Fun with the Kids! Silly Holidays to Celebrate in the Fall

When we think of Fall Holidays, we think of Labor Day picnics, Halloween costumes and treats, and Grandma’s pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. Autumn has a few of the best and most cherished family holidays. There are a few other days of recognition, however, that often go unnoticed.

Have you ever heard of International Talk Like a Pirate Day or World Post Day? Check out some of these holidays, such as Mad Hatter’s Day and Good Neighbor Day and see how they may be able to bring some additional fun to your family.

These minor holidays, or global observance days can be fun for your family to celebrate. Mark your calendar and consider some of these days when making plans the fall.

This holiday is meant to celebrate the heroes in our lives who love all their children. If you have a blended family, celebrate yourselves on this day! Go on a family outing or have a picnic. Spend the day together and grow closer as a family.

If you don’t have a blended family, why not reach out to one near you? Make them a gift basket with popcorn and family movies? Bring them a cake or some homemade cookies. Spend some time with your kids and celebrate your friends and neighbors.

Aargh! Instead of greeting your friends with “Hello” why not try, “Ahoy Matey”? Change your Facebook language setting to pirate and brush up on your pirate lingo. Don’t just talk like a pirate though. Dress like one too! Wear an eye-patch or a pirate hat. Serve some fish and chips for dinner. Don’t let this fun holiday pass you by!

This is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. Why not bring the peace a little closer to home? Declare it a “no arguing” day in your house. Have everyone in your family do something nice for everyone else or share what they appreciate about the other family members at the dinner table. This is a great day to celebrate the differences of others around the world as well as those closest to us.

Show your appreciation for your neighbors. Take a family walk through your neighborhood and meet as many people as you can. Look around the yards near you and help your neighbors anonymously with any projects that may need done. Does your elderly neighbor have some weeds that could be pulled? Can you trim someone’s walk or sweep their porch? Why note bake some cookies and give little care packages away? Don’t let this day go by without doing something nice and being a good neighbor yourself

Give me a big smile! This day was set aside for smiles by Harvey Ball, the creator of the original smiley face. Why not purchase an inexpensive package of smiley faces and distribute them to your kids? Get them in on the fun and have them share the joy with their friends and teachers. Make some smiley face cookies or a cake. You could purchase smiley face balloons or you’re your kids make smiley cards and take them to a hospital or nursing home to spread some cheer. Whatever you decide to do on this day be sure to show off those pearly whites. No frowns, only smiles on this day!

This day is set aside to help develop awareness of how we can protect and develop child health. Several events and activities dedicated to this topic will be held all over the U.S. Do a quick Google search for Child Health Day activities in your area and take advantage of these events and educate yourself and your children on the issues of health, fitness, and childhood obesity prevention.

Don’t just learn about children’s health. Take some steps toward a healthier lifestyle as well. Be sure to eat nutritious meals and snacks on this day as well. Go to the park and get some exercise. Take a walk, a hike or go on a family bike ride. Make a pact to take what you learn about children’s health and put it into practice.

Teachers all around the world provide a vital contribution to our children. Don’t let this day go by without recognizing and appreciating the teachers in your life. Have your child make a special card or put together a gift basket to give to their teacher. Organize a class party to shower your child’s teacher with affection.

While a gift or card from your child will mean a great deal to their teacher, why not go a step beyond and write one yourself? Let them know how much you appreciate them and their partnership in teaching your child. You could even write a note to a teacher that meant a lot to you as a child. Whatever you do on this day, be sure to show those who have dedicated their lives to educating others how much of a difference they are making.

This day is set aside to be silly and celebrate silliness! No serious behavior on this day! Have fun with your kids and see who can be the silliest. This day is in recognition of Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter, who is the silliest character of all. Read the story with your kids or watch the movie. Take some construction paper, markers, and stickers and create your own mad hats. Throw Mad Hatter party and see who can come up with the most creative, silliest hat. Whatever you do on this day, be sure to giggle a lot and be as silly and fun as you possibly can be – I’m serious about that!

Happy Anniversary to the Universal Postal Union! This union created and maintains the structure for international mail throughout the world. If you’ve ever wondered how a letter or package gets from your mailbox to someone in a foreign country, it’s all thanks to the Universal Postal Union.

Since this is a day to recognize World Post, why not put the Universal Postal Union to good use? Find an organization, missionary, or soldier who lives in another part of the world and send them a note or a care package. Let them know that you are thinking of them.

While you’re at it, why not thank your own mail carrier for the work he or she does day in and day out? Everyone deserves a little recognition for their efforts.

Sweetest Day is celebrated mostly in the Great Lakes Region of the United States. We shouldn’t let them have all the fun, though! Celebrate those in your life who are the sweetest to you. Do you have a sweetheart with a sweet tooth? Are your kids sweet? What about grandparents or neighbor?

Get the kids together and make sweet treats to give away on sweetest day. Cookies, fudge, or white chocolate pretzels are fun, inexpensive sweets that make great gifts. Pass them out to family members, friends and neighbors. Make their day a little sweeter!

No Mother-in-law jokes on this day! This always caring, often forgotten maternal figure is in much need of some recognition and appreciation. What can you do to thank your mother-in-law on this day? Why not invite the in-laws over for a special dinner? Treat them to a sit down meal that you and kids prepare. If they live far away, put together a special care package to let them know that you are thinking about them.

If you are fortunate enough to have great in-laws like I do, go out of your way to thank them for their love and support. If there's tension between you and your mother-in-law, make a specia effort on this day to move toward peace and understanding. Take the first step and offer forgiveness for past hurts and offenses.

You won’t have to wait for Halloween to enjoy this fun fall treat! Celebrate National Candy Corn Day with your kids by eating some Candy Corn! Candy Corn doesn’t just have to be eaten though. Why not take some and make some fun crafts with them. With some construction paper and glue, see who can make the most creative Candy Corn picture. You may be surprised at the creative things your child comes up with.

Become more aware of this disease and how it is escalating all around the world. Much like Child Health Day, it is set aside for awareness and education. Do a Google search in your area to see if there are any World Diabetes Day events. Take advantage of any activities to educate yourself and your children on prevention and health.

There’s not a better day to go green! Get your family together and do a recycling drive. Gather all the plastic containers and aluminum cans you can and take them to a local recycling center. Make it a green day where everything you buy is recycled or try to see who can come up with the best reusable material idea. While you’re at it, be sure to conserve as much water and energy as you can. Get your kids excited about recycling!

Many times parents lament over the time wasted by watching television. However, this day was set aside to remember the benefits of information that television broadcasts can bring. Take this day and celebrate the good things that television brings to our lives. Have everyone share around the dinner table what their favorite T.V. show is and why. Pop some popcorn and gather the family together and watch an old T.V. show or an interesting, educational documentary.

You could go the opposite approach with this day as well. You could make it a no-television day! Have a family game night instead. See what life would be like if we didn’t have a television on for noise or distraction. Talk about how much time we generally waste while watching T.V. and how we can utilize it more effectively.

However you spend your fall season this year, I hope that you take some time to enjoy it with your friends and family. These days or remembrance can be some fun additions to your schedule to learn something new, share with someone else, or celebrate those you love.

Let me know how you plan to celebrate these special days or if you have any ideas to add. I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below. If you enjoyed this Hub, be sure to vote it up! Thanks for reading!

Check out my fun holiday Hubs for Winter, Spring, and Summer too!