Last year, this newspaper recognized the unofficial names for each day of the year — often referred to as “national” days.

It was reported that these names come from myriad sources — advocates of various causes, marketers, colloquial usage, etc. — and have been perpetuated by publishing companies, websites and the occasional newspaper reporter.

Over the course of 2010, we heard from several readers who kept and referred to last year’s list as a way to add a little personality to the otherwise cold, blank squares on the calendar.

Many readers also asked us to provide a new, updated list for 2011, and we are happy to oblige.

This year’s list is similar to last year’s, with the following exceptions:

• The holidays not fixed to a specific date were adjusted for 2011.

• Like last year, we acknowledged that some of these days have multiple names, but reported the name that is most observed. In the last year, some names have become more prominent, such as March 14 being better known as Pi Day (per 3.14, the number Pi represents) than Potato Chip Day.

• Any days found to have duplicates — like Waffle Day, which was on Aug. 5 and 24 of last year — were researched to find the next most observed name.

• Also, new this year, we have included the most observed “national” month names.

Enjoy, and have a Happy New Year!

Jan. 1: New Year’s Day

Jan. 2: Run up the Flag Pole and See if Anyone Salutes Day

Jan. 3: Festival of Sleep Day

Jan. 4: Trivia Day

Jan. 5: Bird Day

Jan. 6: Bean Day

Jan. 7: Old Rock Day

Jan. 8: Man Watchers’ Day

Jan. 9: Apricot Day

Jan. 10: Peculiar People Day

Jan. 11: Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day

Jan. 12: Pharmacists’ Day

Jan. 13: Make Your Dream Come True Day

Jan. 14: Dress Up Your Pet Day

Jan. 15: Hat Day

Jan. 16: Nothing Day

Jan. 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (it’s also Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day)

Jan. 18: Winnie the Pooh Day

Jan. 19: Popcorn Day

Jan. 20: Day of Renewal and Reconciliation

Jan. 21: Hugging Day

Jan. 22: Blonde Brownie Day

Jan. 23: Measure Your Feet Day

Jan. 24: Compliment Day

Jan. 25: Opposite Day

Jan. 26: Australia Day

Jan. 27: Chocolate Cake Day

Jan. 28: Kazoo Day

Jan. 29: Puzzle Day

Jan. 30: Escape Day

Jan. 31: Backwards Day

Feb. 1: Freedom Day

Feb. 2: Groundhog Day

Feb. 3: Chinese New Year (and The Day the Music Died)

Feb. 4: Create a Vacuum Day

Feb. 5: Disaster Day

Feb. 6: Lame Duck Day

Feb. 7: Charles Dickens Day

Feb. 8: Boy Scouts Day

Feb. 9: Toothache Day

Feb. 10: Umbrella Day

Feb. 11: Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

Feb. 12: Darwin Day

Feb. 13: Get a Different Name Day

Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day

Feb. 15: Gum Drop Day

Feb. 16: Women’s Heart Health Day

Feb. 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day

Feb. 18: Battery Day

Feb. 19: Chocolate Mint Day

Feb. 20: Hoodie Hoo Day

Feb. 21: Presidents Day (and Love Your Pet Day)

Feb. 22: Be Humble Day

Feb. 23: Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

Feb. 24: Tortilla Chip Day

Feb. 25: Pistol Patent Day

Feb. 26: Pistachio Day

Feb. 27: Polar Bear Day

Feb. 28: Public Sleeping Day

March 1: Peanut Butter Lover’s Day

March 2: Read Across America Day

March 3: National Anthem Day

March 4: Holy Experiment Day

March 5: Multiple Personalities Day

March 6: Dentist Day

March 7: Crown Roast of Pork Day

March 8: Working Women’s Day (and Mardi Gras)

March 9: Panic Day (and Ash Wednesday)

March 10: Festival of Life in the Cracks Day

March 11: Worship of Tools Day

March 12: Girl Scouts Day

March 13: Good Samaritan Day

March 14: Pi Day

March 15: Everything You Think Is Wrong Day

March 16: Everything You Do Is Right Day

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

March 18: Johnny Appleseed Day

March 19: Swallow’s Return Day

March 20: Quilting Day

March 21: Single Parents’ Day

March 22: National Goof-off Day

March 23: Organize Your Home Office Day

March 24: Chocolate Covered Raisins Day

March 25: Pecan Day

March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

March 27: “Joe” Day (Everyone who hates their name can be called “Joe”)

March 28: Something on a Stick Day

March 29: Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day

March 30: Doctors’ Day

March 31: Tater Day

April 1: April Fool’s Day

April 2: Children’s Book Day

April 3: Find a Rainbow Day

April 4: World Pillow Fight Day

April 5: Read a Road Map Day

April 6: Sorry Charlie Day

April 7: World Health Day

April 8: All Is Ours Day

April 9: Name Yourself Day

April 10: Golfers’ Day

April 11: Jackie Robinson Day

April 12: Look Up at the Sky Day

April 13: Blame Somebody Else Day

April 14: Moment of Laughter Day

April 15: Tax Day

April 16: Eggs Benedict Day

April 17: Cheeseball Day

April 18: Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

April 19: Passover begins (and Garlic Day)

April 20: Look Alike Day

April 21: Kindergarten Day

April 22: Earth Day and Good Friday

April 23: Home Run Day

April 24: Easter (and Pigs in a Blanket Day)

April 25: Zucchini Bread Day

April 26: Pretzel Day

April 27: Tell a Story Day

April 28: Poetry Reading Day

April 29: Arbor Day (and Zipper Day)

April 30: Honesty Day

May 1: May Day

May 2: Holocaust Remembrance Day

May 3: Lumpy Rug Day

May 4: Teacher Day

May 5: Cinco de Mayo Day

May 6: No Diet Day

May 7: Paste Up Day

May 8: Mother’s Day (and No Socks Day)

May 9: Train Day

May 10: Clean Up Your Room Day

May 11: Twilight Zone Day

May 12: Nurses’ Day

May 13: Leprechaun Day

May 14: Dance Like a Chicken Day

May 15: Chocolate Chip Day

May 16: Peace Day

May 17: Pack Rat Day

May 18: Museum Day

May 19: Circus Day

May 20: Eliza Doolittle Day

May 21: Waitresses/Waiters’ Day

May 22: Buy a Musical Instrument Day

May 23: Penny Day

May 24: Escargot Day

May 25: Missing Children’s Day

May 26: Blueberry Cheesecake Day

May 27: “How to” Tip Day

May 28: National Hamburger Day

May 29: End of the Middle Ages Day

May 30: Memorial Day (and My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It Day)

May 31: No Tobacco Day

June 1: Doughnut Day

June 2: Rocky Road Day

June 3: Egg Day

June 4: Cheese Day

June 5. World Environment Day

June 6: D-Day

June 7: Chocolate Ice Cream Day

June 8: World Ocean Day

June 9: Donald Duck Day

June 10: Iced Tea Day

June 11: King Kamehameha Day

June 12: Magic Day

June 13: Race Unity Day

June 14: Flag Day

June 15: Smile Power Day

June 16: Fudge Day

June 17: Eat Your Vegetables Day

June 18: Picnic Day

June 19: Father’s Day (and World Sauntering Day)

June 20: Ice Cream Soda Day

June 21: Cuckoo Warning Day

June 22: Chocolate Eclair Day

June 23: Pink Day

June 24: UFO Day

June 25: LEON Day (“Noel” spelled backwards; six months until Christmas)

June 26: Chocolate Pudding Day

June 27: Columnists’ Day

June 28: Paul Bunyan Day

June 29: Camera Day

June 30: Meteor Day

July 1: Build a Scarecrow Day

July 2: Visitation Of The Virgin Mary Day

July 3: Stay Out of the Sun Day

July 4: Independence Day

July 5: Workaholics Day

July 6: Fried Chicken Day

July 7: Macaroni Day

July 8: Video Games Day

July 9: Sugar Cookie Day

July 10: Teddy Bear Picnic Day

July 11: Cheer Up The Lonely Day

July 12: Paper Bag Day

July 13: French Fries Day

July 14: Bastille Day

July 15: Tapioca Pudding Day

July 16: Juggling Day

July 17: Ice Cream Day

July 18: Caviar Day

July 19: Stick Out Your Tongue Day

July 20: Moon Day

July 21: Junk Food Day

July 22: Ratcatchers’ Day

July 23: Mosquito Day

July 24: Amelia Earhart Day

July 25: Threading the Needle Day

July 26: All or Nothing Day

July 27: Take Your Pants for a Walk Day

July 28: Milk Chocolate Day

July 29: Lasagna Day

July 30: Cheesecake Day

July 31: Parents’ Day

Aug. 1: Friendship Day

Aug. 2: Ice Cream Sandwich Day

Aug. 3: Watermelon Day

Aug. 4: Coast Guard Day

Aug. 5: Underwear Day

Aug. 6: Wiggle Your Toes Day

Aug. 7: Sea Serpent Day

Aug. 8: World Cat Day

Aug. 9: Rice Pudding Day

Aug. 10: Lazy Day

Aug. 11: Play in the Sand Day

Aug. 12: Middle Children’s Day

Aug. 13: Blame Someone Else Day

Aug. 14: Creamsicle Day

Aug. 15: Relaxation Day (and V-J Day)

Aug. 16: Roller Coaster Day

Aug. 17: Thriftshop Day

Aug. 18: Bad Poetry Day

Aug. 19: Aviation Day

Aug. 20: Radio Day

Aug. 21: Homeless Animals Day

Aug. 22: Be an Angel Day

Aug. 23: Spongecake Day

Aug. 24: Waffle Day

Aug. 25: Kiss and Make Up Day

Aug. 26: Women’s Equality Day

Aug. 27: Petroleum Day

Aug. 28: Dream Day

Aug. 29: More Herbs, Less Salt Day

Aug. 30: Toasted Marshmallow Day

Aug. 31: Trail Mix Day

Sept. 1: Emma M. Nutt Day

Sept. 2: Blueberry Popsicle Day

Sept. 3: Skyscraper Day

Sept. 4: Newspaper Carrier Day

Sept. 5: Labor Day (and Be Late for Something Day)

Sept. 6: Read a Book Day

Sept. 7: Neither Rain nor Snow Day

Sept. 8: Literacy Day

Sept. 9: Teddy Bear Day

Sept. 10: Swap Ideas Day

Sept. 11: Day of Service and Remembrance

Sept. 12: Grandparents’ Day

Sept. 13: Positive Thinking Day

Sept. 14: National Cream-filled Doughnut Day

Sept. 15: Make a Hat Day

Sept. 16: Working Parents’ Day

Sept. 17: Citizenship Day

Sept. 18: Play-doh Day

Sept. 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day

Sept. 20: Punch Day

Sept. 21: World Gratitude Day

Sept. 22: Dear Diary Day

Sept. 23: Checkers Day

Sept. 24: Punctuation Day

Sept. 25: Comic Book Day

Sept. 26: Good Neighbor Day

Sept. 27: Crush A Can Day

Sept. 28: Ask a Stupid Question Day

Sept. 29: Poisoned Blackberries Day

Sept. 30: Mud Pack Day

Oct. 1: World Vegetarian Day

Oct. 2: Name Your Car Day

Oct. 3: Captain Kangaroo Day

Oct. 4: World Animal Day

Oct. 5: Do Something Nice Day

Oct. 6: Come and Take It Day

Oct. 7: Frappe Day

Oct. 8: Tag Day

Oct. 9: Moldy Cheese Day

Oct. 10: Columbus Day (and Angel Food Cake Day)

Oct. 11: No News Is Good News Day

Oct. 12: Farmers’ Day

Oct. 13: Face Your Fears Day

Oct. 14: Be Bald and Free Day

Oct. 15: Grouch Day

Oct. 16: Bosses’ Day

Oct. 17: Gaudy Day

Oct. 18: Alaska Day

Oct. 19: Evaluate Your Life Day

Oct. 20: Monster Mash Day

Oct. 21: Babbling Day

Oct. 22: Nut Day

Oct. 23: Mole Day

Oct. 24: Bologna Day

Oct. 25: Denim Day

Oct. 26: Mule Day

Oct. 27: Sylvia Plath Day

Oct. 28: Plush Animal Lover’s Day

Oct. 29: Hermit Day

Oct. 30: Candy Corn Day

Oct. 31: Halloween

Nov. 1: All Saints’ Day

Nov. 2: Deviled Egg Day

Nov. 3: Sandwich Day

Nov. 4: Candy Day

Nov. 5: Gunpowder Day

Nov. 6: Marooned Without a Compass Day

Nov. 7: Hug a Bear Day

Nov. 8: Dunce Day

Nov. 9: Chaos Never Dies Day

Nov. 10: Forget-Me-Not Day

Nov. 11: Veterans Day

Nov. 12: Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day

Nov. 13: Gaming Day

Nov. 14: Operation Room Nurse Day

Nov. 15: America Recycles Day

Nov. 16: Button Day

Nov. 17: Take a Hike Day

Nov. 18: William Tell Day

Nov. 19: Have a Bad Day Day

Nov. 20: Adoption Day

Nov. 21: World Hello Day

Nov. 22: Start Your Own Country Day

Nov. 23: Cashew Day

Nov. 24: Thanksgiving (and Use Even if Seal Is Broken Day)

Nov. 25: Parfait Day

Nov. 26: Cake Day

Nov. 27: Pins and Needles Day

Nov. 28: Make Your Own Head Day

Nov. 29: Square Dance Day

Nov. 30: Stay at Home Because You’re Well Day

Dec. 1: World AIDS Day

Dec. 2: Fritters Day

Dec. 3: Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

Dec. 4: Wear Brown Shoes Day

Dec. 5: Ninja Day

Dec. 6: Mitten Tree Day

Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Day

Dec. 8: Brownie Day

Dec. 9: Pastry Day

Dec. 10: Human Rights Day

Dec. 11: Noodle Ring Day

Dec. 12: Poinsettia Day

Dec. 13: Violins Day

Dec. 14: Bouillabaisse Day

Dec. 15: Lemon Cupcake Day

Dec. 16: Chocolate Covered Anything Day

Dec. 17: Underdog Day

Dec. 18: Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day

Dec. 19: Oatmeal Muffin Day

Dec. 20: Games Day (and start of Hanukkah)

Dec. 21: Look at the Bright Side Day

Dec. 22: Date-Nut Bread Day

Dec. 23: Roots Day

Dec. 24: Egg Nog Day

Dec. 25: Christmas Day (and Pumpkin Pie Day)

Dec. 26: Start of Kwanzaa (and Whiners’ Day)

Dec. 27: Fruitcake Day

Dec. 28: Card Playing Day

Dec. 29: Pepper Pot Day

Dec. 30: Bicarbonate Of Soda Day

Dec. 31: Make Up Your Mind Day