As a bookworm, you want to be able to commemorate your wonderful hobby. With these holidays you can. Mark your calendars, literary lovers. You won’t want to miss these 12 occasions.
January: National Science Fiction Day, January 2
Ring in the New Year celebrating your favorite Science Fiction books and authors. Maybe there’s a Comic Con to go to nearby. Maybe you can meet with your Sci Fi book club. Let this be the day that you completely nerd out like nobody’s watching!
February: Read in the Bathtub Day, February 9
I’m so glad someone invented this day. Bathtubs are so warm and the perfect spot for catching up on your latest read. I suggest going over the top: use that bath bomb, get some incense going, have a tasty snack handy, and get lost in the story.
March: Read an e-book Week, March 3-9
Are you normally an e-book reader? If not try it out for the week. There’s a lot to love about them. They’re more portable, save trees, and are usually less expensive in the long run. Who knows, once you make the switch you may never go back.
April: National Poetry Month
Poetry is so awesome it deserves to be honored for a whole month. It’s an accessible form of writing because it’s short, expressive, and generally encourages breaking the rules. Write some of your own this month. Go to a poetry reading or hold one yourself with friends.
May: Towel Day, May 25
This holiday is so niche, I love it. Towel Day is a tribute to Douglas Adams, the author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In the book, he writes about the resourcefulness of towels. He also was quoted saying, “Never go anywhere without your towel.” And thus Towel Day was born, where his fans wear towels all day.
June: Rainbow Reading Month
It’s important to elevate LGBTQ+ writers and stories during Pride Month and beyond. You could hand out free queer books at your local pride parade or cosplay as your favorite queer character. The possibilities are endless!
July: Alice in Wonderland Day, July 4
Are those fireworks for the Fourth of July? No, they’re actually for Alice in Wonderland Day. Show off your literary allegiance by attending the family barbecue with an outfit or accessories from the book. Bake-themed desserts. Do whatever you can to keep this holiday from being overshadowed!
August: Bookstore Romance Day, August 17
Romance novels are the highest-grossing books in the world. This is the day to celebrate love stories as well as the independent bookstores that provide them. Bring your special someone and go shopping for new books together!
September: Banned Books Week, September 22-28
Banned Books Week is all about titles that have been silenced. This is a time to reflect on censorship and rebel by reading books with restricted histories. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t read!
October: National Cookbook Month
This one is for book lovers who are also foodies! So many cookbooks are published in October in anticipation of the holiday season and overeating. A fun idea is to have a bake-the-book party with your family and friends. In true potluck style, everybody picks a recipe and presents it at the party.
November: Hygge
Hygge is a Danish lifestyle especially performed during the cold winter months. While not technically a book holiday, the hygge way of living parallels typical bookish habits. Hygge prioritizes comfort and the quiet moments in life. Some examples include lighting candles, wearing cozy clothes, having a warm beverage, and reading in a reading nook.
December: Jólabókaflóð
This Icelandic tradition, also known as The Christmas Book Flood, is so interesting. During WWII, many goods were not being produced, which meant fewer options for holiday gifts. However, paper was still a cheap material and so the book-giving custom began. Now, a majority of books are published around this time and it accounts for 40% of annual book sales. Book a trip to see all the hype!
Which holiday sounded most exciting to you? Try them all and have something to look forward to every month.
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