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New Year's Eve fireworks in Seattle |
By my estimate—and I could be wrong, as they say—thousands of special days, weeks and months are observed every year. Some are obscure and some are well-known. Among the best-known in the United States are Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas. These often are marked on calendars.
Among obscure observances are Old Rock Day, National Yo-Yo Day, Presidential Joke Day, and Wear Brown Shoes Day. A longer list of these rarely celebrated occurrences is at Bizarre American Holidays. Be warned, though, it’s unlikely you will be successful in getting off work one of these days. Nor are you likely to find an appropriate greeting card (I authorize you to get out your Oh Darn Hanky), although you could pick up a blank card and write something. Your friends will be impressed that you cared enough.
Below is a list of literary and cultural observances in 2012 of which I am aware. (Winston Churchill would have been delighted had I written, "which I am aware of.") Most are in the U.S. where the word national usually means officially recognized by Congressional resolution, but not always. It’s possible I missed a few; what the heck, I may have missed a bunch. My New Year’s resolution is to write a little about each as it comes up. If you are aware of a well-known national observance along the lines of my list, and in any country, please leave your comments.
January
National Story Telling Week, January 28 – February 4, UK
February
Black History Month
Library Lovers' Month
March
National Women’s History Month
Greek-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
April
National Library Week, April 8 – 14
National Poetry Writing Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month
May
Asian Pacific-American History Month
Jewish-American Heritage Month
June
National Storytelling Conference, June 28 – July 1
July
None
August
None
September
National Book Festival, September 2
National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15
Banned Books Week, September 30 – October 6
October
Diversity Awareness Month
German-American Heritage Month
National Italian-American Heritage Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
National Book Month
National Storytelling Weekend, October 5 – 7
National Family History Month
November
National American Indian Heritage Month
National Life Writing Month
National Novel Writing Month
Write Nonfiction in November
December
None
More information
The Ultimate Literary Calendar 2012
Literature Calendars and Wall Calendars 2012
Calendar Club, United Kingdom
Multicultural Calendars 2012, Canada and United Kingdom
Leave your comments on the literary and cultural activities will you observe in 2012.
Photo: New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington by Shannon Kringen
Good list, Wayne. I'd forgotten about the National Women's History Month and the invitation to partcipate in our local university's observance. Thanks for the reminder. I need to get busy writing my submission for it.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of the Space Needle. I grew up in Seattle, remember the building of the Space Needle for the World's Fair in 1961, and have lots of good memories associated with that great Seattle symbol.
Thanks for your inspiration today.
Linda
I was at a conference in Seattle when 9/11 occurred. The conference was cancelled and we stayed an additional three days before we could get a plane.
ReplyDeleteKathy Hansen, http://www.scoop.it/t/personal-storytelling, suggested Chases.com at http://www.mhprofessional.com/templates/chases/ I saved the link for next year.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I'll check the link. Since we have a Nat'l Letter and Card Writing month, I propose we initiate a "Email and Tweet Month." Kidding of course.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in having my blog added to the Life Writers Forum. www.gracepete.com. Thank you and Happy New Year! :)