National Handwriting Day, celebrated on January 23, was introduced in 1977 by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association to promote the use of pens, pencils, and paper. They chose this date to honor John Hancock, famous for his bold signature as the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.
✍️ Take a look at our list of national days dedicated to stationery.
Why Celebrate Handwriting?
While the holiday began simply as a way to encourage people to write more, its importance has grown with the rise of digital technology. In a world filled with screens and keyboards, handwriting provides a much-needed break, helping us slow down, connect our thoughts, and improve memory and focus.
Today, National Handwriting Day reminds us to pick up a pen and appreciate the personal touch that only handwriting can bring.
Finally, National Handwriting Day is the perfect time to share this heartwarming story of a 7-year-old girl who won a national handwriting competition!
When Is National Handwriting Day celebrated?
If you’re ready to mark your calendar for National Handwriting Day, here’s when it will take place over the next several years. The date always falls on January 23rd, giving you a fixed opportunity to celebrate the beauty of handwriting each year. Here’s a look at the upcoming dates:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | January 23, Tuesday |
| 2025 | January 23, Thursday |
| 2026 | January 23, Friday |
| 2027 | January 23, Saturday |
| 2028 | January 23, Sunday |
| 2029 | January 23, Tuesday |
| 2030 | January 23, Wednesday |
Fun Facts about Handwriting
Handwriting has a long-standing history and remains essential in education, culture, and everyday life. Here are some insights into how it has evolved and still impacts us today:
- Handwriting is as unique as a fingerprint; even identical twins, with many shared traits, write differently from each other.
- While cursive writing was once standard in schools, it has been phased out in many places. However, some U.S. states have reintroduced it, recognizing the cognitive benefits it offers.
- Handwriting can also be a beautiful art form, especially in calligraphy, where letters are crafted decoratively. The word “calligraphy” itself means “beautiful writing,” derived from Greek and Latin.
- Remarkably, the U.S. Constitution, written in 1787, is the longest handwritten document in the world, symbolizing precision and dedication over centuries.
- Left-handed writers often face challenges like ink smudging or using tools designed for right-handed users, which adds a unique layer to their handwriting experience.
These facts remind us that handwriting is more than just putting pen to paper—it’s a form of personal expression and skill that shapes our interactions and creativity.
How to Celebrate National Handwriting Day
There are plenty of ways to make the most of National Handwriting Day. You can improve your skills, embrace the nostalgia of handwritten communication, or explore both. Here are a few simple but meaningful ideas to try out:
- Instead of texting or emailing, take time to write a personal letter to a friend or family member. It adds a special touch that’s hard to match with digital messages.
- Use National Handwriting Day as motivation to begin journaling. Writing by hand can help you organize your thoughts and reflect on your day.
- Try your hand at calligraphy or improve your penmanship by practicing. There are plenty of online tutorials and guides available to get you started.
- Send handwritten greeting cards or thank-you notes. It’s a small gesture that can leave a lasting impact.
- If you have kids, introduce them to the basics of handwriting. It’s a skill they’ll carry with them for life, even in today’s tech-heavy world.
Handwriting remains a powerful tool, even in our fast-paced, tech-driven world. National Handwriting Day serves as a reminder to slow down, grab a pen, and rediscover the personal connection that writing by hand brings.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendars 2024-2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
