Have you ever wondered which of the hundreds of fun holidays in January actually matter the most? Which ones are celebrated by the biggest number of people? In this article, you will learn just that.
This article ranks the 15 most celebrated days in January based on Instagram hashtag counts. By examining how often each observance is posted about, the ranking reflects which days receive the most participation and attention online.
Top 15 January Days Ranked By Popularity
Below, we rank the biggest and most celebrated January days, starting with the 15th most popular and working up to the most celebrated day of the month.
15. National Bagel Day (January 15)
Hashtag searched: #nationalbagelday — 28.7K posts
National Bagel Day appears at the end of the list, reflecting steady rather than widespread popularity. While it does not reach the scale of larger food observances, bakery promotions and workplace breakfasts help maintain visibility, particularly in places where bagels are part of everyday food culture.
14. National Milk Day (January 11)
Hashtag searched: #nationalmilkday — 31.1K posts
Slightly higher than Bagel Day, National Milk Day’s position reflects steady but mostly brand-driven participation. What stands out is its reliance on commercial and nostalgic content rather than organic, personal posting.
13. National Spouses Day (January 26)
Hashtag searched: #nationalspousesday — 31.9K posts
January is not exactly relationship-focused month, with most relationship days taking place later in the year. Still, the position of National Spouses Day on this list shows that even lesser-known couple-centered observances get more attention the average national day.
12. National Trivia Day (January 4)
Hashtag searched: #nationaltriviaday — 32.8K posts
Although Trivia Day invites active participation, it does not place in the top 10 most visible observances. Much of the interaction happens through comments, polls, and stories, where people answer questions or challenge friends without creating standalone posts. Because this activity is less likely to include hashtags, overall public metrics make the day appear quieter than its actual level of engagement.
11. National Croissant Day (January 30)
Hashtag searched: #nationalcroissantday — 32.9K posts
One of several food-themed observances on the list, National Croissant Day performs well thanks to polished visuals and café-style aesthetics. Its late-month timing supports visibility, but it does not carry the same emotional appeal as higher-ranking food days.
10. National Hot Chocolate Day (January 31)
Hashtag searched: #nationalhotchocolateday — 35.6K posts
Breaking into the top ten, National Hot Chocolate Day performs well because it aligns naturally with winter season. Cozy imagery gives it an edge over similar food observances. Not to be confused with National Cocoa Day, which is celebrated in December.
9. National Chocolate Cake Day (January 27)
Hashtag searched: #nationalchocolatecakeday — 46.4K posts
This observance shows a clear jump in activity, with the hashtag approaching 50,000 posts. What stands out is that National Chocolate Cake Day is celebrated more widely than National Cake Day itself. On Instagram, #nationalcakeday appears in about 32.4K posts, compared with 46.4K posts for #nationalchocolatecakeday, suggesting that chocolate-specific themes generate stronger engagement than general cake celebrations.
8. National Peanut Butter Day (January 24)
Hashtag searched: #nationalpeanutbutterday — 46.9K posts
Despite this broad appeal, National Peanut Butter Day ranks only in 8th place, suggesting that everyday foods people enjoy often don’t inspire as much activity around their designated national day as more visually distinctive or seasonal observances.
7. National Compliment Day (January 24)
Hashtag searched: #nationalcomplimentday — 53.4K posts
Entering the upper half of the list, National Compliment Day is the highest-ranked of many national days January has to offer. Its ranking highlights how message-driven observances can outperform popular food days.
6. National Hat Day (January 15)
Hashtag searched: #nationalhatday — 60.5K posts
National Hat Day ranks high because hats are part of everyday life, especially in winter, and are easy to share. A quick photo of what someone is already wearing is enough to participate, which naturally increases hashtag use.
5. National Bird Day (January 5)
Hashtag searched: #nationalbirdday — 66.2K posts
As the highest-ranking nature-related day, Bird Day benefits from its visually striking content and the interest for wildlife photography. Also, doesn’t everyone love birds?
4. National Popcorn Day (January 19)
Hashtag searched: #nationalpopcornday — 77.5K posts
Just outside the top three, National Popcorn Day is the second-most celebrated food day in January. Many posts show bowls of popcorn at home, often shared during movie nights or quiet evenings, which makes the day easy to participate in without special preparation.
3. National Hug Day / National Hugging Day (January 21)
Hashtag searched: #nationalhugday — 85.8K posts
Reaching the top three, National Hug Day’s emotional focus clearly resonates. Its strong showing highlights the importance of human connection.
2. National Pie Day (January 23)
Hashtag searched: #nationalpieday — 85.9K posts
Number two on the list, National Pie Day performs exceptionally well because pie already has a strong presence on social media. With many varieties—such as apple, pecan, pumpkin, and chocolate cream—pies are visually appealing and universally loved.
1. New Year’s Day (January 1)
Hashtag searched: #newyearsday — 2.3M posts
New Year’s Day stands far above the rest because it is a globally recognized holiday, not a niche or novelty observance. It is tied to long-standing calendar traditions and is celebrated across many cultures, which results in far higher participation and visibility than most fun or unofficial national days.
