Weird Holidays in February to Celebrate with Tweens
Celebrating weird holidays in February will give your tweens and teens reasons to have some fun during the cold winter days that seem to go on and on.
While the holidays are a distant memory, and spring seems like it is months away, the few national holidays celebrated in February often aren’t enough to beat the winter blahs.
As you know, almost every day has some special theme or significance, so it’s easy to choose a few to add to your schedule that will help shake up your routine.
Pick a couple of these wacky holidays to observe as a family and fill February with laughter and merriment.
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Weird February Holidays
I don’t know about you, but February can be a challenge. Winter seems to drag on and the shorter days mean there’s less sunlight to brighten things up.
So, it’s time to add some festivity into your homeschooling day with some wacky holidays.
Sure, you’ve got Valentine’s Day and President’s Day, but why stop there? Choose a couple of unique theme days to celebrate to break up your routine and make some memories with your middle schooler. This is a great, no-pressure way to do something a bit different – and potentially start a new, well-loved family tradition.
Don’t have a clue what to observe in February? I’ve got you covered. Here are a bunch that tweens will enjoy plus some ideas you can use to make the days extra-special.
Feed the Birds Day
Who doesn’t love to watch the birds in their backyard? Feed the Birds Day (on February 3rd) was created to encourage people to set up bird feeders to help our feathered friends find enough food throughout the winter.
By making the most of this special day, you’ll not only have a ton of fun, you’ll also be helping out some beautiful flying creatures.
- Create a DIY bird feeder and hang it up in your yard.
- Here are ten bird-themed learning activities and helpful resources that will make it easy for you to celebrate.
- Go bird watching. Visit a local park or another spot where birds can be found, and challenge your middle schoolers to spot and identify several birds.
Random Acts of Kindness Day
We could all use a little more kindness in our lives – including our middle schoolers. On February 17th, dedicate the day to giving back and helping others. You can make a big impact on someone’s life and teach your child some important lessons.
Spread some joy through some focused activities like these.
- Send a ‘just because’ letter to a friend or family member. Challenge your middle schooler to reach out to someone and share a few words of kindness. They can write a letter to their grandmother, their best friend, or their sibling. Or how about one to a soldier fighting abroad, a child fighting cancer, or a nursing home resident who would appreciate a few words of encouragement?
- Perform a random act of kindness as a family. Ask your child to come up with some ways that you could sprinkle a little kindness throughout your community. You could leave kind messages in library books, bake a treat for some first responders, put out water and snacks for your delivery drivers, leave painted rocks along walking paths, or find other ways to spread some joy.
- Here are some ideas for teens to give back and make a difference in their neighborhood.
Cherry Pie Day
On February 20th, spend the day celebrating all things cherry pie. We can thank the early settlers for this delicious treat. The colonists brought it with them to the new world. Cherry pie is known as a “great American dish,” so it’s only fitting that we would have a day to honor this yummy dessert.
On Cherry Pie Day, it’s not a question of whether you should eat some pie, it’s a question of how much you’ll eat.
- Of course, to celebrate this special day, the first thing you should do is make a pie with your tweens. This cherry pie recipe uses refrigerated dough for the crust, so it’s super easy to make. If thinking about baking a big, fancy pie has you worried, scale it down and make individual ones. Or scrap it all and make cherry dump cake instead.
- Put together a cherry pie-themed puzzle during the day while you’re eating your fruity treats.
- If you don’t want your kids eating pie for breakfast, keep to the theme by making some cherry Pie overnight oats to enjoy.
- Revisit an old favorite children’s book, How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A.
February Wacky Theme Days
Check out these other weird holidays in February.
- February 5: National Weatherman’s Day
- In honor of the meteorologists out there, make a homemade weather station with your tween.
- February 6: Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
- How surprised would your kids be if they woke up to a sundae bar?
- February 7: Send a Card to a Friend Day
- Encourage your tween to make a card to send, like this one that’s painted with blueberry juice.
- February 8: Kite Flying Day
- Sure, it may be the middle of winter, but it’s still important to get outside. If you have enough wind, head out to fly a kite. If not, celebrate by watching Mary Poppins and sing along as they fly theirs.
- February 9: National Pizza Day
- If your kids are anything like mine, they’ll love making their own pizzas.
- February 11: National Inventors Day
- Learn about silly putty, the famous product that James Wright invented, that wasn’t created as a child’s toy.
- February 13: Galentine’s Day
- Use these Galentine’s Day ideas to host a fun gathering for your daughters and their friends.
- February 15: Susan B. Anthony Day
- Spend some time learning about Susan B. Anthony. Check out how my daughter combined Minecraft with the study of one of her favorite historical figures.
- February 18: National Battery Day
- Help your kids complete some battery experiments using household items and, of course, batteries.
- February 19: National Chocolate Mint Day
- Two of my favorite flavors on one awesome day. Head to the kitchen and make these yummy chocolate mint oreo cupcakes with your tweens.
- February 20: Love Your Pet Day
- In our house, every day is love your pet day, but to celebrate officially, make something nice for your furry family member, like a pet pillow from a favorite t-shirt.
- February 26: Tell a Fairy Tale Day
- Read some of your favorite fairy tales as a family to observe this special day.
- February 27: Polar Bear Day
- Spend time learning about these amazing arctic creatures.
National Holidays in February
There are actually quite a few larger holidays that you can celebrate in February.
Take a virtual visit to Punxsutawney on February 2nd and celebrate Groundhog Day with people from around the world. Then, pop some popcorn and watch the famous movie with your tweens.
On February 12th, celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday by learning more about him though several online educational resources.
The Chinese New Year is February 12. Learn more about this famous holiday and Chinese culture through some fun activities. Go on a virtual field trip to China and see the Great Wall and China’s great forests. Or cook some yummy cuisine, like wontons or fried rice.
Decorate your home with DIY heart-themed crafts this year. Shower your kids with a little more love on February 14th. These gifts for tween girls and tween boys will make Valentine’s Day extra-special for your family.
Celebrate Presidents’ Day on the 15th by learning more about this important position and the men who have held it.
There’s no party quite like Mardi Gras. Even though the parades have been cancelled, you can still celebrate on 16th. Here are a bunch of fun Mardi Gras activities you can do with your kids.
Learn more about George Washington on his birthday, Feb 22. Read his story and complete some fun activities during your homeschooling day.
Plan to celebrate one – or all – of these fun and festive holidays in February to bring some excitement into the long, dark winter days.