The calendar below shows special events that are taking place in 2013. Use these as the starting point for learning about different topics!
Click on any underlined links to find related resources that you can use in the classroom. National events are based in the UK, unless otherwise indicated.
January
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New Year's Day (1st) The first day of a new year! A time to think about the previous year and think of new resolutions and achievements for the coming twelve months. |
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World Braille Day (4th) Celebrate World Braille Day by remembering the life of Louis Braille and exploring braille in your classrooms. |
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Epiphany (6th) Epiphany celebrates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus. |
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Makar Sankranti (14th) Makar Sankranti is one of the most important festivals of the Hindu calendar and celebrates the sun's journey into the northern hemisphere. |
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World Day of the Snowman (18th) The world celebrates the symbol of wintertime on this special day. |
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Indian Republic Day (26th) Republic Day commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force. |
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Australia Day (26th) Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. It is celebrated annually on 26 January. |
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RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (26-27th) Get your class counting birds and take part in the world's largest wildlife survey. Find out more about the event on the RSPB site and download our related resources here. |
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National Storytelling Week (26th January to 2nd February) National Storytelling Week is about sharing stories, parables, fables and legends with others. |
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National Bug Busting Day (31st) One of three national days when people are encouraged to help prevent lice from circulating from head to head and back again. |
February
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Candlemas (2nd) Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of her son Jesus. |
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World Cancer Day (4th) World Cancer Day is marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. |
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Safer Internet Day (5th) A day to remind everyone why it is important to stay safe online and how we can all do so. |
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Charles Dickens' Birthday (7th) Charles Dickens is much loved for his great contribution to classic English literature. |
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Chinese New Year (10th) Chinese New Year, also known as the spring festival, is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. 2013 is the year of the snake. |
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Go Green Week (11th to 17th) Go Green Week is People & Planet's annual national week of action on climate change in schools, colleges and universities. |
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Darwin Day (12th) Darwin Day is a celebration intended to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin on February 12, 1809. |
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Shrove Tuesday (12th) Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent starts: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It's a day of penitence, to clean the soul, and a day of celebration as the last chance to feast before Lent begins. |
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Ash Wednesday (13th) Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting. |
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Valentine's Day (14th) Valentine's Day is the traditional day on which people express their love for each other. |
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Vasant Panchami (15th) Vasant Panchami is the Hindu festival that highlights the coming of spring. |
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International Mother Language Day (21st) International Mother Language Day is an observance that promotes awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. |
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World Thinking Day (22nd) World Thinking Day is a day of friendship, advocacy and fundraising for girls around the world. |
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Purim (24th) Purim commemorates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination by the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther. |
March
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St. David's Day (1st) St David's Day is celebrated in Wales and by Welsh people throughout the world on 1st March. |
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World Literacy Day (5th) World Literacy Day is part of the world's largest online education event - The World Education Games. |
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World Maths Day (6th) This is the global education event, where all students and schools from around the world are invited to unite to set a new world record for the numbers of questions correctly answered in maths. |
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World Science Day (7th) World Science Day is part of the world's largest online education event - The World Education Games. |
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World Book Day (7th) World Book Day is a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it's a celebration of reading. |
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International Women's Day (8th) Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. |
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Mothering Sunday (10th) Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Today it is a day when children give presents, flowers, and home-made cards to their mothers. |
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Pi Day (14th) Pi Day is an unofficial holiday commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). |
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St. Patrick's Day (17th) Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. |
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World Poetry Day (21st) World Poetry Day was set up as a time to appreciate and support poets and poetry around the world. |
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World Water Day (22nd) World Water Day draws attention to something most of us take for granted despite its importance – safe water. |
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World Meteorological Day (23rd) An annual event that remembers the World Meteorological Organization's establishment on 23rd March in 1950. |
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Palm Sunday (24th) Palm Sunday commemorates Christ's triumphant arrival in Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd. |
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First Day of Passover (26th) Passover is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish year. At this time Jewish people remember how the children of Israel left slavery behind them when they were led out of Egypt by Moses over 3000 years ago. |
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Maundy Thursday (28th) Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. Christians remember it as the day of the Last Supper. |
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Good Friday (29th) Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the Passion: the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. |
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Easter Sunday (31st) Easter Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
April
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April Fool's Day (1st) A day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other. |
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World Autism Awareness Day (2nd) Every year, autism organisations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. |
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World Health Day (7th) World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of World Health Organisation in 1948. |
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Ugadi (Yugadi) (11th) Ugadi is the New Year festival for Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in southern India. |
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Vaisakhi (13th) Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. It is the Sikh New Year festival. |
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London Marathon (21st) The London Marathon has been taking place since 1981. Thousands of runners take part in the event each year and many thousands more come along to watch and support them. |
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The Queen's Birthday (21st) The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June. |
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Earth Day (22nd) An annual event that aims to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. |
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National Allergy Week (22nd to 28th) How do allergies affect people? What different types of allergies are there? Find out about these issues and raise awareness of how to deal with allergies during National Allergy Week. |
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St. George's Day (23rd) St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. |
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World Tapir Day (27th) World Tapir Day has been established to raise awareness about the four species of tapir that inhabit Central and South America and South-East Asia. |
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International Dance Day (29th) 'Among the goals of the Dance Day are to increase the awareness of the importance of dance among the general public, as well as to persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education.' |
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International Jazz Day (30th) This event celebrates "the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people." |
May
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May Day (1st) May Day is an ancient Northern Hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures. |
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Star Wars Day (4th) May 4 is considered a holiday by Star Wars fans to celebrate Star Wars culture and honour the films. |
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International Midwives Day (5th) May 5 is the internationally recognised day for recognising the work of midwives. |
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Victory in Europe Day (8th) VE Day was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 to mark the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, thus ending the war in Europe. |
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Ascension Day (9th) Ascension Day celebrates Jesus's ascension to heaven after he was resurrected on Easter Day. |
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International Nurses Day (12th) A celebration to mark the contributions that nurses make to society. |
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Christian Aid Week (12th to 18th) Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. |
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First Day of Shavuot (15th) Shavuot is one of the Jewish harvest festivals, also known as the festival or feast of 'Weeks'. It also marks the time that the Jews were given the Torah on Mount Sinai. |
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International Day of Families (15th) This event celebrates the importance of families and the work started during the International Year of Families. |
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International Museum Day (18th) International Museum Day has been organised worldwide on or around May 18 since 1977. This day is an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. |
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Pentecost (19th) Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter. |
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Walk to School Week (20th to 24th) Walk to School Week forms part of the Great British Walking Challenge! Use this event to encourage everyone to walk to school. |
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Wesak (25th) Wesak is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday. |
June
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World Environment Day (5th) An annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. |
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D-Day (6th) D-Day happened on 6 June 1944 after five years of war with Germany. The allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy and started to break through the German army's defences. |
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World Oceans Day (8th) On World Oceans Day people around the planet celebrate and honour the body of water which links us all, for what it provides humans and what it represents. |
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Anne Frank's Birthday (12th) Anne Frank was a jewish girl who had to go into hiding during the Second World War to escape the Nazis. |
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National Bug Busting Day (15th) National Bug Busting Day is one of three national days when people are encouraged to help prevent lice from circulating from head to head and back again. |
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Wrong Trousers Day (21st) Wrong Trousers Day is an annual national fundraising event. Thousands of people from all walks of life pay a pound to swap their normal attire and step out in weird and wacky clothes – or just something plain 'wrong.'> |
July
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Ramadan (start) (9th) Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and a time when Muslims across the world will fast during the hours of daylight. |
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World Population Day (11th) World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. |
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St. Swithin's Day (15th) On St. Swithin's Day, people watch the weather. Tradition says that whatever the weather is like on St. Swithin's Day, it will continue for the next forty days. |
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Asala - Dharma Day (22nd) The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching - his first sermon, "The Wheel of Truth", after his enlightenment. |
August
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Louis Armstrong's Birthday (4th) Louis Armstrong, nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. |
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International Friendship Day (5th) International Friendship Day is a day for celebrating friendship. The day has been celebrated in several southern South American countries for many years. |
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World Cat Day (8th) This annual event brings awareness and information about how cats give both love and companionship to their owners. |
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Eid-Ul-Fitr (8th) The end of Ramadan when Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and thank Allah for His help with their month-long act of self-control. |
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International Youth Day (12th) This day 'focuses on measures to strengthen national capacities in the field of youth and to increase the quality and quantity of opportunities available to young people.' |
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International Lefthanders Day (13th) This event was set up to promote awareness of the inconveniences facing left-handers in a predominantly right-handed world. |
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Napoleon Bonaparte's Birthday (15th) Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the latter stages of the French Revolution and its associated wars in Europe. |
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World Mosquito Day (20th) World Mosquito Day on 20 August first came into being in 1897 when British doctor Sir Ronald Ross made the historic link that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans. |
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World Fashion Day (21st) An exhilarating day in celebration of the glory, spirit and art of fashion! |
September
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Start of the Great Fire of London (2nd) In 1666 the Great Fire of London destroyed two thirds of the City. It started (on 2nd September) as a small fire accidentally in Pudding Lane in the City of London, and raged for four days as an enormous fire. |
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First Day of Rosh Hashanah (5th) Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival. It lasts two days. It commemorates the creation of the world. |
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International Literacy Day (8th) International Literacy Day has been celebrated on 8th September since 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of Literacy to individuals, communities and societies. |
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Roald Dahl's Birthday (13th) Roald Dahl, a famous children's author was born on 13 September 1916. |
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Yom Kippur (14th) Yom Kippur is the most sacred and solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It means Day of Atonement. It's a day to reflect on the past year and ask God's forgiveness for any sins. |
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Agatha Christie's Birthday (15th) Agatha Christie a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She is best remembered for her detective novels and short story collections. |
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Sukkot (19th) Sukkot commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God took special care of them under impossible conditions. |
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Talk Like a Pirate Day (19th) Talking like a pirate is fun! Spend the day talking like a pirate with your class… could you take part in some pirate themed lessons on September 19th each year? |
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World Car Free Day (22nd) Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society. |
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European Day of Languages (26th) The European Day of Languages aims to show people across Europe how important languages are, and what fun can be had learning them. |
October
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Walk to School Month (1st to 31st) October is International Walk to School Month and over 40 countries will be encouraging children to ditch the school run! |
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The Big Draw (1st to 31st) The Big Draw is a campaign for drawing with one aim: to get everyone drawing! Why? Drawing helps us to think, invent and communicate – regardless of age and ability. |
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World Animal Day (4th) World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. |
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World Space Week (4th to 10th) This is the largest space event in the world and is the ideal time for teachers to use space in the classroom to excite students about learning. |
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Navaratri (start) (5th) Navaratri is one of the greatest Hindu festivals. It symbolises the triumph of good over evil. |
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World Teachers' Day (5th) World Teachers' Day is celebrated annually on 5 October. The event celebrates teachers worldwide. |
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Battle of Hastings (14th) The Battle of Hastings took place on 14 October 1066. It was the decisive Norman victory in the Norman conquest of England. |
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Dussehra (14th) Hindus in India celebrate the festival of Dussehra. The festival celebrates the triumph of the Hindu god Ram over the demon king Ravana, marking the victory of good over evil. |
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Eid-Ul-Adha (15th) Eid-ul-Adha is the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar. It remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to. |
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Global Handwashing Day (15th) Global Handwashing Day is the centrepiece of a week of activities that aim to mobilise millions of people to wash their hands with soap. |
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Halloween (31st) Halloween is an annual holiday observed on October 31, which commonly includes activities such as trick-or-treating, attending costume parties and carving jack-o'-lanterns. |
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National Bug Busting Day (31st) National Bug Busting Day is one of three national days when people are encouraged to help prevent lice from circulating from head to head and back again. |
November
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All Saints' Day (1st) This special day is an opportunity for believers to remember all saints and martyrs, known and unknown, throughout Christian history. |
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All Souls' Day (2nd) All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholics and Anglo-Catholic churches to commemorate the faithful departed. |
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Diwali (3rd) Diwali is perhaps the most well-known of the Hindu festivals. Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights' because houses, shops and public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps. |
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Al-Hijira (4th) Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, is the first day of the month of Muharram. |
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Bonfire Night (5th) The Gunpowder Plot took place in November 1605, when some Catholics plotted to blow up King James I and the English Parliament. |
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Remembrance Day (11th) Remembrance is the time when people wear a poppy in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars. The Armistice, signalling the end of World War One, was signed on 11th November 1918. |
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Food Allergy and Intolerance Week (11th to 17th November) A week to highlight the issues faced by those with allergies. |
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Ashura (13th) Ashura has been a day of fasting for Sunni Muslims since the days of the early Muslim community. |
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International Men's Day (19th) A day to focus on men's and boy's health, improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. |
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World Fisheries Day (21st) World Fisheries Day highlights the critical importance to human lives, of water and the lives it sustains, both in and out of water. |
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World Television Day (21st) World Television Day recognises the increasing impact television has on decision-making by alerting world attention to conflicts and threats to peace, security and other important issues. |
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Hanukkah (28th) Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It dates back to two centuries before the beginning of Christianity. |
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St. Andrew's Day (30th) On November 30th the world celebrates St Andrew's Day, Scotland's national day. There are parties galore in Scotland and events around the world. |
December
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World AIDS Day (1st) An opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. |
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Advent Sunday (1st) Advent is the season before Christmas during which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. |
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International Volunteer Day (5th) An opportunity for volunteer organisations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions. |
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Bodhi Day (8th) On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India. |
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International Mountain Day (11th) International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life. |
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Monkey Day (14th) Monkey Day is an annual celebration of all things simian. |
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Ludwig Van Beethoven's Birthday (16th) Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. His hearing began to deteriorate in his late twenties, yet he continued to compose, conduct, and perform, even after becoming completely deaf. |
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Christmas Eve (24th) Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the widely celebrated annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. |
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Christmas Day (25th) Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th every year. They celebrate the 'Mass' (church service) for Christ… which is why they call it Christmas. |
Dates have been checked carefully, but please double-check yourself if you are planning any events based on this information.
