Kiss a Ginger Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Major-media reporting identifies Canadian Derek Forgie as founder, documents the first Kiss a Ginger Day in 2009 and confirms January 12 annual recurrence. The day originated as a positive anti-bullying response; current exclusive stewardship and the original January 12 selection rationale remain unresolved.
About Kiss a Ginger Day
Kiss a Ginger Day is an informal red-hair appreciation and anti-bullying observance held on January 12.
Major-media reporting credits Canadian Derek Forgie with organizing the first day in 2009 as a positive response to anti-redhead bullying associated with “Kick a Ginger Day.”
Why Kiss a Ginger Day matters
The day is best understood as a positive counter-message to bullying and stigma aimed at people with red hair.
Its name does not give anyone permission to touch or kiss another person; participation can be entirely non-contact and should always respect consent and personal boundaries.
History of Kiss a Ginger Day
ITV News reported in 2019 that Derek Forgie organized the first Kiss a Ginger Day in 2009 in response to bullying linked to the fictional “Kick a Ginger Day.”
The same report marked the event’s tenth anniversary on January 12, 2019.
ITV News reported again in 2022 that Kiss a Ginger Day has been marked on January 12 every year since 2009.
Later red-hair communities and events have used the occasion, but available source material does not establish a single exclusive current steward.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Derek Forgie
ITV News identifies Canadian Derek Forgie as the founder/organizer of the first Kiss a Ginger Day.
Derek Forgie
The day is an individual-created informal anti-bullying/appreciation observance.
First documented observance
The tenth-anniversary report on 12 January 2019 identifies the first event in 2009, and later reporting says the day has been marked every January 12 since 2009.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Kiss a Ginger Day
Offer a kind message to a red-haired friend or family member without making their appearance the subject of unwanted attention.
Call out bullying or derogatory stereotypes about red hair when you encounter them.
Share positive stories about red-haired people or communities while respecting privacy and individual identity.
If any physical affection is involved, ask first and accept “no” immediately; a smile, message or compliment is an equally valid way to participate.
Kiss a Ginger Day Facts
Kiss a Ginger Day is observed on January 12.
Derek Forgie is credited with founding the observance.
The first event is documented in 2009.
The day was created as a positive response to anti-redhead bullying.
The observance’s name does not imply consent to physical contact.
Kiss a Ginger Day Messages
Happy Kiss a Ginger Day — celebrate red hair with kindness, respect and zero tolerance for bullying.
Wishing redheads everywhere a Kiss a Ginger Day filled with confidence, kindness and no unwanted attention.
Celebrate the day with a compliment, a message or support against bullying — physical contact is never required.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Consent Boundary.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
ITV News — Kiss a Ginger Day / annual 12 January recurrence (opens in a new tab)
Major News Corroboration
The Irish Times — 10th anniversary / creator and 12 January history (opens in a new tab)
Major News History
ITV News / UTV — 10th anniversary (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Kiss a Ginger Day?
12 January The documented recurrence rule is: 12 January..
Does Kiss a Ginger Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Kiss a Ginger Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: International informal red-hair appreciation and anti-bullying observance created in 2009. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Kiss a Ginger Day?
The reviewed sources identify Derek Forgie as the proclaiming or establishing body.
Is Kiss a Ginger Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: International informal red-hair appreciation and anti-bullying observance created in 2009. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-21.
When is Kiss a Ginger Day?
It is marked on January 12.
Who founded Kiss a Ginger Day?
Major-media reporting credits Canadian Derek Forgie with organizing the first event in 2009.
Why was it created?
It was organized as a positive response to anti-redhead bullying associated with “Kick a Ginger Day.”
Do you have to kiss someone to participate?
No. The name is symbolic; physical contact always requires consent, and non-contact appreciation or anti-bullying support is fully appropriate.
Other observances on January 12
These observances are also listed on January 12, 2027.
National Hot Tea Day
The Tea Council of the USA announced the first National Hot Tea Day for January 12, 2016 and continued using January 12 in later annual campaigns.
National Youth Day
Government of India sources state that January 12, Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, has been observed as National Youth Day every year since 1985; the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sp…
Poetry at Work Day
Tweetspeak Poetry announced January 15, 2013 as the first Poetry at Work Day and continues to sponsor the observance on the second Tuesday in January.