From Donuts to Neighboring: The Real Purpose of Special Days

 

There is often skepticism around holidays that seem overly commercialized or artificially created. Days like National Donut Day or National Dog Day are  dismissed as “made-up holidays.” Yet these observances clearly have value, not only for businesses, but also for communities, relationships, and culture itself.

One reason these themed days matter is because they influence behavior.

 Businesses understand this well. A "holiday" creates a reason for people to pay attention, make purchases, participate in promotions, and join a shared social moment. 

National Donut Day, for example, reliably increases donut sales and store traffic because companies build campaigns around it. Coffee shops, restaurants, pet stores, and retailers all use these “micro holidays” to create energy and attention that would not normally exist on an ordinary day.

The interesting thing is that people often respond more strongly to occasions than to logic. A random Tuesday suddenly becomes “the day everyone gets donuts,” or “the day to post photos of your dog.” The occasion itself creates social permission to act, and that simple shift changes behavior.

These observances also carry emotional value because reminders shape what people notice. A holiday like National Dog Day may not fundamentally change how much someone loves their pet, but it does encourage people to pause and think about their dog. They may share pictures online, spend extra time together, donate to animal shelters, or even adopt a pet. 

Humans are highly influenced by cues and reminders, and holidays act as cultural prompts that tell us to stop and pay attention to something important.

That same pattern exists with Mother’s Day, Earth Day, Veterans Day, and Mental Health Awareness Month. Most people already care about these topics to some degree. The holiday simply concentrates and synchronizes that caring into a shared moment of attention and action.

There is also tremendous social value in shared rituals. Many holidays exist primarily to create synchronized behavior. Even small rituals help societies feel connected. Fireworks on the Fourth of July, people wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day, coworkers bringing donuts to the office, or neighbors exchanging greetings during a holiday season all contribute to a sense of belonging.

Sociologists sometimes describe rituals as “social glue.” The event itself may appear small or even trivial, but participating together strengthens social bonds. 

A day like National Good Neighbor Day may not instantly transform a community, but it can encourage introductions, spark volunteerism, inspire neighborhood gatherings, and reinforce cultural norms like friendliness, trust, and cooperation. Over time, repeated actions and repeated signals shape the culture of a place.

Another reason these observances matter is because attention itself has become incredibly valuable. In today’s world, public attention is limited and highly competitive. A holiday functions as a scheduled concentration of attention. That is useful for businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, governments, activists, and media outlets alike. 

Attaching a message to a recognized day allows organizations to borrow existing cultural momentum instead of trying to create awareness from nothing. That is one reason there are now thousands of awareness days and themed observances.

Interestingly, many traditions that now feel completely normal began as intentional inventions. A surprising number of customs people consider longstanding traditions were actually created recently, commercialized deliberately, or standardized by businesses and governments. Yet when people repeat these practices over time, they become emotionally meaningful and culturally real. 

Exchanging valentines, Black Friday shopping, Friendsgiving gatherings, and even workplace birthday celebrations all grew through repeated participation.

In the end, the value of a holiday depends on the lens through which you view it. 

Businesses may see increased sales and customer engagement. 

Psychologists may see focused attention and emotional reinforcement. 

Sociologists may see rituals that strengthen identity and belonging. 

Civic leaders may see opportunities to encourage positive community behavior. 

Media organizations may see predictable opportunities for public conversation.

And neighborhoods might be more engaged and neighbors a little more approachable.

A holiday does not have to permanently transform people in order to matter. Even a brief, coordinated moment of shared attention can influence habits, relationships, emotions, and community life in meaningful ways.

WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.