

Dictionary Day

National Newspaper Week

National Day on Writing (US)

National Cookbook Month

Frankenstein Day

English Language Day (see lesson on Standard English

Books for Treats Day

Mystery Series Week

Frankfurt Book Fair (Germany)

LitQuake

West Virginia Book Festival

National Arts & Humanties Month (US)

National Friends of Libraries Week

National Book Month


November

National Novel Writing Month (see lesson on NaNoWriMo

I Love to Write Day 

National Family Literacy Day/Month 

National Bible Week

National Nonfiction Day

National Author's Day

Charleston Book Festival (South Carolina)

World Nursery Rhyme Week

Mark Twain's Birthday

December

Dewey Decimal System Day (see lesson on research

National Short Story Day (see lessons on word count and creative writing

National Letter Writing Day ( U.S.; see lesson on writing letters)

Jolabokaflod--Iceland’s Yule Book Flood

Jane Austen’s birthday

Alphabet Day

Read a New Book Month




What to do on literary holidays?

Several literary holidays are established on the premise of encouraging literacy habits, freedoms, and privileges. So the simplest thing one can do on such days is to take time to read, write, and/or visit the library. Other days are meant to recognize significant writers, genres, institutions, and other contributions to literary culture. Schools, libraries, groups, and/or communities may pay their own homage to times like these, like Dr. Seuss Day, Banned Books Week, festivals, or the specific genre days/weeks/months. More still, fans of bigger properties, like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, may host themed special occasions. The extent of involvement is up to you, so long as some effort is made to: show appreciation for a library, librarian, writer, or publisher you know; recognize the underrepresented voices in writing; explore classics and new literature; promote and practice literacy; get informed/involved with related events, and anything else that embraces the production and enjoyment of the written word!  



Hope this helps you find more, do more, and get more out of the various literacy recognition days throughout the year! 



Which literary holidays did you already know about? Which ones were new to you? Do you know of one not listed? (It may get added!) What are you doing/reading/writing on these holidays? Is there a topic you want me to cover in the future? Let me know on the web chat features or socials!


sources/further reading





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