August 18 National Days

August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years), with 135 days remaining until the end of the year.

The date brings together a mix of food-related celebrations—such as pinot noir, fajitas, and ice cream pie—with observances honoring couples and resilience in adversity. It also highlights the history of mail-order retail, the importance of unexpected discoveries, and the worldwide commitment to advancing breast cancer research.

Here’s a look at the 10 national and international days celebrated on August 18.

National and International Days on August 18

International Delivery Rider Appreciation Day was founded by HungryPanda, a global Asian food delivery platform, and added to Chase’s Calendar of Events in 2024. It honors the hard work of delivery riders, whose work connects communities with meals and services. The date, August 18, was chosen for its visual resemblance to a cyclist with delivery bags (“818”) and the phonetic link between the number “8” and the word “eat.” Celebrations often include providing care packages, rider rest stations, and app features that support and recognize riders’ contributions.

National Bad Poetry Day was created by Thomas and Ruth Roy of Wellcat Holidays to encourage people to write and share intentionally poor poetry for fun. While the exact founding year is unclear, the day’s purpose is to celebrate creativity without pressure for perfection, inviting humor, playfulness, and an appreciation for the writing process in all its forms.

National Couples Day emerged around 2010, possibly as part of a promotional campaign, though its exact origin is uncertain. It has since evolved into a widely recognized occasion for couples to celebrate their relationships, spend quality time together, and reflect on shared experiences and milestones.

National Fajita Day was founded in 2016 by On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina to honor the sizzling Tex-Mex dish. Fajitas trace their roots to the 1930s, when Mexican cowboys (vaqueros) in South Texas and Northern Mexico grilled skirt steak over open flames and served it in tortillas. The dish gained national popularity in the 1980s with restaurant presentations featuring hot skillets, grilled peppers and onions, and customizable toppings.

National Ice Cream Pie Day celebrates the frozen dessert that combines a pie crust—often cookie or graham cracker-based—with layers of ice cream and toppings such as whipped cream or chocolate drizzle. While the origins of the holiday remain unclear, it encourages making or enjoying ice cream pies during the summer, blending the comfort of pie with the refreshing sweetness of ice cream.

National Mail Order Catalog Day marks the anniversary of the first Montgomery Ward mail-order catalog, issued on August 18, 1872. This single-page list of 163 products transformed retail by making goods accessible to rural customers without intermediaries, offering fixed prices and direct shipping. The innovation paved the way for companies like Sears and shaped consumer culture long before the internet era.

National Pinot Noir Day celebrates the red wine grape variety originating in Burgundy, France, where it has been cultivated for centuries. Known for its light to medium body, bright acidity, and flavors of red fruits with earthy undertones, Pinot Noir is prized for its elegance and food-pairing versatility. Although the holiday’s founder is unknown, it honors both the grape’s heritage and the skill of winemakers around the world.

Never Give Up Day was founded in 2019 by Alain Horoit, also known as “Mr. Never Give Up,” to promote resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges. The day gained wider recognition in 2022 when over 137 cities in the United States and Canada issued proclamations supporting it. It encourages individuals to celebrate determination, share inspiring stories, and support others in their struggles.

Serendipity Day celebrates the art of making fortunate discoveries by chance, a concept named in 1754 by English author Horace Walpole after the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip. The day invites people to remain open to unexpected opportunities and embrace life’s “happy accidents” as potential paths to positive change.

World Breast Cancer Research Day was created in 2021 by the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. August 18 was chosen to reflect the “1 in 8” statistic—one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime (as will one in 833 men). Separate from October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the day emphasizes year-round commitment to research, education, and patient support in the fight to end breast cancer.