August holidays are a great time to take a break from the everyday grind and enjoy quality time with family and friends. Here are some of the best holidays that take place during August.
Colorado Day (1 Aug)
Colorado Day commemorates the Centennial State’s admission into the United States that happened on August 1, 1876.
How to celebrate Colorado Day?
- Visit at least one Colorado museum since many of them offer free entrance
- Take a hike on one of Colorado’s scenic trails
- Attend a free concert or festival
- Have a picnic at your local park.
You can also celebrate Colorado Day by indulging in some of the state’s delicious food and drink. Oh, and make sure to try a Rocky Mountain oyster or two!
World Lung Cancer Day (1 Aug)
World Lung Cancer Day is one of the most important August holidays in 2022 because it aims to raise awareness of the disease while encouraging people to take screening tests for lung cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society’s estimations, around 130,180 Americans will lose their battle with lung cancer in 2022.
How can you commemorate World Lung Cancer Day? Educate yourself and others about the risks of lung cancer, quit smoking or help someone else quit, or encourage people to screen for lung cancer.
National Girlfriend Day (1 Aug)
While there are many August 1 holidays & observances, this one is near and dear to our hearts because it celebrates the special bond between girlfriends. Namely, this holiday is all women supporting women.
Did you know women have an average of six best friends during their lifetime? So make sure to celebrate National Girlfriend Day with all of your besties. Here are some fun ideas:
- Have a girls’ night in with facemasks, mani-pedis, and your favorite snacks
- Go out for brunch or dinner
- Have a movie marathon featuring all of your favorite chick flicks.
Lammas (1 Aug)
Lammas is a traditional August 1st holiday that was once celebrated with great fanfare. The holiday commemorates the wheat harvest’s beginning and is known as ‘Loaf Mass Day.’
On Lammas, people would bake special loaves of bread from the newly harvested wheat and offer them to the church as a thanksgiving offering.
Lammas is not as widely celebrated as it once was, but it is still a special day for bakers and wheat farmers.
Tisha B’Av (7 Aug)
Tisha B’Av is one of the biggest Jewish August 2022 holidays commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, which took place on this date. The holiday lasts over 24 hours and begins at sunset the day before.
Since Tisha B’Av ends a three-week period of mourning, people are not allowed to have parties and weddings during the holiday. They are also prohibited from cutting their hair, eating meat, or drinking wine (except on the Shabbat).
Purple Heart Day (7 Aug)
Purple Heart Day is a holiday in August associated with the Purple Heart medal. US armed forces members who have been wounded or killed in combat are granted the award.
On this day, besides paying respects to those who have died for their country, people also celebrate the strength and resilience of those who have survived by listening to their stories and expressing gratitude.
Book Lovers Day (9 Aug)
Book Lovers Day is a holiday for all the bookworms out there. This August 9th holiday is the perfect opportunity to curl up with a good book (or two) and escape into another world.
There are many other ways to celebrate this holiday. For example, you can organize a book exchange, host a book club, or visit your local library or bookstore.
National Navajo Code Talkers Day (14 Aug)
Regarding the August 14 holidays, we must mention the National Navajo Code Talkers Day. This holiday is celebrated every year in the state of Arizona. It honors the Navajo men who served as code talkers during World War II.
Code talkers were people who used their native language to transmit coded messages. The enemy never broke the Navajo code, which played a vital role in the Allied victory in the Pacific.
Bennington Battle Day (16 Aug)
Bennington Battle Day is one of the most fun national days in August that commemorates the Battle of Bennington. The battle was fought during the Revolutionary War on 16 August 1777.
This day is also a state holiday in Vermont, where the battle took place. On Bennington Battle Day, people usually visit historical sites related to the battle or participate in reenactments.
National Aviation Day (19 Aug)
Every year on Aviation Day pilots, aircraft mechanics, and flight attendants come together to celebrate the history and progress of aviation.
This day was created by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939. It’s also Orville Wright’s birthday, one of the Wright brothers who are credited with inventing the airplane.
You can celebrate Aviation Day by going to the Wright Brothers National Memorial located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, or maybe take a flying lesson.
National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day (20 Aug)
This August 20 holiday celebrates one of America’s favorite pies — chocolate pecan pie. This dessert is made with a chocolate crust and a filling that contains pecans, sugar, corn syrup, eggs, butter, and chocolate.
How to celebrate this delicious holiday? By eating chocolate pecan pie, of course! You can also make your own pies or give them as gifts to friends and family.
Kobe Bryant Day (24 Aug)
August 24 is one of the saddest national holidays in August because it commemorates the death of one of the greatest athletes and role models of all time, Kobe Bryant.
Kobe tragically died in a helicopter accident on January 26, 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people. He was only 41 years old.
In honor of Kobe Bryant, the city of Los Angeles declared August 24 as Kobe Bryant Day. How are you going to celebrate?
- Attend a local basketball game
- Watch one of Kobe’s classic games
- Teach someone how to play basketball.
Women’s Equality Day (26 Aug)
This is one of the most important holidays in August, celebrating the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 when US women were granted the right to vote.
The holiday is also used to promote gender equality and celebrate the progress that has been made towards achieving it. There are often rallies, marches, and other events held on this day to raise awareness of the issue.
Frankenstein Day (30 Aug)
Frankenstein Day celebrates the birth of the modern science fiction genre. This August 30th holiday is commemorated on Mary Shelley’s birthday.
Frankenstein, published in 1818, is Shelley’s best-known novel. It tells the story of a scientist who creates a monster out of the body parts of dead people.
Frankenstein Day is one of the most obscure August holidays celebrated by horror and science fiction fans worldwide. They read the novel or watch films based on it. Some even dress up as Frankenstein’s monster.
This holiday also provides a perfect cheap date night opportunity for horror buffs.
Conclusion
August is a month full of holidays that offer something for everyone, whether you’re celebrating a significant historical event, savoring delicious cuisine, or simply having some fun.
So get out there and enjoy the month! And don’t forget to eat some chocolate pecan pie while you’re at it.
FAQs
Are there any US federal holidays in August?
August has no US federal holidays, but it does have several state holidays. For example, Arizona celebrates the National Navajo Code Talkers Day, and Vermont celebrates Bennington Battle Day.
Does August have a religious holiday?
Yes, it does. The most popular religious holidays celebrated in August are:
- Tisha B’Av (Judaism),
- Lughnasadh (pagan and Wiccan),
- Feast of Assumption (Roman Catholic), and
- Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu).
What major holidays are in August?
You can celebrate many state, observance, and religious holidays in August. Some of the most popular holidays include Colorado Day, Tisha B’Av, Purple Heart Day, National Navajo Code Talkers Day, Bennington Battle Day, and Women’s Equality Day.
You’ll also find several unique August holidays, such as Book Lovers Day, National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, and Frankenstein Day.
