National Pig Day is on Monday, March 1, 2027, and it falls on March 1 every year. It celebrates pigs, from farm hogs and potbellied pets to the pigs of children’s books. It’s also a good day to learn where pork comes from and how pigs are raised.
When Is National Pig Day?
It’s always March 1. It’s an unofficial day, not a federal holiday, so you can celebrate however you like, from a farm visit to a storybook.
Who Started National Pig Day?
Sisters Ellen Stanley and Mary Lynne Rave started it in 1972, Fast Company reports. Their goal was to celebrate pigs and the big industry built around them. No group has since claimed an official role in running the day.
Why Celebrate Pigs?
Pigs are a huge part of American farming. About 73.7 million hogs and pigs lived on U.S. farms on June 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports.
Iowa leads by a wide margin, with about 24.7 million, roughly a third of the nation’s hogs. Minnesota follows with 9.3 million, and North Carolina has 7.2 million.
From March through May 2026, sows averaged 11.87 piglets per litter. The USDA updates these counts every quarter. The day is a chance to appreciate the animals and the farmers who raise them.
How to Celebrate National Pig Day
- Visit a farm or sanctuary: many farm sanctuaries offer tours where you can meet rescued pigs.
- Read a pig classic: share Charlotte’s Web with kids, or a picture book like If You Give a Pig a Pancake.
- Cook a pork dish slowly: try pulled pork in a slow cooker, or Puerto Rican pernil roasted with garlic and oregano.
- Make pig-shaped treats: decorate pink-frosted cupcakes with marshmallow snouts and candy eyes.
- Check local pet rules: if you’re thinking about a pet pig, ask your city whether zoning allows it first.
- Thank a farmer: buy pork from a local farm at your farmers market.
- Visit a county fair barn: check spring livestock shows, where 4-H members show the pigs they raised.
- Make a mud kitchen: let young kids “cook” in a backyard mud pit, then talk about why pigs love mud too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do pigs roll in mud?
To cool off. Pigs have few working sweat glands, University of Missouri Extension explains. A mud wallow cools their skin and also protects it from sunburn.
Is “sweating like a pig” accurate?
Not really. Pigs barely sweat, so on hot days farmers mist them with water. Panting at more than 50 breaths a minute is an early sign a pig is too hot.
Is there a day for pigs in a blanket?
Yes. National Pigs in a Blanket Day falls on April 24.