JANUARY 17, 2026 | NATIONAL CLASSY DAY | POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY | NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY | NATIONAL BOOTLEGGER'S DAY | HOT BUTTERED RUM DAY
JANUARY 17, 2026 | NATIONAL CLASSY DAY | POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY | NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY | NATIONAL BOOTLEGGER'S DAY | HOT BUTTERED RUM DAY
National Classy Day
NATIONAL CLASSY DAY
On National Classy Day, we celebrate those who are graced with the ability to live their lives with class, passion, and who are driven to share it with others. On January 17th, honor those class acts and commemorate the birth of one of the most legendary comedians ever to walk the Earth. #NationalClassyDay
POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY
January 17 marks the 95th Birthday of the world’s most famous spinach loving, nautical hero — it's Popeye the Sailor Man! Today, we are taking epic strides to honor this legendary sailor who is tough and fit with tons of grit, as one of America’s most renown, pop-culture icons. After all, he yam what he yam! #PopeyeTheSailorManDay
National Use Your Gift Card Day
NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY
National Use Your Gift Card Day reminds Americans to use the $1 billion in unused gift cards each year. On the third Saturday in January, take stock of the gift cards you received over the holidays. Then, make the most of each one of them before they're forgotten for good! #UseYourGiftCardDay
National Bootlegger's Day
NATIONAL BOOTLEGGER'S DAY
National Bootlegger's Day on January 17th recognizes an era when bootleggers became legendary. #BootleggersDay
Hot Buttered Rum Day
NATIONAL HOT BUTTERED RUM DAY
On January 17th, National Hot Buttered Rum Day warms us up during mid-January. #HotButteredRumDay
Coming on January 18, 2026
National Days
NATIONAL WINNIE THE POOH DAY
NATIONAL THESAURUS DAY
NATIONAL PEKING DUCK DAY
NATIONAL MICHIGAN DAY
Notable Birthdays for January 17
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) - Founding father and inventor who discovered lightning was electrical.
Lewis Addison Grant (1828-1918) - Teacher, lawyer and Major General for the Union Army.
A. B. Frost (1851-1928) - Illustrator best known for his creation of Brer Rabbit.
Alva Belmont (1853-1933) - Co-founder and President of the National Woman's Party.
Glenn L. Martin (1886-1955) - Founder of the Glenn L. Martin Company.
Al Capone (1899-1947) - Infamous mob boss.
George Sperti (1900-1991) - Inventor of the product Preparation H.
Irving Brecher (1914-2008) - Screenwriter for Groucho Marx movies and the Wizard of Oz.
Betty White (1922-2021) - Multi-award winning actress and comedian.
Jewel Plummer Cobb (1924-2017) - Biologist and cancer researcher who made significant discoveries in the causes and treatment of melanoma.
James Earl Jones (1931-2024) - Multi-award winning actor who will always be recognized by his deep voice.
Shari Lewis (1933-1998) - Ventriloquist and puppeteer of the loved character Lamb Chop.
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) - World heavyweight champion boxer known as The Greatest.
Anita Borg (1949-2003) - Computer scientist who was a big supporter of women in technology.
Steve Harvey (1957-Still Living) - Actor, comedian, and game show host.
Susanna Hoffs (1959-Still Living) - Singer and founder of the all girl rock band the Bangles.
Michelle Obama (1964 - Still Living) - The first Black First Lady (2009-16) in the history of the U.S.
Memorable Events for January 17
1871 - The first cable car is patented by Andrew Smith Hallidie.
1905 - Charles Brewer & C G Scannell patents punchboards (bingo cards).
1917 - The U.S. buys the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.
1920 -Prohibition begins in the U.S. as the Volstead Act goes into effect.
1929 - Popeye makes his first appearance in the comic strip Thimble Theater.
1961 - President Eisenhower delivers his farewell address before leaving office on television.
1969 - Black Panther Party members Bunchy Carter and John Huggins are killed during a meeting on the UCLA campus.
1987 - President Reagan signs secret order allowing sale of arms to Iran.
2001 - President Clinton honors the Lewis and Clark Expedition and makes Sakakawea and honorary Sergeant.