If you woke up this morning hoping for a day off work, I've got some news. It's January 17, 2026. While the post office is still running and the banks are generally open, today is actually packed with some of the weirdest and most storied observances on the American calendar.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
We aren't looking at a federal holiday today—that's coming up on Monday with Martin Luther King Jr. Day—but today's holiday in the United States is actually a collection of "National Days" that range from celebrating the genius of Benjamin Franklin to a day dedicated to admitting your New Year's resolutions were probably too ambitious.
The Big One: Benjamin Franklin Day
Today is the birthday of the man who basically invented the American personality. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. While it’s not a federal day off, historians and science buffs treat this like the Super Bowl of the Enlightenment.
Think about it. The guy was a printer, a diplomat, a writer, and he messed around with lightning rods. Without him, we’d probably still be paying taxes to a king and sitting in the dark.
Many schools and museums across the country use today to highlight "Kid Inventors' Day." This isn't just a coincidence. The date was chosen specifically to honor Franklin because he invented his first pair of swim fins when he was just 12 years old.
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If you have a kid who is currently trying to build a robot out of toilet paper rolls and old remote controls, today is their day.
Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions Day
Okay, let’s get real for a second. We are exactly 17 days into 2026.
How's that "no carbs" thing going? Did you actually go to the gym at 5:00 AM like you swore you would on December 31?
Statistically, most people have already slipped. That’s why today's holiday in the United States includes the unofficial "Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day." It is a collective sigh of relief for everyone who realized that their goals were maybe a bit too "lifestyle influencer" and not enough "real human living a busy life."
It’s not about giving up; it’s about recalibrating. Or just eating the pizza because, let's be honest, it's Saturday.
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Why Everyone is Talking About Gift Cards Today
Since it's the third Saturday of January, it is also National Use Your Gift Card Day.
Retailers love this one, but it’s actually really practical for you. Americans currently have billions of dollars—yes, billions—sitting on unspent gift cards. These things eventually lose value through "dormancy fees" in some states, or the business might just close down.
If you have a $25 Starbucks card or a Best Buy credit gathering dust in your junk drawer, today is the designated day to actually spend it.
Other Random Observances for January 17
- National Hot Buttered Rum Day: Perfect for the January chill.
- Popeye the Sailor Man Day: Celebrating the debut of the character in 1929.
- Cable Car Day: Marking the patent of the first cable car system.
The Confusion Over Monday’s Holiday
A lot of people search for today's holiday in the United States because they are trying to figure out if they have a long weekend.
Because January 17, 2026, falls on a Saturday, the "actual" federal holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn't until Monday, January 19. This creates that weird limbo where some people start their celebrations early, but most official government closures won't happen until the 19th.
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In some states, today might feel like a holiday because of local events. For instance, in Tamil Nadu (for any Indian-Americans following local traditions), it's Uzhavar Thirunal. But in the U.S. broadly? It's a day of minor, fun celebrations rather than a national shutdown.
How to Actually "Celebrate" Today
Don't just let the day pass by like any other Saturday. You can actually make something of these weird observances.
First, check your wallet. Find that gift card you got for Christmas and use it for lunch. It’s literally free money that you’ve forgotten about.
Second, if you’ve been stressing about a resolution that’s making you miserable, give yourself permission to "ditch" it today. Switch to a goal that actually fits your 2026 schedule.
Finally, maybe toast to old Ben Franklin. Without his experiments, you wouldn't be reading this on a powered device right now.
Actionable Steps for January 17, 2026:
- Locate your gift cards: Check your email and physical mail for any leftover holiday balances and spend them today to avoid "breakage" (retailer-speak for lost money).
- Audit your resolutions: If you haven't started your Jan 1st goals, don't wait for next year. Scale them down by 50% and start again tomorrow.
- Support a "Kidpreneur": If you know a young person with a business or an invention, give them a shout-out or a small donation to celebrate Kid Inventors' Day.
- Prepare for Monday: Remember that banks and post offices will be closed on January 19, so get your errands done today or tomorrow.