Today is Friday, December 12, 2025.

December 12 features 9 national and international observances: Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts (Taboo Day), Gingerbread House Day and Gingerbread Decorating Day, International Day of Neutrality, International Sound Check Day, International Universal Health Coverage Day, National Ambrosia Day, National Ding-a-Ling Day, National Poinsettia Day, National Salesperson Day, Official Lost and Found Day.

Scroll down to explore the meaning behind each one.

Festival of Unmentionable Thoughts / Taboo Day encourages people to acknowledge the private, sometimes uncomfortable thoughts that most individuals experience but rarely discuss. The observance highlights the idea that imagination is wide-ranging and often produces thoughts that feel inappropriate, embarrassing, or simply too risky to express. Such thoughts are a normal part of being human, as long as they remain harmless and are not acted upon.

Gingerbread House Day and Gingerbread Decorating Day both celebrate the holiday tradition of building and decorating gingerbread houses and cookies. Although the dates vary—some sources list December 12 for both observances, while some mention December 14 for Gingerbread Decorating Day—the activities are essentially the same and offer multiple opportunities to join in. The custom is often linked to 16th-century Germany, where decorated gingerbread became popular, and it grew even more widespread after the Brothers Grimm published Hansel and Gretel, a story featuring a house made of bread and sugar. German immigrants later brought the practice to the United States, where it remains a popular seasonal activity for families, schools, and community groups.

International Day of Neutrality is a UN observance that highlights how neutrality can prevent conflicts and support peaceful dialogue. The UN created the day in 2017 and chose December 12 to mark the date Turkmenistan was recognized as a permanently neutral state. Neutral countries, such as Switzerland and Austria, do not join military alliances or take part in armed conflicts, which allows them to act as impartial mediators. In humanitarian work, neutrality helps aid organizations reach people safely by not taking sides.

International Sound Check Day highlights the essential role of sound checks in ensuring clear and reliable audio for live events. The date 12/12 playfully echoes the phrase “check one two, one two,” often used when testing microphones and equipment. The day recognizes audio engineers and sound technicians whose work supports concerts, speeches, theatre productions, and other public events.

International Universal Health Coverage Day is a United Nations observance that promotes the global goal of “Health for All.” It marks the anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s 2012 decision to recognize universal health coverage as an essential development priority. The day encourages countries to strengthen health systems so that people can access quality services without facing financial hardship.

National Ambrosia Day celebrates the classic American fruit salad once symbolized abundance and access to luxurious ingredients like oranges, coconut, and sugar. Ambrosia, named after the “food of the gods” in Greek mythology, became popular in the Southern United States in the late 19th century.

National Ding-a-Ling Day encourages people to reconnect with friends or relatives they haven’t spoken to in a while, using a phone call rather than texts or social media. The observance was started in 1972 by Frank Hyle of the Chicago area, who formed the “National Ding-A-Ling Club” after placing an ad in Chase’s Calendar of Events. The club grew to more than 850 members and had one main rule: make a call each year on December 12 to someone you’ve been meaning to reach.

National Poinsettia Day commemorates the 1851 death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, the American botanist and first U.S. minister to Mexico who introduced the plant to the United States after discovering it in the Taxco region in the late 1820s. In 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives officially recognized Poinsettia Day to also honor Paul Ecke Jr., whose family’s cultivation methods and marketing made poinsettias a major part of North American holiday traditions.

National Salesperson Day* (Second Friday in December) recognizes the sales professionals across all industries. First celebrated in 2000, the day was moved to December in 2011 to coincide with the busy holiday shopping season. It offers an opportunity to appreciate the people who assist customers, support businesses, and help keep commerce running smoothly.

Official Lost and Found Day* (Second Friday in December) encourages people to look for misplaced belongings and return any found items to their owners. Japan recorded a system for returning lost items as early as 718 AD, and Napoleon created one of the first organized lost and found offices in Paris in 1805. The modern observance began in 2012 at an elementary school in Vashon, Washington, where educator Lance Morgan introduced the idea, and it was later added to Chase’s Calendar of Events.

National Days to Explore

Yesterday | Tomorrow | December | January | February | March | April | May | June |  July |  August | September | October | November | Food Days

National Days in December

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

If you are looking for a printable National Days Calendar, checkout my Etsy shop to see all 2026 designs.