Every March 1st, National Pig Day is observed in the United States, specifically celebrating the pig. While it is not a federal holiday, this event is most enthusiastically marked in the Midwest.

The inception of the holiday in 1972 is credited to sisters Ellen Stanley, a teacher at All Saints Episcopal School in Lubbock, Texas, and Mary Lynne Rave of Beaufort, North Carolina. According to Rave, the purpose of National Pig Day is to recognize and honor the pig's intelligence, a quality often overlooked. The Midwest is particularly active in the celebration of this unique and lighthearted holiday.