Ever wake up, look at the calendar, and wonder if you're missing something? That’s basically the vibe of October 16. It isn't a "bank holiday" where everyone gets the day off to grill hot dogs—at least not in the U.S.—but it is one of the busiest days of the year for "hallmark" observances and global causes.
Honestly, it’s a weird mix. You've got high-level United Nations summits sitting right next to people buying "World's Best Boss" mugs and others obsessing over feral cats.
If you are trying to figure out if you need to buy a gift, feed a stray, or just feel guilty about your diet, you are in the right place. Here is the lowdown on what holiday is October 16 and why it actually matters.
The Big One: World Food Day
This isn't just some hashtag holiday. World Food Day is a massive global event established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. They picked October 16 because that’s the day the FAO was founded back in 1945.
While most of us are deciding between tacos or salad, over 150 countries are using this day to talk about the fact that 800 million people still go to bed hungry. It’s heavy stuff. In 2026, the focus is heavily on "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future."
Essentially, it’s a day for NGOs and governments to scramble and figure out how to feed 8 billion people without destroying the planet. It’s probably the most "official" thing happening on this date.
The Office Politics: National Boss’s Day
Now, for something completely different. If you work in an office in the U.S. or Canada, you might see some awkward cake in the breakroom.
National Boss’s Day always lands on October 16. If it falls on a weekend, people usually celebrate on the closest work day.
Where did it come from?
A woman named Patricia Bays Haroski registered the holiday with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1958. She was working as a secretary for State Farm in Illinois, and—get this—her boss was her father. She chose October 16 because it was his birthday.
It took a few years, but the Governor of Illinois eventually made it official in 1962. It’s a polarizing one. Some people love the chance to say thanks to a mentor; others feel it’s just a weird power dynamic where the person making the least money feels pressured to buy a gift for the person making the most.
The Feline Takeover: Global Cat Day
If you see your social media feed suddenly flooded with pictures of "community cats," that’s because October 16 is also Global Cat Day (formerly National Feral Cat Day).
Started by the group Alley Cat Allies in 2001, this day isn't really about your pampered house cat who eats organic salmon. It’s specifically about "community cats"—feral or stray cats that live outside.
The big push on October 16 is for TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return). It's the most humane way to control the population. Basically, instead of rounding them up for euthanasia, volunteers trap them, get them fixed and vaccinated, and put them back where they live.
The Wordsmith's Birthday: National Dictionary Day
Do you like knowing the difference between "affect" and "effect"? Then you owe a debt to Noah Webster.
October 16 is National Dictionary Day, chosen because it’s Webster’s birthday (born in 1758). He was the guy who decided American English should be its own thing. He’s the reason we write "color" instead of "colour" and "music" instead of "musick."
The guy was a beast. He learned 26 languages just to research the origins of words for his first dictionary. It took him 27 years to finish his "American Dictionary of the English Language."
Other Random Things Happening on October 16
Because why stop at cats and bosses? This date is a magnet for niche observances:
- World Spine Day: Focuses on spinal health and back pain. Stand up and stretch while you read this.
- National Liqueur Day: A much more fun way to spend the evening than thinking about back pain.
- World Anesthesia Day: Commemorating the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia in 1846. Imagine surgery before that. Yeah, let's celebrate this one.
- Department Store Day: Apparently, a day to celebrate the convenience of one-stop shopping.
- Steve Jobs Day: Specifically recognized in California to honor the Apple co-founder.
Is it a "Real" Holiday?
If you mean "do I get the day off?" the answer is almost certainly no.
In the United States, it is not a federal holiday. Banks are open. The mail runs. In most of the world, it's a standard Tuesday or Friday or whatever day of the week it happens to land on.
There are tiny exceptions. For example, in Tasmania, Australia, some regions might have a local holiday like the Flinders Island Show on or around this date. In Poland, it’s the "Day of Pope John Paul II," but it’s still a regular working day.
How to actually handle October 16
Don't overcomplicate it. You don't need to buy a dictionary for your boss's cat.
The Move for the Office:
If you have a great boss, a simple "thanks for being a good leader" email goes further than a generic card. If your boss is a nightmare, feel free to ignore the day entirely. Most people do.
The Move for the World:
Since it's World Food Day, consider doing a quick pantry clean-out. Take that bag of rice or those cans of soup you’ll never eat to a local food bank. It’s the one day of the year where everyone is looking at the same problem.
📖 Related: How Do You Make Moonshine at Home: The Honest Truth About Stills, Safety, and Science
The Move for Yourself:
Learn one new word. In honor of Noah Webster, find a weird word you’ve never used. Use it in a text. Confuse your friends.
The reality of October 16 is that it's a "choose your own adventure" holiday. Whether you’re advocating for hungry people, getting your cat neutered, or just trying to spell "maneuver" correctly, there’s plenty to do.
Check your local community center or animal shelter website. Many of them run specific events on this day, especially TNR clinics for cats or food drives for the holidays coming up. If you're a manager, maybe just tell your team they're doing a great job—it's cheaper than a party and usually appreciated more.