2025 e-commerce calendar for holidays around the world
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.
January
29 January: Lunar New Year
2025 will be the Year of the Snake for those who celebrate Lunar New Year. The festivities last for 15 days, and different regions in Asia have their own traditions, but 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 also expect customers to shop for new outfits – especially in red or gold – as well as snake-themed decorations and accessories.
February
14 February: Valentine’s Day
This romantic holiday is a prime opportunity for thoughtful and personalised gifting. And not necessarily just for a romantic partner, either. Almost two-thirds of Brits celebrated Valentine’s Day in 2024 and gifted something to a partner, a pet or even themselves. Consider curating 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, travel tickets, and iftar, the meal eaten after sunset.
March
6 March: World Book Day
Celebrating the written word and all things books and stories, World Book Day has become widely acknowledged around the UK and Ireland 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 other parts of the world, World Book Day happens on 23 April.
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.
30 March: 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, in 2024, the UK reached an estimate of around £1.7 billion for Mother’s Day.
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: In most countries, including in North America, most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, India, China Japan and South Africa, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May. In 2025 this lands on 11 May.
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 easter egg hunts. Adding an easter egg hunt on your website or store is a great way to mark the holiday and increase engagement with your customers.
May
5 May: Early May bank holiday (UK)
The early May bank holiday in the UK is a prime opportunity for e-commerce retailers to boost sales. The start of the warmer months gets Brits excited to spend more time outside, plus the extended weekend means that many will be spending it doing something special. It’s a great opportunity to launch spring sales and market products such as travel accessories, outdoor gear, party supplies and spring fashion.
26 May: Spring bank holiday
With the summer spirit in the air, the Spring bank holiday in the UK offers an excellent opportunity to promote summer-themed products, as people prepare for outdoor activities and holidays.
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. Show your solidarity by offering special promotions in your US stores to honour veterans and their families.
June
1–30 June: Pride Month
Show 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.
15 June: Father’s Day
This day is for all the dads out there. Help your shoppers express gratitude for fathers in their lives by offering curated gift guides and special deals on products catering to various hobbies and interests.
A 2023 survey of 1,000 UK consumers found that most shoppers aim to spend around £10–30 on Father’s Day gifts, and more than half of them buy their gifts the week before the event.
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, 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).
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July
23 July: Start of school summer holidays
As kids go on their long break from school, parents will be on the lookout for toys and activities to keep the family occupied. 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.
Important: The actual date varies for different regions in the UK.
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
25 August: Summer bank holiday
Make a splash on the last bank holiday of the year with engaging promotions to mark the winding down of festivals, summer holidays,and garden barbecues. It’s a good time to try to shift any remaining summer stock.
September
Throughout September: East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month
Celebrate the histories and achievements of East and Southeast Asian communities by putting a spotlight on the craftsmanship, unique designs and people in these communities. You can also increase engagement with your customers by sharing educational content on social media about their history, culture and achievements.
3 September: Back to school season
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.
October
Throughout October: Black History Month
Black History Month is a pivotal time to reflect, celebrate and educate. Showcase the richness of black culture by featuring products from African and Caribbean creators or those inspired by their heritage. To take part, your store can showcase products designed and created by black people to celebrate the culture and diversity of the black community.
You can also use your social media pages to share stories and educate your audience about significant figures and milestones in black history. Collaborations with black influencers and thought leaders can add depth to your engagement and demonstrate authentic involvement with the community.
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. In fact, in the UK, Halloween has an upward trend in retail spend with sales topping £1 billion in 2023.
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. In 2023, half of UK adults had planned to buy something on Black Friday – an increase from 39% the year before.
Want to learn how to boost your e-commerce sales during Black Friday? Read the tips in our guide, Black Friday 2023: Strategies to maximise sales for online retailers.
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). In 2023, the BFCM weekend saw 46% of Brits planning to buy electronics, with fashion and footwear as the next most popular categories to buy from.
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.
Brits were forecasted to spend a huge £85 billion on the season of Santa Claus – the highest in Europe. 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.
In 2022, Boxing Day sales saw a 50% increase from the previous year, with less in-person shopping, which suggests that online shopping was the more popular option.
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 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.
Meet the World Account: a business account designed for trading in multiple currencies. The World Account allows you to open 20 local currency accounts and connect to 130 leading marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, AliExpress, Shopify and PayPal.
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.
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