You probably woke up, checked the calendar, and wondered exactly what national day is October 24 because, honestly, it feels like every single square on the grid has about five different things attached to it now.
It’s crowded.
Most people know the big one—United Nations Day. It’s the heavyweight. But if you’re looking for the weird, the caloric, or the specific bits of Americana that pop up on social media, there’s actually a lot more going on. We’re talking about everything from Bologna sandwiches to the fight against polio.
October 24 isn't just a date. It’s a weirdly specific intersection of global diplomacy and "what's in the fridge?"
The Heavyweight: United Nations Day
Let’s get the serious stuff out of the way first.
October 24 is officially United Nations Day. This isn't just some Hallmark invention; it marks the anniversary of the day the UN Charter actually came into force back in 1945. Think about the world then. It was a mess. After the horror of World War II, the majority of the world's signatories (including the Big Five permanent members of the Security Council) basically said, "Okay, we need a better way to talk this out."
Since 1948, we've been observing this day.
It’s not just a day for men in suits to give speeches in New York City, though there’s plenty of that. In schools across the globe, you’ll see kids wearing traditional dress or learning about the Sustainable Development Goals. It’s a moment to look at the massive, often clunky, but necessary machinery of global peace.
Is it perfect? No. Does it matter? Absolutely.
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What National Day is October 24 for Foodies? (National Bologna Day)
If you aren't feeling particularly diplomatic, maybe you're feeling hungry.
October 24 is also National Bologna Day.
Yes, really.
We are celebrating that pink, mysterious, circular deli meat that defined many of our childhood lunchboxes. Whether you grew up eating it fried with a dollop of yellow mustard or just cold on white bread, this day is for the "Mortadella-adjacent" staple.
Bologna is actually a derivative of Italian Mortadella, which comes from—you guessed it—Bologna, Italy. However, the American version is its own thing entirely. It’s a polarizing food. People either love the nostalgia or they can’t stand the texture. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate, skip the fancy bistro and just make a sandwich. Fry it up until it bubbles in the middle like a little meat-hat.
That’s the real October 24 experience for most of us.
The Fight for Health: World Polio Day
While the UN is celebrating peace, the medical community is focusing on a specific battle.
October 24 is World Polio Day.
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This date was chosen because it's the birthday of Jonas Salk. He’s the guy who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. If you talk to your grandparents, they likely remember the absolute terror that polio caused in the 1940s and 50s. Swimming pools were closed. Parents kept kids inside. It was a nightmare.
Thanks to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we are incredibly close to wiping this disease off the face of the earth. We’re talking about a 99% reduction in cases since 1988. Rotary International has been a massive driver here, alongside the WHO and the Gates Foundation.
It’s a reminder that human ingenuity actually works when we point it in the right direction.
National Food Day (The Healthy Alternative)
Wait, another food day?
Yep.
Started by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) back in 2011, National Food Day also falls on October 24. It’s basically the "anti-Bologna" day.
While National Bologna Day is about processed nostalgia, National Food Day is about "real" food. It’s an advocacy day. The goal is to push for healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food. It’s a day to support local farmers and maybe eat a vegetable that didn't come out of a can.
It’s a bit ironic that the processed meat day and the healthy food day share the same 24 hours. You can choose your own adventure here. Eat a salad for lunch and a fried bologna sandwich for a midnight snack. Balance.
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Why Do We Care About These Days?
You might think these "National Days" are getting out of hand. You aren't wrong.
There are literally thousands of them now. Some are "official" (passed by Congress or Presidential Proclamation), while others are just "internet official" (started by a brand or a bored blogger).
The reason they stick, though, is because they give us a weird sense of community. When you post a picture of a bologna sandwich on October 24, you’re part of a tiny, silly club for a minute. When you acknowledge World Polio Day, you’re part of a global effort to remember how far medicine has come.
It’s about focus. Our attention is so fragmented that having a "National Day" acts like a tiny spotlight. For 24 hours, we look at the UN, or we look at polio, or we look at a lunch meat.
Then the clock strikes midnight and we move on to the next thing.
Practical Ways to "Celebrate" October 24
If you actually want to do something instead of just scrolling past the hashtags, here’s how to handle the 24th:
- Check your health records. Since it's World Polio Day, it’s a good excuse to make sure your (or your kids') vaccinations are up to date.
- Support a local food bank. National Food Day is about food security. Donating a few bags of groceries or a few hours of time is more impactful than a tweet.
- Eat something nostalgic. If you haven't had bologna in a decade, buy a small pack. See if it tastes like 1995. (Spoiler: It probably does).
- Learn one thing about the UN. Look up a specific program like UNICEF or the World Food Programme. They do a lot more than just hold meetings in Geneva.
October 24 is a busy day. It’s a mix of the profound and the trivial. It’s the history of the world and the history of your kitchen.
Whether you’re thinking about global peace or just what to put on your crackers, you’ve now got the full picture.
The best way to move forward is to pick one thing—either the global cause or the personal nostalgia—and lean into it. Spend five minutes reading about Jonas Salk’s legacy or five minutes perfecting a sandwich. Both are valid uses of your Tuesday or Wednesday or whatever day of the week this happens to land on this year.
Make it count.