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National Dance Like a Chicken Day

On National Dance Like a Chicken Day, forget your worries and shake those tail feathers! Have fun with friends and family, and get grooving!

Friday

May 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEMay 14

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYFun

SUBCATEGORYSilly

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready to cut loose and Dance Like a Chicken on National Dance Like a Chicken Day on May 14! This fun holiday has been celebrated since the 1970s, when it was created as an alternative way of celebrating May Day. It's also a great opportunity for everyone to have some silly fun and express themselves by flapping their wings and strutting around like chickens.

TIMELINE

National Dance Like a Chicken Day Timeline

Chicken Dance Origin

The "Chicken Dance" song was originally composed by Werner Thomas in the 1950s in Switzerland.

"Chicken Dance" Gains Popularity

The song gained popularity in the 1960s, especially in Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany.

"Chicken Dance" Comes to America

Stanley Mills, a music publisher, discovered the dance while at Oktoberfest in Germany and brought it back to America.

National Dance Like a Chicken Day Founded

Created as a fun alternative way to celebrate May Day, Dance Like a Chicken Day started to be annually observed in US.

"Chicken Dance" in TV and Film

The "Chicken Dance" began to appear regularly in popular media, showing up in films and television shows, furthering its popularity.

Cincinnati's Chicken Dance Record

In Cincinnati's Oktoberfest, 48,000 people danced the Chicken Dance making a record for most people to do the dance at once.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Dance Like a Chicken Day

Plan a dance party

Gather your friends, put together a playlist of chicken-themed songs, and have an old-fashioned dance party. Make sure to invite the chickens to join in the fun!

ORGANIZE

Organize a flash mob

Get together with some other chicken lovers and organize a flash mob somewhere public. Pick out your favorite chicken dance and get ready to show it off!

MAKE

Make a chicken dance video

Grab your phone and make a video of you or your friends dancing like chickens. Post it on YouTube or Instagram and make sure to use the hashtag #dancelikeachicken.

ATTEND

Attend a chicken dance workshop

Check out your local dance studio for classes on how to properly dance like a chicken. They might even have special classes for National Dance Like a Chicken Day.

HOST

Host an open mic night

Invite all your friends to come over and perform their best chicken dances on stage. Don't forget to give out prizes for the best performance.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Dance Like a Chicken Day

It's stress relief

If you're feeling overwhelmed and need to blow off some steam, what better way than to take part in National Dance Like a Chicken Day? Whether alone in your living room or alongside family and friends - there's nothing quite like throwing caution to the wind and flapping around like a mad bird to reduce stress levels.

It's fun for everyone

Who could resist the urge to dance like a clucking chicken on National Dance Like a Chicken Day? It's a silly, lighthearted activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. And who knows - you might even get a few laughs out of it!

It's great exercise

Adult or child, no one will deny that dancing around like a chicken can be quite the workout! Not only are you getting your heart rate up with aerobic movements, but you're also loosening up those stiff muscles with some fun stretches!