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Jan20 Fun Holiday – Penguin Awareness Day

January 20 is Penguin Awareness Day. The day helps raise awareness about the flightless birds whose numbers are dwindling by the day.

A Rockhopper penguin on a rock tilting its head.

Penguin Awareness Day raises awareness about penguin habits and habitats.

©bigstockphoto.com/Rockymiles

The day also aims to bring international focus on the conservation of penguin habitats.

Southern Hemisphere Natives

Penguins are aquatic birds native to the Southern Hemisphere. There are about 20 known species of penguins, the largest of which are the emperor penguins, the lead stars of the documentary, March of the Penguins. The smallest known penguin species are the little penguin found in the coastal areas of Australia and New Zealand.

Flightless Birds

It is thought that the black and white coloring of the penguins is a camouflage which helps them to hide from underwater predators. While penguins are great at diving and swimming, they cannot fly even though they are considered to be part of the bird family. They use their wings as flippers to move quickly underwater.

How to Celebrate?

  • Learn more about these majestic birds and their habitat and try to understand how human activity may be affecting them.
  • If your local zoo has penguins, why not take a trip there to spend some time observing them?
  • Watch movies with penguin characters and documentaries about the lives and habitats of penguins.

Did You Know…

…that the fastest penguins – the Gentoo – can swim at the speed of 22 miles or 35 kilometers an hour?

Penguin Awareness Day Observances

Fun Holiday: Penguin Awareness Day Observances
YearWeekdayDateName
2024Sat20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2025Mon20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2026Tue20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2027Wed20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2028Thu20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2029Sat20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2030Sun20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2031Mon20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2032Tue20 JanPenguin Awareness Day
2033Thu20 JanPenguin Awareness Day

See all Fun Holidays

Other Fun Holidays around 20 January

19 Jan

Tin Can Day

Recognize the role the humble tin can plays in kitchens and pantries around the world.

19 Jan

Popcorn Day

Treat yourself to a bowl or two of the crunchy, delicious, often-time addictive, but mostly healthy snack today.

20 Jan

Soup Swap Day

Combat the winter cold by cooking different types of soup and sharing them with family and friends.