Important Global Ecommerce Dates for 2024

Sales of many ecommerce businesses are heavily influenced by the season, or even by particular dates in the calendar.

For example, we all know that online stores tend to experience a lot of demand in the run-up to Christmas; that Black Friday is when the biggest discounts are offered; and on Valentine’s Day, gifts for loved ones are purchased.

But for ecommerce stores that export around the world, there’s a multitude of other dates that are also very important to know about.

Keep track of key international holidays

Keeping on top of all of these occasions as part of a comprehensive marketing calendar is very valuable, as it allows you to plan your sales and promotions for dates that they’ll make the biggest impact.

From the types of products customers are more likely to buy at certain times of year to the kinds of sales or discounts people expect in a certain season, we’ve got you covered.

With that in mind, we’re publishing this complete international calendar with the most important dates for ecommerce marketers to know about in 2024.

New Year’s Day

January 1

For many, the New Year is all about getting a fresh start and following those resolutions (or at least trying hard to). So while this might mean buying less junk food, it will mean purchasing more of anything that helps with those resolutions, like gym clothes and or health-oriented products.

So if you have any good ideas for promotions that are relevant to health, wellness, and self-improvement, the New Year is a great time to do this.

National returns day

January 8 - first Monday after the New Year’s day
Global

Sometimes, even the best intended gift is not well received, and will be returned to the store.

Expect that a part of what you sell during the large shopping holidays will be sent back to you in the following business days. In that period, be prepared to process increased amount of returns.

The first Monday after the New Year’s Day was named the National Returns Day—a day when customers are most likely to return unwanted Christmas gifts back to retailers.

Blue Monday

January 15 - third Monday in January
Global

The third Monday in January is known as ‘Blue Monday’ because it’s claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. This a good day, then, to launch marketing campaigns aimed at consumers who want to cheer themselves up with online retail therapy or booking a vacation.

Shoppers will be looking for discounts, though, so be sure to promote free shipping, discount codes, and clearance sales.

Australia Day

January 26
Australia

Australia Day is the country’s national day of celebration and is basically a late summer festival with people heading to beaches and enjoying barbecues (or ”barbies” in Aussie slang).

It is held on the same date that Britain’s First Fleet sailed into Sydney Harbor in 1788, beginning the process of colonization that brought about the modern state of Australia. But the day has drawn criticism from those who say it excludes Aboriginal people and causes them harm.

Chinese New Year

February 10 - based on the Chinese lunar calendar
China

The Chinese New Year is a festival that marks the start of the new year in China. Each year is assigned a zodiac animal, and 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.

Chinese New Year (CNY), also known as Spring Festival in China, is a time for family members to come together, buy gifts for each other—and maybe even spoil themselves too.

Super Bowl Sunday

February 11 - first Sunday in February
United States

The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). It is the most-watched program on TV in America every year, with big brands reportedly spending more than $6.5 million per 30-second ad in 2022.

But ecommerce merchants can get involved, too—and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Sports, food, and beverage companies can offer promotions or discounts, while others can use the moment to generate attention for their brand with a social media campaign that’s relevant to the event.

Valentine’s Day

February 14
Global

Whatever your industry, Valentine’s Day is a big one to have on the calendar.

A decade ago, more than 60% of adults said they celebrated the occasion, but that’s now dropped to just over half. Despite that, a huge amount of spending happens, with $23.9 billion spent on the day in 2022.

The day usually involves gifts of flowers, candy, and jewelry to your loved ones—but other products can also be geared toward Valentine’s Day shoppers.

International Women’s Day

March 8
Global

International Women’s Day celebrates the rights and achievements of women, and promotes the fight for gender equality.

Thousands of organizations worldwide now mark the day—which started more than 100 years ago—and it’s the perfect opportunity for you to show that your business is aligned with gender equality.

You could get involved by, for example, highlighting female employees or your gender equality pledges on social media, or offering special discounts and giveaways for women.

White Day

March 14
Japan, Korea, China

On Valentine’s Day in Japan and some other Asian countries, women traditionally give handmade gifts and chocolates to their family, friends, and of course, their romantic interests.

A month later, on March 14, it’s the men’s turn to return the gesture—known as White Day.

It’s less common for men to make gifts, so they often instead look for custom-made apparel, accessories, or jewelry. So if your ecommerce store sells any of these, White Day is a great opportunity.

St. Patrick’s Day

March 17
Global

St. Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s national day of celebration for its religious and cultural heritage. However, the day is marked all around the world—even if the celebrations are the wildest in Ireland!

The celebration is named after the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick, who is famously said to have driven the snakes out of Ireland and established Christianity on the Emerald Isle in the 5th century.

Today, it’s a chance for some light-hearted fun with green and shamrock-themed fancy dress, public parades—and Guiness-fuelled parties.

Holi Festival

March 25 - based on Hindu lunar calendar
India

Holi is the traditional Hindu ‘Festival of Colors’, and celebrates love, fertility, and the beginning of spring. People spend the day smearing colored powder all over each other, dancing under water sprinklers, and generally having a blast.

It’s one of the most popular festivals in India, with people often exchanging gifts, so items like clothing, jewelry, electronics, and footwear experience strong demand at this time.

Easter Sunday

March 31 - the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon
US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia

Easter is the biggest date in the Christian calendar and traditionally marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For many, the occasion is also a time to mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring, or just to enjoy some colorfully-wrapped chocolate eggs.

Although the most popular items tend to be Easter-themed food and candy, any industry can utilize the upcoming holiday in its marketing. For ecommerce stores, it’s a great opportunity to offer one-off deals or bargains.

April Fools’ Day

April 1
US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia

In a number of Western cultures, the first day of April is seen as an opportunity to play mischievous pranks.

Known as April Fools’ Day or All Fools’ Day, historians don’t actually know how it started, but the day is a bit of harmless fun (even if occasionally it gets taken too far).

For ecommerce companies, it’s the chance to show you’ve got a sense of humor. You could share a joke or a mild prank announcement on your website or social media that makes your customers chuckle and engage more with your brand.

Earth Day

April 22
Global

Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22, is the global day for celebrating the natural environment and is thought to be the largest secular observance in the world.

If our planet and environmental issues are things you care about as a business, this is an excellent chance to let your customers know. Put great emphasis on your eco-friendly, reusable, and recycled products, share your thoughts or a personal story relating to environmental conservation, and introduce people to something you’re doing as a business that helps the planet.

Cinco De Mayo

May 5
Mexico, US

Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday to honor the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France.

While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, it has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage in the US, where it’s seen as a chance to get together, eat Mexican cuisine, and maybe even drink tequila if you’re brave enough.

It can be a great chance for ecommerce merchants to generate publicity, build brand recognition, and enhance customer loyalty.

Mother’s Day

May 12 - second Sunday in May
US, Mexico, Australia, Canada and most of EU

Mother’s Day is a chance to show our mother how much she means to us. It’s a very important date in the retail calendar, with consumers looking to treat their mothers to a lovely gift—whether that’s a book, her favorite perfume, or a monthly flower subscription.

Most shopping is done immediately before the holiday, so it’s important to keep those deals going until the day itself. And remember: Mother’s Day is celebrated in March in the UK.

Best Friend Day

June 8
Global

National Best Friend Day is a time to show your best friend(s) how much you value your relationship with them.

It’s not a day known for traditionally exchanging gifts, but as a store owner, you could use it as a marketing opportunity to get your brand more widely known. For example, you could encourage your customers to tag their best friend in social media posts with giveaways or competitions.

If you sell friend-themed products like matching bracelets or t-shirts, this is the perfect opportunity to promote those items.

Father’s Day

June 16 - third Sunday in June
Global

Father’s Day has been celebrated in Europe since the Middle Ages and is a chance to remind your dad how much you appreciate him.

In 2021, Father’s Day spending hit a total of $20.1 billion, with people spending around $175 dollars each on average. So make sure you promote gifts in your store that are tailored to what dads tend to like most—such as electronics, personal care items, and gift cards—and consider special discounts for this day.

Eid al-Adha

June 16 - based on the Islamic lunar calendar
Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, UAE and other Muslim countries

The Muslim festival Eid al-Adha, meaning “feast of the sacrifice,” usually begins on the last day of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

It is the second Islamic festival of the year and commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son at the command of God.

As with other major religious holidays, it is becoming more of a commercial opportunity every year, with some industries performing especially well, including food, jewelry, and electronics.

Canada Day

July 1
Canada

Canada Day marks the day the nation was officially born—on July 1, 1867—and is celebrated with parades, barbecues, firework displays, and concerts.

The event is the most important time for Canadians to come together and commemorate their country. So if you’re a Canadian company, it’s a great chance to engage with your customers and say thanks with discounts or offers.

If you’re a seller outside of Canada, you could offer free shipping to your Canadian customers on this day to mark the celebration.

Independence Day

July 4
United States

Independence Day marks the date when Americans broke away from being ruled by the British Empire, back on the 4th of July 1776.

It is one of the biggest holidays in the US, with billions spent on food, drink, and picnic items. So as you’d guess, this makes it an important marketing opportunity for retailers.

Featuring red, white, and blue products—or items with stars and stripes—is an obvious move, as is promoting anything made in America.

Bastille Day

July 14
France

Bastille Day is a national holiday in France that marks the start of the French Revolution and its ideals of liberté, égalité, fraternité—or liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Celebrations include Europe’s oldest military parade on Paris’s iconic Champs-Elysees, plenty of tricolor flags, and people singing “La Marseillaise”, the French national anthem.

It can be a great opportunity to engage with customers by promoting the message of the French revolution—and French values more generally—and offering discount codes, free shipping, or sales.

India Independence Day

August 15
India

India’s Independence Day is a national holiday that marks the end of British rule in 1947 and the anniversary of the partition of the subcontinent into two countries—India and Pakistan.

It is celebrated throughout India with flag-raising ceremonies, parades, and other cultural events. It’s customary for the Indian prime minister to raise a flag and address the nation, while kite-flying has become another tradition, with various sizes, shapes, and colors filling the sky.

Labor Day

September 2 - first Monday in September
US, Canada

Labor Day is a federal public holiday that celebrates the labor movement and its contribution to American and Canadian society.

For many, it is seen as a chance to catch those last rays of the summer or enjoy one last barbecue before the fall season kicks in and kids go back to school.

But for retailers, it’s the perfect chance to entice customers with a new season’s worth of outfits—whether that’s for school, college, or just for the colder weather coming soon.

China National Day

October 1
China

The National Day of the People’s Republic of China is a public holiday marking the establishment of the modern Chinese state.

Workers are also given three or four working days of paid leave, and weekends are often rescheduled to allow the public holiday surrounding the event to last for seven or eight consecutive days. For this reason, Chinese people call it The Golden Week.

People will buy each other gifts but also treat themselves. Many companies will therefore focus on promotions for some of their best-selling products, particularly in categories like jewelry, homewares, and appliances.

Halloween

October 31
US, Canada, Australia, UK and some EU countries

Halloween is celebrated in many countries around the world on October 31st.

It originated from an ancient Celtic festival in Ireland that marked the end of the annual harvest season and the coming of winter.

Today it’s less serious, with people more likely to dress up in fun or scary costumes and go trick-or-treating.

Use this day to breathe some spooky vibes into social media campaigns, run a special promotion on costumes or decorations, or share how your brand celebrates Halloween.

Diwali

October 31 - Based on lunar calendar
India

Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. It is a time to celebrate new beginnings and commemorate the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.

The month before Diwali is considered by Indians to be a good time to make large purchases. Families will spend days cleaning and decorating their homes, as well as shopping for new clothes and accessories to wear during the festival.

According to YouGov data, Diwali spending propensity among Indians is very high. However, competition among ecommerce stores is fierce, so your marketing tactics must be excellent in order to cut through and reap the benefits.

Singles Day

November 11
China, Japan

Single’s Day, or Double 11, is the single person’s answer to Valentine’s Day, and it’s huge in China.

It’s a time for single friends to spend together eating out, going to the movies, and shopping.

It’s the biggest retail event in the world—worth an estimated $140 billion—although growth slowed last year.

Thanksgiving Day

November 28 - last Thursday in November
United States

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year in the US. Historically, it originated due to people wanting to give thanks for the blessing of the harvest.

As a federal public holiday, most people will take the day off work or school, and many see it as a day for spending time with their families.

Black Friday

November 29 - day after Thanksgiving
US, Canada, Australia, UK and most of Europe

Probably the biggest retail date for your calendar and one you therefore simply can’t ignore. Black Friday was originally a shopping holiday in the US, but with the ecommerce boom in recent years, it has become an international event.

The growth of ecommerce has also seen recent Black Friday events shift more and more online, and 2022 saw a record $9.12 billion in online sales.

Small Business Saturday

November 30 - Saturday after Black Friday
US, UK

Small Business Saturday usually takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and is designed to encourage shoppers to support small and local businesses rather than the industry giants who tend to cash in on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

The event is a massive opportunity for participating businesses, and not just brick-and-mortar stores—small online retailers stand to make a lot of sales. In fact, in 2018, ecommerce sales made up $3 billion of total spending on Small Business Saturday.

Cyber Monday

December 2 - Monday after Thanksgiving
US, Canada, Australia, UK and most of Europe

Cyber Monday was created more than a decade ago as an online counterpoint to the brick-and-mortar-heavy Black Friday event.

It was seen as a way of giving online retailers a chance to offer their customers special deals and a more convenient way to shop.

Since then, the lines between the two big shopping events have become quite more blurred, with sales often extending from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday (and sometimes beyond). But either way, it’s a massive ecommerce event that gets bigger every year.

Green Monday

December 9 - Second Monday in December
US, Canada and UK

Green Monday takes place on the second Monday in December and is the last Monday with at least 10 shipping days until Christmas.

It was actually a concept coined by eBay in 2007 as a way to advertise their biggest sales day of the month. Since then, other retailers have followed suit and adopted it as a way to guarantee customers that they’ll get their gifts in time for the holidays.

Free Shipping Day

December 15
US, Canada, Australia, UK and most of Europe

With so many online shoppers viewing free shipping as a very important factor influencing their purchasing decision, could there be a better holiday day for the retail calendar than Free Shipping Day?

It’s an excellent opportunity to entice shoppers, and an even better way for your customers to avoid busy stores and expensive shipping fees—just in time for Christmas. Best of all, retailers who participate in Free Shipping Day promise to deliver their products by Christmas Eve.

Hanukkah

December 25 - Based on Jewish lunar calendar
Global

Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights, lasting for more than eight days and traditionally a time for gift-giving.

Children receive gifts and Hanukkah money, while some families give each other a small present for each of the festival’s eight nights. Other traditions include lighting the menorah each night, playing dreidel games, and eating foods cooked in oil.

Whether you’re Jewish or not, there are easy ways you can say “Chag Sameach!” (“Happy Hanukkah!”) to your customers.

Christmas

December 25
Global

Christmas is a very important religious holiday for Christians all over the world, but it’s a deeply cherished tradition even for secular people in much of the Western world, where gifts are exchanged and valuable time spent with family.

It seems to grow even more commercially important every year, with consumers spending billions in the run-up to the main day on December 25. So anticipate that it could be one of the busiest times of the year for your store.

Boxing Day

December 26
UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, South Africa and parts of Europe

Boxing Day is a national holiday the day after Christmas in the UK and a few other Commonwealth countries. The name is said to have come about in the Victorian era when the rich would give servants the day off alongside a Christmas gift box.

It is a day for spending time with the family and eating leftovers from the big Christmas meal. For some, it’s time to hit the sales, and with the rise in online shopping, plenty of consumers are keen to shop from the comfort of their homes.

New Year’s Eve

December 31
Global

You’d think by New Year, consumers will be fed up with online shopping over the festive season—but ecommerce daily traffic volume was actually up 15 percent on New Year’s Eve 2017, compared with 2016. Analysts say it’s down to incentives from retailers, promotions, and even the cold weather.

Whatever the reason, it’s clearly a good opportunity to keep the momentum going—so consider offering an end-of-year discount, flash sale, or limited free shipping deal.

Prepare your marketing calendar

Now you’re up to speed on all of the important international ecommerce dates happening this year, you can start preparing your marketing calendar.

Every major holiday could be an opportunity for you to drive sales and build brand awareness, so make you don’t let it pass you by.

You certainly don’t need a promotional campaign for every date we’ve covered here, as not all of them will be a fit for your company. But it’s good to be aware so that when you spot an opportunity to capitalize on an event, whether that’s in the same country you are based or internationally, you can make sure to begin strategizing ahead of time.

Once you’ve filled up your promotional calendar, you can start working on a plan of action.

Remember, there is likely to be a lot of competition - seasonal sales are certainly nothing new, and you’ll need to make sure your brand stands out from the crowd if you’re going to fully reap the rewards on offer.