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National Flashlight Day

Fun · December 21

A day for the flashlight, the small handheld light kept in drawers, glove boxes and tents for power cuts, camping and finding what rolled under the couch.

National Flashlight Day falls on Monday, December 21, 2026. That is 55 days away.

A flashlight is a portable light you can point. It holds a power source, usually batteries, a bulb or LED, and a reflector or lens that gathers the light into a beam. Twist or click it on and the dark becomes a little more manageable.

Most homes have at least one, and most people have, at some point, found it with dead batteries at exactly the wrong moment. Flashlights come in many shapes: pocket lights on key rings, long heavy ones in car trunks, headlamps that free both hands, and the light built into nearly every phone. Many newer models use LEDs, which tend to run cooler and longer than older incandescent bulbs.

The day is easy to mark without leaving the house. Gather the flashlights you own, test each one, and swap in fresh batteries where needed. Put one where you would actually reach for it in a power outage, such as near the bed or by the door.

There is also the play side. Children read under blankets by flashlight, tell stories with a beam held under the chin, and make shadow puppets on the bedroom wall. A walk outside after dark with a flashlight turns an ordinary yard into something worth exploring, with moths circling the beam and eyes shining back from the hedge.

A red lens or red setting, found on some lights, helps keep your eyes adjusted to the dark, which is why stargazers often prefer it.

Ways to celebrate

• Test every flashlight at home and replace any weak batteries.
• Make shadow puppets on a wall with a friend or child.
• Take a short evening walk and see what the beam finds.
• Keep one flashlight in an easy spot for power outages.
• Read a chapter under a blanket by flashlight light.

Dates

All national days on December 21

Also on December 21

• National Crossword Puzzle Day
• National Coquito Day
• National French Fried Shrimp Day
• Humbug Day
• Winter Solstice
• Don't Make Your Bed Day
• Look on the Bright Side Day

Categories: Fun days