National Llama Day is observed annually on December 9. This day celebrates an animal native to the high Andes Mountains of South America and domesticated thousands of years ago, making llamas among the world’s oldest domestic animals.
For communities in regions such as Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, llamas have long served as reliable pack animals adapted to high-altitude environments. They transport goods, provide fiber for textiles, and offer manure that can be used as fuel or fertilizer.
Today, llamas continue to be valued for their friendly temperament and practical use. They are used in trekking, therapy programs, small-scale farming, and fiber production, and they have become popular ambassadors for Andean culture at farms, schools, and community events.
Despite being around for years, National Llama Day’s social media presence is still pretty small. On Instagram, the hashtag #NationalLlamaDay shows up in just over 1,000 posts. Honestly, llamas deserve way more attention than that, right?
When Is National Llama Day Observed?
National Llama Day is observed each year on December 9. The date remains the same annually, making it easy for farms, educators, and animal enthusiasts to plan activities that center on llamas. Below are the upcoming observances through 2030.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | December 9, 2025 (Tuesday) |
| 2026 | December 9, 2026 (Wednesday) |
| 2027 | December 9, 2027 (Thursday) |
| 2028 | December 9, 2028 (Saturday) |
| 2029 | December 9, 2029 (Sunday) |
| 2030 | December 9, 2030 (Monday) |
Llamas in Popular Culture
Llamas have built a strong place in pop culture, which helped National Llama Day spread quickly. One of the most recognizable examples is The Emperor’s New Groove, where the main character literally spends most of the film as a llama.
In gaming, Fortnite popularized the Loot Llama, turning it into one of the game’s most recognizable items. Llamas also appear in Adventure Time as quirky background characters and in Minecraft, where players can tame and decorate llamas within their worlds.
Between animated movies, video games, memes, and even holiday sweaters, llamas have become a familiar pop-culture figure associated with humor and bright, playful personality.
Ways to Celebrate National Llama Day
National Llama Day isn’t a complicated day to celebrate, and you can make it fun no matter your age. Here are a few simple and creative ways people can take part, and some of these are great even if you don’t live anywhere near a llama:
- Visit a llama farm if there’s one nearby
- Watch llama videos or livestreams because they’re honestly great stress relief
- Share a llama photo, drawing or meme using #NationalLlamaDay
- Read about the history of llamas in the Andes or watch a documentary
