2025
First observance
World Day for Glaciers
A/RES/77/158 proclaimed 21 March as World Day for Glaciers beginning in 2025.
Evergreen date guide
What is celebrated on March 21?
See the observances and verified observance-history milestones attached to March 21. Each observance keeps its own source and date details.
Verified history
Today in history →On this date in observance history
Selected observance milestones connected to this date, based on reviewed sources.
2024
Institutional decision
International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
The UN Digital Library action record gives 21 March 2024, adopted without a vote at the 63rd plenary meeting.
2018
First observance
National Healthy Fats Day
Founding-member material explicitly announced the first-ever National Healthy Fats Day on March 21, 2018; the coalition’s 2022 fifth-annual description independently fits that chr…
2013
First observance
International Day of Forests
A/RES/67/200 specified observance beginning in 2013, and FAO/UN institutional material identifies 21 March 2013 as the first International Day of Forests celebration.
2010
First observance
International Day of Nowruz
The UN Secretary-General’s message on 21 March 2010 explicitly describes the occasion as the first International Day of Nowruz.
2009
Institutional decision
International Talk Like William Shatner Day
The original declaration video was published on 21 March 2009.
2007
First observance
National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
CDC archival material records the inaugural National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 21, 2007.
2003
First observance
Race Relations Day (New Zealand)
NZHistory / Manatū Taonga explicitly records Race Relations Day as first formally celebrated on 21 March 2003.
Curated global anchors
See the collection →Major global guides on March 21
A reviewed starting point drawn from prominent global observances with strong institutional or organizer sources. Each observance keeps its own documented status and scope.
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
A/RES/2142 (XXI)
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Day for Glaciers
A/RES/77/158
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Down Syndrome Day
A/RES/66/149
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Poetry Day
UNESCO 30 C/Resolution 29
Reviewed depth
Other in-depth guides on March 21
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
California Strawberry Day
California Strawberry Commission first-party dietitian toolkits list March 21 as National California Strawberry Day and recommend it as an education/story opportunity about growers and farm…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Harmony Day
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Human Rights Day
The South African Government’s public-holidays page lists Human Rights Day on 21 March.
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Independence Day
Namibia government history states that independence occurred on 21 March 1990 and that Independence Day is annually celebrated on March 21; the Public Holidays Act independently lists the s…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
International Colour Day
International Colour Association (AIC)
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
International Day of Forests
A/RES/67/200
Explore the mix
All topics →Topics represented on March 21
18 observances
All observances on this date
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
California Strawberry Day
California Strawberry Commission first-party dietitian toolkits list March 21 as National California Strawberry Day and recommend it as an education/story opportunity about growers and farm…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Harmony Day
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Human Rights Day
The South African Government’s public-holidays page lists Human Rights Day on 21 March.
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Independence Day
Namibia government history states that independence occurred on 21 March 1990 and that Independence Day is annually celebrated on March 21; the Public Holidays Act independently lists the s…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
International Colour Day
International Colour Association (AIC)
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
A/RES/2142 (XXI)
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
International Day of Forests
A/RES/67/200
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
International Day of Nowruz
A/RES/64/253
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Mother’s Day in Egypt
Egyptian State Information Service confirms a recurring 21 March social Mother’s Day, proposed by Ali Amin in December 1955 and first held 21 March 1956; not a statutory day off.
Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide
National Corn Dog Day
National Day Calendar credits Brady Sahnow and Henry Otley with creating the observance in Corvallis, Oregon, in 1992; a preserved co-founder-attributed history corroborates the basketball…
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
National Healthy Fats Day
Healthy Fats Coalition material calls March 21 National Healthy Fats Day, describes the 2022 observance as the fifth annual edition, and identifies the day as the coalition’s brainchild.
Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide
Play-the-Recorder Day
The American Recorder Society states that Play-the-Recorder Day grew from a 1989 event, became annual in 1992, and is observed on the third Saturday in March.
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
Race Relations Day (New Zealand)
New Zealand History records that Race Relations Day was first formally celebrated in New Zealand on 21 March 2003, aligning with the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discr…
Source-backedRule Based AnnualIn-depth guide
Save the Florida Panther Day
Florida Statutes designate the third Saturday in March of each year as Save the Florida Panther Day; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also promoted the 21 March 2026 observance.
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Day for Glaciers
A/RES/77/158
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Down Syndrome Day
A/RES/66/149
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Poetry Day
UNESCO 30 C/Resolution 29
Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide
World Puppetry Day
UNIMA first-party material verifies a 2003 launch, annual March 21 recurrence and continuing stewardship through international messages, National Centres and campaign materials.
How dates are selected
This page combines fixed annual dates, reusable calendar rules and year-specific dates confirmed for 2026. Variable or historical dates are included only when they are clearly supported.
Read the methodology →