It’s easy to wake up, check your phone, and feel like you missed a memo. You see a stray post about a "National Day" you’ve never heard of, or maybe the bank is closed and you’re staring at the glass door wondering why.
January 17th is one of those dates. It’s not a "major" holiday like Christmas or New Year’s, but it actually carries quite a bit of weight depending on who you ask.
If you are looking for the short answer: today is Benjamin Franklin Day, National Ditch New Year's Resolution Day, and in some years—depending on how the calendar falls—it sits right on the edge of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.
The Founding Father Nobody Wants to Forget
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706. Think about that for a second. The guy basically invented the concept of the "American Dream" before the country even existed. We celebrate him today not just because he’s on the $100 bill, but because he was a total polymath.
He was a printer. An author. A scientist. A diplomat. Honestly, he was kind of a chaotic genius.
Most people know the kite-and-key story, but historians like Walter Isaacson have pointed out that Franklin’s real contribution was his social engineering. He started the first lending library. He created the first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia. He wasn't just some guy in a wig; he was the original "life hacker." Today is basically a celebration of curiosity and civic duty. If you want to celebrate, maybe go buy a book or check on your smoke detectors.
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The Day Most People Give Up
Then there is the darker, more relatable side of January 17th. It is widely recognized as National Ditch New Year's Resolution Day.
Statistically, it’s about that time. Research from organizations like the Strava fitness app often points to a day in mid-January—frequently dubbed "Quitter's Day"—where the initial surge of motivation for the gym or that strict keto diet just... evaporates.
Why today? It’s been roughly three weeks since January 1st. The novelty has worn off. The weather in the northern hemisphere is usually grey and miserable. The dopamine hit from "starting fresh" has been replaced by the reality of hard work.
It’s actually a pretty interesting psychological phenomenon. We set these massive, unsustainable goals, and by the 17th, the friction becomes too much. If you’ve already skipped your workout three days in a row, you aren't alone. Today is the day the collective "we" gives ourselves permission to stop pretending.
But here’s a tip: don’t actually ditch the goal. Just ditch the perfectionism. If you can’t run five miles, walk one.
Is It a Federal Holiday?
This is where the confusion usually starts. No, January 17th is not a permanent federal holiday in the United States. However, it is very close to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is observed on the third Monday of January. In 2026, MLK Day actually falls on January 19th. So, today isn't the "day off" for most people, but for students or government employees, it’s often the start of a long weekend.
There's a weird tension in the air during this week. It’s a time for reflection on civil rights and the massive, unfinished work of racial justice in America. Dr. King’s legacy is often sanitized into "I have a dream" soundbites, but today—the Saturday before the holiday—is a good time to actually read his "Letter from Birmingham Jail." It’s gritty. It’s challenging. It’s much more than a holiday; it’s a call to action.
The Weird Ones: Dairy Queens and Cabbages
If you dig into the "National Day" calendars—which, let's be real, are mostly made up by marketing firms—you'll find some gems for January 17th.
- National Hot Buttered Rum Day: Perfect for a cold January night.
- Customer Service Day: A shout-out to the people dealing with grumpy returns after the holidays.
- Popeye the Sailor Man's Birthday: He first appeared in the Thimble Theatre comic strip on this day in 1929.
It’s kind of funny how we’ve commercialized every single 24-hour block of time. You can’t go through a Tuesday without someone telling you it’s "National Glazed Donut Day" or something. But hey, if it gives you a reason to smile or buy a specific snack, who cares?
Why Knowing "What Holiday Is It Today" Actually Matters
It sounds trivial. Who cares if it's Benjamin Franklin’s birthday or a day to stop dieting?
But honestly, these small markers help break up the "winter blues." January is a long, slog of a month. Having a reason to look up a historical figure or laugh at our own inability to keep resolutions makes the weeks feel a little less heavy.
Understanding the "why" behind today helps you navigate social situations, too. Knowing it’s Franklin’s birthday might make you the smartest person at the water cooler (or the Zoom call). Knowing it's the day people quit their resolutions might help you be a little easier on yourself if you've been struggling.
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Actionable Steps for Your January 17th
Don't just let the day pass you by. If you’re feeling the mid-month slump, here is how to actually use today:
- Audit your resolutions. If you’re ready to "ditch" them, don't quit entirely. Scale them down by 50%. If you wanted to read 50 books this year, try for 12.
- Learn something weird. Benjamin Franklin was obsessed with lightning and bifocals, but he also spent years in France basically being a rockstar diplomat. Spend ten minutes on a Wikipedia rabbit hole.
- Prepare for Monday. Since the MLK Jr. federal holiday is coming up in two days, check your bank and mail schedules now. Most post offices and banks will be closed on Monday, so get your errands done today.
- Support a local library. In honor of Franklin’s first subscription library, go see what yours has to offer. Most people forget they have free access to thousands of ebooks and movies.
January 17th is a mix of high-minded history and very human struggle. Whether you're celebrating a founding father or just celebrating the fact that you finally ate a piece of cake after two weeks of dieting, it’s a day worth noticing.