January 6 National Days

January 6, 2026, is the 6th day of the year, with 360 days remaining until the end of the year, falling on a Tuesday in week 2.

The day highlights technology and innovation, alongside food observances like shortbread and beans, and even takes a moment to appreciate apple trees.

Below is a list of all 8 national and international days celebrated on January 6, each explained briefly.

National & International Days on January 6

Apple Tree Day, sometimes playfully called Put a Doctor Out of Business Day, began as a tribute to a single apple tree more than 200 years old. Over time, it grew into a broader observance recognizing apple cultivation across North America, with a focus on the history, diversity, and health benefits of apple trees.

National Bean Day highlights beans as a nutritious, affordable, and sustainable food while also recognizing the farmers who grow them. The observance is commonly linked to Paula Bowen, who grew up on a pinto bean farm and created the day to promote beans and bean farming. January 6 also marks the death of Gregor Mendel in 1884, whose experiments with pea and bean plants laid the foundation for modern genetics.

National Cuddle Up Day focuses on the comfort and health benefits of physical closeness. It gained wider attention in the late 2010s as conversations around stress relief and emotional well-being became more common. The observance is sometimes confused with National Hugging Day on January 21.

National Shortbread Day highlights Scotland’s traditional butter-rich biscuit and the centuries of baking history behind it. While no single founder is documented, the observance has been widely promoted by the Scottish baking industry, with well-known producers like Walker’s Shortbread helping bring broader attention to the tradition.

National Take a Poet to Lunch Day encourages thoughtful, personal support for living poets, often by sharing a meal. It developed as an informal extension of wider poetry celebrations and gained visibility in the 2010s through social media. The observance focuses on recognizing poets as working professionals, fostering genuine connection, and supporting poetry as a valued creative craft within the community.

National Take Down the Christmas Tree Day marks the traditional close of the holiday season. It is rooted in customs linked to Epiphany and the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, when decorations were traditionally removed. For many people, the day represents a psychological reset between holiday celebrations and everyday routines, while also reflecting practical concerns such as beliefs about bad luck and the safe removal of drying real trees.

National Technology Day highlights the role technology plays in shaping everyday life and future progress. Founded in 2016 by AXEL (formerly StoAmigo), the observance draws attention to advances in healthcare, education, communication, and cybersecurity, while encouraging reflection on how tools—from early inventions to artificial intelligence—continue to shape how people live and work.

World Day for War Orphans raises awareness of the challenges faced by children who lose one or both parents due to armed conflict. Initiated in the mid-1990s by SOS Enfants en Détresses and later recognized by the United Nations, the observance draws attention to the effects of war, including trauma, disrupted education, limited access to healthcare, and social exclusion, while promoting child protection, humanitarian support, and international cooperation.

National Days in January

January 1 | January 2 | January 3 | January 4 | January 5 | January 6 | January 7 | January 8 | January 9 | January 10 | January 11 | January 12 | January 13 | January 14 | January 15 | January 16 | January 17 | January 18 | January 19 | January 20 | January 21 | January 22 | January 23 | January 24 | January 25 | January 26 | January 27 | January 28 | January 29 | January 30 | January 31