August 30 2011 Holidays

National days: 9
Day of the year: 242
Days since: 5494

August 30 brings 10 days to mark, led by International Whale Shark Day, while National Beach Day and National Toasted Marshmallow Day offer an easy waterside plan.

International Whale Shark Day

Visit the coast or an aquarium to get a glimpse at the remarkable whale shark, or read up about how you can protect these amazing creatures from extinction.

Australia
International
Mexico
and 2 more

Pack light and head for the water

Start with a practical beach bag: a refillable water bottle, hat, towel, sunscreen, and a small bag for anything you bring back. Pick a beach, lakeshore, or public waterfront where you can sit for an hour without turning the outing into a project. Walk the edge, read a few pages, or take a swim if conditions allow. Leave the spot cleaner than you found it by collecting your own packaging and any stray plastic within reach.

Make National Beach Day about time outside rather than a packed itinerary. Bring a sandwich and fruit, then claim a patch of shade for lunch. If you are staying local, a folding chair at a waterfront park works just as well as a long drive. Check the weather, follow posted water-safety notices, and pack out every scrap.

National Beach Day

Beaches are beautiful and amazing to enjoy! But they also need to be taken care of and National Beach Day is a time where people are encouraged to do just that. How to Celebrate National Beach Day Try out some of these ideas for celebrating National Beach Day: Head to…

Australia
Brazil
Canada
and 6 more

Give the ocean an hour

Set aside 20 minutes at home or by the shore to learn what makes whale sharks worth protecting. They are filter feeders with recognizable spot patterns, so find a short video from an aquarium or museum explaining how researchers identify individual animals without handling them. Then turn that attention into one useful habit: carry your reusable bottle for the rest of the day and skip disposable cups, bags, and cutlery when you buy food. Share one fact you learned with the person beside you, especially if children are along.

A small change in what you carry and discard is a sensible way to continue the day after the beach trip, without pretending you need to travel to see a whale shark.

Make a simple fire-side dessert

As daylight fades, gather a few people around a fire pit or grill. National Toasted Marshmallow Day needs only marshmallows, wooden skewers, and a watchful eye. Hold each marshmallow near the coals, not in the tallest flame, turning it for about two minutes until the outside turns golden and the center softens. Put it between two graham crackers with a square of chocolate if you want a s’more, or eat it straight from the skewer.

National Toasted Marshmallow Day

Picture this: a warm, crackling fire, the cool night air, and a deliciously sweet aroma that fills your senses.

Australia
Canada
United Kingdom
and 1 more

Keep water nearby, stay with the heat source, and let everything cool before you pack up. The day ends with sandy shoes, a sticky thumb, and a little more care for the water beyond your doorstep.

National Beach Day

Australia
Brazil
Canada
and 6 more

International Whale Shark Day

Visit the coast or an aquarium to get a glimpse at the remarkable whale shark, or read up about how you can protect these amazing creatures from extinction.

Australia
International
Mexico
and 2 more

Frankenstein Day

Dive into the dark and stormy world of the Doctor and the Creature, and read “Frankenstein”, the iconic classic science fiction horror novel by Mary Shelley.

Canada
Germany
United Kingdom
and 1 more

National Toasted Marshmallow Day

Picture this: a warm, crackling fire, the cool night air, and a deliciously sweet aroma that fills your senses.

Australia
Canada
United Kingdom
and 1 more

National Holistic Pet Day

Consider your pet’s health in a new way on National Holistic Pets Day, a time to consider all aspects of your pet’s health at the same time, not symptom by symptom.

Canada
United Kingdom
United States

Amagwinya Day

Every culture has at least one fried bread dish. For South Africa, that’s the Amagwinya. Find a South African restaurant, or try making your own at home.

Botswana
Kenya
Mozambique
and 2 more

National Slinky Day

Everyone loves a slinky, you’re gonna get a slinky, slink-Y, slink-Y, GO SLINKY GO! Send a slinky down the stairs for some good old-fashioned childhood fun.

Canada
United Kingdom
United States

International Day Of The Victims Of Enforced Disappearance

No one expects a goodbye to become forever. When people are taken without warning—then hidden without answers—it tears lives apart. This is what enforced disappearance means. It’s not just a kidnapping. It’s often backed by those in power, leaving no trail and no justice. Families wait for years, some forever...

United States

National Grief Awareness Day

Be there for and support the people in your life you might be grieving a loss, whether by cheering them up, talking with them or just being a shoulder to cry on.