January 29 National Days

January 29, 2026, is the 29th day of the year, with 336 days remaining, and it falls on a Thursday in the fifth week of the year.

The date highlights puzzles as a way to improve focus memory and problem solving, alongside food celebration like corn chips. It also includes observances with a more serious focus, such as service dogs and red carnations as a symbol of respect and remembrance.

Below is the full list of 8 national and international days observed on January 29, each explained briefly.

National & International Days on January 29

Curmudgeons Day honors the birthday of W.C. Fields, an American comedian born in 1880 who was known for playing a funny grumpy old man. The day lets people be their true cranky selves for a while instead of acting happy all the time. It celebrates the inner grouch in everyone and finds humor in being a bit cynical or annoyed by the world.

Freethinkers Day, also known as Thomas Paine Day, honors the birthday of Thomas Paine, a writer born in 1737 who encouraged people to question tradition and authority during the American Revolution. The day focuses on thinking for yourself and forming opinions based on reason and evidence rather than custom or pressure. It also supports the right to speak openly and share ideas freely.

Kansas Day marks the day in 1861 when Kansas became the 34th state in the United States. The day began in 1877 when schoolchildren in Paola chose to study Kansas history instead of their usual lessons. The day highlights Kansas’s early settlement and its role in opposing slavery before the Civil War. It also encourages learning about state symbols such as the sunflower and the meaning of the motto To the stars through difficulties.

National Carnation Day, also called Red Carnation Day, honors the birthday of the 25th U.S. President, William McKinley, born in 1843. McKinley often wore a red carnation for good luck and gave his flower to a young girl shortly before his assassination in 1901. In 1903, the Ohio General Assembly named the scarlet carnation the state flower in his memory. The day focuses on showing respect and admiration for others, as carnations are linked with love and bravery.

National Corn Chip Day celebrates a snack so widely loved that it has earned a day of its own. It has been observed since at least 2002.

National Puzzle Day celebrates all kinds of puzzles, from crosswords to jigsaws. It was founded in 1995 by Jodi Jill, a puzzle designer who wanted to share the enjoyment of solving problems. People mark the day by puzzling in any form, from digital games to large table puzzles, and enjoying the moment when the pieces finally fit.

RNLI SOS Day was started in 2005 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a sea rescue charity founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary. The name SOS stands for Save Our Scouts or Support Our Survivors, but it mostly encourages people to host events starting with those letters, like Soup on Saturday or Step on Shore. The purpose is to support volunteer lifeboat crews who rescue people in dangerous waters around the UK and Ireland.

Seeing-Eye Guide Dog Anniversary mark the day in 1929 when Dorothy Harrison Eustis and Morris Frank founded The Seeing Eye, the first guide dog school in the United States. Morris Frank, who was blind, became the school’s first student after traveling to Switzerland to train with a dog named Buddy. The observance celebrates the bond between humans and service dogs and highlights how these animals provide independence and safety for people who are blind.

National Days in January

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