08 Aug 2023
Literature Related Holidays: Over 100 Festive Dates for Bookworms
In the world of books, every day holds a promise for celebration. Whether it’s the birth of a renowned author or a unique literary holiday that fans have cherished for years, there’s always a reason to revel in the magic of the written word. This literature related holidays list encapsulates these special dates, serving as your year-long guide to literary festivities.
Literature Related Holidays
JANUARY
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte Mason Birthday (1842) |
| 2 | National Science Fiction Day; Isaac Asimov Birthday (1920) |
| 3 | J. R. R. Tolkien Birthday (1892) |
| 9 | Severus Snape Birthday (HP) |
| 18 | National Thesaurus Day |
| 18 | Alan Alexander Milne Birthday (1882) |
| 19 | Edgar Allan Poe Birthday (1809) |
| Fourth Wednesday | Library Shelfie Day |
| 26 | Gilderoy Lockhart Birthday (HP) |
| 28 | National Fun at Work Day |
| 30 | Lily Potter Birthday (HP) |
FEBRUARY
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| National Library Lovers Month | |
| First week | |
| Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week | |
| 2 | Groundhog Day |
| 3 | World Read Aloud Day |
| 6 | Arthur Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 7 | Charles Dickens Birthday (1812) |
| 7 | Laura Ingalls Wilder Birthday (1867) |
| 11 | Mo Willems Birthday (1968) |
| 12 | Judy Blume Birthday (1938) |
| 13 | Luna Lovegood Birthday (HP) |
| 14 | Valentine’s Day |
| 14 | Library Lovers Day |
| Second week | Freelance Writers Appreciation Week |
| 22 | World Thinking Day (Girl Scouts & Girl Guides) |
| 27 | John Steinbeck Jr. Birthday (1902) |
| 28 | National Tooth Fairy Day |
MARCH
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| First Full Week | |
| Read an eBook Week | |
| Return Borrowed Books Week | |
| National Ghostwriters Week | |
| 1 | Ron Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 2 | Read Across America Day |
| 2 | Theodor Seuss Geisel Birthday (1902) |
| 4 | National Grammar Day |
| 9 | Sybill Trelawney Birthday (HP) |
| 10 | Remus Lupin Birthday (HP) |
| 11 | Douglas Adams Birthday (1952) |
| 14 | Pi Day (3.14) |
| 14 | National Write Your Story Day |
| 16 | National Freedom of Information Day |
| 17 | St. Patrick’s Day |
| 20 | International Day of Happiness |
| 21 | World Poetry Day |
| 22 | James Brendan Patterson Birthday (1947) |
| 23 | National Puppy Day |
| 25 | National Tolkien Reading Day |
| 25 | Kate DiCamillo Birthday (1964) |
| 27 | James Potter Birthday (HP) |
| 31 | Emily Cook Birthday (1980) |
APRIL
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| National Poetry Month | |
| D.E.A.R. Drop Everything And Read Month | |
| 1 | April Fool’s Day |
| 1 | Fred and George Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 2 | Children’s Book Day |
| 4 | National School Librarian Day |
| 5 | National Read A Roadmap Day |
| Second Week | National Library Week |
| 10 | National Siblings Day |
| 10 | Encourage a Young Writer Day |
| 12 | D.E.A.R. Drop Everything And Read Day |
| 12 | Beverly Cleary Birthday (1916) |
| 13 | National Scrabble Day |
| 16 | National Librarian Day |
| 17 | National Haiku Poetry Day |
| 18 | National Columnists’ Day |
| 22 | Earth Day |
| 23 | National Talk Like Shakespeare Day |
| 23 | William Shakespeare Birthday (1564) |
| 23 | World Book and Copyright Day |
| 25 | National Poem In Your Pocket Day |
| 26 | National Pretzel Day |
| 26 | Terry Pratchett Birthday (1948) |
| Last Saturday | Independent Bookstore Day |
MAY
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| National Get Caught Reading Month | |
| National Family Reading Month | |
| First Saturday | Free Comic Book Day |
| 1 | May Day |
| 1 | Aragorn's Coronation |
| 2 | Victorie Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 2 | Harry Potter Day (Anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts) |
| 4 | Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You) |
| 5 | National Cartoonists’ Day |
| Second Week | Reading Is Fun Week |
| 12 | National Limerick Day |
| 15 | Pomona Sprout Birthday (HP) |
| 20 | Mary Pope Osborne Birthday (1949) |
| 25 | Towel Day (in tribute to Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) |
| 27 | A Literary Education Bookiversary (2017) |
| 31 | National Speak in Sentences Day |
JUNE
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Audiobook Appreciation Month | |
| 4 | Joseph Hill(strom King) Birthday (1972) |
| 5 | Draco Malfoy Birthday (HP) |
| 5 | Richard Russell Riordan Jr. Birthday (1964) |
| 8 | World Oceans Day |
| 10 | Maurice Bernard Sendak Birthday (1928) |
| 21 | International Yoga Day |
| 22 | Octavia Butler Birthday (1947) |
| 23 | Dudley Dursley Birthday (HP) |
| 28 | Dobby Birthday (HP) |
JULY
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Read an Almanac Month | |
| 1 | International Joke Day |
| 4 | Independence Day (U.S.) |
| 7 | World Chocolate Day |
| 9 | Dean Koontz Birthday (1945) |
| 11 | E. B. White Birthday (1899) |
| 17 | World Emoji Day |
| 19 | National Ice Cream Day |
| 19 | Ernest Hemingway Birthday (1899) |
| 20 | Space Exploration Day (in honor of the first Moon landing in 1969) |
| 21 | National Junk Food Day |
| 27 | Gary Gygax (D&D) Birthday |
| 28 | Helen Beatrix Potter Birthday (1866) |
| 29 | The Fellowship of the Ring Book Anniversary |
| 30 | Paperback Book Day |
| 30 | Neville Longbottom Birthday (HP) |
| 31 | J. K. Rowling Birthday (1965) |
| 31 | Harry Potter Birthday (HP) |
AUGUST
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| 2 | National Coloring Book Day |
| 5 | National Underwear Day |
| 8 | International Cat Day |
| 9 | National Book Lovers Day |
| 11 | Ginny Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 13 | International Left-Handers Day |
| 18 | Bad Poetry Day |
| 19 | World Photography Day |
| 19 | Tina Goldstein Birthday (HP) |
| 20 | H. P. Lovecraft Birthday (1890) |
| 22 | BYL Anniversary (2012) |
| 22 | Percy Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 22 | National Be An Angel Day |
| 24 | National Waffle Day |
| 26 | National Dog Day |
| 26 | Dolores Umbridge Birthday (HP) |
| 30 | Mary (Wollstonecraft) Shelley Birthday (1797) |
| 30 | International Whale Shark Day |
| 31 | National Eat Outside Day |
SEPTEMBER
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| National Library Card Signup Month | |
| Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month | |
| 6 | National Read A Book Day |
| 8 | International Literacy Day |
| 8 | National Ampersand Day |
| 8 | Star Trek Day |
| 11 | September 11th |
| 13 | Positive Thinking Day |
| 13 | Roald Dahl Birthday (1916) |
| 15 | Make a Hat Day |
| 15 | ”Tomie” dePaola Birthday (1934) |
| 19 | International Talk Like a Pirate Day |
| 19 | Hermione Granger Birthday (HP) |
| 20 | George R. R. Martin Birthday (1948) |
| 21 | Stephen King Birthday (1947) |
| 21 | International Peace Day |
| 21 | The Hobbit Book Anniversary |
| 22 | Hobbit Day |
| 22 | World Car-Free Day |
| 24 | National Punctuation Day |
| 24 | National Cherries Jubilee Day |
| 25 | National Comic Book Day |
| 25 | Shel Silverstein Birthday (1930) |
| 25 | Garrick Ollivander Birthday (HP) |
| 26 | Quirinus Quirrell Birthday (HP) |
| Last Week of September | Banned Books Week |
| Last Week of September | International Week of the Deaf |
OCTOBER
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Children’s Magazine Month | |
| Dyslexia Month | |
| National Book Month | |
| National Cookbook Month | |
| Medical Librarian Month | |
| National Reading Group Month | |
| 1 | International Coffee Day |
| 4 | World Animal Day |
| 4 | Minerva McGonagall Birthday (HP) |
| 4 | Anne Rice Birthday (1941) |
| 6 | National Poetry Day (UK and Ireland) |
| 6 | Mad Hatter Day |
| 8 | R. L. Stine Birthday (1943) |
| 10 | World Mental Health Day |
| 14 | Dessert Day |
| 16 | Dictionary Day |
| 16 | Oscar Wilde Birthday (1854) |
| 17 | Filius Flitwick Birthday (HP) |
| 17 | Wear Something Gaudy Day |
| 17 | Black Poetry Day |
| 20 | The Return of the King Book Anniversary |
| Third Week of October | Teen Read Week |
| Third Week of October | Friends of Libraries Week |
| 25 | World Pasta Day |
| 30 | Molly Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 30 | Mischief Night |
NOVEMBER
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) | |
| National Life Writing Month | |
| Picture Book Month | |
| National Family Literacy Month | |
| 1 | All Saints Day |
| 1 | National Authors Day |
| 1 | National Family Literacy Day |
| 3 | Sandwich Day |
| 3 | Sirius Black Birthday (HP) |
| 6 | National Nacho Day |
| 6 | National Nonfiction Day |
| 8 | “Bram” Stoker Birthday (1847) |
| 10 | Neil Gaiman Birthday (1960) |
| 10 | World Science Day for Peace and Development |
| 12 | National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day |
| 12 | Neal Shusterman Birthday (1962) |
| 13 | World Kindness Day |
| 13 | Robert Louis Stevenson Birthday (1850) |
| 14 | World Diabetes Day |
| 15 | I Love to Write Day |
| 15 | National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day |
| 16 | International Day for Tolerance |
| 18 | High Five a Librarian Day |
| 18 | Mickey Mouse Day (celebrates the release of his first cartoon) |
| 22 | Go For a Ride Day |
| 22 | Silvanus Kettleburn Birthday (HP) |
| 25 | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women |
| 29 | Bill Weasley Birthday (HP) |
DECEMBER
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Read a New Book Month | |
| 1 | Jan Brett Birthday (1949) |
| 1 | World AIDS Day |
| 5 | International Volunteer Day |
| 6 | Rubeus Hagrid Birthday (HP) |
| 6 | St. Nicholas Day |
| 7 | Letter Writing Day |
| 7 | International Civil Aviation Day |
| 10 | Dewey Decimal System Day |
| 10 | Human Rights Day |
| 12 | Charlie Weasley Birthday (HP) |
| 12 | Gingerbread House Day |
| 13 | Ice Cream Day |
| 16 | Jane Austen Birthday (1775) |
| 20 | International Human Solidarity Day |
| 21 | Crossword Puzzle Day |
| 21 | Winter Solstice |
| 24 | Jolabokaflod |
| 24 | Christmas Eve |
| 25 | Christmas Day |
| 25 | A’phabet Day or No L Day |
| 31 | New Year's Eve |
| 31 | Tom Riddle Birthday (HP) |
As the year unfolds, may each literary date bring you closer to the heart of storytelling, reminding you of the power and beauty that lies within the pages of a book. Whether you’re an avid reader or an occasional bookworm, let these dates inspire a year filled with literary exploration and appreciation.
Owner & Senior Writer at The Writing King
Richard is the Owner and Senior Writer for The Writing King, a bestselling author, and ghostwriter. He's written and published 63 books, ghostwritten 48+ books, as well as hundreds of blog articles.
Latest posts by Richard Lowe (see all)
- Unlock 10 🔥Plot Devices: Write with Passion! - September 22, 2023
- Master Citations in 5 Simple Steps! 📚🌟 - September 19, 2023
- Avoid Plagiarism: 7 Awesome Tips for Authentic Writing - September 17, 2023
[top]
Wow, soo cool it goes way back although first time to know about them but it’s good to know about it. Thank you for sharing!
The world of books is truly magical and every day brings the promise of new discoveries and adventures. It’s amazing how literature has the power to transport us to different worlds and connect us with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I’m excited to explore the literary holidays on this list and celebrate the amazing authors and books that have shaped our world. Thank you for sharing this wonderful guide with us!
Thanks for sharing them! Having all this information is very helpful to me
There are so many designated “day” on the calendar, for so many different things. I like that you also include famous authors birthdays.
What an impressive compilation! Your list of literature-related holidays is a true treasure trove for book enthusiasts. The variety and detail in each entry showcase your passion for books and culture. A delightful resource that’s sure to excite fellow bookworms!
This is a really great and very informative post. I didn’t know a lot about this! Thanks for sharing this with us
What a delightful read! I’ve always been a literature enthusiast, so stumbling upon your article about literature-related holidays was a real treat. The way you’ve compiled this list of unique holidays celebrating books and reading is both informative and inspiring. I’m already looking forward to celebrating some of these literary occasions in a whole new light.
I had no idea we had so many literature related dates! This is a fantastic resource for readers, social media influeners and even educators!
This is a wonderful resource. There are so many ways that you can work holidays into writing, especially with so many out there.
Holy cow! I had ZERO idea there were so many things that had their own days. That’s really cool!
That’s just for mostly writing related holidays. There are thousands of others on other subjects.