April 13, 2026, is the 103rd day of the year, with 262 days remaining, and it falls on a Monday in the sixteenth week of the year.
With 9 national and international days on the calendar, April 13 is quite the mix. Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743, and Alfred Mosher Butts followed in 1899, giving the world Scrabble. The day also honors Puerto Rican military service, raises awareness for a neurological disorder, and gives everyone a perfectly good excuse to wear ridiculous earrings to work.
National Days on April 13
All national & international days celebrated today
9 celebrations on this dayNational Thomas Jefferson Day
Marking the birthday of the third U.S. President, born April 13, 1743 — principal author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia, and one of the most intellectually wide-ranging figures in American history.
National Scrabble Day
Celebrating the birthday of Alfred Mosher Butts, the architect who invented Scrabble in 1938. Now sold in 121 countries and available in 31 languages, Scrabble remains one of the most played board games in the world.
National Borinqueneers Day
Honouring the 65th Infantry Regiment — the Puerto Rican unit that served with distinction in the Korean War, fighting both enemy forces and discrimination within their own ranks, and received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.
International FND Awareness Day
Raising awareness of Functional Neurological Disorder — a condition in which the nervous system struggles to transmit signals correctly between brain and body, causing symptoms that can be as disabling as MS or Parkinson’s.
Here’s every observance celebrated on April 13, 2026.
National & International Days on April 13
Whether you’re playing a game of Scrabble, learning about FND, stepping away from your desk for a proper lunch, appreciating a houseplant, or wearing the most absurd earrings you own, here’s the story behind each of these April 13 celebrations.
International FND Awareness Day
International FND Awareness Day shines a light on a condition that many people have never heard of, and that even doctors sometimes struggle to recognize. Functional Neurological Disorder is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system, in which the brain and body cannot reliably send and receive signals. The result can include tremors, paralysis, seizures, and chronic pain — all very real and disabling, but often invisible on standard tests, which has historically led to patients being dismissed or misdiagnosed for years. International FND Awareness Day was launched in 2013 by FND Hope, a global charity that unites and supports people with the condition and works to advance research into its prevention and treatment.
International Plant Appreciation Day
International Plant Appreciation Day is a day for green thumbs and nature lovers to recognize the importance of plants in daily life. The observance highlights how plants purify the air, support wildlife, and enhance our environments—indoors and outside. With spring in full swing across much of the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the perfect time to plant something new or give your favorite houseplant a little extra care. From beautifying spaces to benefiting mental health, plants remain one of nature’s greatest gifts.
International Special Librarians Day
International Special Librarians Day honors the contributions of information professionals working outside traditional library settings. These specialists often serve businesses, law firms, hospitals, and government institutions, offering vital research, ethical oversight, and specialized data management. Founded by the Special Libraries Association (SLA) in 1991, the day also encourages advocacy for the profession and recognition of the essential role these experts play in organizational success and risk management.
National Borinqueneers Day
National Borinqueneers Day honors one of the most decorated and least celebrated units in American military history. The Borinqueneers were part of the 65th Infantry Regiment, established in 1899 and composed primarily of Puerto Rican soldiers who served in World War I, World War II, and, most notably, the Korean War.
Segregated from other units, they faced racism and xenophobia from within their own military, even as they fought some of the war’s most brutal engagements. On April 13, 2016, Congress awarded the regiment the Congressional Gold Medal in a formal ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. In 2021, Congress designated April 13 as National Borinqueneers Day in memory of that ceremony and in recognition of their sacrifice.
National Make Lunch Count Day
National Make Lunch Count Day was launched in 2016 by TGI Fridays to encourage workers to step away from their desks and enjoy a proper lunch break. With more Americans experiencing “FOLO”—Fear of Lunching Out—this observance promotes the benefits of taking time during the workday to recharge and connect with others.
Research consistently shows that employees who take a real midday break are more productive, less stressed, and more creative in the afternoon. The culture of eating at your keyboard while answering emails is so embedded in modern working life that it takes a dedicated day just to remind people that lunch was designed to be a pause, not a pit stop.
National Peach Cobbler Day
National Peach Cobbler Day is a celebration of one of America’s most comforting desserts: juicy peaches topped with a golden biscuit or cake crust, baked until bubbling. It traces back to the early colonial days, when British settlers improvised on the puddings they knew back home using whatever fruit and ingredients they had on hand. Peach cobbler became especially popular in the South, and in 2013 Texas made it official by naming it the state’s cobbler. Best served warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
National Scrabble Day
National Scrabble Day celebrates the birthday of Alfred Mosher Butts, the man who invented it. An out-of-work architect during the Great Depression, Butts created the game in 1931, tinkering with letter tiles inspired by his love of crossword puzzles. It went through two name changes before landing on “Scrabble” and getting a trademark in 1948. Today, sets can be found in nearly one-third of American homes.
National Silly Earring Day
National Silly Earring Day was started in 2021 by Olena Kagui, an earring lover who runs the novelty earring shop Oddity Cart. She invited individuals to dig out their weirdest, most over-the-top pair and wear them proudly. Food-shaped, googly-eyed, absurdly oversized — all welcome. It’s a low-effort way to get a laugh, spark a conversation, and just have a little fun with your look.
National Thomas Jefferson Day
National Thomas Jefferson Day was proclaimed in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and later reaffirmed by President George W. Bush in 2007. It commemorates the birthday of the third President of the United States. Born on April 13, 1743, Jefferson is most famous as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and a key figure in the founding of the nation. While his legacy is complex and often debated, his contributions to American democracy and political philosophy remain significant and widely studied.
