2023 Calendar of Social and Cultural Events and Significant Days for Early Childhood Education

Are you searching for special days to celebrate or explore world culture in your early childhood service or school? Well, you have come to the right place! We have the ULTIMATE 2023 Calendar of Significant Days and Events for you! This calandar has taken me hours upon hours to curate for YOU!

You can use this page on our website as your inspiration OR you can purchase our handy little downloadable calendar to include in your planning diary or calendar.

We've also included some fun and quirky days so you can have a little fun! I mean who doesn't need fun in their life?

I have included some significant religious days at the end of this page as well.

2023 Calendar of Social and Cultural Events and significant days for Australian Early Childhood Educators & Teachers

Below you will find our comprehensive list of all the events and special dates in Australia in 2023 to help you plan activities or explore ideas and concepts with your students.

January 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st – 31st January – Veganuary
1st – 31st January – Walk Your Dog Month
1st January – New Year’s Day
1st January – Public Domain Day
2nd January - World Introvert Day
4th January – World Braille Day
4th January - World Spaghetti Day
10th January – Houseplant Appreciation Day
11th January – Clean off Your Desk Day
3th January – Rubber Duckie Day
14th January – International Kite Day
15th January – Wikipedia Day
17th January – World Religion Day
20th January – Penguin Awareness day
21st January – Squirrel Appreciation Day
21st January – National Hug Day
21st January – World Religion Day
22nd January - Lunar New Year - Year of the Rabbit
22nd January - Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit
22nd January - Vietnamese New Year - Year of the Cat
24th January - International Day of Education
26th January – Invasion Day
26th January – Survival Day
26th January – Australia Day
27th January – Chocolate Cake Day
28th January – Triple J Hottest 100 Day
28th January – National Lego Day
29th January – Puzzle Day

February 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st – 28th February – Feel Good February
1st February – Feel Read Aloud Day
2nd February – World Wetlands Day
5th February – World Nutella Day
9th February – International Pizza Day
11th February – International Day of Women and Girls in Science Day
12th February – International Darwin Day
13th February – Apology Anniversary
13th February – World Radio Day
14th February – Valentine’s Day
14th February – International Book Giving Day
14th February – Library Lovers' Day
15th February – International Singles Awareness Day
17th February – Random Acts of Kindness Day
19th February - International Tug-of-War Day
20th February – National Love Your Pet Day
21st February – International Mother Language Day
21st February – World Harmony Day
22nd February – World Thinking Day
22nd February – Walk your Dog Day
26th February – Tell a Fairy Tale Day
28th February – Summer’s Day KidSafe
28th February – Last Day of Summer

March 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st – 31st March – Australian Women’s History Month
1st – 31st March – Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
1st – 31st March – The Water Challenge
1st – 31st March – Polite Pets Month
1st March – First Day of Autumn
1st March – World Compliment Day
2nd March – Dr Seuss Day
3rd March – World Wildlife Day
3rd March – World Hearing Day
5th March – School Clean Up Australia Day
7th March – Clean Up Australia Day
7th March – Youth and Schools Clean up Australia Day
6th - 14th March – Parks Week
8th March – International Women’s Day
10 - 14th March – World's Greatest Shave
14th March – Pi Day
14th March – International Day of Mathematics
15th – 26th March – A Taste of Harmony
17th March – St. Patrick’s Day
20th March – National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence
20th March – International Day of Happiness
21st - 29th March – Cultural Diversity Week (Victoria)
20th March – World Storytelling Day
20th March – International Day of Happiness
21st March – World Poetry Day
21st March – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21st March – Harmony Day
21st March – International Day of Forests
22nd March – World Water Day
23rd March – World Meteorological Day
23rd March – World Maths Day
23rd March – World Tamale Day
24th March – Ride to School Day
25th March – Earth Hour 8.30 pm
29th March – Neighbour Day
29th March – 4th April – Autism Awareness and Acceptance Week

April 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st April – April Fool’s Day
2nd April – Go Blue for Autism - World Autism Awareness Day
2nd April – International Children's Book Day
3rd April – Be Alarmed! Change your smoke alarm battery!
4th April - World Stray Animal Day
6th – 16th April - Nature Play Week
7th April – World Health Day
12th April – International Day of Human Space Flight
15th – 21st April – World Creativity & Innovation Week
17th - 25th April - National Parks Week
18th April – World Heritage Day
18th April – 19th May – The National Trust Heritage Festival
20th – 25th – World Allergy Week
22nd April – International Mother Earth Day
20th - 22nd April – Earth Day
22nd April – Jelly Bean Day
23rd April – World Book and Copyright Day
27th April – International Guide Dog Day
25th April – World Penguin Day
25th April – Anzac Day
28th April – Pay it Forward Day
28th April – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
30th April – International Jazz Day
30th April – World Veterinary Day

May 2023 Events and Days of Significance

May – Supermarket Free Month
1st May – May Day
1st May – Mother Goose Day
1st – 7th May – International Compost Awareness Month
3rd May – World Press Freedom Day
2nd - 7th May – National Family Day Care Week
4th May – May Fourth – International Star Wars Day
4th May – International Respect for Chickens Day
5th May – Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi)
7th May – World Laughter Day
7th May – World Laughter Day
9th - 15th May – Mental Health Awareness Week
11th - 17th May – World Orienteering Day
12th May – International Nurses Day
14th May – Mother’s Day
14th May – World Fair Trade Day
15th May – International Day of Families
15th – 21st May – National Families Week
15th - 21st May - National Road Safety Week
18th May – International Museum Day
19th May – WOW Day (State Emergency Services recognition day)
19th May – Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
19th May – Outdoor Classroom Day
19th May – National Walk to Safely to School Day
20th May – Endangered Species Day
22nd May – The International Day for Biological Diversity
22nd - 28th - Food Allergy Week
23rd May – World Turtle Day
23rd – 29th May – Food Allergy Week
25th May – National Simultaneous Storytime: The Speedy Sloth written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie
26th May – National Sorry Day
27th May – 3rd June – National Reconciliation Week
29th May – International Day of UN Peacekeepers
31st May – Last Day of Autumn

June 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st - 30th June – Pride Month
1st June – First Day of Winter
1st June –Global Day of Parents
1st June – Dinosaur Day
3rd June – Mabo Day
4th June – Doughnut Day
4th June – Hug Your Cat Day
5th June – World Environment Day
6th June – Gardening as Exercise Day
8th June – World Ocean's Day
8th June – Best Friend's Day
12th June - World Day Against Child Labour
13th June – Weed Your Garden Day
14th – 20th June – International Men's Health Week
14th June – International Bath Day
14th June - World Blood Donor Day
15th June – Global Wind Day
18th – 24th June – Refugee Week
18th – 24th June – Water Safety Week
17th June – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
18th – 24th June – Learning Disability Week
20th June – World Refugee Day
20th – 26th June – Insect Week
21st June – International Day of Yoga
21st June – World Music Day
21st June – Winter Solstice

July 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st – 31st July – Dry July
1st July – International Joke Day
3rd July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
2nd – 9th July – NAIDOC Week: For Our Elders
5th July – 100 Days of School TBC
12th July – Malala Day
17th July – World Emoji Day
18th July – Nelson Mandela International Day
20th – 25th July – National Farm Safety Week TBC
23rd July – National Pyjama Day
25th July – National Stepfamily Awareness Day
25th July – Christmas in July
30th July – International Day of Friendship
28th July – Schools Tree Day
29th July – International Tiger Day
30th July – International Friendship Day
31st July - National Tree Day
31st July – World Ranger Day

August 2023 Events and Days of Significance

2nd – 8th August – Local Government Week TBC
6th – 13th August – Homelessness Prevention Week
6th August – Principal's Day
7th – 13th August – Dental Health Week
7th – 13th August – Keep Australia Beautiful Week TBC
7th – 13th August – Speech Pathology Week
12th – 20th August – National Science Week
4th August – National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (NATICD)
9th August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
10th August – World Lion Day
11th August – Red Nose Day
12th – 20th - August National Science Week
12th August – World Elephant Day
12th August – International Youth Day
13th August – Left-handers Day
16th August – Cupcake Day – traditionally held to support the RSPCA, but please consider the many small self-funding ethical animal charities in your local community.
19th – 25th August – Book Week (Theme: Read Grow Inspire)
19th August – World Humanitarian Day
19th August – International Orangutan Day
21st – 27th August – Speech Pathology Week TBC
25th August – National Meals on Wheels Day
28th August – 1st September - Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week
31st August – Last Day of Winter

September 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st September – First Day of Spring
1st September – Indigenous Literacy Day
1st September – Wattle Day
1st – 30th September – Social September
1st – 30th September – Footy Colours Day
1st – 30th September – Foster Care Month
1st – 30th September – Biodiversity Month
1st – 30th September – Save the Koala Month
2nd September – National Health and Physical Education Day
2nd – 8th September – National Landcare Week
3rd – 11th September – History Week (NSW)
4th – 10th September – National Child Protection Week NAPCAN
5th September – International Day of Charity
4th September – Father’s Day
7th September – Early Childhood Educator's Day
7th September – Threatened Species Day
8th September – International Literacy Day
12th September – National Bilby Day
14th September – R U OK? Day
15th September – International Day of Democracy
17th September – Australian Citizenship Day
17th September – Clean up the World Day
19th September – Talk Like A Pirate Day
19th – 25th September – International Deaf Week
21st September – World Gratitude Day
21st September – International Day of Peace
23rd September – International Day of Sign Language

October 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st – 31st October – Buy Nothing New Month
1st – 31st October – ADHD Awareness Month
1st – 31st October – International School Library Month
1st – 31st October – International Walk to School Month
1st October – International Day of Older Persons
2nd October – International Day of Non-Violence
2nd October – World Habitat Day
4th October – World Smile Day TBC
4th – 10th October – World Space Week
5th October – International World Teacher’s Day
9th October – World Post Day
11th October – UN International Day of the Girl Child
15th – 21st October – Invisible Disabilities Week TBC
16th – 22nd October – National Nutrition Week
16th October – World Food Day
16th – 22nd October – Aussie Backyard Bird Count
21st October – 29th October – Children’s Week: Children have the right to relax, play and to join in a wide range of leisure activities.
24th October – United Nations Day
27th October – Australian World Teacher’s Day
29th October – Grandparents Day
31st October – Halloween

November 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st – 30th November – Movember
1st – 30th November – National Adoption Awareness Month
1st – 30th November – World Vegan Month
1st – 30th November – National Novel Writing Month
1st – 2nd November – Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos
6th – 12th November – National Recycling Week
8th November – World Town Planning Day/World Urbanism Day
11th November – Remembrance Day
11th – 12th November – Garage Sale Trail
13th November – World Kindness Day
13th - 19th November – Transgender Awareness Week
11th - 18th November – World Nursery Rhyme Week
11th - 18th November – Food Safety Week
16th November – International Day for Tolerance
16th – 26th November – Social Inclusion Week
17 November – International Students Day
18th – 19th November – Garage Sale Trail
19 November – International Men’s Day
19th November – World Toilet Day
20th November – Universal Children’s Day
21st November – World Hello Day
21st November – World Television Day
24th November – National Fairy Bread Day
25th November – White Ribbon Day
25th November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
24th November – Buy Nothing Day
30th November – Computer Security Day
30th November – Last Day of Spring

December 2023 Events and Days of Significance

1st -31st December – No Gender December
1st December – First Day of Summer
1st December – World AIDS Day
3rd December – International Day of People with Disability
5th December – International Volunteer Day
7th December – International Civil Aviation Day
10th December – International Human Rights Day
11th December – International Mountain Day
18th December – International Migrants Day
20th December – International Human Solidarity Day
22nd December – Summer Solstice
25th December – Christmas Day
26th December – Boxing Day
31st December – New Year’s Eve

Grab your own downloadable copy of our beautiful //PRINTABLE// 2022 Calendar of Significant Days HERE.

2023 Religious Events and Days of Significance for Early Childhood Education

- January 2023 -
Jan 1, 2023 - New Year's Day Christian Holidays
Jan 5, 2023 - Guru Gobind Singh Birthday Sikh Holidays
Jan 6, 2023 - Epiphany Christian Holidays
Jan 6, 2023 - Armenian Orthodox Christmas Day Christian Holidays
Jan 7, 2023 - Mahayana New Year Buddhist Holidays
Jan 8, 2023 - Baptism of Jesus Christian Holidays
Jan 13, 2023 - Lohri - Maghi Sikh Holidays
Jan 15, 2023 - Makar Sankranti Hindu Holidays
Jan 22, 2023 - Chinese New Year Buddhist Holidays

Jan 22, 2023 - Lunar New Year Buddhist Holidays
.
- February 2023 -
Feb 2, 2023 - Candlemas Christian Holidays
Feb 5, 2023 - Thaipusam Hindu Holidays
Feb 6, 2023 - Tu Bishvat Jewish Holidays
Feb 9, 2023 - Saint Maroun's Day Christian Holidays
Feb 14, 2023 - Saint Valentine's Day Christian Holidays
Feb 15, 2023 - Parinirvana Day Buddhist Holidays
Feb 18, 2023 - Lailat al Miraj Muslim Holidays
Feb 18, 2023 - Maha Shivaratri Hindu Holidays
Feb 20, 2023 - Fasching Germany Holidays
Feb 22, 2023 - Lent Christian Holidays
.
- March 2023 -
Mar 7, 2023 - Lailat al Bara'a Muslim Holidays
Mar 7, 2023 - Purim Jewish Holidays
Mar 7, 2023 - Holi Hindu Holidays
Mar 7, 2023 - Holika Dahan Hindu Holidays
Mar 8, 2023 - Hola Mohalla Sikh Holidays
Mar 17, 2023 - Saint Patrick's Day Christian Holidays
Mar 19, 2023 - Mothering Sunday Christian Holidays
Mar 19, 2023 - Saint Joseph's Day Christian Holidays
Mar 22, 2023 - Ugadi / Telugu New Year Hindu Holidays
Mar 23, 2023 - Ramadan Muslim Holidays
Mar 25, 2023 - Annunciation Day Christian Holidays
Mar 30, 2023 - Rama Navami Hindu Holidays
.
- April 2023 -
Apr 2, 2023 - Palm Sunday Christian Holidays
Apr 5, 2023 - Passover Jewish Holidays
Apr 6, 2023 - Maundy Thursday Christian Holidays
Apr 6, 2023 - Hanuman Jayanti Hindu Holidays
Apr 7, 2023 - Good Friday Christian Holidays
Apr 9, 2023 - Easter Christian Holidays
Apr 10, 2023 - Easter Monday Christian Holidays
Apr 14, 2023 - Tamil New Year Hindu Holidays
Apr 14, 2023 - Vaisakhi Sikh Holidays
Apr 15, 2023 - Bihu / Bengali New Year Hindu Holidays
Apr 18, 2023 - Laylat al-Qadr Muslim Holidays
Apr 18, 2023 - The Holocaust Remembrance Day Jewish Holidays
Apr 18, 2023 - Yom HaShoah Jewish Holidays
Apr 18, 2023 - Birthday of Guru Angad Dev Sikh Holidays
Apr 21, 2023 - Eid al-Fitr Muslim Holidays
Apr 22, 2023 - Akshaya Tritiya Hindu Holidays
Apr 23, 2023 - Saint George's Day Christian Holidays
Apr 25, 2023 - Yom HaAtzma'ut Jewish Holidays
Apr 26, 2023 - Israel's Independence Day Jewish Holidays

- May 2023 -

May 9, 2023 - Lag Baomer Jewish Holidays
May 18, 2023 - Feast of the Ascension Christian Holidays
May 19, 2023 - Yom Yerushalayim Jewish Holidays
May 19, 2023 - Savitri Brata Hindu Holidays
May 19, 2023 - Vesak Buddhist Holidays
May 26, 2023 - Shavuot Jewish Holidays
May 28, 2023 - Pentecost Christian Holidays
May 29, 2023 - Whit Monday Christian Holidays

- June 2023 -

Jun 4, 2023 - Trinity Sunday Christian Holidays
Jun 8, 2023 - Corpus Christi Christian Holidays
Jun 4, 2023 - Trinity Sunday Christian Holidays
Jun 8, 2023 - Corpus Christi Christian Holidays
Jun 13, 2023 - Feast of Saint Anthony Christian Holidays
Jun 16, 2023 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sikh Holidays
Jun 20, 2023 - Rath Yatra Hindu Holidays
Jun 24, 2023 - Feast of Saint John the Baptist Christian Holidays
Jun 27, 2023 - Day of Arafah Muslim Holidays
Jun 28, 2023 - Eid al-Adha Muslim Holidays
Jun 29, 2023 - Feast of Saints Peter and Paul Christian Holidays

- July 2023 -
Jul 3, 2023 - Guru Purnima Hindu Holidays
Jul 3, 2023 - Asalha Puja Buddhist Holidays
Jul 15, 2023 - Saint Vladimir Day Christian Holidays
Jul 19, 2023 - Muharram / Islamic New Year Muslim Holidays
Jul 25, 2023 - Saint James the Great Day Christian Holidays
Jul 27, 2023 - Tisha B'Av Jewish Holidays
Jul 28, 2023 - Ashura Muslim Holidays
Jul 28, 2023 - Ashura Eve Muslim Holidays

- August 2023 -
Aug 1, 2023 - Lammas Christian Holidays
Aug 13, 2023 - Bon Festival Buddhist Holidays
Aug 15, 2023 - The Assumption of Mary Christian Holidays
Aug 21, 2023 - Naga Panchami Hindu Holidays
Aug 25, 2023 - Varalakshmi Vrata Hindu Holidays
Aug 29, 2023 - Onam Hindu Holidays
Aug 30, 2023 - Raksha Bandhan Hindu Holidays
.
- September 2023 -
Sep 6, 2023 - Krishna Janmashtami Hindu Holidays
Sep 8, 2023 - Nativity of Mary Christian Holidays
Sep 14, 2023 - Holy Cross Day Christian Holidays
Sep 16, 2023 - Rosh Hashanah Jewish Holidays
Sep 17, 2023 - Vishwakarma Puja Hindu Holidays
Sep 18, 2023 - Fast of Gedaliah Jewish Holidays
Sep 19, 2023 - Ganesh Chaturthi Hindu Holidays
Sep 25, 2023 - Yom Kippur Jewish Holidays
Sep 27, 2023 - Mawlid al-Nabi Muslim Holidays
Sep 28, 2023 - Anant Chaturdashi Hindu Holidays
Sep 29, 2023 - Michael and All Angels Christian Holidays
.
- October 2023 -
Oct 1, 2023 - Sukkot Jewish Holidays
Oct 7, 2023 - Shemini Atzeret Jewish Holidays
Oct 7, 2023 - Simchat Torah Jewish Holidays
Oct 15, 2023 - Navaratri Hindu Holidays
Oct 20, 2023 - Birth of the Guru Granth Sikh Holidays
Oct 21, 2023 - Saraswati Puja Hindu Holidays
Oct 24, 2023 - Dussehra Hindu Holidays
Oct 28, 2023 - Sharad Purnima Hindu Holidays
Oct 31, 2023 - All Hallows Eve Christian Holidays
Oct 31, 2023 - Reformation Day Christian Holidays
.
- November 2023 -
Nov 1, 2023 - All Saints' Day Christian Holidays
Nov 1, 2023 - Karva Chauth Hindu Holidays
Nov 2, 2023 - All Souls' Day Christian Holidays
Nov 9, 2023 - Diwali Hindu Holidays
Nov 10, 2023 - Dhanteras Hindu Holidays
Nov 14, 2023 - Bhai Dooj Hindu Holidays
Nov 19, 2023 -  Chhath Puja Hindu Holidays
Nov 24, 2023 - Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Sikh Holidays
Nov 26, 2023 - Christ the King Christian Holidays
Nov 27, 2023 - Kartik Purnima Hindu Holidays
Nov 27, 2023 - Guru Nanak Birthday Sikh Holidays
Nov 28, 2023 - Loy Krathong Buddhist Holidays
Nov 30, 2023 - Saint Andrew's Day Christian Holidays
.
- December 2023 -
Dec 3, 2023 - Feast of Saint Francis Xavier Christian Holidays
Dec 6, 2023 - Saint Nicholas Day Christian Holidays
Dec 8, 2023 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception Christian Holidays
Dec 8, 2023 - Hanukkah Jewish Holidays
Dec 8, 2023 - Bodhi Day Buddhist Holidays
Dec 16, 2023 - Dhanu Sankranti Hindu Holidays
Dec 22, 2023 - Gita Jayanti Hindu Holidays
Dec 24, 2023 - Christmas Eve Christian Holidays
Dec 25, 2023 - Christmas Christian Holidays
Dec 26, 2023 - Saint Stephen's Day Christian Holidays
Dec 28, 2023 - Holy Innocents Christian Holidays
Dec 31, 2023 - New Year's Eve Christian Holidays

Please note that we have created this resource using the best information we've had at the time of publishing.

This resource has been brought to you by the teams behind Sticks & Stones Education and Phoenix Support for Educators

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