E-commerce calendar for holidays around the world [2025]
Last updated: 05.12.2024
Getting your e-commerce store ready for all the celebrations and holidays is key to hitting new sales figures. Get ahead and start planning now.
Supercharge your e-commerce sales in 2025 by planning for holidays and celebrations. By organising your campaigns, inventory, and logistics in advance, you’ll be well-prepared to skyrocket your sales on these key dates.
Table of Contents
January
Back to school season
Christmas is over and kids are gearing up to go back to school at the end of the month. In January, ensure your online store becomes a one-stop shop for parents during this bustling period by offering a comprehensive range of back-to-school essentials. Boost your appeal with bundle deals, such as buy one get two on stationery, or throw in a complimentary item like a trendy pencil case with every backpack purchase. You can also show your expertise with content that alleviates the stress of back-to-school preparations, perhaps by creating checklists to help parents ensure they’ve got everything covered.
29 January: Lunar New Year
2025 will be the Year of the Snake for those who celebrate Lunar New Year. Different regions in Asia have their own traditions, but with festivities lasting for 15 days, there’ll be plenty of people getting together to exchange gifts and well wishes over elaborate feasts. In the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, you can expect customers to shop for new outfits – especially in red or gold – as well as snake-themed decorations and accessories.
For small businesses, the Lunar New Year can be a great opportunity to kickstart sales in 2025.
February
13 & 14 February: Galentine’s Day & Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a prime opportunity for thoughtful and personalised gifting, with romantics spending an average of $135 per person on loved ones. To broaden your reach, consider also catering to Galentine’s Day on 13 February – a celebration of friendship and self-love that originated from an episode of Parks and Recreation in 2010 and has become so popular it officially entered into the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2022.
You could curate a selection of bespoke items and handwritten notes to cater to the sentimental side of your customers.
28 February: Start of Ramadan
The Blessed Month of Ramadan is a time for contemplation, reflection and celebration for Muslims worldwide. Your customers will be spending on gifts, clothing, groceries and iftar, the meal eaten after sunset.
March
8 March: International Women’s Day
Participate in the global celebration of women’s achievements by offering thoughtful discounts and deals that resonate with the spirit of empowerment and appreciation. Consider supporting a charity that’s dedicated to creating a better future for women and girls, too.
17 March: St Patrick’s Day
Embrace the Irish spirit and launch special promotions featuring green and Irish-themed products or apparel in honour of Saint Patrick’s Day.
April
18 and 20 April: Good Friday and Easter Sunday
For those who celebrate, Easter is a time for families to come together for a feast and egg hunts. Adding a digital Easter egg hunt on your website or store is a great way to mark the holiday and increase engagement with your customers.
23 April: World Book Day
Celebrating the written word and all things books and stories, World Book Day has become widely acknowledged around Australia with children dressing as their favourite character from a book. Tailor your promotional content to appeal to book enthusiasts by offering promotions on relevant products such as books, e-readers, or literary-themed merchandise.
Note: In the United Kingdom and Ireland, World Book Day is celebrated on the first Thursday in March.
May
11 May: Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a key gift-giving event, with shoppers buying flowers, chocolates and gifts to show their appreciation for the mothers in their lives. In fact, most Australians spent between $50 and $100 on their mothers in 2024.
Celebrate the occasion with different gift guides for Mum’s various needs – whether they’re a new mother who deserves some pampering or a grandmother with hobby equipment that could use an upgrade.
Note: Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates worldwide. In the UK and Ireland, it falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent (30 March in 2025) while other countries mark it on the first Sunday of May. Some nations observe it on specific dates, like 8 March in Eastern Europe or 21 March in the Middle East.
26 May: Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States to honour the US military members who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. If you sell in the US, show your solidarity by offering special promotions in your US stores to honour veterans and their families.
June
Pride Month
Demonstrate support for inclusivity and diversity during this month dedicated to celebrating LGBT pride all around the world. Your store can join in the celebrations by curating dedicated collections of LGBTQ+-themed products, as well as rainbow-coloured items.
Consider partnering with LGBTQ+ organisations and donating a portion of your sales proceeds to related causes to demonstrate genuine support for the community, fostering trust and goodwill among consumers. Additionally, showcasing LGBTQ+ representation in your marketing materials and featuring diverse models and influencers can show that your brand acknowledges the significance of Pride Month.
30 June: End of Financial Year
Retail spending usually sees an uptick in June, when businesses put old stock on sale and consumers take advantage of tax deductions for the financial year. In 2024, End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales helped boost retail sales by 2.9% compared to 2023.
Customers expect bargains during the whole month, so it’s a good time to get rid of old stock and attract price-sensitive shoppers, while making room for new inventory.
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July
Start of school summer holidays (Europe and North America)
As kids go on their long break from school, parents will be on the lookout for toys and activities to keep the family occupied. If a large portion of your customers are from the northern hemisphere, make sure you bring the fun of summer to life with targeted marketing campaigns for summer clothing, games and vacation-related items to attract families and boost sales.
Note: The start of summer holidays varies across Europe and North America, with some schools finishing as early as June, while others continue into late July.
30 July: International Day of Friendship
The International Day of Friendship celebrates the relationships with our chosen family.
Embrace the spirit of camaraderie by offering promotions like Buy One Get One Free or similar deals that celebrate cherished friendships.
August
9–17 August: National Science Week
Held annually in August, National Science Week is Australia’s premier event celebrating science, technology and innovation across all ages. It’s an excellent opportunity to promote any products or toys related to education, STEM or innovation. Create themed promotions or discounts on bundles for aspiring scientists.
September
7 September: Father’s Day
This day is for all the dads out there. Help your shoppers express gratitude for the father figures in their lives by offering curated gift guides and special deals on products catering to various hobbies and interests.
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) predicted that Australians would spend around $820 million on their dads in 2024, with a third opting for alcohol and food and other popular categories including underwear, books, games and music.
Note: Like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day is celebrated on different days in different countries. For the vast majority of countries, it falls on the third Sunday in June (15 June in 2025), but other popular dates for Father’s Day include 19 March (Bolivia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Spain), 21 June (Egypt, Jordan, UAE), the first Sunday in September (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea) and the second Sunday in November (Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden).
October
20 October: Diwali
Mark the Hindu festival of lights with a vibrant array of offerings, from home decor to indulgent gifts, to provide your customers with a collection that honours this time of joy and renewal.
31 October: Halloween
For many people, Halloween is one of the holidays they look forward to most, since it’s a time to go all out and get creative with costumes, themed parties and horror movie marathons. Halloween spending has been creeping up over the years, reaching an average of $93 per person in 2024. Not bad when one in five Australians celebrates.
Tap into the excitement around Halloween with special offers on spooky outfit ideas, home décor and snacks to capture the festive spirit. You can also interact with your community through engaging content centred around costume ideas, DIY decorations, or the history of Halloween to increase engagement.
November
11 November: Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a nationally observed holiday in the US to honour and pay tribute to the service and sacrifices made by all military veterans throughout history. If you sell in the US, you can take part by offering special promotions and discounts for military members and consider donating a portion of sales to veteran organisations to show your appreciation.
11 November: Singles’ Day
Often dubbed ‘Anti-Valentine’s Day’, Singles’ Day celebrates single people and their life as it is. Originating in China, the event has grown steadily around the globe and now sees higher sales than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. Get involved by offering indulgent treats and pampering items that celebrate the essence of self-love.
Want to know more about this giant shopping event? Check out our Singles’ Day guide for e-commerce retailers.
28 November: Black Friday
Black Friday is a global sales bonanza like no other, and a date not to be missed for any online retailer. Shoppers will be on the lookout for special deals for weeks leading up to this day, especially as they have Christmas gifts in mind. More than half of Australians planned to buy clothing on Black Friday, while 42% were holding out for technology offers.
Want to learn how to boost your e-commerce sales during Black Friday? Read the tips in our guide on Black Friday strategies to maximise sales.
December
1 December: Cyber Monday
Gear up for Cyber Monday with a diverse range of discounted products to attract tech-savvy shoppers and deal-seekers alike. Cyber Monday used to be distinct from Black Friday because sales were only held online, but these days it’s often incorporated into the big weekend of sales known as Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM).
25 December: Christmas Day
Capture the magic of Christmas by offering a captivating array of gifts, decorations, and festive essentials, reflecting the spirit of joy and generosity.
Australians were forecasted to spend a $11.8 billion on the season of Santa Claus, with the highest-spending group – those aged between 35 and 49 – planning to spend an average of $965 each. To make sure your online store is well-prepared for this mega retail event, read our guide: E-commerce Christmas campaign ideas to boost sales.
26 December: Boxing Day
Boxing Day is synonymous with sales. Promote your post-Christmas clearance with a strategic campaign that highlights huge markdowns to entice those eager to snag a deal.
According to a Finder survey of more than 1,000 people, one in three respondents were planning to shop for Boxing Day discounts, with Gen Z expected to spend the most.
31 December: New Year’s Eve
Encourage customers to embark on a fresh start for the new year with products tailored to their resolutions, hobbies and aspirations for 2026, such as planners, wellness products, travel vouchers and hobby kits. Engaging with your customers through countdowns to the year end and sharing your resolutions can also foster a sense of community and anticipation for the year ahead.
Setting up for a successful 2025 in sales
As you gear up for a year packed with sales potential, you might be wondering: how can you manage all your sales income from different sites and marketplaces – and in multiple different currencies – in one place, in a cost-effective and efficient way? Here’s how we can help.
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You’ll be able to set up local currency accounts with us in minutes for free – no overseas address needed – to receive your sales revenue in your customers’ local currencies. Plus, you can hold funds in the local currency until you need to pay a supplier or bring the money back home at competitive rates. And to help you save even more, you’ll pay zero transaction or currency exchange rate fees on funds that you receive, so you can keep more of your hard-earned profits.
Get in touch to find out how we can help, or open an account for free today.
Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.
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