Writing Lessons & Advice: Literary Holidays
- 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
Book Fairs and Festivals by state: https://www.writersdigest.com/publishing-insights/list-of-book-fairs-and-book-festivals-by-state
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