February holidays and observances with Valentine's Day hearts — Unsplash/Canva/Parade

Library Lovers, Boy Scouts, Pancakes and Mardi Gras—Here Are the Holidays and Observances to Celebrate in February 2024!

There are more special days during the month of February besides Valentine’s Day!

Author:
Michelle Parkerton
Jan 31, 2024

February is the shortest month of the year, but there are a ton of things to celebrate and acknowledge during these 29 days—because it's a leap year—which is why we're happy to share these February holidays and observances for 2024!

As you are likely aware, Valentine’s Day is in February, as is Presidents’ Day—a day on which we recognize POTUSes past and present. There’s also Groundhog Day, when we wait to find out whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow, and Super Bowl Sunday, where the top professional football teams battle it out for top honors.

But did you know that there are also national days set aside during the month to celebrate Golden retrievers, eat ice cream for breakfast, fly a kite and read to your child? There are several celebrations throughout the month honoring the Boy Scouts of America, as well as Black women in the arts.

The entire month of February is also a time to bring awareness to many important causes, like American Heart Month and Black History Month. There are also certain weeks during the month of February dedicated to causes, like Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week and Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Ready to learn all about the holidays and observances in February 2024? Read on!

What major holidays are in February?

The month of February has several popular holidays, namely Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day and Presidents' Day. Also known as Washington’s Birthday, Presidents' Day falls on Monday, February 19, 2024, and is the only federal holiday during the month. That means that most businesses will be closed, including the banks and post office, and the kids will have a day off from school!

In 2024, the lunar calendar begins its new year during the second month of the Gregorian calendar’s new year, which means that Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 10, 2024. And 2024's Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Dragon!

In terms of religious holidays, Ash Wednesday falls on February 14, 2024 (AKA Valentine's Day). Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent in the Catholic Liturgical Calendar. Christians who observe this day go to church to "receive ashes," which means getting a mark of the cross on their forehead in ashes while fasting during the day.

Does February 2024 have a Leap Day?

Yes! The year 2024 is a Leap Year, so there is a February 29 on the calendar. Leap Years occur when the year’s number is divisible by four, which the year 2024 is! Leap Years generally occur every four years—but there is an exception when it comes to century years. A century year must be divisible by 100 and 400 in order to be a Leap Year!

February 2024 Daily Holidays and Observances

February 1

Candy-Making Day
Car Insurance Day
Change Your Password Day
Dark Chocolate Day
Decorating With Candy Day
G.I. Joe Day
Holiday Hugs Day
Hula in the Coola Day
International Face & Body Art Day
National Baked Alaska Day
National Freedom Day
National Get Up Day
Robinson Crusoe Day
Serpent Day
Spunky Old Broads Day
World Hijab Day

February 2

Ayn Rand Day
Bonza Bottler Day
Bubblegum Day
California Kiwi Fruit Day
Candlemas
Crepe Day
Give Kids A Smile Day
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Job Shadow Day
Hedgehog Day
Heavenly Hash Day
Marmot Day (in Alaska)
National Brown Dog Day
National River Day
National Wear Red Day (first Friday in February)
National Woman's Heart Day
National Ukulele Day
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day
Self-Renewal Day
Sled Dog Day
The Record of a Sneeze Day
Tater Tot Day
World Wetlands Day

February 3

American Painters Day
Doggy Date Night
Elmo’s Birthday
Feed the Birds Day
Four Chaplains Day
Golden Retriever Day
Lung Leavin’ Day
International Pisco Sour Day (first Saturday in February)
National Carrot Cake Day
National Carrot Day
National Cordova Ice Worm Day
National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (first Saturday in February)
National Missing Persons Day
National Patient Recognition Day
National Play Outside Day (first Saturday of every month)
National Wedding Ring Day
National Women Physicians Day
Take a Cruise Day
Take Your Child To The Library Day (first Saturday in February)
The Day the Music Died

February 4

Create a Vacuum Day
Dump Your Significant Jerk Day (first Sunday in February)
Facebook’s Birthday (the popular social media platform turns 20 in 2024)
Farmer's Day
Homemade Soup Day
Liberace Day
National Hemp Day
National Stuffed Mushroom Day
National Thank a Mail Carrier Day
National Thank a Mailman Day
National Wicker Day
Quacker Day
Rosa Parks Day (in California and Missouri)
Scout Sunday (first day of Boy Scout Week)
Sweater Day
Torture Abolition Day
USO Day
World Cancer Day

February 5

Adlai Stevenson Day
Disaster Day
National Chocolate Fondue Day
National Fart Day
National Pork Rind Day
National Shower with a Friend Day
National Sickie Day
National Weatherperson’s Day
Shower With a Friend Day
Western Monarch Day
World Animal Reiki Day
World Nutella Day

Related: 100 Quotes About Butterflies

February 6

African American Coaches Day (first Tuesday in February)
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
Lame Duck Day
National Chopsticks Day
National Frozen Yogurt Day
National Valentine Shopping Reminder Day
Pay a Compliment Day
Time to Talk Day

February 7

e-Day
Ballet Day
Global School Play Day (first Wednesday in February)
Hug an Addict or Alcoholic Day
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
National Girls & Women in Sports Day (first Wednesday in February)
National Periodic Table Day
Rose Day (beginning Valentine’s Week)
Send a Card to a Friend Day
Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day
World Read Aloud Day (first Wednesday in February)

February 8

Boy Scout Anniversary Day/National Boy Scout Day
Giving Hearts Day (in North Dakota and Minnesota)
Laugh and Get Rich Day
Molasses Bar Day
National Kite Flying Day
Opera Day
Propose Day

February 9

International Winter Bike to Work Day
National Bagels and Lox Day
National Cut the Cord Day
National Develop Alternative Vices Day
National Pizza Day
National Toothache Day
Read in the Bathtub Day
The Inbox Day (second Friday in February)

February 10

All the News That's Fit to Print Day
Chinese New Year
Cream Cheese Brownie Day
Global Movie Day
National Flannel Day
National Home Warranty Day
National Umbrella Day
Teddy Day
World Pulses Day

February 11

Autism Sunday
Be Electrific Day
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
Get Out Your Guitar Day
Grandmother Achievement Day
International Day of Women & Girls in Science
National Guitar Day
National Inventor’s Day
National Latte Day
National Make a Friend Day
National Shut-in Visitation Day
Peppermint Patty Day
Pro Sports Wives Day
Promise Day
Satisfied Staying Single Day
Super Bowl Sunday
Super Chicken Wing Day
White T-Shirt Day
World Day of the Sick
World Marriage Day

February 12

Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
Darwin Day
Hug Day
International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers
International Epilepsy Day (second Monday in February)
NAACP Day
National Clean Out Your Computer Day
National Freedom to Marry Day
National Lost Penny Day
National Plum Pudding Day
National Poop Day
Oatmeal Monday
Red Hand Day
Safety Pup Day

February 13

Fat Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday/Paczki Day/Mardi Gras (a state holiday in Louisiana)
Black Love Day
Desperation Day
Dream Your Sweet Day
Employee Legal Awareness Day
Extraterrestrial Culture Day
Galentine’s Day
Get a Different Name Day
International Natural Day
Kiss Day
National Break Up With Your Carrier Day
National Cheddar Day
National Crab Rangoon Day
National Internet Friends Day
National Tortellini Day
National Wingman Day
Safer Internet Day
Self-Love Day
World Radio Day