The number of holidays and observances that occur throughout the year is overwhelming. There are so many it would be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive to celebrate every single one. We’ve put together a list of some holidays that are observed broadly, which will be helpful for a business owner building their 2024 content calendar.
A content calendar can help you to plan and execute your marketing plans throughout the year, including social media posts, email promotion campaigns, or other marketing activities.
For example, if you plan to promote your business on Instagram in 2024, you could choose a handful of holidays and create some posts or promotions to lead up and tie into the celebrations.
You can also use the list below to think about customer demand throughout the year and the impact of that demand. Will you need more staff or more inventory as a result of a major holiday? On the flip side, review the list to plan for times when you have lower footfall (e.g., right after a big holiday) or fewer appointments from regulars.
We normally are Black Friday and Small-Business Saturday participators, as well as being there to fuel everyone with caffeine as they head to bigger stores and begin holiday shopping!”— @Lovewell , Re: Important Dates for the Holidays: Share Yours! — The Seller Community
So grab your phone, filofax, or wall calendar and mark the dates that are important to you and your customers and that will help you meet your goals for 2024.
Winter Holidays 2024
It comes as no surprise that the winter months are chock full of celebrations and observances — with bad weather being the norm, we need to cheer ourselves up. One of my favorite holidays is Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Tuesday. It didn’t make the cut for this list (maybe it should…), but it’s a really good excuse to practice making pancakes for a few weeks when it’s cold and dull out, and it’s something I really look forward to.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, U.S.: Monday, January 15, 2024 ☮️
Public holiday in the U.S. Learn more about the history of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Presidents Day, U.S.: Monday, February 19, 2024 🇺🇲
A public holiday in the U.S. Running short on promotional ideas? Read 5 Tips on How To Use Social Media for Small Business in 2024.
Family Day, Canada: Monday, February 19, 2024 👪
Family Day is recognized in most but not all provinces in Canada.
Black History Month, U.S. and the UK: February and October 2024 📚
Black History Month “aims to honor the contributions that African Americans have made and to recognize their sacrifices,” (NPR). In the U.S. Black History Month is in February, but in the UK it’s in October.
Lunar New Year, International: Saturday, February 10, 2024 🐉
Fifteen days of festivities kick off on this date. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon.
Valentines Day, International: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 💗
Florists and chocolatiers are prepared for an influx of orders. And it’s not only the thought that counts; packaging plays a role too. 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold every year.
International Women’s Day, International: Friday, March 8, 2024 💟
Learn more about the origins of International Women’s Day online. Learn from some of our women Super Sellers, how they face challenges head on, and their advice for other women in business: Tamyra, Paunch Elephant, Doran, Haute Beauty Guide, Michelle, Savage Goods.
Mother’s Day, the UK and Ireland: Sunday, March 10, 2024 💐
Each year billions of pounds are spent in the UK for Mother’s Day. Promote Mother’s Day specials early to meet demand. For inspiration check out 10 Ways To Celebrate Moms This Mother’s Day. We also recommend How To Create a Sensitive Marketing Strategy on Mother's Day.
St Patrick’s Day, International: Sunday, March 17, 2024 ☘️
Sunday, March 17, 2024, is a public holiday in Ireland. 🎉 Fun fact: The first recorded St Patrick’s Day parade was in 1601 in Florida.
Spring Holidays 2024
Spring has finally sprung, and we’re all itching to get outdoors. Use spring holidays to add color or excitement to your promotions and specials or to spruce up your window decor.
Easter Bank Holiday, International: Friday, March 29, 2024–Monday, April 1, 2024 🥚
Time to offer Easter menu specials featuring seasonal produce, to kick off spring retail sales, or to stock up on egg-shaped chocolate treats. Easter in 2024 begins on Friday, March 29, and ends on Monday, April 1, 2024.
April Fool’s Day, International: April 1, 2024 🎪
Tread lightly when planning tricks! Could be a good way to have fun with staff after a busy holiday weekend.
Cherry Blossom Season, Japan: March–April 🌸
A festival that celebrates spring. Learn more about cherry blossom season. Typically coincides with Golden Week — four public holidays in one week!
World Health Day, International: Sunday, April 7, 2024 🧘
An opportunity to partner with another business — yoga and brunch, in-store meditation, cooking classes. World Health Day is the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) and aims to bring “attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world,” (World Health Organization, who.int).
Mother’s Day, U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan: Sunday, May 12, 2024 💐
Help your customers mark the day or celebrate someone special in their lives. Hampers, gift bundles, special menus. If you’re in the UK or Ireland, you could spoil her again.
Memorial Day, U.S.: Monday, May 27, 2024 🎖
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A public holiday in the U.S., always the last Monday of May.
Summer Holidays 2024
Summer holidays are finally here. Folks are frazzled with the heat and looking for ways to entertain their families. Don’t forget to book your own vacation for some much needed R & R once the summer season has come to a close.
Spring Bank Holidays, UK, Ireland, and Australia: May–June 2024 🧒
Dates for your diaries: In the UK the spring bank holiday falls on Monday, May 27, 2024. This also coincides with schools’ half-term. Expect parents to have their hands full — and to be on the lookout for activities and family-friendly dining and shopping options! In Ireland the spring bank holiday falls on Monday, June 3, 2024. This typically coincides with the last day of secondary school. Primary schools in Ireland close at the end of June.
Pride Month, International: June 2024 🏳️🌈
A month of celebrations with parades and parties happening on many dates around the world.
Father’s Day, International: Sunday, June 16, 2024 🎁
A day for all the dads (and fans of the dad joke) out there.
Independence Day, U.S.: Thursday, July 4, 2024 🎆
A holiday in all U.S. states. School is out, so customers will need to stock up on beach supplies; to find the perfect dinner reservation before the fireworks start; to take advantage of holiday specials, including decorations and barbecue essentials and ingredients! A busy weekend across the U.S. for any seasonal business.
National Ice Cream Day, U.S.: Sunday, July 21, 2024 🍨
Ice cream and gelato stores, this one’s for you! Promote your business or ice cream specials and give customers a reason to run to their local ice cream store.
Labor Day, U.S.: Monday, September 2, 2024 ☀️
Labor Day has been a nationwide holiday since 1894.
Autumn Holidays 2024
For a lot of businesses, autumn is an incredibly busy time of year. It seems like a dozen holidays rolled into one, especially if you count pumpkin spice as a season. Plan well in advance for holiday promotions from Halloween to Christmas, brush up on email marketing tools, and get familiar with public holidays. Make sure your customers know your business hours too.
It’s a good time to remind yourself that it’s a marathon, not a race, and to schedule some time for self-care.
Make time for movement! Whether it’s a 10-minute walk outside or a full workout, movement always helps me digest and release emotion/stress (and there’s a lot of that in the holidays!).” — @mksavage
Thanksgiving, Canada: Monday, October 14, 2024 🍁
Canadians across the nation are busy celebrating Thanksgiving in the run up to the second Monday of October, so there is lots of opportunity to provide specials for get togethers, to participate in community festivals or markets, and for suppliers of turkeys and grocers to stock up so families and friends can celebrate with a big meal.
Halloween, International: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Time to have some fun! Halloween usually coincides with some school holidays in the UK and Ireland. Review some fall and Halloween decor ideas.
Thanksgiving, U.S.: Thursday, November 28, 2024 🦃
Keeping pie-makers, bakers, caterers, and the travel industry extremely busy in the U.S. as people plan a big meal and travel to spend the long weekend with family or friends.
Black Friday, International: Friday, November 29, 2024 🛍
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The beginning of the holiday shopping frenzy. Bigger retail businesses offer steep discounts to attract shoppers.
Small-Business Saturday, U.S.: Saturday, November 30, 2024 ☕
An initiative to keep downtown stores thriving. Visit American Express Shop Small® Resource Hub for more information.
Cyber Monday, International: Monday, December 2, 2024 📱
Another big day for shopping as customers seek out discounts on high-tech goods.
Hanukkah, International: Wednesday, December 25, 2024–Thursday, January 2, 2025 🕎
Some families exchange gifts or eat speciality items, including latkes and donuts, as they light candles each night over eight nights.
Christmas, International: Wednesday, December 25, 2024 🎄
For inspiration on how to create amazing restaurant experiences for your customers during the holidays, check out Elevate Your Customers’ Festive Experience: An Interview. Organize staff schedules around public holidays (U.S., Canada, the UK, and Ireland: December 24; Canada, the UK, and Ireland: December 25–December 26). Open for a half day, or offer last-minute gift options online, like gift cards or classes. Update delivery options.
New Year’s Eve, International: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 🎇
The last parties of 2024!
Phew! If there is a local or national holiday or event that your community celebrates every year, or a holiday/day that we should include, let me know in the comments below.
Helen is a Seller Community manager at Square and is the editor of the Seller Community Blog. She writes about small business, and the owners & entrepreneurs that are a part of the Seller Community.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance or advice specific to your business, you should consult with a qualified legal professional.
Cover photo by Pineapple Supply Co. on Unsplash.