Annual Awareness Events & Celebrations
Annual Events Calendar
Here is a list of some national and international awareness days/weeks, seasonal events and other celebrations that my be appropriate for herbal events, promotions or posts. Some of these are set up by charities as fundraisers. Dates may vary each year.
If there any suggestions for other days/events to add to this list, please use the contact form that can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
| Date | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| January | ||
| 1st January | New Year's Day | |
| Month of January | Dry January | The aim of Dry January is to start a new conversation about alcohol and raise awareness about the effects of alcohol. The challenge is to go alcohol free for 31 days. |
| Month of January | Love Your Liver Month | A British Liver Trust awareness campaign |
| 2nd week January | National Obesity Awareness Week | This week is all about raising awareness of obesity, how it affects our health, and what we can do to improve the nation's collective wellbeing. |
| 3rd week January | Cervical Cancer Prevention Week | Awareness of how people can reduce their risk of the disease and to educate others. |
| February | ||
| Month of February | National Heart Month | British Heart Foundation campaign to encourage people to spend at least 10 minutes a day to help improve their heart health. |
| Jan/Feb | Chinese New Year | Date varies each year. Welcome the new year with customs that bring good luck, good fortune, wealth, prosperity and happiness. |
| 4th February | World Cancer Day | Working together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equal for all. |
| 6th February | Time to Talk Day | Time to Talk Day encourages everyone to be more open about mental health – to talk, to listen, to change lives. |
| 14th February | Valentine's Day | A festival of romance that celebrates love and relationships. |
| 29th February | Rare Disease Day | Raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients' lives. |
| Feb/March | Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day | Al.so known as Mardi Gras, it is the day before Lent so is celebrated by eating rich foods traditionally not allowed during Lent. it is 47 days before Easter. |
| March | ||
| Month of March | Prostate Cancer Awareness Month | Organised by Prostate Cancer UK, this special month aims to raise awareness of prostate cancer. |
| Month of March | Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month | Target Ovarian Cancer work to raise the profile of ovarian cancer, spread the word about the symptoms, and train GPs in early diagnosis. |
| 1st week of March | Eating Disorders Awareness Week | Raising awareness that eating disorders are serious illnesses and that they take different forms. |
| 3rd week of March | Nutrition and Hydration Week | Bringing people together to create energy, focus and fun in order to highlight and educate people on the value of food and drink in maintaining health and well being in health and social care. |
| 3rd week of March | Brain Awareness Week | Brain Awareness Week is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. |
| 2nd Wednesday in March | No Smoking Day | No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day in the United Kingdom which is intended to help smokers who want to quit smoking. |
| 15th March | World Sleep Day | World Sleep Day is an annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving. |
| 20th March | International Day of Happiness | This campaign is a global celebration to mark the United Nations International Day of Happiness. |
| 20th March | World Oral Health Day | WOHD spreads messages about good oral hygiene practices to adults and children alike and demonstrates the importance of optimal oral health in maintaining general health and well-being. |
| 21st March | Spring Equinox | Beginning of Spring that celebrates the renewed life of the Earth. |
| March Full Moon | Holi - Hindu Holiday | Hindu celebration of Spring with festival of colours |
| March/April (dates vary) | Passover - Jewish Holiday | Commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, and their transition from slavery to freedom. Includes consumption of ritual foods, such as matzah and maror (bitter herbs). |
| April | ||
| March/April | Easter - Christian Holiday | Held on the first Spring Sunday after the new moon. Eggs are decorated and given which are a symbol of fertility and birth originated from pre-Christian traditions. |
| Month of April | Bowel Cancer Awareness Month | Increase awareness of bowel cancer and raise funds towards treating this condition. |
| Month of April | Stress Awareness Month | Most people will experience stress at some point in their life, but constant or extreme stress is bad for both the mind and body. |
| 7 April | World Health Day | This day marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation in 1948. Each year a theme is selected that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world. |
| 3rd week April | MS Awareness Week | MS Awareness Week. |
| 3rd week April | Allergy Awareness Week | Raising awareness of all allergic conditions (including food, respiratory, skin and children’s allergies), food intolerance and the plight of allergy sufferers. |
| 22 April | World Earth Day | Promotion of a healthy and sustainable environment. |
| April/May | Ramadan - Muslim event | Month-long fasting. Islam follows lunar calendar so is approx. 11 days earlier each year |
| May | ||
| Month of May | National Walking Month | National Walking Month encourages people to walk more throughout May. Initiatives include, Walk to Work Week and Walk to School Week (and herb walks?). |
| Month of May | Action on Stroke Month | "Make May Purple" is the Stroke Associations action on stroke awareness month. Individuals show their support for those who have been affected by stroke. |
| Month of May | National Osteoporosis Month | A healthy diet, one rich in fruits and vegetables and calcium and vitamin D, as well as weight-bearing and muscle strengthening exercise, are critical elements in building Peak Bone Mass and maintaining bone strength throughout our lives. |
| Month of May | Ehlers-Danlos syndromes Awareness Month | For many people, the journey to a diagnosis of an Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) has been a long and challenging road. Ehlers-Danlos Support |
| 1st May | May Day | May Day has a long history of customs celebrating new life and fertility. It is also is celebrated as Beltane in Celtic traditions and as various other festivals in different places of UK such as the Green Man festival. It is also Labour Day. |
| 1st week May | Deaf Awareness Week | The aim of Deaf Awareness Week is to raise awareness of hearing loss in the UK and its impact on people's lives. |
| 1st week May | Sun Awareness Week | Campaign about the dangers of sunburn and excessive tanning, and skin cancer education. |
| 5th May | World Asthma Day | World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. |
| 3rd week May | Mental Health Awareness Week | Supported by the Mental Health Foundation, the aim is to educate the public about mental health issues and to promote better mental health. |
| 17th May | World Hypertension Day | Promoting public awareness of hypertension and to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer, the modern epidemic. |
| 19th May | World IBD Day | World IBD Day takes place on 19 May each year and unites people worldwide in their fight against Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. |
| 29th May | World Digestive Health Day | Initiated by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), and initiates a year long, worldwide, public health campaign through various partners. |
| May - date varies | Eid ul Fitr - Muslim Holiday | Holiday and celebration at the end of Ramadan - date is about 11 days earlier each year |
| June | ||
| 2nd week June | BNF Healthy Eating Week | British Nutritional Foundation (BNF) Healthy Eating Week. Have Breakfast; Have 5 A Day; Drink plenty; Get active; and try something new. |
| 3rd week June? | Herbal Medicine Week | Initiated by NIMH Herbal Medicine Week is about promoting herbal medicine and its benefits. |
| 3rd week June | Men's Health Week | Awareness raising of health issues that affect men disproportionately and focuses on getting men to become aware of problems they may have or could develop, and gain the courage to do something about it. |
| 3rd week June | Cervical Cancer Awareness week | Cervical Cancer Awareness week aims to make it easier for every eligible woman and person with a cervix to attend cervical screening. |
| 3rd week June | Diabetes Week | An annual highlight in the Diabetes UK calendar, as it's a time when supporters are brought together to raise awareness of the condition. |
| 3rd week June | Breathe Easy Week | Annual awareness event focusing on lung health ran by the British Lung Foundation. |
| 21st June | Summer Solstice / Midsummer Day | Celebration of summer on the longest day of the year. |
| 21st June | St. John’s Day | A day where some traditions use St John;s wort as part of midsummer celebrations. Also the day to fo out and gather various herbs. |
| 25th June | World Vitiligo Day | An initiative aimed to build global awareness about vitiligo. |
| July | ||
| 7th July | World Chocolate Day | A day of indulgence for some, but maybe of promoting healthy chocolate recipes for others. |
| 28th July | World Hepatitis Day | Worldwide, 300 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware. Without finding the undiagnosed and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost. |
| 30th July | International Day of Friendship | Through friendship we can contribute to achieving lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good. UNESCO |
| August | ||
| 1st week August | World Breastfeeding Week | World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide. |
| 1st August | Lammas | With Christian, Wiccan and Pagan origins this is a celebration of the beginning of the harvest. |
| September | ||
| Month of September | Urology Awareness Month | Organised by The Urology Foundation, this month aims to raise awareness of urological disease as well as raise money so we can fund vital research and training into these diseases. |
| 2nd week September | Migraine Awareness Week | Migraine is the third most common disease in the world. Despite being recognised as one of the most disabling lifetime conditions, awareness and understanding is low. |
| 2nd week September | Know Your Numbers Week | Know your Numbers! is Blood Pressure UK's awareness campaign. It encourages adults to know their blood pressure numbers and take the necessary action to reach and maintain a healthy blood pressure. |
| 10th September | World Suicide Prevention Day | Advocates for the prevention of suicidal behaviour, provision of adequate treatment and follow-up care for people who attempted suicide, as well as responsible reporting of suicides in the media. |
| 25th September | National Fitness Day | National Fitness Day is a chance to highlight the role physical activity plays across the UK, helping us raise awareness of its importance in helping us lead healthier and active lifestyles. |
| 2nd week September | Sexual Health Week | Campaigning for better sexual health services, and the right for all young people to have access to education regarding appropriate relationships and sex education. |
| 3rd week September | National Eye Health Week | NEHW raises awareness of how we can improve the UK’s eye health, contribute towards a reduction in avoidable blindness and enhance people’s everyday lives. |
| October | ||
| Month of October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month | An annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure |
| Month of October | Charcot-Marie-Tooth Awareness Month | Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is the ‘most common rare disease’, so they are trying to raise as much awareness of the condition and the charity as possible. CMT United Kingdom |
| 1st week October | Dyslexia Awareness Week | Looking at the at the power of dyslexia to create ideas, organisations and society and the invaluable contribution this makes to the UK as well as the challenges and barriers. |
| 2nd week October | BackCare Awareness Week | The aim of the week-long event, which is organised by BackCare, the charity for healthier backs, is to raise awareness of the problems back pain can cause, as well as prevention and treatments. |
| 2nd week October | National Work Life Week | An opportunity for both employers and employees to focus on well-being at work and work-life balance. Employers can use the week to provide activities for staff, and to showcase their flexible working policies and practices. |
| 10th October | World Mental Health Day | The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. |
| 18th October | World Menopause Day | The International Menopause Society is encouraging women to “have a health audit" – and take action at the time of the menopause to avoid chronic diseases in later life. |
| 21st October | Apple Day | A day to celebrate, share, juice, make cider, make vinegar and store apples. |
| 24th October | Make a Difference Day | Make a Difference Day, organised by Community Service Volunteers, provides people across the country with the opportunity to try out volunteering. |
| 31st October | Halloween | Originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. |
| Oct/Nov | World Ayurvedic Day | Promoting Ayurvedic principles of healing in society, it falls every year on the day of Dhanvantari Jayanti when Hindus celebrate Dhanvantari, the God of medicine. |
| Oct/Nov | Diwali - Hindi holiday | Festival of lights - a celebration of light over darkness; good over evil. |
| November | ||
| Month of November | Men’s Health Awareness Month | During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. |
| 1st Wednesday in November | National Stress Awareness Day | Aims to develop greater understanding of stress nationwide and to offer access to the many proven coping strategies and sources of help available to individuals and organisations who want to reduce the harmful outcomes of excessive pressure. |
| 14th November | World Diabetes Day | Unites the global diabetes community to produce a powerful voice for diabetes awareness and advocacy. The campaign aims to reflect the realities of dealing with a chronic condition. |
| 2nd week November | Alcohol Awareness Week | Alcohol Awareness Week is a chance for the UK to get thinking about drinking. It’s a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change, and more. |
| 18th November | World COPD Day | COPD is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It's a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to breathe because your airways have been narrowed.Life with COPD can be difficult. |
| December | ||
| 1st December | World AIDS Day | World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. |
| 1st weekend December | Tree Dressing Day | A day to express love for trees. It is a chance for the whole community to gather and celebrate the leafy friends we all have in common. |
| 3rd December | International Day of Persons with Disability | Reaffirm our commitment to work together for a better world that is inclusive, equitable and sustainable for everyone, where the rights of people with disabilities are fully realized. UN |
| Nov/Dec | Hanukkah - Jewish festival | Hanukkah or Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. |
| 21st December | Winter Solstice / Yule | Shortest day of the year. Many traditions associated with this day including the use of mistletoe, holly, ivy, yew and pine as symbols of healing, fertility, protection, rebirth and everlasting life. |
| 25 December | Christmas - Christian holiday | Annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. |
