National Handwriting Day2026 · Date · History
The Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association says it sponsors National Handwriting Day every January 23 in conjunction with John Hancock’s birthday.
About National Handwriting Day
National Handwriting Day is observed each January 23 and is sponsored by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA).
WIMA says the observance was established in 1977 on John Hancock’s birthday.
Why National Handwriting Day matters
The day encourages attention to handwriting and penmanship.
It is an industry-association observance, not a federal public holiday. A 2017 House resolution expressing support for the 2018 edition was introduced and referred to committee.
History of National Handwriting Day
WIMA says National Handwriting Day was established in 1977 and sponsors it every January 23.
January 23 was selected because it is John Hancock’s birthday.
In December 2017, H.Res.654 was introduced in the U.S. House to express support for January 23, 2018 as National Handwriting Day; GovInfo records it as introduced and referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA)
WIMA states that National Handwriting Day was established in 1977 and that it sponsors the observance.
Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA)
WIMA identifies itself as the sponsor and historical establishing organization; no government statutory establishment is asserted.
First documented observance
WIMA says the observance was established in 1977 on John Hancock’s birthday, which is January 23.
The resolution expressed support for designating January 23, 2018 as National Handwriting Day; it was introduced and referred to committee rather than enacted as a federal public holiday.
U.S. House of Representatives (introduced resolution) · H.Res.654, 115th Congress
Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA)
WIMA’s current site says it sponsors National Handwriting Day every January 23.
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.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe National Handwriting Day
Write a handwritten note or letter.
Practice a signature or another style of penmanship.
Compare different writing instruments and how they affect your handwriting.
Preserve a meaningful handwritten family document by storing or scanning it carefully.
National Handwriting Day Facts
National Handwriting Day is January 23.
WIMA says it established the observance in 1977.
WIMA continues to sponsor the day.
The date honors John Hancock’s birthday.
A 2017 congressional resolution was introduced in support of the 2018 edition but is not evidence of a federal public holiday.
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.
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.
GovInfo — H.Res.654, introduced 7 December 2017 (opens in a new tab)
WIMA — Congressional Recognition / history (opens in a new tab)
WIMA — National Handwriting Day (opens in a new tab)
Industry Association
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 National Handwriting Day?
23 January annually The documented recurrence rule is: 23 January.
Does National Handwriting Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Handwriting Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association / handwriting appreciation campaign. 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 National Handwriting Day?
The reviewed sources identify Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA).
Is National Handwriting Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association / handwriting appreciation campaign. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
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 2026-09-09.
When is National Handwriting Day?
It is observed on January 23.
Who established it?
WIMA says National Handwriting Day was established in 1977 and continues to sponsor it.
Why January 23?
WIMA chose the date in conjunction with John Hancock’s birthday.
Did Congress make it a federal holiday?
No. H.Res.654 was introduced in 2017 to express support for the 2018 observance and was referred to committee; it did not create a federal public holiday.
Other observances on January 23
These observances are also listed on January 23, 2027.
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Parakram Diwas
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