List of month-long observances

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The following is a list of notable month-long observances, recurrent months that are used by various governments, groups and organizations to raise awareness of an issue, commemorate a group or event, or celebrate something.

January

• Dry January
• Veganuary (English-speaking world; originated in and headquartered in United Kingdom) ^[1]
• National Mentoring Month (United States) ^[2]
• Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month (United States) ^{[3] [4]}

February

• American Heart Month (United States) ^[5]
• Black History Month (United States, Canada, and Germany)
• LGBT History Month (United Kingdom) ^[6]
• National Bird-Feeding Month (United States)

March

• Brain Tumor Awareness Month (United Kingdom) ^[7]
• Irish-American Heritage Month
• Mustache March
• National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
• Women's History Month ^{[8] [9] [10]}
• Youth Art Month

April

• Arab American Heritage Month
• Autism Acceptance Month ^[11]
• Cancer Control Month
• Confederate History Month
• Dalit History Month
• Financial Literacy Month ^[12]
• Jazz Appreciation Month
• Mathematics Awareness Month ^{[13] [14]}
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month ^{[15] [16]}
• National Pet Month (United Kingdom)
• National Poetry Month
• National Poetry Writing Month
• National Volunteer Month
• Second Chance Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month ^{[17] [18] [19]}
• Sikh Heritage Month (Canada)
• Citizen Science Month (United States) ^{[20] [21]}

May

• ALS Awareness Month (United States) ^[22]
• Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ^{[8] [23]}
• Borderline personality disorder awareness month ^{[24] [25] [26]}
• Brain Tumor Awareness Month (excluding United Kingdom)
• Flores de Mayo (Philippines)
• Haitian Heritage Month
• International Masturbation Month ^{[27] [28] [29]}
• Jewish American Heritage Month (US) ^{[9] [30]}
• Lyme Disease Awareness Month
• May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Mental Health Awareness Month ^[31]
• National Bike Month
• National Military Appreciation Month
• National Foster Care Month ^[32]
• National Guide Dog Month (2008, 2009)
• National Pet Month (United States)
• National Smile Month (United Kingdom, May and June)
• National Stroke Awareness Month
• South Asian Heritage Month (Ontario, Canada)
• Zombie Awareness Month

June

• African-American Music Appreciation Month ^{[33] [34]}
• ALS Awareness Month (Canada)
• Caribbean-American Heritage Month ^[35]
• LGBTQ Pride Month
• National PTSD Awareness Day ^[36]
• National Safety Month ^[37]
• National Smile Month (United Kingdom, May and June)
• Devotion to the Sacred Heart
• National Aphasia Awareness Month ^[38]
• National Dairy Month (in the United States) ^[39]

July

• National Ice Cream Month
• Disability Pride Month ^[40]
• South Asian Heritage Month (United Kingdom; 18 July to 17 August)

August

• Buwan ng Wika ("Language Month", the Philippines) ^[41]
• South Asian Heritage Month (United Kingdom; 18 July to 17 August)

September

• Suicide Prevention Month ^[42]
• Amerindian Heritage Month (Guyana)
• Gospel Music Heritage Month ^[43]
• National African Immigrant Heritage Month ^[44]
• National Bourbon Heritage Month
• National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month ^{[ citation needed ]}
• National Guide Dog Month (US)
• National Hispanic Heritage Month (United States) (US; September 15 to October 15) ^{[8] [45]}
• National Honey Month
• National Preparedness Month ^[46]
• National Prostate Health Month ^[47]
• Pain Awareness Month ^[48]

October

• Black History Month (United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands)
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month (United States)
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month (United States) ^[49]
• Filipino American History Month (United States)
• Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month (United States)
• LGBT History Month (US and Canada) ^[50]
• National Arts & Humanities Month (United States)
• National Cyber Security Awareness Month (United States) ^{[51] [52]}
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month (United States) ^{[8] [9] [53]}
• National Hispanic Heritage Month (US; September 15 to October 15) ^[45]
• National Pizza Month (United States)
• National Work and Family Month (United States) ^[54]
• Polish American Heritage Month ^{[ citation needed ]}
• American Archives Month (United States) ^[55]

November

• Academic Writing Month
• Black Catholic History Month
• COPD Awareness Month ^[56]
• Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (Canada) ^{[57] [58]}
• Movember
• National Novel Writing Month
• Native American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month ^{[8] [9] [59]}
• No Nut November ^[60]

December

• Advent – begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (November 27-December 3) and ends on Christmas Day (December 25).

See also

• Ramadan
• List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation
• List of awareness days
• International observance
• List of environmental dates

Notes

• First Presidential Proclamation for National Caribbean American Heritage Month was June 6, 2006 by President George Bush. First City to Proclaim Caribbean Heritage Month Washington DC 2000. (United States)

References

1. Veganuary home page
2. "Presidential Proclamation – National Mentoring Month". whitehouse.gov . 2010-01-04. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
3. "January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month: Join the Fight". 3 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
4. Peterson, Sarah (January 30, 2018). "Public Awareness". The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
5. "Proclamation 3566—American Heart Month, 1964 | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
6. "Data". lgbthistorymonth.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
7. "Cancer Ribbons and What They Mean". WebMD. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
8. "Special Emphasis Observances". National Archives. Archived from the original on 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
9. "Heritage Month Guide". DiversityCentral. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
10. "Presidential Proclamation – Women's History Month". whitehouse.gov . 2010-03-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-03. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
11. "Autism Acceptance Month". U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
12. "Presidential Proclamation-- Financial Literacy Month". whitehouse.gov . 2010-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
13. "Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month". www.mathstatmonth.org. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
14. "MAM 2016 :: Homepage". 2017-02-09. Archived from the original on 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
15. "Presidential Proclamation – National Child Abuse Prevention Month". whitehouse.gov . 2010-04-01. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
16. "National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2016". www.childwelfare.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
17. "Presidential Proclamation – National Sexual Assault Awareness Month". whitehouse.gov . 2010-04-02. Archived from the original on 2017-02-03. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
18. "Sexual Assault Awareness Month". NSVRC. Archived from the original on 2016-07-15. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
19. "Sexual Assault Awareness Month – National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)". Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
20. "April is Citizen Science Month | U.S. Geological Survey". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
21. "About Citizen Science Month and One Million Acts of Science". SciStarter. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
22. "Announcements: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Month – May 2011". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
23. "Presidential Proclamation – Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2015". whitehouse.gov . 2015-04-30. Archived from the original on 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
24. Christie, Erin (2025-04-29). "Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month: Breaking the Stigma". CMHA Nova Scotia Division. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
25. "Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
26. FT, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS (2023-05-11). "BPD Awareness Month Blog - Andrew's Lived Experience | News and Events". Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
27. Zombeck, Richard (2013-05-20). "Get to Know Yourself – It's Masturbation Month". The Huffington Post . Archived from the original on 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
28. "National Masturbation Month". The Huffington Post . 2013-05-31. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
29. Sam Prince (May 5, 2015). "National Masturbation Month: All the Memes You Need to See". heavy.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
30. "Presidential Proclamation --Jewish American Heritage Month, 2015". whitehouse.gov . 2015-04-30. Archived from the original on 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-02– via National Archives.
31. "Presidential Proclamation – National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2016". whitehouse.gov . 2016-04-28. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
32. "Presidential Proclamation – National Foster Care Month, 2016". whitehouse.gov . 2016-04-28. Archived from the original on 2017-01-23. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
33. "Presidential Proclamation – African-American Music Appreciation Month, 2016". whitehouse.gov . 2016-05-31. Archived from the original on 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
34. "African-American Music Appreciation Month | The White House". whitehouse.gov . 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2011-07-15– via National Archives.
35. "National Caribbean-American Heritage Month: June 2021". United States Census Bureau. United States Department of Commerce. June 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
    "June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month!". Natural Resources Conservation Service Caribbean Area. United States Department of Agriculture. 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
36. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month". U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Retrieved 2024-05-29.
37. "National Safety Month". www.nsc.org. Archived from the original on 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
38. "June - National Aphasia Awareness - See how YOU can get involved!". The National Aphasia Association. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
39. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/dairy-month.html
40. "Celebrating Disability Pride Month". American Bar Association. 2022-06-28. Archived from the original on 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
41. "Proklamasyon Blg. 1041, s. 1997". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 15, 1997. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
42. "Suicide Prevention Month". NAMI. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
43. "Text of S.Res. 595 (110th): A resolution designating September 2008 as "Gospel Music Heritage Month" and honoring gospel ... (Resolution Agreed to by Senate version)". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
44. "National African Immigrant Heritage Month". San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
45. "Presidential Proclamation – National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2015". whitehouse.gov . 2015-09-14. Archived from the original on 2017-01-21. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
46. "National Preparedness Month (ready.gov)". Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
47. "Presidential Proclamation – National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, 2015". whitehouse.gov . 2015-08-31. Archived from the original on 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
48. "Pain Awareness Month History" (PDF). American Chronic Pain Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
49. House, The White (2023-09-29). "A Proclamation on National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 2023". The White House. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
50. "Home - LGBTHistoryMonth.com". lgbthistorymonth.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-24. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
51. "Presidential Proclamation—National Cybersecurity Awareness month Dysautonomia Awareness Month Month". White House Office of the Press Secretary. October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
52. "Presidential Proclamation—National Cybersecurity Awareness Month". whitehouse.gov . 2011-10-03. Archived from the original on 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
53. "Presidential Proclamation – National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2015". whitehouse.gov . 2015-09-30. Archived from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
54. "October is National Work and Family Month". Alliance for Work-Life Progress. 2011-10-01. Archived from the original on 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
55. "American Archives Month | Society of American Archivists". www2.archivists.org. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
56. "November is National COPD Awareness Month | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)". www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
57. Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM) |
58. 2020 Indigenous Disability Awareness Month – YouTube
59. "Presidential Proclamation- National Native American Heritage Month". whitehouse.gov . 2009-10-30. Archived from the original on 2017-01-21. Retrieved 2016-07-18– via National Archives.
60. Dickson, E. J. (2019-11-08). "How a New Meme Exposes the Far-Right Roots of #NoNutNovember". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-01-09.

External links

• Unite
• Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month