January 12 National Days

January 12, 2026, is the 12th day of the year, with 353 days remaining until the end of the year, and it falls on a Monday in the third week of the year.

Today’s observances highlight practical and personal themes, from cleaning desks to support hygiene and concentration to celebrating individuality, including ginger-haired identity. Food and drink add a seasonal element, with hot tea and curried chicken offering warmth and comfort, alongside other observances that encourage motivation, focus, and renewed effort early in the year.

Below is a list of all 11 national and international days observed on January 10, each explained briefly.

National & International Day on January 12

Kiss A Ginger Day promotes respect and appreciation for people with red hair while addressing the bullying they have sometimes faced. The observance was founded in 2009 by Derek Forgie as a positive response to “Kick a Ginger Day,” a harmful trend linked to a 2005 episode of South Park that led to real-world harassment. Despite its playful name, the day focuses on kindness, consent, and standing against ridicule rather than literal kissing.

National Clean Your Desk Day* (Second Monday in January), also known as National Clean Off Your Desk Day, encourages people to organize and clear their workspaces at the start of the year to improve focus, reduce stress, and create a more efficient work environment. The observance also highlights practical health reasons for cleaning, as desks, keyboards, and shared surfaces can collect dust and microbes over time. By emphasizing both physical organization and digital decluttering, the day promotes the idea that an orderly workspace supports clearer thinking and more productive daily routines.

🧼 See also 30+ national days dedicated to cleaning and organization! Perfect for tackling chores and bringing order to your space. 🧹✨

National Curried Chicken Day highlights the long cultural journey of chicken curry, a dish that developed in India thousands of years ago and spread worldwide through trade and British colonial influence. The observance emphasizes how curry adapted to regional tastes, appearing in Western dishes such as Country Captain, reportedly served to Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Coronation Chicken, created for the 1953 coronation of Elizabeth II. It also draws attention to the spices central to curry, including turmeric, cumin, and coriander, which define its flavor and reflect long-standing cooking traditions.

National Gluten-Free Day* (Second Monday in January) advocates for people who must avoid gluten for medical reasons, particularly those living with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. It was founded in 2014 by Cassy Joy Garcia, creator of Fed+Fit, to highlight that a gluten-free diet is not a trend but a health necessity for many. The observance focuses on educating the public about gluten-related conditions, encouraging understanding and inclusion in social and dining settings, and improving access to clearly labeled foods and gluten-free options, especially in restaurants.

National Fourth Graders Day* (Second Monday in January) was created by New Jersey teachers Jillian Hagberg and Donna Hennessy of the Community Charter School of Patersonafter their students pointed out that few observances focus on children their age. The day is designed to recognize fourth graders during a demanding stage of the school year, when academic expectations increase, independence grows, and students are learning to manage greater responsibility.

National Hot Tea Day celebrates one of the world’s most widely consumed beverages and encourages greater appreciation for hot tea. The observance was established in 2016 by the Tea Council of the USA to encourage Americans—who often favor iced tea—to explore hot varieties such as black, green, oolong, and white tea. It takes place during National Hot Tea Month in January, when colder weather naturally draws attention to warm, brewed beverages.

National Kettlebell Day promotes the kettlebell as an accessible and adaptable fitness tool that can be used by beginners and experienced athletes alike. Established in 2021 by the fitness organization AMPD Strong and co-creator Amy Moreland, the observance focuses on reducing the intimidation often associated with kettlebells while promoting safe, effective movement. Its purpose is to show how a single kettlebell can support strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, and mobility in one efficient workout.

National Marzipan Day highlights marzipan, a traditional confection made from ground almonds and sugar. The modern observance was established in 2022 by The Sugar Association to spotlight marzipan’s cultural and historical importance, replacing an earlier October 14 observance. The day emphasizes how marzipan evolved from a medieval luxury and medicinal sweet into a decorative food art, while recognizing regional traditions such as Lübecker Marzipan from Lübeck and Mazapán de Toledo from Toledo.

National Pharmacist Day recognizes the essential role pharmacists play in healthcare, highlighting their responsibility for medication safety, patient counseling, and everyday clinical support. The observance traces back to 1935, when the American Pharmacists Association established a week-long celebration to acknowledge the profession, which later evolved into a single day of recognition. While some sources cite early observances in the 1950s, the January 12 date gained formal status in 2003 through a resolution passed by the United States Senate. A related international observance, World Pharmacist Day, is held in September.

Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution Day encourages people to pause and reconnect with the goals they set at the beginning of the year, at a time when motivation often starts to fade. The observance highlights the value of adjusting expectations, reinforcing commitment, and continuing with realistic, sustainable habits.

🎯✨ January is packed with national days that encourage sticking to New Year’s resolutions! From Commitment Day on January 1st to Motivation and Inspiration Day on January 2nd, and National Can-Do Day on January 3rd, these days keep the momentum going. There’s also Quitter’s Day (second Friday in January), No Longer New Year’s Day on January 11, and now Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution Day on January 12—offering plenty of reminders to stay motivated and on track.

Work Harder Day highlights the importance of focused effort and follow-through in reaching personal and professional goals. The observance encourages to approach work with discipline, use time efficiently, and apply consistent effort rather than relying on long hours alone.

National Days in January

January 1 | January 2 | January 3 | January 4 | January 5 | January 6 | January 7 | January 8 | January 9 | January 10 | January 11 | January 12 | January 13 | January 14 | January 15 | January 16 | January 17 | January 18 | January 19 | January 20 | January 21 | January 22 | January 23 | January 24 | January 25 | January 26 | January 27 | January 28 | January 29 | January 30 | January 31