January 17 National Days

January 17, 2026, is the 17th day of the year, with 348 days remaining, and it falls on a Saturday in the third week of the year.

The day honors the legacy of Benjamin Franklin and celebrates youthful creativity through kid-led inventions. It also recognizes customer service professionals who help resolve everyday problems, highlights chili peppers and spicy foods, and encourages households to step away from screens by observing a phone-free day at home.

Below is a list of all 19 national and international days observed on January 17, each explained briefly.

National & International Days on January 17

Art’s Birthday was founded in 1963 by French Fluxus artist Robert Filliou, who playfully claimed that art was born one million years earlier when a dry sponge fell into water. The observance brings together artists worldwide through shared performances, broadcasts, and exchanges, celebrating creativity as a natural and universal human impulse.

Benjamin Franklin Day honors the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. The day reflects on his wide-ranging contributions as a scientist, inventor, writer, and statesman— including the lightning rod, bifocals, and key roles in shaping the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Its alignment with Kid Inventors’ Day highlights Franklin’s early curiosity and lifelong commitment to learning and innovation.

Cable Car Day marks the 1871 patent granted to Andrew Smith Hallidie for a cable-driven street railway system. Inspired by the dangers horses faced pulling cars up San Francisco’s steep, slippery hills, Hallidie developed a safer mechanical alternative. The observance recognizes this engineering breakthrough and the continued operation of San Francisco’s cable cars, the last manually operated system of their kind, preserved through sites such as the San Francisco Cable Car Museum.

Customer Service Day recognizes the professionals who provide day-to-day support and help build trust between businesses and customers. The broader Customer Service Week was established in 1984 and in 2026 is observed from October 5 to October 9, while International Customer Support Day falls on May 21, 2026. Together, these observances highlight the importance of customer care, encourage feedback to improve services, and acknowledge the often behind-the-scenes work that sustains strong customer relationships.

Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day recognizes the point in mid-January when many people let go of overly ambitious resolutions. The day reflects research showing that most resolutions are abandoned around this time. Its purpose is to remove guilt around “failure” and encourage people to rethink unrealistic goals, replacing them with smaller changes that better fit everyday life.

International Mentoring Day honors the birthday and humanitarian legacy of Muhammad Ali. Established in 2016 by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership in collaboration with the Muhammad Ali Center, the observance highlights the role of mentoring in sharing knowledge, supporting personal growth, and creating positive social change through both formal and informal guidance.

International We Are Not Broken Day promotes a shift in how society views people affected by trauma, mental illness, or disabilities. Founded in 2019 by Nichola Cotto through the We Are Not Broken, the day challenges labels that frame individuals as “damaged” and emphasizes dignity, resilience, and shared human experience.

Judgment Day focuses on personal responsibility rather than a future religious judgment. Founded by Ruth Roy and Thomas Roy, it encourages people to pause, honestly reflect on their choices, and consider how they can better align their actions with their own values or beliefs.

Kid Inventors’ Day celebrates the creativity of young people and encourages children to solve problems through their own ideas. The date honors the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, who invented early swim flippers as a child, and highlights that well-known innovations such as Braille, the trampoline, and the popsicle were also created by kids.

Kid Inventors’ Day

National Bootlegger’s Day recalls the underground alcohol trade that emerged during Prohibition. The observance was established in 2015 by Infinium Spirits, the company behind Templeton Rye, and is tied to January 17—the day Prohibition took effect in 1920. The date also aligns with the birthday of Al Capone and a member of the Templeton Rye founding family, and the day focuses on the era’s bootlegging history, its cultural influence, and the cocktails that developed despite the ban.

National Classy Day honors people who lead with dignity, kindness, and care for others. Established in 2022 following the passing of Betty White, who was born on January 17, 1922, the observance reflects on her example and on figures such as Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt, whose lives showed integrity, humility, and quiet strength, encouraging appreciation of these qualities in everyday life.

National Hot Buttered Rum Day celebrates a drink with colonial roots dating to the 1650s. Inspired by European hot toddies, it became a distinctly American beverage when rum production expanded in New England using imported molasses. Early colonists and sailors drank it for warmth and perceived health benefits, and it later came to represent winter hospitality and seasonal tradition.

🍷 Explore the complete list of national days and months dedicated to alcoholic beverages and celebrate your favorites all year long! 🥂🍸🍺

National Hot Heads Chili Day centers on the heat of chili, highlighting spicy peppers and their potential health benefits. Recognized on holiday calendars since at least 2018, it differs from National Chili Day* (held on the fourth Thursday of February) by focusing on high-Scoville peppers such as habaneros and Carolina Reapers and the culture of spice lovers who enjoy testing their heat tolerance.

National Lose the Jet Lag Day focuses on the science of adjusting the body’s internal clock after long-distance travel. Founded in 2023 by the United Family of Cards from Chase in partnership with the Timeshifter app, the day raises awareness of the physical and economic effects of jet lag and promotes evidence-based strategies, such as timed light exposure, to help travelers adapt more efficiently to new time zones.

National No Phones at Home Day* (Third Saturday in January) encourages families to set aside digital devices and spend focused time together. It was founded in 2023 by Charlotte Armitage through her Community Interest Company, No Phones at Home, to address concerns about excessive smartphone use and its impact on mental health and child development by promoting conversation, play, and shared offline activities at home.

National Tulip Day 🇳🇱 * (Third Saturday in January) marks the official start of tulip season in the Netherlands, where it is also known as Nationale Tulpendag. Founded in 2012 by Tulip Promotion Netherlands, it celebrates the tulip as a national symbol while promoting Dutch flower growers. The event is known for its temporary city garden of about 200,000 tulips, where visitors are invited to pick a small bouquet for free.

National Use Your Gift Card Day* (Third Saturday in January) encourages people to use gift cards that are often forgotten after the holidays. It was founded in 2020 by Tracy Tilson, who created the observance after noticing how much value went unredeemed. The day draws attention to the large amount of unused gift card balances each year and promotes spending them, regifting them, or donating unused funds to charity.

National Waterfowl Day recognizes more than 170 species of ducks, geese, and swans and the wetland habitats they depend on. It was founded in 2024 by Sylvan Heights Bird Park, with the date chosen to honor the birthday of Mike Lubbock, a leading waterfowl expert and co-founder of the park. The observance raises awareness of waterfowl conservation, their role in healthy ecosystems, and the urgent need to protect threatened wetlands.

Soup Swap Day* (Third Saturday in January) is a community-focused tradition where people exchange homemade, frozen soups with friends or neighbors. It began in 1998 when Cheri Tartakoff organized the first swap in Seattle as a practical way to share meals and use up freezer space during winter. The day promotes social connection and balanced eating by encouraging participants to trade one large batch of soup for a variety of flavors to enjoy over time.