Almost every day of the year is some sort of a holiday on the internet and you definitely don’t want to miss the chance to celebrate them with your followers. Whether it’s Marzipan Day, Cat Day, or Halloween you want your social media accounts to be prepared to properly celebrate. That’s why our team created The Definitive 2021 Holiday Calendar so you don’t have to.
With this holiday calendar, you can review the holidays, pick the ones that are relevant to your company profile and to your following, then create social media content for those special days. You can have a social media campaign that either aims to drive traffic, attract more followers or raise brand awareness. Just make sure to clearly define your goal and the specific boost in your KPIs that you want to achieve with your campaign.
And don’t forget about the hashtags, each holiday or observance day comes with its own hashtag, so don’t forget to use that for good social media exposure. Just keep in mind to use the less popular variation of the holiday hashtags too, don’t just go with the crazy popular #MerryChristmas-type hashtags.
For an amazing social media success, try to go beyond making posts on those special days. Discounts, fun visual content, or maybe even creating special limited edition product lines can lead to great success. The opportunities are limitless.
To help you plan a successful social media calendar for this year, we created this calendar which is full of holidays and observances. Both international and US holidays/observances are included.
Below you can download the Google Calendar .ics file and add it to your own calendar of choice. Review the calendar and pick the events that are most relevant to your company and followers. Each event has a description with brief info about the event.
Even if you do not plan your social media calendar for the whole year, this calendar still can help you be reminded about the upcoming holidays and observances. Just make sure to adjust the notification settings according to your preferences.
2021 - Social Media Holiday Calendar
January 01: New Year's Day
January 06: Epiphany [Christian]
January 07: Orthodox Christmas Day
January 08: Earth's Rotation Day
January 11: Clean Off Your Desk Day
January 12: Marzipan Day
January 13: Stephen Foster Memorial Day
January 14: Orthodox New Year
January 15: Hat Day
January 15: Lee-Jackson Day* [Virginia State Holiday]
January 16: National Nothing Day
January 17: Benjamin Franklin Day
January 18: Civil Rights Day [Arizona, New Hampshire]
January 18: Idaho Human Rights Day [Idaho]
January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 19: Confederate Heroes' Day [Texas]
January 19: National Popcorn Day
January 19: Robert E. Lee's Birthday [Florida]
January 20: Penguin Awareness Day
January 21: National Hugging Day
January 21: Squirrel Appreciation Day
January 24: Compliment Day
January 24: World Leprosy Day
January 26: Spouse's Day
January 27: National Chocolate Cake Day
January 27: Tu Bishvat/Tu B'Shevat [Jewish Holiday]
January 29: Kansas Day
January 29: Puzzle Day
February 01: National Freedom Day
February 02: Groundhog Day
February 04: Rosa Parks Day
February 04: Thank Your Mailman Day
February 04: World Cancer Day
February 05: World Nutella Day
February 05: National Wear Red Day
February 06: Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
February 07: Superbowl
February 09: National Pizza Day
February 12: Lincoln's Birthday
February 14: Statehood Day [Arizona]
February 14: Valentine's Day
February 15: Daisy Gatson Bates Day [Arkansas]
February 15: Presidents' Day
February 15: Susan B. Anthony's Birthday [CA, FL, NY, WI]
February 16: Elizabeth Peratrovich Day [Alaska]
February 17: Ash Wednesday [Christian]
February 22: Be Humble Day
February 25: Purim
February 26: Purim
February 26: Tell a Fairy Tale Day
February 27: International Polar Bear Day
February 28: Linus Pauling Day [Oregon]
March 01: St. David's Day [Christian]
March 02: Casimir Pulaski Day [Oregon]
March 02: Read Across America Day
March 02: Texas Independence Day
March 03: Town Meeting Day [Vermont]
March 06: Employee Appreciation Day in the United States
March 09: Barbie Day
March 10: Mario Day
March 12: Alfred Hitchcock Day
March 12: Isra and Mi’raj
March 14: National Potato Chip Day
March 14: Pi Day
March 15: Napping Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 17: Evacuation Day [Massachusetts]
March 17: St. Patrick's Day
March 18: Awkward Moments Day
March 18: World Sleep Day
March 20: March Equinox
March 20: World Happiness Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21: World Down Syndrome Day
March 21: World Poetry Day
March 21: World Puppetry Day
March 22: World Water Day
March 25: Maryland Day
March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
March 26: National Spinach Day
March 26: Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole [Hawaii]
March 27: Passover begins [Jewish]
March 28: Palm Sunday
March 28: Holi
March 29: Holi
March 29: National Vietnam War Veterans Day
March 30: Seward's Day [Alaska]
March 30: Take a Walk in the Park Day
March 31: César Chávez Day
April 01: April Fool's Day
April 01: Maundy Thursday
April 02: Good Friday
April 02: Pascua Florida Day
April 02: World Autism Awareness Day
April 02: Holy Saturday
April 04: Passover ends [Jewish]
April 04: Easter
April 04: Tell a Lie Day
April 04: World Stray Animal Day
April 06: National Tartan Day
April 06: World Health Day
April 13: Ramadan month starts [Muslim]
April 13: Thomas Jefferson's Birthday
April 14: National Library Workers Day
April 15: Father Damien Day [Hawaii]
April 15: Tax Day
April 16: Yom Ha'atzmaut
April 16: Emancipation Day
April 17: Picnic Day
April 19: Boston Marathon
April 19: Patriot's Day
April 21: San Jacinto Day
April 22: Administrative Professionals Day
April 22: Jelly Bean Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 22: Oklahoma Day
April 29: Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
April 30: Honesty Day
April 30: Arbor Day [Nebraska]
April 30: Kentucky Oaks
April 30: Lag BaOmer [Jewish]
April 30: International Jazz Day
April 30: Orthodox Good Friday
May 01: Batman Day
May 01: Kentucky Oaks
May 01: Law Day
May 01: Lei Day
May 01: Loyalty Day
May 01: Orthodox Holy Saturday [Christian]
May 02: Orthodox Easter [Christian]
May 03: Orthodox Easter Monday [Christian]
May 04: Rhode Island Independence Day
May 04: Star Wars Day
May 05: Cinco de Mayo
May 06: National Nurses Day & Week
May 07: National Day of Prayer
May 08: Military Spouse Appreciation Day
May 08: Truman Day [Missouri]
May 08: Victory in Europe Day
May 08: Laylat al-Qadr
May 09: Mother's Day
May 13: Ramadan Holiday starts
May 13: Ascension Day [Christian]
May 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 15: Ramadan Holiday ends
May 15: Astronomy Day
May 15: International Day of Families
May 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 15: Preakness Stakes
May 16: Shavuot
May 16: World Information Society Day
May 21: Armed Forces Day
May 22: Harvey Milk Day
May 22: National Maritime Day
May 23: Pentecost [Christian]
May 23: Whit Monday [Christian]
May 25: Memorial Day
May 28: Hamburger Day
May 31: Trinity Sunday [Christian]
June 01: Say Something Nice Day
June 01: World Milk Day
June 02: Leave the Office Early Day
June 04: Hug Your Cat Day
June 05: Belmont Stakes
June 05: World Environment Day
June 06: D-Day
June 08: Best Friends Day
June 09: Donald Duck Day
June 11: Kamehameha Day [Hawaii]
June 12: Red Rose Day
June 14: Army Birthday
June 14: Flag Day
June 19: Juneteenth [Texas]
June 20: American Eagle Day
June 20: West Virginia Day
June 21: Father's Day
June 21: International Day of Yoga
June 21: National Selfie Day
June 22: Onion Ring Day
June 23: Typewriter Day
June 30: Social Media Day
July 02: I Forgot Day
July 03: International Plastic Bag Free Day
July 04: Independence Day
July 06: World Kissing Day
July 07: Tell the Truth Day
July 07: World Chocolate Day
July 08: Video Games Day
July 11: World Population Day
July 14: Bastille Day
July 17: World Emoji Day
July 17: Tisha B'Av
July 18: National Ice Cream Day
July 20: Eid al-Adha [Muslim] begins
July 21: Junk Food Day
July 23: Eid al-Adha [Muslim] ends
July 25: Parents' Day
July 27: National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
July 29: Lipstick Day
July 30: International Friendship Day
August 01: Colorado Day
August 07: Purple Heart Day
August 08: International Cat Day
August 09: Muharram
August 10: Victory Day
August 13: International Left-Handers Day
August 15: Assumption of Mary [Christians]
August 16: Bennington Battle Day
August 19: National Aviation Day
August 19: World Humanitarian Day
August 20: Hawaii Statehood Day
August 21: Senior Citizens Day
August 22: Raksha Bandhan [Hindu]
August 26: Women's Equality Day
August 27: Lyndon Baines Johnson Day [Texas]
August 30: Janmashtami [Hindu]
September 06: Read a Book Day
September 06: Labor Day
September 07: Rosh Hashana [Jewish] (Texas)
September 09: Teddy Bear Day
September 11: Patriot Day
September 11: Ganesh Chaturthi [Hindu]
September 12: National Grandparents Day
September 13: Positive Thinking Day
September 15: Yom Kippur [Jewish]
September 16: Yom Kippur [Jewish]
September 17: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
September 17: International Country Music Day
September 17: National POW/MIA Recognition Day
September 18: Air Force Birthday
September 19: National CleanUp Day
September 21: First Day of Sukkot [Jewish]
September 21: International Day of Peace
September 24: Native Americans' Day [California]
September 27: Gold Star Mother's Day
September 27: International Daughters Day
September 27: Shemini Atzeret [Jewish] begins
September 28: Simchat Torah [Jewish] starts
September 29: Simchat Torah [Jewish] ends
September 29: Shemini Atzeret [Jewish] ends
September 29: World Heart Day
October 02: World Smile Day
October 03: First Day of Sukkot [Jewish]
October 04: Feast of St Francis of Assisi [Christian]
October 04: Taco Day
October 04: World Architecture Day
October 05: Child Health Day
October 07: Sharad Navaratri [Hindu]
October 10: World Mental Health Day
October 11: Indigenous People's Day
October 12: National Farmers Day
October 12: Columbus Day
October 12: Ada Lovelace Day
October 13: Navy Birthday
October 15: White Cane Safety Day
October 15: Global Handwashing Day
October 16: Boss's Day
October 16: Sweetest Day
October 17: The Prophet's Birthday [Muslim]
October 18: Alaska Day
October 29: Nevada Day
October 31: Halloween
November 01: All Saints' Day [Christian]
November 02: All Souls' Day
November 03: Election Day
November 04: Diwali/Deepavali [Hinduism]
November 05: Return Day [Delaware]
November 07: New York City Marathon
November 10: Marine Corps Birthday
November 11: Origami Day
November 11: Veterans Day
November 15: Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
November 19: World Toilet Day
November 21: World Hello Day
November 21: World Television Day
November 25: Thanksgiving
November 26: Black Friday
November 26: Chanukah /Hanukkah [Jewish] begins
November 27: American Indian Heritage Day
November 29: Cyber Monday
December 01: Rosa Parks Day
December 01: World AIDS Day
December 03: Making a Gift Day
December 05: World Soil Day
December 06: St Nicholas Day
December 06: Chanukah /Hanukkah [Jewish] ends
December 07: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 08: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 11: Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day) [Jewish]
December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe [Christian]
December 13: National Guard Birthday
December 17: Pan American Aviation Day
December 17: Wright Brothers Day
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas Day
December 31: New Year's Eve
Using hashtags is essential for holiday posts. These give you the opportunity to gain extra exposure and present your brand to new prospects. Consider them as free ads if you will. Not every holiday has a popular hashtag, but even if it’s unpopular you might want to explore the uncharted waters to see whether it works for you or not. Being seen in unpopular feeds is much easier than in a feed that has a new post popping out every second.
And as always, don’t go overboard with hashtags, use them wisely. Unless its Instagram. Everyone goes overboard with hashtags on Instagram. In case you don’t know this trick, you can post your hashtags in the comments section so your post doesn’t look messy. You can even delete the comment once in a couple of hours and then repost it so you can be added to the top of the hashtag feed again.
If you decided to have a holiday campaign, like a sale or a deal, we suggest you announce it beforehand. Of course, it all depends on the type of your campaign and your business goals, but it is usually much more beneficial to let people know beforehand. Even if they’re not interested in your offer they’ll still be reminded about your brand.
Let’s say you have a Christmas sale. During Christmas, there are so many posts it’s very hard to be noticed. People will just give your post a glance and scroll ahead. This way your campaign might not get the attention you want. However, if you start your campaign beforehand, the chances of your campaign being noticed are much higher.
Greeting cards are always a good idea! Especially if your designers can take a fun spin on the design, people will be more drawn to engage with the post. It’s a good idea to share these a day or two before the major holidays so that more people will notice it. Otherwise, if you share it on the day of a major holiday it might be lost in the social media chaos.
For observances like Clean Your Desk Day and Earth Day, you can jump on board and show how your company chose to celebrate the day. For Clean Your Desk Day, you can think of a fun way to show how your staff chose to clean their desks. For Earth Day, you can participate in an environmental cause and take the chance to state how your company is contributing to help keep our environment clean and healthy.
With some holidays, you can not only remind people about your brand but also show how strong your culture is, which some people take into account when interacting with a business.
Giveaways and contests are an amazing way to get your followers to engage with your brand on social platforms. And holidays are a great excuse to have one! Take traditional social media competitions, i.e. photo caption contests, “like to enter”, “random comment wins”, and add a little holiday theme to it. Now you’ve got yourself some green arrow ups in your SM analytics.
Don’t forget to create separate reports for your campaign performance of each holiday. This way, next year you’ll have some solid info on what works for your brand and what doesn’t. Data can be a great tool to get you forward in your social media efforts so always summarize your performance for each holiday campaign. Just make sure to use reliable analytics tools for this task.
Whether it’s the 4th of July or Hot Sauce Day, be fun, be creative and let your customers know that you are there to help them make every day a celebration.
