National Short Person Day
December 22
About National Short Person Day
National Short Person Day is celebrated annually on 22 December, a light-hearted occasion that embraces height diversity and promotes body positivity for people of shorter stature. Falling just after the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere — the date carries a fitting symbolism. In 2026, National Short Person Day lands on Tuesday, 22 December.
What is National Short Person Day?
National Short Person Day is an informal, fun-spirited celebration that recognises and appreciates people who are shorter than average. The day promotes body positivity, challenges height-related stereotypes, and encourages everyone — regardless of stature — to celebrate the qualities that make them unique. It’s a day of good humour and affirmation, reminding people that greatness comes in all sizes. While there is no formal organisation behind it, the day has gained significant traction through social media, particularly among younger audiences in the United States.
When is National Short Person Day?
National Short Person Day takes place on Tuesday, 22 December 2026. The date is fixed and falls on 22 December every year, immediately following the winter solstice.
How to Celebrate National Short Person Day
This day is all about celebration, humour, and appreciation. Here are some ways to join in:
- Appreciate the short people in your life — Tell your shorter friends, family members, or colleagues how much you value them. A simple compliment or a kind word goes a long way.
- Share your height with pride — If you’re on the shorter side, own it. Post a photo on social media celebrating your height and encouraging others to do the same.
- Challenge height stereotypes — Use the day to start conversations about how height bias shows up in everyday life, from workplace assumptions to media representation. Shorter people often face subtle discrimination that goes unacknowledged.
- Celebrate famous short achievers — From Napoleon Bonaparte (170 cm) to Simone Biles (142 cm), history and sport are filled with people who achieved extraordinary things regardless of their height.
- Help a short person reach something — In the most literal sense, be a good friend and grab that item from the top shelf. It’s a small act that short people genuinely appreciate.
- Wear platform shoes for solidarity — Flip the script and have your taller friends wear platforms for the day, drawing attention to how much height affects daily experience.
- Share memes and jokes — The day thrives on humour. Share light-hearted content that celebrates rather than mocks shorter stature. The best short person jokes come from short people themselves.
History of National Short Person Day
National Short Person Day is a relatively recent addition to the calendar of informal awareness days. The celebration emerged primarily through social media channels around 2018, though some sources point to the first notable online mention appearing on 22 December 2020. The day grew out of “Short Girl Appreciation Day,” an earlier informal celebration that also fell near the winter solstice. National Short Person Day broadened the focus to include people of all genders, recognising that height diversity is universal.
The specific founder of National Short Person Day remains unknown, which is common for awareness days that originate organically through internet culture rather than through formal organisations or proclamations. The connection to the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year — is almost certainly deliberate, providing a neat thematic link between the day’s focus and its position on the calendar.
Despite its informal origins, the day has grown rapidly. Each December, millions of social media posts celebrate shorter stature, share jokes, and highlight the achievements of people who happen to be below average height. The day has also prompted more thoughtful conversations about height discrimination, known as “heightism,” and its real-world effects on everything from hiring practices to dating.
Noteworthy Facts About Height
- The average adult height in the UK is approximately 175.3 cm (5 ft 9 in) for men and 161.6 cm (5 ft 3.5 in) for women, according to NHS data.
- Simone Biles, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, stands at just 142 cm (4 ft 8 in).
- Research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that each additional inch of height is associated with roughly $800 more in annual earnings, highlighting the reality of height bias in the workplace.
- The shortest verified adult in recorded history was Chandra Bahadur Dangi of Nepal, who stood at just 54.6 cm (21.5 in).
- Height is approximately 60–80% determined by genetics, with the remainder influenced by nutrition, health, and environmental factors during childhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Short Person Day?
National Short Person Day is an informal celebration on 22 December that embraces height diversity and promotes body positivity for people of shorter stature. It’s a fun, light-hearted day driven largely by social media.
When is National Short Person Day in 2026?
National Short Person Day falls on Tuesday, 22 December 2026.
Why is National Short Person Day near the winter solstice?
The date was chosen because 22 December falls just after the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year — making it a thematically fitting time to celebrate shorter stature.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing National Short Person Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #NationalShortPersonDay and #NationalShortPersonDay2026 on social media. Celebrate the short people in your life and remind everyone that height is just a number.
Related Awareness Days
- Look on the Bright Side Day — Celebrated on 21 December, a day about positivity and optimism that falls right before National Short Person Day.
- Love Your Freckles Day — Observed on 22 November, another body-positivity celebration that encourages people to embrace their unique features.
- National Personal Space Day — Falling on 30 November, a fun day about respecting boundaries and personal comfort zones.
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