4 Important Holidays in February NOT Valentine's Day

January 28, 2020 by Angie Long

There is more to February than candy hearts, chocolate and other Valentine's Day gifts. In fact, there are four particular holidays worth mentioning: Black History Month, World Cancer Day, National Wear Red Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day. 

Here is more information about each of these February dates of note. 

Important Holidays in February 2020

1. Black History Month 

February 1st marks the start of Black History Month, a time to acknowledge the adversity faced by generations of African Americans and learn about their often-neglected history. This month was first observed in February of 1970, after being proposed by black teachers and students at Kent State University in 1969. It wasn't until February of 1976 that it was officially recognized on a national level by former-president Gerald Ford. 

Here are some ways you can observe Black History Month:

• Read a book about Black History. Try the Autobiography of Malcolm X or The Color Purple, both of which were eventually turned into movies.
• Head to a museum. 
• Watch a black film. Whether a true story or inspired by a true story, many films are highly effective at shaping the way people think about the events from our past. 12 Years a Slave is a recent movie that is well worth the watch.

2. World Cancer Day, February 4

World Cancer Day was created by the Union for International Cancer Control and is the oldest international organization dedicated to uniting the cancer community and reducing the burden of cancer worldwide. It was formed on the belief that everyone deserves an equal right to cancer treatment and that governments need to be held accountable for accelerated progress toward a cure. Initially celebrated on Feb. 4, 2000, in Paris France, 127 countries now observe the day with activities in schools, workplaces, hospitals, shopping malls, parks and more.  

The themes for World Cancer Day change every few years, and 2020 continues the "I Am And I Will" theme, representing the power of one individual action and how it can impact the future. 

Here are some ways to observe World Cancer Day on Feb. 4:

• Post about it on social media. 
• Participate in a local event. 
• Get political by asking politicians to show their commitment and raise awareness about cancer. 
• Wear some World Cancer Day attire to show your commitment to the cause. 

3. National Wear Red Day, February 7

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute promotes National Wear Red Day on the first Friday of every February to promote awareness of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in America. Participating in the events of this day is just one of the ways to observe American Heart Month.

Here are some ways to observe National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7:

• Wear red! 
• Post a picture of yourself in your red attire on social media, and be sure to tag #WearRedDay. 
• Make sure you're heart-healthy by eating right, working out for 30 minutes at least 5 days per week and getting your blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol checked. 

4. Random Acts of Kindness Day, February 17

This day is sponsored by a small nonprofit that believes in teaching kindness by "inspiring, empowering, acting, reflecting and sharing" in the classroom, at work and home. It's also a kickoff to Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week and offers a variety of ideas for schools, businesses and individuals to use to become inspired and spread kindness.

Here's how you can participate in RAK Day on Feb. 17:

• Become a RAKtivist. It's not an official title; it just involves doing nice things, whether holding the door open for something or smiling at someone who needs it. You could make it official by joining here.  
• Find out something new about someone you work with or see regularly. 
• Download a RAK calendar for work, or home and school. 
• Just be kind!

As you can see, there are other more important observations in February than Valentine's Day. It doesn't even take much effort to observe them. Whether wearing a red shirt on February 7, saying thank you to someone on February 17 or simply by reading about them, you might even observe these holidays without even realizing it.