185+ January Holidays in 2023 | Fun, Weird, and Special Dates

Are you looking for January holidays or special dates to celebrate on social media?

Are you a small business owner or marketer?

Marketing your business on social media just got a lot easier with this complete list of January holidays, observances, and special dates to promote.

january 2023 holidays blog image

Get ready for a fun-filled January with this comprehensive list of holidays and special observances!

From national holidays like New Year’s Day to more obscure celebrations like National Science Fiction Day, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

So start planning your social media posts and promotions now – your customers will thank you for it!

From January 1-31, there are over 185 holidays and special observances to choose from!

January is the perfect month to celebrate with family and friends or to promote your business on social media.

The first month of the year is a great month to get creative with your marketing and engage with your customers and followers during the slower winter months.

Here are a few of the biggest and most fun holidays in January. Martin Luther King Jr Day, National Chocolate Cake Day, National Blood Donor Month, and National Hugging Day, and you can’t forget New Year’s Day. There is something for everyone in January’s holidays and observances.

So whether you’re looking for traditional holidays to promote your business or just some fun and unique days to celebrate, this list has you covered.

Check out the full list of 2023 holidays in January below.

Mark your calendars and get ready to explore fun, weird, and special dates in January 2023. Happy January!

happy national spouse day

Why Holidays Make Great Social Media Posts

Back in my corporate marketing days, when I managed the social media channels for a $150 million business, I rejoiced when a holiday came around.

It gave me a built-in reason to create content, which made my job a lot easier.

Holiday posts are easy to create, and they always receive more “likes” than any other post.

Not many people will engage with a post about a company news release or an industry article, but many who see a post wishing everyone a Happy New Year will give it a “like.”

happy new year

Including holidays in your social media content is an easy way to increase engagement and reach. People are already talking about the holiday, so you just need to join the conversation.

You can use holiday-related hashtags, post photos celebrating the holiday, run contests, or offer discounts or special promotions related to the holiday.

Not sure how to get started? Here are some ideas:

  • Share recipes for favorite dishes served on the holiday
  • Give tips on how to decorate for the holiday
  • Offer advice on entertaining during the holiday season
  • Share photos of employees or customers celebrating the holiday
  • Run a contest related to the holiday
  • Offer a discount on products or services related to the holiday

With this list of January holidays, you will be able to easily come up with social media content ideas for January that will resonate with your audience and help you increase engagement and reach on your social channels.

national keto day

For a business owner or marketer, holiday posts not only increase your social media engagement but they’re also easy posts to create that fill your followers with positive emotions.

When sharing a holiday post, always include an image or video with your status update, no matter what platform you’re using. 

That’s because posts with an image get 2.3 times more engagement than posts without an image. (source)

Including an image with your post is the easiest way to DOUBLE engagement and it’s why the Social Media Content Club, our industry-leading social media software, is FULL of eye-catching images.

monthly content images

Also, tack on a holiday-themed hashtag to make it easy for people to find your content, and use location tagging if you have a physical storefront.

For more tips on how to increase your social media engagement, read: 5 Ways to Increase Social Media Engagement. 

Holiday Hashtags for Social Media

When celebrating holidays on social media, it’s important to include the relevant hashtag(s) for that holiday in your post.

Hashtags will increase the reach of your post, exposing your business to a larger audience.

To learn why and how to use hashtags on social media, read: 210 Daily Hashtags for Social Media.

Hashtags are such an essential piece to your success on social media that I’ve done the research for you.

hashtag research image

Most of the holidays listed below include a hashtag for social media. 

However, for best results, you’ll want to use 3 – 5 hashtags relevant to that holiday in your post. 

If you’re pressed for time, the Social Media Content Club does the hashtag research for you and provides 3 popular and relevant hashtags for all major holidays. 

Now that you know those helpful tips, let’s jump into the list of Holidays.

List of January 2023 Holidays

In an effort to simplify this massive list of holidays, I’ve divided the days into five categories – public holidays, religious holidays, monthly observances, weekly observances, and daily observances.

Scroll down to view all 180+ holidays, or use the following links to skip ahead to a specific category.

January 2023 Public Holidays

This list contains public holidays and special observances in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

DateHolidayHashtagWhere Observed
January 1New Year’s Day#newyearsdayWorldwide
January 2New Year’s Day ObservedWorldwide
January 22nd January#newyearScotland
January 11Devonport Cup#devonportcupTasmania
January 16Martin Luther King Jr. Day#mlkdayUnited States
January 22Lunar New Year#lunarnewyyearWorldwide
January 25Burns Night#burnsnightScotland
January 26Australia Day#australiadayAustralia

January 2023 Religious Holidays

DateHolidayHashtagReligion
January 3Asarah B’Tevet (Tenth of Tevet)#tenthoftevetJewish
January 6Feast of the Epiphany – Three Kings#epiphanyChristian
January 7Orthodox Christmas Day#orthodoxchristmasOrthodox
January 14Orthodox New Year#orthodoxnewyearOrthodox
happy new years 2023

January 2023 Monthly Observances

Holiday
Cervical Health Awareness Month
International Change Your Stars Month
National Bath Safety Month
National Black Diamond Month
National Blood Donor Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National Codependency Awareness
National Hobby Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Mentoring Month
National Menudo Month
National Oatmeal Month
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
National Slow Cooking Month
National Soup Month
National Stalking Awareness
National Sunday Supper Month
National Train Your Dog Month
National Volunteer Blood Donor
Thyroid Awareness Month
Train Your Dog Month
Unchain A Dog Month
Walk Your Pet Month

January 2023 Weekly Observances

DateHoliday
January 1 – 7Celebration of Life Week
January 1 – 7Diet Resolution Week
January 1 – 7New Year’s Resolutions Week
January 1 – 7Silent Record Week
January 8 – 14Home Office Safety and Security Week
January 8 – 14National Mocktail Week
January 8 – 14Universal Letter Writing Week
January 11 – 17Cuckoo Dancing Week
January 15 – 21Healthy Weight Week
January 15 – 21Hunt for Happiness Week
January 15 – 21National Activity Professionals Week
January 15 – 21National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week
January 16 – 22Sugar Awareness Week
January 17 – 20International Hoof Care Week
January 18 – 25International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 21 – 22Bald Eagle Appreciation Days
January 21 – 29International Snowmobile Safety Week
January 22 – 28National CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) Week
January 22 – 28National School Choice Week
January 22 – 29Meat Week
January 23 – 27National Medical Group Practice Week
January 23 – 27Tax Identity Theft Week
January 29 – February 4Catholic Schools Week
world day of peace

January 2023 Daily Observances

DateHolidayHashtag
January 1Global Family Day#globalfamilyday
January 1National Bloody Mary Day#nationalbloodymaryday
January 1National Hangover Day#nationalhangoverday
January 1New Years Day#newyearsday
January 1Polar Bear Plunge Day#polarplunge
January 1St. Basil’s Day#saintbasilsday
January 1World Day of Peace#worlddayofpeace
January 2National Buffet Day#nationalbuffetday
January 2National Cream Puff Day#nationalcreampuffday
January 2National Personal Trainer Awareness Day#personaltrainerawarenessday
January 2National Science Fiction Day#sciencefictionday
January 2National Thank God It’s Monday Day#thankgoditsmondayday
January 2World Introvert Day#worldintrovertday
January 3Festival of Sleep Day#festivalofsleepday
January 3National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day#chocolatecoveredcherryday
January 3National Drinking Straw Day#drinkingstrawday
January 3National Fruitcake Toss Day#fruitcaketossday
January 3JRR Tolkien Day#JRRTolkienDay
January 4National Spaghetti Day#nationalspaghettiday
January 4National Trivia Day#nationaltriviaday
January 5National Bird Day#nationalbirdday
January 5National Keto Day#nationalketoday
January 5National Screenwriters Day#nationalscreenwritersday
January 5National Whipped Cream Day#whippedcreamday
January 6National Bean Day#nationalbeanday
January 6National Cuddle Up Day#nationalcuddleupday
January 6National Shortbread Day#nationalshortbreadday
January 6National Technology Day#technologyday
January 7National Bobblehead Day#nationalbobbleheadday
January 7National Tempura Day#nationaltempuraday
January 7Old Rock Day#oldrockday
January 8National Argyle Day#nationalargyleday
January 8National Bubble Bath Day#bubblebathday
January 8National English Toffee Day#englishtoffeday
January 8National JoyGerm Day#nationaljoygermday
January 8National Sunday Supper Day#sundaysupper
January 8National Winter Skin Relief Day#winterskinreliefday
January 9National Apricot Day#apricotday
January 9National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD)#lead
January 9National Static Electricity Day#staticelectricityday
January 9Word Nerd Day#wordnerdday
January 10National Bittersweet Chocolate Day#bittersweetchocolateday
January 10National Cut Your Energy Costs Day#cutyourenergycostsday
January 10National Houseplant Appreciation Day#houseplantappreciationday
January 10National Oysters Rockefeller Day#nationaloystersrockefellerday
January 10National Save The Eagles Day#savetheeaglesday
January 10Shop for Travel Day#shopfortravelday
January 11National Hot Toddy Day#hottoddyday
January 11National Human Trafficking Awareness Day#humantraffickingawarenessday
January 11National Milk Day#nationalmilkday
January 11National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day#stepinapuddleandsplashyourfriendday
January 12International Kiss A Ginger Day#kissagingerday
January 12National Curried Chicken Day#curriedchickenday
January 12National Marzipan Day#nationalmarzipanday
January 12National Pharmacist Day#nationalpharmacistday
January 13Korean American Day#koreanamericanday
January 13Make Your Dreams Come True Day#makeyourdreamscometrueday
January 13National Clean Off Your Desk Day#cleanoffyourdeskday
January 13National Peach Melba Day#koreanamericanday
January 13National Rubber Ducky Day#nationalrubberduckyday
January 13National Sticker Day#nationalstickerday
January 13Stephen Foster Memorial Day#stephenfostermemorialday
January 14National Dress Up Your Pet Day#dressupyourpetday
January 14National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day#hotpastramisandwichday
January 14National Vision Board Day#visionboardday
January 14Organize Your Home Day#organizeyourhomeday
January 14Ratification Day#ratificationday
January 15National Bagel Day#nationalbagelday
January 15National Booch Day#nationalboochday
January 15National Hat Day#nationalhatday
January 15National Strawberry Ice Cream Day#strawberryicecreamday
January 16Blue Monday#bluemonday
January 16National Fig Newton Day#nationalfignewtonday
January 16National Nothing Day#nothingday
January 16National Religious Freedom Day#religiousfreedomday
January 16National Without a Scalpel Day#withoutascalpelday
January 16Appreciate a Dragon Day#AppreciateADragonDay
January 17Benjamin Franklin Day#benfranklinday
January 17Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day#ditchnewyearsresolutionsday
January 17Kid Inventors’ Day#kidinventorsday
January 17National Bootlegger’s Day#bootleggersday or #templetonrye
January 17National Hot Buttered Rum Day#hotbutteredrumday
January 18National Peking Duck Day#nationalpekingduckday
January 18National Thesaurus Day#nationalthesaurusday
January 18National Winnie The Pooh Day#winniethepoohday
January 19Get to Know Your Customers Day#gettoknowyourcustomersday
January 19National Popcorn Day#nationalpopcornday.
January 19Tin Can Day#tincanday
January 19World Quark Day#worldquarkday
January 20National Buttercrunch Day#nationalbuttercrunchday
January 20National Cheese Lover’s Day#cheeseloversday
January 20National Disc Jockey Day#nationaldiscjockeyday
January 21National Granola Bar Day#nationalgranolabarday
January 21National Hugging Day#nationalhuggingday
January 21Squirrel Appreciation Day#squirrelappreciationday
January 22Celebration of Life Day#celebrationoflifeday
January 22Hot Sauce Day#hotsauceday
January 22National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day#answeryourcatsquestionsday
January 22National Blonde Brownie Day#blondebrownieday
January 23Community Manager Appreciation Day#communitymanagerappreciationday
January 23National Handwriting Day#nationalhandwritingday
January 23National Pie Day#nationalpieday
January 24Beer Can Appreciation Day#beercanappreciationday
January 24National Compliment Day#nationalcomplimentday
January 24National Peanut Butter Day#nationalpeanutbutterday
January 25Library Shelfie Day#libraryshelfieday
January 25National Irish Coffee Day#nationalirishcoffeeday
January 25National Opposite Day#nationaloppositeday
January 26National Green Juice Day#nationalgreenjuiceday
January 26National Peanut Brittle Day#peanutbrittleday
January 26National Spouses Day#nationalspousesday
January 27International Holocaust Remembrance Day#holocaustremembranceday
January 27National Big Wig Day#nationalbigwigday
January 27National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day#bubblewrapday
January 27National Chocolate Cake Day#chocolatecakeday
January 28Data Privacy Day#dataprivacyday
January 28International Lego Day#legoday
January 28National Blueberry Pancake Day#blueberrypancakeday
January 28National Daisy Day#daisyday
January 28National Have Fun At Work Day#funatworkday
January 28National Kazoo Day#nationalkazooday
January 28National Seed Swap Day#nationalseedswapday
January 29National Corn Chip Day#nationalcornchipday
January 29National Puzzle Day#nationalpuzzleday
January 30National Croissant Day#nationalcroissantday
January 31National Backward Day#nationalbackwardday
January 31National Hot Chocolate Day#nationalhotchocolateday
January 31National Inspire Your Heart With Art Day#inspireyourheartwithartday
January 31Plan for Vacation Day#planforvacation
hot coco
Sources:
timeanddate.com, nationaldaycalendar.com, en.wikipedia.org, holidayscalendar.com, nationaltoday.com, checkiday.com, brownielocks.com

Better Social Media Results in Less Time

You want all the perks of social media (the huge following, the support, the ready buyers) and none of the hassle (the hours of content creation, the effort to master strategies, the time invested in trends).

That’s exactly what the Social Media Content Club gives you.

Created specifically to turn your phone or desktop into your own social media manager, the Social Media Content Club delivers scroll-stopping, link-clicking, copy-and-post content Every. Single. Day.

It’s the minutes-a-day way to make genuine connections, boost engagement, and grow your business, all from a copy-and-paste on your phone.

content club gif

Small business owners and marketers are talking:

  • “The Social Media Content Club was the best decision we ever made.”
  • “Two months of posts done in about an hour with NO STRESS!”
  • “Our sales have increased by over 50% since we began using this platform.”
  • “No more agonizing blank vapid stares at my phone wondering what to do for social media today.”

Give the Social Media Content Club a try and watch your engagement and business skyrocket.

February 2023 Holidays 

The complete list of holidays, observances, and fun, weird, and special dates for February 2023 can be found here: AngieGensler.com/February-Holidays

2023 febuary holidays blog post

To access the list of holidays for every month in 2023 and beyond, visit the Holidays index page.


The month of January is packed with holidays and local observances that can be used as social media content. From New Year’s Day to Martin Luther King Jr Day, there are plenty of holidays and ideas to help you get your social media posts seen by more people. And don’t forget about using monthlyweekly, and daily observances to keep your social media calendar full!

We hope this post has been helpful and gives you some great ideas for content.

If you found this post helpful, please share it with others! It would mean the world to me.

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By Angie Gensler

Angie Gensler is passionate about teaching entrepreneurs how to grow their business using social media and digital marketing...without the hustle and overwhelm. Angie believes building a business should be fun – not an exhausting whirlwind of sleepless nights and unlimited cups of coffee. Instead, Angie teaches entrepreneurs how to build a business and life they love at their speed, on their time, with their rules.

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