July 21 National Days

July 21 is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years), with 163 days remaining until the year’s end. This date brings together serious themes like child advocacy and animal welfare, while also celebrating lighter observances such as sponge cake Lemington and quirky TV tributes. Whether the day calls for reflection, action, or a taste of something sweet, July 21 offers meaningful ways to connect with history, family, and community.

Here are the 10 national and international days celebrated on July 21.

National and International Days on July 21

Global Hug Your Kids Day* (Third Monday in July) was started in 2008 by Michelle Nichols, who created the day ten years after her son Mark died from cancer at the age of eight. She wanted to encourage parents to cherish their children and make time for simple but powerful gestures of affection. Observed on the third Monday of July, this day reminds families to pause and express love through something as basic and important as a hug.

Invite an Alien to Live with You Day began as a playful tribute to the 1970s sitcom Mork & Mindy, starring Robin Williams as a quirky alien trying to understand human life. The date, July 21, honors Williams’s birthday and celebrates the show’s message of acceptance and curiosity. While not launched by an official organization, the day has appeared on novelty calendars since the early 2000s, encouraging people to embrace kindness toward outsiders—fictional or otherwise.

National Be Someone Day was founded by Project Harmony to raise awareness about child abuse and promote positive adult influence in children’s lives. The day challenges individuals to take just ten seconds to make a difference—by speaking up, showing support, or taking action to protect a child. It also highlights the importance of community education, encouraging people to learn about the signs of abuse and how to report it.

National Craft for Your Local Shelters Day encourages people to create and donate handmade items to support animal shelters. Founded in 2012 by blogger Erika Lindquist, the day offers a practical and personal way to help shelter animals—especially during the busy summer season. From pet beds to “adopt me” bandanas, crafts made with love can improve conditions for animals awaiting homes while helping shelters stretch their resources.

National Get Out of the Doghouse Day* (Third Monday in July) was created in 1999 by Heidi Richards Mooney of Florida to promote forgiveness and relationship repair. Initially launched to support her floral business, the day quickly grew into a broader call for reconciliation. The phrase “in the doghouse” refers to being in disfavor with someone close. Inspired partly by Peter Pan, where a character literally sleeps in a doghouse out of guilt, the day invites people to apologize, make amends, and restore trust—sometimes with the help of flowers.

National Junk Food Day gives people permission to enjoy snacks and treats that don’t usually fit into a healthy diet. Although the term “junk food” didn’t emerge until the 20th century, mass production and packaging of such snacks began in the late 1800s and grew rapidly after World War II. This day highlights the cultural role of these foods—even as their nutritional value remains questionable.

National Lamington Day honors one of Australia’s most beloved desserts. A lamington is a sponge or butter cake coated in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut, sometimes with jam or cream inside. The treat is named after Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. While the exact origin is debated, recipes began appearing around 1900, and the cake quickly became a culinary symbol. National Lamington Day has been celebrated on July 21 since 2006.

National Legal Drinking Age Day commemorates the passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which set 21 as the legal drinking age across the United States. While the law was signed on July 17, July 21 is often used to mark the day—coinciding with the birthday of author Ernest Hemingway, who was famously fond of cocktails. The day also acknowledges the advocacy work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), whose efforts helped reduce alcohol-related accidents and promote responsible drinking.

See also our list of 14 observance related to sobriety or alcohol-reduction themes.

No Pet Store Puppies Day was launched in 2011 by the ASPCA to raise awareness about the connection between pet stores and puppy mills. These commercial breeding operations often prioritize profit over animal welfare, leading to poor conditions and health problems for dogs. The day urges people to adopt from shelters or work with responsible breeders, rather than purchasing puppies from stores that may be tied to unethical practices.

Take a Monkey to Lunch Day marks the anniversary of the conclusion of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, in which high school teacher John T. Scopes was tried for teaching evolution in violation of Tennessee law. Though the trial was largely symbolic, it sparked national debate on science and religion. The name of the day is playful, but it also serves to raise awareness about primates and the importance of protecting their habitats. It encourages learning about monkeys, apes, and lemurs—and the challenges they face in the wild.

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National Days in July

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