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Social Media Holidays List and Post Examples
Just imagine — it’s National Ice Cream Day and your social media feed is filled with mouth-watering sundaes, hilarious memes and irresistible deals from your favorite ice cream shops. Within seconds, you start to salivate and frantically reach for that “Buy Now” button. This is the magic of social media holidays — windows of opportunity when brands can boost their sales with suitable posts at the right time.
This guide will show you how to make the most of social media holidays in 2024 and beyond.
Are social media holidays really that big a deal? Here’s something worth checking out: A recent McKinsey study found that social media influenced 58% of consumers' holiday buying decisions and 87% of Gen Z shoppers turned to social media for holiday shopping inspiration.
All right, let’s dive in!
What are social media holidays?
Social media holidays are unofficial days, weeks or even months that are celebrated online and offline, based on a certain theme or event. While these are celebrated by users and brands alike, brands often create campaigns and offers based on these holidays. These can be anything from major holidays like Christmas to quirky, niche celebrations like Movember, National Pizza Day or World Emoji Day.
These holidays allow brands to connect with audiences in fresh and exciting ways, and are a perfect opportunity to showcase their personality. It’s a win-win situation: the posts they publish are in some shape or form connected to the holiday, which helps build community and showcases that brand's expertise on social media.
How social media holiday posts help brands
Here's a quick rundown of the four powerful ways social media holiday-related posts can benefit brands:
1. Boosts sales
Did you know that the 2023 holiday season accumulated $221 billion in online sales in the U.S. In fact, $9.8 billion was generated in online sales on Black Friday alone. This is why brands must take social media holidays seriously! If targeted social media holiday posts are not part of your content strategy, your brand is missing out on a big slice of the engagement pie.
2. Amplifies reach
The vast amount of daily social media content, combined with social media algorithms, affects the visibility and reach of your posts to both followers and new audiences alike.
The solution? Posting clever social media holiday posts with relevant and trending hashtags can put your brand in front of a wider audience, attracting new followers. It also reinforces in the minds of your present followers what your brand stands for and celebrates.
3. Improves engagement
Social media holiday posts allow brands to align with popular trends, movements or social causes. A 2022 survey revealed that 73% of consumers had a positive perception of brands due to social media promotions. By creating fun holiday posts, brands can start meaningful conversations with their followers and pitch their products without coming across as salesy.
4. Builds emotional connect
Holidays evoke specific emotions and every holiday has a unique and special vibe. Enterprises can tap into these feelings by prioritizing social media holidays in their strategies, thereby humanizing the brand and forging a stronger connection with target audiences.
For instance, look at Starbucks. The company's holiday campaign, featuring festive designs and the famous holiday red cups, captures the spirit of joy and community that defines the season.
Monthly list of social media holidays and post examples
Let’s dive into the good stuff now — a month-by-month breakdown of social media holidays, complete with themed post ideas to spark your creativity!
January: New beginnings and resolutions
Date | Holiday | Example |
January 1 | 🎆 New Year's Day | Ask your customers’ resolutions for the year. |
January 4 | 📚 National Trivia Day | Post fun facts about your industry or products. |
January 17 | 🚫 Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions Day | Offer tips for sticking to goals throughout the year or to pivot to another set of goals when failure is certain. |
January 28 | 🔐 Data Privacy Day | Share your company's data protection practices. Example: “Discover how we safeguard your data, always." |
February: Love and awareness
Date | Holiday | Example |
February 4 | 🎗️World Cancer Day | Share how your brand supports cancer research. Example: “On World Cancer Day, we're proud to support [cancer organization] in their fight against cancer.” |
February 14 | 💘 Valentine's Day | Showcase Valentine’s-themed products. Example: “Spread the love this Valentine’s Day with [% discount] on [product].” |
February 17 | 💖 Random Acts of Kindness Day | Highlight your company's community service efforts. Example: "Share your random act of kindness in the comments today." |
February 20 | ⚖️ World Day of Social Justice | Discuss your brand's efforts toward social justice. Example: “This Social Justice Day, learn about our social justice initiatives." |
💡Pro Tip: Always plan your holiday posts. Timing your posts to reach your audience when they're most active is crucial, but keeping track of peak times across multiple platforms can be challenging. So, what’s the solution?
Simplify post scheduling with Sprinklr’s social media scheduler and publisher.
⏰ Automatically identifies the best times to post based on audience engagement
🗓️ Allows you to customize posting schedules for different platforms
🌐 Enables cross-platform posting with just a few clicks
In essence, Sprinklr will handle the scheduling and publishing so you can focus on creating great content to maximize engagement.
March: Creativity and empowerment
Date | Holiday | Example |
March 3 | 🐾 World Wildlife Day | Share how your brand supports wildlife conservation. |
March 8 | 👩🦰 International Women's Day | Spotlight women leaders in your company. Example: "Celebrating the incredible women who inspire us! Meet [name]." |
March 14 | 🥧 Pi Day | Post a fun, math-themed puzzle or discount. Example: “Enjoy a 3.14% discount on all products today!” |
March 20 | 😃 International Day of Happiness | Ask followers to share what makes them happy. Example: "What's your happy place? Share in the comments." |
April: Health and humor
Date | Holiday | Example |
April 1 | 🤡 April Fools’ Day | Share a light-hearted prank or joke (but keep it tasteful) Example: “We've hidden a special discount code in today's post. Find it and win big 😉” |
April 7 | 💚 World Health Day | Showcase your brand’s health-related initiatives/products. Example: "Discover how [product] can support your wellness goals this World Health Day!” |
April 22 | 🌍 Earth Day | Highlight your brand's sustainability initiatives. Example: “Learn about our sustainability efforts for a greener and cleaner planet.” |
April 30 | ✔️ National Honesty Day | Share transparent insights about your business practices. Example: “Honesty is in our DNA. Ask us anything in a live Q&A session on [date],[time].” |
May: Appreciation and awareness
Date | Holiday name | Example |
May 4 | 🌌 Star Wars Day | Create a fun Star Wars-themed post. Example: "May the Fourth be with you! Join us in celebrating Star Wars Day with a [special offer].” |
May 12 | 👩⚕️ International Nurses Day | Share how your brand supports healthcare workers. Example: "A heartfelt thank you to all the amazing nurses who dedicate their lives to caring for others.” |
May 17 | 🌐 World Telecommunication Day | Discuss how technology impacts your industry. Example: "Tech has upped the game in our industry! Check out how we're using it to innovate.” |
May 28 | 🍽️ World Hunger Day | Share information about your brand's food security initiatives. Example: "Learn how our [initiative] ensures food security for all and how you can contribute." |
June: Pride and environment
Date | Holiday | Example |
June 5 | 🌿 World Environment Day | Showcase your eco-friendly products or practices. Example: "Our [product] is totally eco-friendly. It's like giving our planet a high-five.” |
June 8 | 🌊 World Oceans Day | Share tips and highlight your brand's efforts to protect marine life. Example: "Let's keep our oceans clean! Here are 5 ways to reduce plastic waste.” |
June 21 | 🧘♀️ International Yoga Day | Post a quick desk yoga routine for your followers. Example: " Namaste! Try this quick desk yoga routine to beat stress.” |
June (Entire month) | 🌈 Pride Month | Highlight LGBTQ+ voices within your company. Example: "We're proud to support the LGBTQ+ community at [company]." |
💡Pro Tip: Already engaging your audience during social media holidays? Great!
But how do you know if your content is hitting the mark? The answer lies in monitoring the conversations around these events. With Sprinklr’s AI-powered social listening tool, you can:
🕵️♂️ Track trending topics and audience sentiment in real time
📊 Analyze the impact of your posts on different platforms
🔄 Adjust your content strategy based on what your audience is most interested in
Ready to fine-tune your campaigns and maximize your social media success?
July: Independence and friendship
Date | Holiday | Example |
July 4 | Independence Day (U.S.) | Share how your brand celebrates freedom and diversity. Example: "Celebrate freedom with our special offer.” |
July 17 | 😊 World Emoji Day | Create a fun, emoji-only post. Example: “Emoji challenge! Can you crack the code?” |
July 30 | 🤝 International Friendship Day | Showcase customer testimonials or partnerships. Example: "Friends make everything better ❤️ Treat your friends with [product]." |
July 31 | 🥑 National Avocado Day | Share a healthy recipe featuring avocados. Example: "Avocado lovers, unite! Try this delicious and healthy avocado [recipe name].” |
August: Relaxation and youth
Date | Holiday | Example |
August 8 | 🐱 International Cat Day | Feature employees's cats or cat-themed products. Example: "Meet our office feline [cat's name]. Share photos of your furry friends.” |
August 12 | 🧒 International Youth Day | Highlight your brand's initiatives supporting young changemakers. Example: "Meet an incredible young mind and our rising star [Employee Name]." |
August 19 | 📸 World Photography Day | Host a user-generated content photo contest. Example: "Calling all shutterbugs! 📸 Share your most creative photo featuring our [product] to win a special prize." |
August 26 | 🐶 National Dog Day | Showcase office dogs and pet-friendly policies. Example: "🐶 We're celebrating our furry friends by showcasing pet-friendly policies! Woof!" |
September: Literacy and peace
Date | Holiday | Example |
September 8 | 📚 International Literacy Day | Share literacy initiatives from your brand. Example: "On this Literacy Day, celebrate the power of education and join us in supporting [initiative]." |
September 15 | 🗳️ International Day of Democracy | Encourage civic engagement and voting. Example: "On this International Day of Democracy, learn about the importance of civic engagement and make your vote count." |
September 21 | 🕊️ International Day of Peace | Highlight your brand's conflict resolution practices. Example: "Learn how our [initiative] promotes social harmony and understanding.” |
September 27 | ✈️ World Tourism Day | Share travel tips or showcase global team members. Example: "Share your favorite travel photo to win a [product]." |
October: Mental health and diversity
Date | Holiday | Example |
October 1 | ☕ International Coffee Day | Share your team's favorite coffee spots or brews. Example: "This International Coffee Day, see our team's favorite café recommendations." |
October 10 | 🧠 World Mental Health Day | Showcase your company's mental health initiatives. Example: "In honor of World Mental Health Day, discover 5 ways to prioritize self-care in your daily routine." |
October 16 | 🍝 World Food Day | Showcase your brand's efforts to combat food insecurity. Example: "We're proud to announce our partnership with [charity name] to combat food insecurity in our local community." |
October 31 | 🎃 Halloween | Host a virtual costume contest for followers. Example: "Trick or treat! Share your best Halloween costume for a chance to win a spooktacular prize." |
💡Pro Tip: Tracking your real-time social media holiday post performance is essential for improving your content strategy. But how do you make sense of all that data?
Simple — use Sprinklr’s social media analytics and reporting tool to stay on top of your social posts and strategy.
📝 Provides data-rich, intuitive reports on your social media posts
📌 Offers actionable insights to help you tweak and enhance future content
⚖️ Empowers you to make informed decisions and refine your strategy
With these insights, you’ll never be in the dark about what’s working and what’s not.
November: Gratitude and technology
Date | Holiday | Example |
November 13 | 🤝 World Kindness Day | Spotlight acts of kindness within your company. Example: "Paying it forward feels good! Share how you're spreading joy in your community today." |
November 19 | 👨 International Men's Day | Highlight male role models in your industry. Example: "This International Men's Day, we celebrate our male role models. Tag the man who inspires you to be your best." |
November 26 | 🦃 Thanksgiving (US) | Share what your brand is thankful for this year. Example: "This Thanksgiving, we're grateful to our amazing community of customers and partners. What are you thankful for this year?" |
November 30 | 💻 Computer Security Day | Offer tips on how your products help with social media security. Example: "This Computer Security Day, we're sharing tips to keep your online information safe. Read on." |
December: Giving and celebration
Date | Holiday | Example |
December 3 | ♿ International Day of Persons with Disabilities | Showcase your accessibility features. Example: "On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, learn about the accessibility features of our [product]." |
December 5 | 🌟 International Volunteer Day | Highlight employee volunteer efforts. Example: "Honoring International Volunteer Day, check out how we support our local community." |
December 25 | 🎅 Christmas | Share festive content and celebrate with holiday-themed posts. Example: "Embrace the cozy winter season with our limited-edition [product]. Tag a friend who needs some seasonal self-care!" |
December 31 | 🎉 New Year's Eve | Recap your brand's highlights from the past year. Example: "Farewell 2024! Cheers to an even brighter 2025 of growth and innovation!" |
Must Read: 10+ Ideas for Social Media Posts That Move the Needle
Tips for creating engaging holiday posts
Now that you have a treasure trove of exciting social media holiday ideas, let’s explore some practical tips to help your posts stand out amid the sea of social media content and captivate your audience:
Use eye-catching visuals
In the fast-paced world of social media, visuals are your strongest asset. To stand out amid the constant flow of content, use striking graphics and videos that capture attention and drive engagement.
Consider Coca-Cola’s holiday campaigns — every year, their festive imagery, like the iconic polar bears and Santa Claus, instantly grabs attention and evokes warm, nostalgic feelings.
Leverage hashtags and keywords
Hashtags and keywords are the digital breadcrumbs that lead users to your content. These specific phrases target niche audiences and often face less competition compared to more popular hashtags. For example, during Black Friday, you can use hashtags like #BlackFriday and #HolidayShopping to attract shoppers looking for the best bargains.
Be sure to use specific keywords like #BlackFridayElectronicsDeals and #BlackFridayPhoneOffers in your hashtags instead of just #BlackFriday to attract shoppers searching for electronics. Incorporating long-tail keywords in your content can drastically enhance the visibility of your posts.
Walmart expertly uses this strategy every year during Black Friday. It posts banners showcasing discounted electronics tagged with #BlackFridayDeals, driving its sales.
Read More: How to Find the Hashtags That Actually Work
Run contests or giveaways
Everyone loves the chance to win something, especially during the holiday season. Running social media contests or giveaways can generate buzz and drive engagement like nothing else. For instance, a tech company could host a “Giveaway Week” event on Instagram, offering daily prizes like gadgets or exclusive discounts.
Related Read: 7 Effective Social Media Contest Ideas for 2024
Plan ahead
The holiday season is a whirlwind so you might need proper planning to keep up with the demand. Imagine you’re a small business; Cyber Monday is just around the corner, but you aren't prepped. You see competitors rolling out polished campaigns and you’re stuck with FOMO and poor engagement.
You can avoid such a scenario by creating a detailed social media holiday calendar.
Also Read: Social Media Posting Schedule: How to Create and Schedule Using Tool
Be authentic
Authenticity is key to building trust with your audience. Your holiday posts should reflect your brand’s voice and values, as opposed to following trends just for the sake of it.
Patagonia consistently aligns its holiday messaging with its commitment to environmental sustainability, even launching campaigns encouraging people to buy less (yes, you read that right).
Recommended Read: 5 Social Media Holiday Marketing Campaigns You Need to See
Final thoughts
Social media holidays are a great way to create engaging content, increase brand awareness and connect with your audience year-round.
Are you wondering how to get started?
Well, Sprinklr Social provides all the tools you need for planning, scheduling and analyzing your posts across platforms, helping you stay relevant and maximize the impact of your holiday campaigns with real-time social listening, extensive channel coverage and enterprise-level configurability.
Ready to discover how easy it is to create a year-round social media strategy with Sprinklr?
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning should be done at least one month in advance. This gives you time to create high-quality content and align it with your marketing strategy.
The main risk is appearing inauthentic or opportunistic. Always ensure the holidays you participate in align with your brand values and audience interests.
Track metrics like engagement rates, reach and conversions. Compare these to your average post-performance to gauge the impact of your holiday content.
Focus on creating unique, branded content that offers value to your audience. To differentiate yourself, consider running exclusive promotions or behind-the-scenes content.
Start small by choosing a few relevant holidays to focus on. Use free design tools and user-generated content to create engaging posts if budget is a constraint.
Research the origin and significance of each holiday. Be mindful of cultural sensitivities and tweak your content for different geographical regions if you have a global audience.
