Holiday Thread

##August 5th is…

###National Underwear Day

National Underwear Day is observed annually on August 5th. If you’re like many Americans, your mother warned you to always wear clean underwear, because you never know when you will be in an accident! Although there are probably better reasons to wear fresh underwear, this is the one that most often comes to mind.

Underwear is the layer of clothing worn closest to the body and under the outer clothing. It protects clothing from sweat and provides the wearer protections from cold and chafing. Underwear also provides support and shapes a body. Fabrics allow underwear to be designed for specific climates and sports. They are designed for both modesty and to look alluring.


###National Oyster Day

National Oyster Day is observed annually on August 5th. Oysters are enjoyed as a seafood in many parts of the world.

Did you know there are over 100 different species of oysters? They’re typically named after the body of water in which they’re grown because oysters take on the characteristics of the water in which they live.

Here are some other interesting oyster facts:

The largest oyster-producing body of water in the world is located in Chesapeake Bay on the east coast of the U.S.

Almost two billion pounds of oysters are eaten each year.

In the U.S., east coast oysters tend to be smaller, milder and saltier. West coast oysters are creamy and sweet.

Only one out of every 10,000 oysters will produce a pearl.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Green Peppers Day

Green Peppers Day celebrates these versatile fruits. Usually referred as a vegetable, green peppers are technically a fruit. Green peppers are often referred to as sweet peppers and are very high in vitamin C, are an excellent source of carotenoids, and are also a very good source of fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Potassium and Manganese. WHFoods.com refer to peppers as “the Christmas ornaments of the vegetable world with their beautifully shaped glossy exterior that comes in a wide array of vivid colors ranging from green, red, yellow, orange, purple, brown to black.” Green peppers can be eaten raw or cooked.

Ways to eat green peppers include: sauteed with Italian sausage or in a pasta, stuffed, on pizza, raw with a veggie dip, hummus, or on a sub sandwich, in a salad, pepper steak, or in a stir fry.


###Work Like a Dog Day

Work Like a Dog Day was created to honor all the hard working people who put in 110% into their jobs. These are not the people who skate by doing just enough to say they did their jobs. No these are the ones who from the moment they clock in till they clock out they are putting forth extra effort to get the job done.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Summer Olympics Games

Opening Day Ceremony: August 5, 2016

Closing Day Ceremony: August 21, 2016

Location: Rio de Janerio, commonly called “Rio”

Once every four years, the world’s top athletes meet, to compete in the games of the Summer Olympics. It is officially called the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.

Opening Day ceremonies for the Summer Olympics is a huge, and very special event. The olympic competitions are held over a two week period. It concludes with a closing ceremony.

The Next Summer Olympics: The 2020 Olympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan from July, 24, 2020 through August 9, 2020. It will be the XXXII Olympiad.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm


###International Beer Day

Beer is considered to be a social lubricant in many societies, and is consumed in countries all over the world. Sales of beer are four times that of wine, the second most popular alcoholic beverage.

What is this holiday about?
International Beer Day is a celebration of beer’s greatness.

How is this holiday to celebrated?
International Beer Day is celebrated by drinking beer, drinking beer with friends, and buying beer for others. While there are various other traditions, these seem to be the key attributes. The suggested way to greet someone on International Beer Day is to hand them a beer and say “I bring you the gift of beer”.

Hundreds of pubs, bars, and breweries around the world host festivities celebrating the glory of beer. Events are expected to include: bar crawls, homebrew tours, barbecues, beer specials, and special beers.

Beer is the world’s most widely consumed and probably oldest alcoholic beverage, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from cereal grains—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), and rice are widely used. Most beer is flavored with hops, which add bitterness and act as a natural preservative, though other flavorings such as herbs or fruit may occasionally be included.

Some of humanity’s earliest known writings refer to the production and distribution of beer: the Code of Hammurabi included laws regulating beer and beer parlors, and “The Hymn to Ninkasi”, a prayer to the Mesopotamian goddess of beer, served as both a prayer and as a method of remembering the recipe for beer in a culture with few literate people. Today, the brewing industry is a global business, consisting of several dominant multinational companies and many thousands of smaller producers ranging from brewpubs to regional breweries.

The basics of brewing beer are shared across national and cultural boundaries. Beers are commonly categorized into two main types—the globally popular pale lagers, and the regionally distinct ales, which are further categorized into other varieties such as pale ale, stout and brown ale. The strength of beer is usually around 4% to 6% alcohol by volume (abv) though may range from less than 1% abv, to over 20% abv in rare cases.

Beer forms part of the culture of beer-drinking nations and is associated with social traditions such as beer festivals, as well as a rich pub culture involving activities like pub crawling and pub games such as bar billiards.

Drinking Games are also popular such as flip cup, beer pong, etc. Various social traditions and activities are associated with beer drinking, such as playing cards, darts, bags, or other pub games; attending beer festivals, or visiting a series of different pubs in one evening; joining an organization such as CAMRA; or rating beer.

PLEASE REMEMBER – “DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE”.
Designate a driver. Don’t let friends drive drunk.
Plan to sleep over.

Source -

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/weird_holidays.html#.VhB9m25NRdg

2 Likes

##August 6th is…

###National Disc Golf Day

Grab your discs and call up your friends! The first Saturday in August is National Disc Golf Day!

Requiring less equipment than traditional golf, disc golf shares the common goal of reaching each target with the fewest number of strokes, or to put it more accurately, throws.

Disc golf parallels the traditional game in many ways. Instead of clubs and a ball, the only gear necessary is a disc or Frisbee™. Starting from a tee pad, which is generally a rectangular area made of anything from rubber to cement or even brick, the player progresses down the fairway after each throw.


###National Jamaican Patty Day

National Jamaican Patty Day is observed annually on the first Saturday in August. A Jamaican patty is defined as a “turnover style pastry” which can have a variety of fillings such as seasoned ground beef, chicken, seafood or vegetables. The crust is ideally flaky in texture, half-moon in shape, and the fillings are usually spicy, but milder varieties are available for the faint of heart. It is said that the Jamaican Patty as we know it today, was born from the English Cornish Pastry, a similar concoction that came to Jamaica during the colonial days. It also bears a resemblance to the Spanish empanada.

The patty has become a staple among Jamaicans, acting as a quick “grab-n-go” or “meal-on-the-run” type of snack. A typical person eats a patty or two for lunch while in school or at work. It serves well as a hot & nutritious snack and when paired with a coco-bread it becomes a belly-filling & satisfying meal in itself.


###National Root Beer Float Day

On August 6, float a scoop of vanilla ice cream in an ice cold mug of frothy root beer. It’s National Root Beer Float Day!

Also known as the “Black Cow,” the root beer float got its start in Colorado in a mining camp. Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, gets the credit for inventing the “Black Cow” way back in August of 1893.

One night Wisner, owner of the Cripple Creek Cow Mountain Gold Mining Company, was staring out the window and thinking about the line of soda waters he was producing for the citizens of Cripple Creek when he came upon an idea. The full moon that night shined on the snow-capped Cow Mountain and reminded him of a scoop of vanilla ice cream. He hurried back to his bar and scooped a spoonful of ice cream into the children’s favorite flavor of soda, Myers Avenue Red Root Beer. After trying, he liked it and served it the very next day. It was an immediate hit.


###Mead Day

To increase mead awareness and foster camaraderie among mead makers, Mead Day is observed each year on the first Saturday in August.

One of the world’s oldest fermented beverages, mead is also called honey wine, ambrosia or nectar. It is made by combining honey, water and yeast.

Mead has been known to be called the “ancestor of all fermented drinks.”

A variety of ingredients can be added to mead such as fruits and herbs. It can be carbonated like beer or more sparkling like cider or wine. Like beer, it can have a more hoppy flavor when hops are added. Distilled, mead is more a liqueur quality and is a brandy.

Remember to always drink responsibly and to never drink and drive.


###National Wiggle Your Toes Day

Each year on August 6, people around the country participate in National Wiggle Your Toes Day. By going barefoot, wearing sandals or flip-flops, show off your toes. Be sure to give them some fresh air and exercise on National Wiggle Your Toes Day!


###National Mustard Day

National Mustard Day is observed on the first Saturday in August. Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant (white or yellow mustard, Sinapis hirta; brown or Indian mustard, Brassica juncea; or black mustard, B. nigra).

The whole, ground, cracked, or bruised mustard seeds are mixed with water, salt, lemon juice, or other liquids and sometimes other flavorings and spices to create a paste or sauce ranging in color from bright yellow to dark brown. Commonly paired with meats and cheeses, mustard is a popular addition to sandwiches, salads, hamburgers, and hot dogs.

Mustard is also used as an ingredient in many dressings, glazes, sauces, soups, and marinades. As a cream or a seed, mustard is used in the cuisine of India, the Mediterranean, northern and southeastern Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa, making it one of the most popular and widely used spices and condiments in the world.

National Mustard Day is celebrated annually at the National Mustard Museum on the first Saturday in August. This is a fun-filled day for the whole family and has traditionally included free hot dogs as well as music, games, other entertainment, free mustard sampling, and more. The Mustard Museum has been the official sponsor of this event since 1991.

In 2010, the event was moved to the current home of the Museum in Downtown Middleton, Wisconsin. With more than 6,000 enthusiastic mustard lovers in attendance annually, this event has raised thousands of dollars for local charity.


###National Fresh Breath Day

National Fresh Breath Day is observed annually on August 6th. National Fresh Breath Day was created to appreciate oral hygiene and its importance. Dentists and oral care professionals hail this as a day dedicated to fighting bad breath.

Remember to brush and floss regularly, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol to get a jump-start on fresh breath!

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Sandcastle Day

Few childhood memories are looked back upon more fondly than building sandcastles on the beach–the hot sun overhead, the cool water washing over your feet ever now and the fleeting beauty of the castles themselves that disappear the moment the tide comes in…there’s no doubt about it, childhood sandcastle memories are magic. And be honest: when was the last time you actually built a sandcastle, either with your child, friends, or even all on your own? This Sandcastle Day it’s time to find a couple of hours to remember just how wonderful building sandcastles at the beach can be.

Sandcastles have likely been around for thousands of years, a favorite past time of both children and adults alike, but it is only recently that people have begun to take them seriously as an art form. From 1989 until 2009, a World Championship in Sand Sculpture was held in Harrison Hot Springs in Harrison, British Columbia, Canada, also known as “Harrisand”. Other countries hold their own versions of the world championships, but as you may have guessed, it is not possible to get all the people who want to take part in the same place at the same time due to the expense and logistics. The world’s tallest sand castle was built on Myrtle Beach in South Carolina during the 2007 Sun Fun Festival. The structure was almost 50 feet (15 m) high and took 10 days to construct, using 300 truckloads of sand.

Sandcastle Day was created to help us remember just how much enjoyment some sand, water and sunshine can give us. It’s the little things, right?

Source for this holiday -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

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##August 7th is…

###Purple Heart Day

During the American Revolutionary War, the Badge for Military Merit decorated six known soldiers. Purple Heart Day on August 7 commemorates the creation of the oldest American military decoration for military merit, the Purple Heart and honors the men and women who are of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Created by General George Washington in 1782 to be presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action”, the decoration was a purple, heart-shaped piece of silk bound with a thin edge of silver and the word Merit embroidered in silver across the face.

It is unknown who designed the Badge of Merit. It is also unknown how many soldiers may have received the honor symbolizing the courage and devotion of an American Patriot. According to The Badge of Military Merit by Professor Ray Raymond, The “Book of Merit” where the names of possible recipients and their deeds were recorded has long been missing.

Until Washington’s 200th birthday, the Purple Heart remained a Revolutionary War footnote. Through the efforts of General Douglas MacArthur, the U.S. War Department created the Order of the Purple Heart. Today the medal bears a bust of George Washington and his coat of arms.


###National Lighthouse Day

Observed annually on August 7, National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. At one time, the beacon of light could be found across almost all of America’s shorelines.

A lighthouse is described as a tower, building or any other type of structure that is designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Lighthouses:
Mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, safe entries to harbors.

Assist in aerial navigation.

Have declined due to the expense of maintenance and replacement by modern electronic navigational systems.

Has a source of light called a “lamp” (may be electric or oil fueled).

Were originally lit by open fire and then candles.

Differ depending on the location and purpose but have standard components.

Has a lantern room which is a glassed-in housing at the top of a lighthouse tower.

Has a Watch Room or Service Room beneath the lantern room.

Has an open gallery outside the Watch Room or Lantern Room.

Development accelerated in the 17th century with Britain’s Trinity House constructing its first in 1609.

Earliest in North America was in St. Augustine, Florida. Printed on a 1791 map, it had been built by Menendez after his landing in 1586.

America’s next lighthouse was Boston Light on Little Brewster Island in 1716.

The oldest existing lighthouse in the United States is the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey. Built in 1764, this lighthouse is still in operation.

At the end of the 19th century, the United States had the most lighthouses of any nation.

The 9th Act of the first Congress created the US Bureau of Lighthouses in 1789, which placed lighthouses under federal control.

The United States Coast Guard took over on July 7, 1939.

Visiting and photographing lighthouses has become a popular hobby as well as collecting ceramic replicas.


###National Raspberries N’ Cream Day

National Raspberries N’ Cream Day is observed annually on August 7th. With Raspberry season in full swing, what better way than to celebrate with this simple and delicious treat.


###American Family Day

Established as a day encouraging families to spend time with one another, American Family Day on the First Sunday in August is a perfect occasion to enjoy the waning summer rays with those dearest to us.

American Family Day was specifically proclaimed to avoid gifts and to focus on family relationships.


###National Friendship Day

According to the National Friendship Day declaration, we are invited to “observe this day in an appropriate manner, in accordance with the culture and other appropriate circumstances or customs of their local, national and regional communities, including through education and public awareness-raising activities”.


###National Sisters Day

National Sisters Day on the first Sunday in August is your chance to show your appreciation for that unique bond only sisters can understand. All siblings have the odd argument here and there, but deep down there’s little way around the natural connection between siblings. Cherish the memories and make plans to create new ones. Reconnect or patch up any misunderstandings. Sisters are forever.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Sea Serpent Day

“A particularly famous sea serpent sighting was made by the men and officers of HMS Daedalus in August, 1848 during a voyage to Saint Helena in the South Atlantic; the creature they saw, some 60 feet long, held a peculiar maned head above the water. The sighting caused quite a stir.” Perhaps this is why we celebrate Sea Serpent Day on August 7th. Is it a myth? Is it real? Spend this holiday discussing the possibilities surrounding this sea serpent sighting and the many others that have been documented throughout history.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###International Forgiveness Day

Forgiveness Day is a time to forgive and to be forgiven. It must be a pretty good thing, because there are two groups that lay claim to a Forgiveness Day in the month of August. Both are world or international events. There’s enough trouble and strife in the world. Two forgiveness days can only help to make things better. We agree with the sponsors of this day, that a little more forgiveness will help to make the world a much better place.

Global Forgiveness Day began in 1994. It was created and is sponsored by the Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassadors. This holiday originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

International Forgiveness Day was created by the World Forgiveness Alliance, a non-denominational, educational foundation. According to their website: " International Forgiveness Day dedicated to evoking the healing power of forgiveness worldwide." The founder is Robert W. Plath, from Mill Valley, California.

Take a few moments to sincerely forgive someone. And, make it public. That way forgiveness will spread.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm


###India Pale Ale Day

Get ready to raise a glass and celebrate India Pale Ale Beer Day. This annual occasion aims to increase appreciation of one of the world’s most popular types of craft beer, using social media to spread the word.

IPA beers date back to the late 18th century, when these ales were brewed for British sailors making long sea voyages to India. Most beers didn’t keep well on board ship, but London brewer George Hodgson was one of the first to develop a pale ale with a high hop content, which kept its taste better.

The special day isn’t sponsored by a particular beer brand, but brings together breweries large and small, along with an assortment of beer buffs and bloggers. Hundreds of events are organized, including India pale ale tastings and festivals, so look out for a celebration at a bar near you. Cheers!


###Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day

Have you ever battled vainly to open a tightly sealed bottle of tablets – only to end up with a sprained wrist and an even worse headache? Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day aims to lift the lid on this kind of problem.

So, if you’re being forced to use knives or scissors to prise a toy or tool out of an impenetrable plastic case, don’t keep your feelings under wraps. Let the manufacturers know that their way of packing items just isn’t your bag.

As well as wasting customers’ time, unnecessary over-packaging also wastes precious resources. What’s more, it leaves us all with extra rubbish to dispose of. An ideal way to mark the occasion is to avoid unnecessary packaging as much as possible. This is a day to bypass burger cartons, say no to supermarket plastic bags and do some thinking outside the box!


###Psychic Day

Psychic Day is a day that is set aside to give people the opportunity to hone their psychic abilities. Its origin dates back to nineteenth century England.

Many psychics believe that everyone has a built in sixth-sense but they just don’t realize it. The purpose of psychic day is for people to take the time to try and improve this psychic power in order to develop the abilities lying dormant within them.

Here are a few suggestions that might help:

Guess who is calling you when the phone rings

Take a deck of cards and try and guess the color of the suit. Continue and eventually try to predict the particular suit name and number

Flip a coin and predict if it will fall on heads or tails


###Doll Day

They look like miniature people. They have names, personalities, families, houses, cars, whole life stories. They provided hours upon hours of entertainment for years on end. They let us express our own feelings long before we ever really understood them. They helped us learn important lessons about friendship and sharing. They helped us get through long, sad, lonely days. They played an important role is us becoming who we are.

What are we talking about? Dolls, of course! And we challenge you to think of a toy that deserves its own day as much as dolls do!

Dolls have been a part of human civilization for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence indicating that dolls are the oldest known toy. The earliest dolls were made clay, stone, wood, bone, ivory, leather, wax, and other available materials. Wooden dolls have been found in Egyptian tombs dating to as early as 21st century BC. Clay dolls have been found in the graves of Ancient Greek and Roman children as well. Like children today, Roman, Greek and Egyptian children dressed their dolls according to the latest fashions. Rag dolls are traditionally home-made from spare scraps of cloth material. Rag dolls dating back to the 5th century AD have been found in the part of the Roman Empire now known as great Britain.

In modern times, Mattel’s Barbie has become one of the world’s most popular dolls. First created in 1959, the Barbie doll has continuously strived to adapt to the ever-changing markets of numerous world countries by coming out in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes, each carefully adapted to the inhabitants of a certain region.

Doll Day was created to celebrate the enormous contributions dolls have made to the development of children the world over as well as humanity as a whole.

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

1 Like

##August 8th is…

###National Happiness Happens Day

National Happiness Happens Day is observed each year on August 8. On August 8 each year just let it happen. You know. Happiness. It’s National Happiness Happens Day!

Happiness is encouraged all day. Recognize every moment of glee, joy, delight, and pleasure. Don’t let it pass. A flicker of a giggle should be given its due and should it blossom into full blown happiness, don’t be surprised. It happens!

The Secret Society of Happy People is an organization that was founded in August of 1998 and formed to celebrate the expression of happiness. The society encourages members to recognize their happy moments and think about happiness in their daily life. They have two motto’s which include “Happiness Happens” and “Don’t Even Think of Raining on My Parade.” Their purpose is to stimulate people’s right to express their happiness.


###National Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor’s Porch Day

National Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor’s Porch Day is celebrated on August 8.

Did you know that zucchini was a fruit? Well, if you’re a gardener, you know this fact already. You also know that zucchini grows in abundance and is ready for harvest in August. Zucchini growers also know that one plant of zucchini allows you to share this wonderful treat!


###National Dollar Day

August 8 commemorates the day Congress established the U.S. monetary system in 1786. It’s National Dollar Day!

The first U.S. dollar bill wasn’t printed until 1862, and it didn’t bear the image of George Washington, either. Salmon P. Chase, President Lincoln’s Secretary of Treasury, was featured on the first greenback.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###National Frozen Custard Day

National Frozen Custard Day celebrates this smooth and creamy mixture of milk or cream, sugar, and egg yolks. Sometimes called French ice cream frozen custard was introduced at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. It also made an appearance in Coney Island as early as 1919.


###Bonza Bottler Day

Bonza Bottler Day is a day just to have a party. This holiday was created on August 8th, 2005, by Elaine Fremont when she realized there were no special occasions to celebrate one month. She created a special day that can be celebrated every month by just having fun and an excuse to have a party. This holiday is celebrated each month when the number of the month is the same as the date (i.e. January 1st, February 2nd, etc.).

Source for these holidays -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Odie Day

Odie Day celebrates the fictional character from the famous Garfield comic strip created by the iconic cartoonist Jim Davis. Odie has also appeared in Garfield and friends, two live-action feature films and three amazing CGI feature length films. Odie is the only character to mature in the Garfield cartoon universe.

Odie is characterised as a tremendously credulous and brainless bog, but he is also shown as extremely caring and loving. Garfield is seen to play on Odie’s gullibility by pushing him off objects or by simply making fun of him! Nevertheless, their relationship is distinguished by their playfulness and love for one another.

It is time to get the streamers, party-poppers and oreo ice-cream cake out and celebrate the existence of this adorable pooch. Despite his inability to formally communicate, I am sure this beagle will be thinking about us in his undersized canine brain. Have an Odie themed party; where all guests dress up as a character from the beloved Garfield cartoon strip and raise your glasses to Odie!


###Bowling Day

Roll up to join the celebrations for Bowling Day! This fun occasion aims to get more people involved in the sport. Since the event was founded in the USA in 2011, it has proved to be a striking success.

Bowling is one of the world’s most popular participation sports, with around 100 million enthusiasts. It appeals to all ages and both sexes, and many people with disabilities are keen bowlers.

The sport may date back to ancient Egyptian times, as primitive bowls have been found in graves from around 5,000 BC. Much later, Henry VIII was a keen bowler, but banned working men from taking part in case they neglected their duties.

Thousands of centres are offering free taster sessions for Bowling Day, so the ideal way to celebrate is to take to the lanes. You could well be bowled over by how much fun it is.


###International Cat Day

International Cat Day is a full 24 hours of recognition and veneration of one of humanity’s oldest and most beloved pets. The festivities were put together for the first time in 2002 by IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, among other animal rights groups, to celebrate the most popular pet on the planet.

An estimated 500 million cats are thought to be frolicking in neighbours’ gardens across the world, which means that most every extended family is bound to have an aunt with more kittens than former husbands, whatever the country or climate. And that’s great, because owning a cat has been shown to improve mental health and to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. So when it’s raining cats and dogs outside and you don’t have someone to cuddle with, any black, ginger, Persian, Siamese, Burmese, Bengal, Shorthair, Munchkin, Balinese, RagaMuffin or any old stray cat will do the trick.

So roll out the red carpet and the catnip for your furry feline friend, because International Cat Day is that one day a year when black cats bring good luck and cat eye sunglasses match your entire wardrobe.


###Afternoon Tea Week (Aug. 8th-14th, 2016)

Founded in 2010 Afternoon Tea Week is a celebration of one of Britain’s favourite traditions – whether enjoyed in a 5-star hotel, or as a home baked treat, the British love the combination of savoury and sweet treats, accompanied by some of the 165 million cups of tea drunk each day in the UK.

Individuals, business and charities are encouraged to hold their own events, celebrations and special offers throughout the country and these are advertised free of charge on the dedicated Afternoon Tea Week microsite.

This year sees the launch of the first ‘Afternoon Tea Awards’ to coincide with Afternoon Tea Week, with over 30 of the top hotels and restaurants participating.

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

2 Likes

##August 9th is…

###National Rice Pudding Day

On August 9 many enjoy their favorite dish on National Rice Pudding Day.

Rice pudding is made from rice mixed with water, milk, coconut milk, evaporated milk or cream and sometimes vanilla, cinnamon and raisins. A variety of recipes are used when preparing the dish either for dessert or dinner.

When preparing rice pudding for dessert – a sweetener, such as sugar is added.

Dating back to the Tudor period, the earliest rice pudding recipes were called whitepot. One of the earliest known methods was written down by Gervase Markham in 1615.


###National Veep Day

National Veep Day is designated to give recognition to the succession plan of the President of the United Sates.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
(ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, CLAUSE 6)

On August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald Ford became President of the United States upon the resignation of President Richard Nixon.


###National Book Lovers Day

Observed each year on August 9, (and sometimes on the first Saturday in November) bibliophiles get to celebrate on National Book Lovers Day! A day for all those who love to read, National Book Lovers Day encourages you to find your favorite reading place, a good book (whether it be fiction or non-fiction) and read the day away.

Bibliophile – a person who has a great appreciation for or collects books.

Let’s step back in time for a minute:
The very first books used parchment or vellum (calf skin) for the book pages.

The book covers were made of wood and often covered with leather.

The books were fitted with clasps or straps.

Public libraries appeared in the Middle Ages.

Books in public libraries were often chained to a bookshelf or a desk to prevent theft.

Moving forward:
Book manufacturing’s recent development included digital printing. Book pages are printed using toner rather than ink. Digital printing opens up the possibility of print-on-demand, where no books are printed until after an order is received from a customer.

E-books are rapidly increasing in popularity. E-book (electronic book) refers to a book-length publication in digital form. They are usually available through the internet. However, can also be found on CD-ROM and other forms. E-books are read either by computer or via a portable book display device known as an e-book reader, such as a Reader, Nook or Kindle.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###International Art Appreciation Day

International Art Appreciation Day is a day to show your appreciation for all art. Merriam-Webster.com defines art as “something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings”. When we think of art we often think of paintings or sculptures but art may also be seen in photography, crafts, designs, or drawings.

Some of the world’s most popular painters include Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), and Rembrandt (1606 – 1669). For the top 10 list see http://www.biographyonline.net/artists/top-10-painters.html. A few of the world’s top art museums are Musee du Louvre (Paris, France), Vatican Museums (Vatican City, Rome, Italy), and Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). The top 10 list may be seen at http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/29/us-travel-picks-museums-idUSSP17187820080229


###International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (Resolution 49/214 of 23 December). The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Chinese Valentine Day / Daughters Festival

Celebrate love …Chinese style. Today is Chinese Valentine Day. It is also known as the Daughters Festival and several other names (see below). It is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

This holiday is one of love. It’s romantic (and lovely) that this holiday evolved from an ancient love story from Chinese folklore. As a result of being handed down from generation to generation over thousands of years, there are several versions of the story.

Here is one of the the most popular versions of the story:
The Goddess of Heaven (also known as the Queen of Heaven) had seven beautiful, young daughters. The seven daughters came down to earth. They decided to bathe in a pristine river, leaving their clothes on the shore. Along came a cow herder (the herd were actually ox) named “Niu Lang”. He took their clothes to see what they would do. The daughters decided that the youngest, and most beautiful, named Zhi Nü, should go out of the water and recover their clothes. Because Niu Lang saw her naked, they had to get married. They fell madly in love, and shared several years of marital bliss.

Finally, her mother became irritated by her absence from Heaven, and ordered her to return. Seeing how much Zhi Nü missed her husband, the Jade Emperor of Heaven brought the couple back together. Ultimately, Zhi Nü was allowed to visit her husband, Niu Lang just once a year. The annual reunion occurs on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar.

Other names for this holiday include:

Festival of Seven Daughters

Seventh Sister’s Birthday

Festival of Double Sevens

Night of Sevens

Determining the Date:
The lunar year is established based upon the sighting of the new moon. Calendar Converters are available online to convert to/from the Julian and Chinese Calendars.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm

2 Likes

##August 10th is…

###National Lazy Day

Today there will not be much information regarding this annually celebrated holiday as we do not feel like doing any research. Actually, we do not feel like doing anything at all. So we are in our hammocks with a couple of good books and glasses of lemonade and iced tea. Yes, it is National Lazy Day, and we choose to be lazy rather than tell you that this holiday is observed each year on August 10th.


###National S’mores Day

The most popular campfire treat is recognized each year on August 10th during National S’mores Day. This delicious, gooey treat is loved by millions across the United States.

S’mores consists of a roasted marshmallow with a layer of chocolate bar sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.

The origin of this tasty snack is credited to the entrepreneur Alec Barnum. However, the first recorded version of the recipe can be found in the 1927 publication of Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. Even though the Girl Scouts were not the first ones to make s’mores, Girl Scout groups describe them in their reports as early as 1925. Earlier recipes used the name “Some Mores”. It is unclear when the name was shortened to “S’mores”.

Today there are many variations on the original s’more. Try spreading peanut butter on the graham crackers before adding the other ingredients. Substitute peanut butter cups in place of the chocolate bar. Replace the graham crackers with fudge-dipped cookies.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###National Duran Duran Appreciation Day

Are you “Hungry Like a Wolf?” Do you like boys in make-up with perfectly coiffed hair? If you adored this Fab Five band in the '80s, then National Duran Duran Appreciation Day is the day for you. Born from Birmingham, England’s underground club cult movement, Duran Duran was founded by Nick Rhodes and John Taylor in 1978. After searching for a name, Duran Duran was chosen from the Milo O’Shea character in Jane Fonda’s futuristic film, “Barbarella”. Additional band members included Roger Taylor, Simon LeBon and Andy Taylor.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Skyscraper Appreciation Day

Skyscraper Appreciation Day is the birthday of the famous architect William Can Alen, who is the genius behind the construction of the Chrysler Building, which is one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks.

Skyscraper Appreciation Day was initiated and founded by Dr. Tom Stevens. Interestingly, it was created so that the general public could admire the structural and architectural brilliance of skyscrapers. Furthermore, it also celebrates the triumph of reason and man’s ability to construct industrial masterpieces.

You can celebrate Skyscraper Appreciation Day by undertaking one of the following activities:

Research the topic of skyscrapers on the internet and compile a detailed factfile.

Venture to a skyscraper close to where you live and marvel at its architectural beauty.

Sort through your favourite skyscraper photos and add them to the “Photos” section of the Skyscrpaer Appreciation Day Facebook page.

Have skyscraper themed day where you and your friends dress up as famous skyscrapers from around the world.


###World Lion Day

Lion Day aims to raise awareness of the majestic hunter, the ultimate feline, the king of the jungle, the big fluffy kitty of the Serengeti… Hmm, we should have left it at ‘king of the jungle’.

Basically, it’s all about lions, but you’ve probably got that from the name.

This celebration of the animal kingdom’s most beautiful and fearsome creature was founded by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to big cats. August 10th is a day for people to come together from across the world to pay tribute to the mighty lion in as many ways as possible. Though a fun and exciting occasion for all, its foundations are based in a very serious matter: lion numbers have dramatically declined to the point where the species needs to be placed on the endangered list, just like its larger cousin the tiger.

How you celebrate is entirely up to you. You could change your social media profile pictures to a lion for the day, draw a sketch and share it with friends, find out who has the loudest roar, or even get your coworkers to sponsor you to wear a lion jumpsuit to work, then make a donation to Big Cat Rescue’s ongoing mission.

At the very least, please Like the official Facebook page and follow @BigCatRescue on Twitter, because the more we spread the word, the greater the chances of these incredible animals gracing our planet forevermore.

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

2 Likes

##HAPPY NATIONAL S’MORES DAY!!

1 Like

##August 11th is…

###National Son’s and Daughter’s Day

Each year on August 11, parents across the United States participate in National Son’s and Daughter’s Day. On this day, spend time with the joys of your life.

Let your children know that you are glad they are part of your life. Share family stories, listen to the events of their day, their hopes, and dreams. Enjoy every day you have with them and spend as much quality time as you can.


###National Presidential Joke Day

National Presidential Joke Day is observed annually on August 11.

A day to recognize the humor often found and yet not so appreciated in the highest office in the land, National Presidental Day offers a nod to the gaffes, social missteps and sometimes downright hilarious mistakes presidents make. During an election year, the scrutiny of the constituency can be brutal; the presidential candidates should be prepared to handle the presidential joke. The citizenry will be listening!

National Presidential Joke Day began on August 11, 1984. During a sound check for his Saturday evening radio broadcast, President Ronald Reagan joked, “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” Since 1982, the networks had agreed comments made during sound checks were off the record. However, it was leaked to the general public and CBS eventually broadcast the recording on its Monday evening report. Critics blasted Reagan as being unpresidential, and others considered the joke harmless under most circumstances.


###National Raspberry Bombe Day

National Raspberry Bombe Day is observed annually on August 11th. This frozen summer delight is sure to please your taste buds and be a great finale to your meal.

A typical bombe contains sherbet, heavy cream, sugar, chopped nuts, candied fruit and a dash of rum. It is layered in a spherical mold and frozen overnight creating a centerpiece dessert.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Ingersoll Day

Ingersoll Day recognizes the birth date in 1833 of Robert G. Ingersoll. The son of a Presbyterian minister, Ingersoll gained notoriety as a 19th century orator, public entertainer and politician whose views on atheism and agnosticism became widely celebrated.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Play In The Sand Day

The whisper of wind over your skin as you dig into the fine sand brings back memories for many of us. Maybe it was just as a child playing in a sandbox at the park, or at the beach on a vacation. Either way, or in whatever way you remember your experiences with that lovely little grain that you moved by the billions, this day is all about Playing in the Sand!

Originally it was about making artistic sandcastles, and soft sculptures out of sand and water, but now it encompasses anything you do in the sand. Many major beaches around the world hold contests for the best artistic works. Busts of famous figures, immense sand castles one can walk around and not see over, to intricately molded and shaped designs that take your breath away. Many beaches have easy access to food, drink and fun near them, but it isn’t truly necessary. Bring some small shovels, a couple of pails, a few more people and enjoy the creativity as it spawns from you. Build a moat around your stuff, and fill it with water. Build sand beds so your comfort is perfected. Set up a small building, put the smallest child in and make them the ruler of the new sand kingdom!

From sandcastles to burying your friends and family, the means of which you are playing does not matter, only that you enjoy yourself. Build the house of your dreams. Erect a monument to something, or someone, you hold dear. Maybe a sand castle with a moat around it, and sticks for bridges. Dig a hole deep enough to cover with a blanket and turn it into your little home away from home in the sun. Maybe dig with the little ones, showing them how to make a sand castle. Write your names in the sand, and let the water smooth them out, and later wipe away the canvas to start again later. The choices are nearly as infinite as the things one can do in the sand, and just as fun as anything else.

Source for this holiday -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

1 Like

##August 12th is…

###National Julienne Fries Day

Each year, National Julienne Fries Day is observed on August 12th.

Cut into thin, uniform matchsticks, julienne fries tend to be crispier and are often called “shoestring fries”. The oldest written known reference to the julienne cut is the 1722 edition of Francois Massialot’s Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois.

Although the origin of the julienne cut is uncertain, Eneas Dallas in the book Kettner’s Book of the Table written in 1877, analyzes the origins of the julienne cut. He considers one recipe, Julienne Soup, which calls for all the vegetables, such as turnips, carrots, potatoes, to be cut into long strips or staws. Staying on the trail of “receipts” the original Julienne recipe may have come from a wooodsorrel soup which required two cuts to be made on each leaf. Not one or three, but two. By doing so would create a trefoil or a trinity, which would be significant to some Christian or superstitious cooks.

According to Dallas, the woodsorrel was also known in Europe by many names. In France it was known as La petite oseille and surelle (among many others), in England it was known as stubwort, sour trefoil, cuckoo’s meat and most interestingly it was known as Alleluia or Allelujah. By this name also it was found in Italy and Spain. The word would often become corrupted or manipulated. For example, the scientific name for woodsorrel is Conserva Lajulce. Dallas carry’s this point to Italy where the name becomes Juliola.

Dallas’s third suggestion is that when woodsorrel is cooked, the leaves cook away, leaving only the twigs or the representative julienne cuts.

On National Julienne Fries Day, now you share the possibilities of their origin while noshing on some freshly fried potatoes.


###National Middle Child Day

Each year on August 12th, National Middle Child Day is observed across the United States. This day gives special recognition to the middle child or children in the family.

It is believed by many that birth order plays a pivotal role in the personalities of children. The “Middle Child Syndrome” states that the first-born is often the leader and the role-player while the youngest one is always considered the baby of the family, therefore, leaving the middle child without a special “role”.

Birth order is known to contribute to the Big Five personality traits: extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience.

One personality study claims that middle children tend to be artistic and creative.


###National Vinyl Record Day

The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Monkees. Does the mention of these musicians make you picture a round black record? A vinyl record? The vintage vinyl is almost as much of a classic as the bands themselves.

These vinyl records are commemorated annually on August 12. Vinyl records are also known as a gramophone record, phonograph record or a record. It is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc which has an inscribed, modulated spiral groove.

Vinyl records are referred to based on rotational speed The RPM’s, or revolutions per minute of the more popular vinyls are:

45s
33 1/3
78s

Other features of vinyl records included reproductive accuracy or “fidelity” (High Fidelity or Hi-Fi, Orthophonic and Full-Range), their time capacity (long playing or single), and the number of channels of audio provided (mono, stereo or quadraphonic).

Vinyl records were also sold in different sizes such as:

12 inch
10 inch
7 inch

Vinyl records left the mainstream in 1991. They continued to be manufactured and have started to become increasingly popular with collectors and audiophiles.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###International Youth Day

Youth Day presents an opportunity for every country to assess their investment in and commitment to youth, as well as general education (both of and to youth). Take the opportunity to find out about local youth culture, activities and education, and to get involved in the well being of the next generation of humanity.


###World Elephant Day

They’re intelligent. They’re family-oriented. They have great memories. They are capable of feeling a wide range of deep emotions, from intense grief to joy bordering on elation, as well as empathy and stunning self-awareness. They create complex, supportive societies much like our own. Taking into consideration all of that and much, much more, what’s not to love about elephants? Still, countless elephants are brutally killed every year for their ivory by greedy poachers who then leave their carcasses to rot in the sun. As Graydon Carter, Editor of Vanity Fair, put it:

“We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits (…) but the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behavior.”

World Elephant Day is the perfect time to find out more about these amazing animals and what we can do to preserve and protect them so they do not go the way of the mammoth.

World Elephant Day was created in 2011 by a Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims and Thailand’s Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and was first celebrated on August 12, 2012. The initiative was greatly supported by film star William Shatner who narrated the documentary Return to the Forest, a fascinating 30-minute film about the reintroduction of captive Asian elephants to the wild. Currently, the demand for ivory is the biggest in China, with the price of ivory often exceeding the price of gold, something that makes elephants bigger targets than ever. Habitation loss is also a danger to the world’s elephant population as it deprives elephants of the hundreds of pounds of food they need every day, making it more difficult for them to breed and making it easier for poachers to track them down. Circuses and tourism are also serious threats to the animals’ well-being. Luckily, an increasing number of both celebrities and politicians have become interested in the cause, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashley Judd and President Barack Obama.

The best way to celebrate this day is to take the opportunity to educate yourself about these magnificent mammals and share your knowledge with others. As ever, simply spreading the word about the dangers these magnificent mammals face via social media can actually make a real change. Thanks to your sharing a few of World Elephant Day’s Facebook posts, that old high school acquaintance of yours who is traveling to Thailand on her honeymoon this year may just decide to skip the elephant ride when she realizes that “training” elephants often involves tying and beating them daily for months on end. Watching the aforementioned documentary will only take half an hour of your time but is sure to be a real eye-opener, not to mention the absolutely stunning landscapes shown in it. If you want to get a bit more involved, you could choose to make a donation to a foundation dedicated to protecting elephants from poachers or relocating them to locations better suited to their needs.

Whichever way suits you best, make sure that you spend this day in a way that helps elephants the world over so we, in turn, can continue to marvel at them and their uniquely fascinating way of life.

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

2 Likes

##August 13th is…

###National Prosecco Day

As we bask in the warmth of the resounding rays of summer, National Prosecco Day, August 13th, represents a time to raise a toast to those remaining days of the season while encouraging people across the US to embrace life’s everyday celebrations.

A sparkling wine, Prosecco is made from a variety of grapes. One of the oldest is the Glera, but Prosecco can also be made from Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Primarily grown and bottled in the Veneto region of Italy, Prosecco’s draw is its elegant mousse. In wine-speak, the mousse is the lovely, persistent bubbles giving it the sparkle that makes Prosecco so appealing for celebrations. Along with that touch of sweetness (usually dry), light-bodied, refreshing aromas and flavors of white spring flowers, citrus fruits and green apples paired with a wallet-friendly price tag, Prosecco exudes an easygoing sense of fun, occasion, and everyday celebration.

As the most sold sparkler in the U.S. – having surpassed the 4-million case mark (according to Impact Databank), it’s only fitting that this long revered aperitivo of choice for Italians should earn its own ‘National Day’ of recognition. Some say no other beverage defines the Italian philosophy of la dolce vita, or the good life, quite like Prosecco.

Prosecco’s bubbles come in many forms. Spumante is the bubbliest of the proseccos followed by frizzante, and the calmest is the tranquillo. As summer’s fun lulls into autumn’s social afterglow, National Prosecco Day reminds us of the fruits of our labors with its notes of apple and pear.

Enjoy Prosecco with friends over crab cakes and scallops on the beach or with goat cheese, prosciutto, and fresh garden tomatoes at your summer table. This sparkling wine pairs well from aperitif to dessert and even brunch cocktails the next day.


###National Filet Mignon Day

National Filet Mignon Day is observed annually on August 13th. Usually, from a steer or heifer, a filet mignon is a steak cut of beef taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin of the beef carcass.

Filet mignon is French for “cute fillet” or “dainty fillet”.

In French, filet mignon may be called “filet de boeuf”, which translates to beef fillet in English.

When found on a French menu, filet mignon may also refer to pork rather than beef.

The tenderloin from which the filet mignon comes is the most tender cut of beef and is also considered the most desirable and therefore the most expensive.

Filet mignon is commonly cut into 1 inch to 2 inch thick portions, grilled and then served as is. When found in grocery stores, filet mignon is already cut into bacon wrapped portions. The usual method for cooking the filet mignon is to cook it on high heat by either grilling, pan frying, broiling or roasting. Restaurants may sometimes prepare the fillets served in a cognac cream sauce, au Poivre with peppercorns or in a red wine reduction.

Due to the low levels of fat found in the fillets, bacon is often used in cooking. The bacon is wrapped around the fillet and pinned closed with a wooden toothpick. The bacon adds flavor, and this process keeps the fillet from drying out during the cooking process.


###Left-Hander’s Day

Left-Hander’s Day is observed annually on August 13th. In a right-handed dominated world, August 13th is the day that left-handed individuals can claim as their own.

Approximately 10% of the population is a Southpaw. Scientists haven’t discovered why a person is left-handed, but it more probable that you will have a left-handed child if one of the parents is left-handed.


###National Bowling Day

National Bowling Day is observed annually on the second Saturday in August.

While it is possible that bowling style games existed in ancient civilizations around the world, we likely owe the modern game of bowling to the land of Germany. Kegels were used much like batons for protection or sport. They would place them at the end of an alley and roll a stone, attempting to knock them down. It was believed that by knocking down the kegel, their sins would be forgiven.

Other lawn games such as bocce and petanque may also be precursors to bowling. American literature’s first mention of ninepins is in Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle. Bowling, like many sports, was fodder for gambling and often came under scrutiny. In 1841, Connecticut passed a law prohibiting ninepin bowling alleys. Circumventing the law, alleys added one pin to the line-up. Very little about the game has changed since.

In 1905, the first rubber compound bowling ball was introduced. Wooden balls made of “lignum vitae” were used up until then, but this modern ball launched a whole new era of bowling.

Bowling was featured as a demonstration sport in 1988’s Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. However, it has never returned to the Olympics.


###National Garage Sale Day

Saturdays and Summertime are the perfect combinations for garage sales. That is why the second Saturday in August is designated National Garage Sale Day.

On this day, you will see people finding great deals at these neighborhood sales. For those having the sales, this is a way for them to find new homes for items they no longer need.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Ecological Debt Day

Ecological Debt Day is a day intended to remind people of the impact of a modern life-style on the planet. It marks the point in each Gregorian calendar year where human consumption of natural resources exceeds the earth’s ability to replace those resources that year. At a sustainable rate of consumption, Ecological Debt Day would fall at the end of each calendar year.

Calculating all the resources available on earth, and the actual resources used, is, of course, an inexact science, so the precise placement of this Day should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, it serves as a useful reminder that humans are living beyond their means.

The Day, also known as Earth Overshoot Day, is a good time to hold conservation campaigns, implement and advertise more eco-friendly ways of life, and generally work towards sustainable living. Celebrate by finding a local environmental issue and getting your community to rally behind it.

Source for this holiday -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

1 Like

##August 14th is…

###National Spirit of ’45 Day

National Spirit of ’45 Day honors the can-do attitude of an entire generation affected by the trials and hardships of World War II. Observed every year on the second Sunday in August, communities around the country hold events and memorials honoring those who have inspired us, sacrificed and preserved our nation for future generations.


###National V-J Day

On this day in 1945, news broke around the world the Imperial Government of Japan would surrender ending a long a grueling world war. In Europe, the date was August 15 due to the time zone, but regardless the celebrations that broke out were no less zealous.

In the United States, President Harry S. Truman announced it in a press conference at the White House later that day. The peace treaty was officially signed on September 2, 1945, which Truman later declared an official V-J Day. It was later declared an official federal holiday from 1948 to 1975.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###National Wiffle Ball Day

Did you love playing wiffle ball growing up?

As a child I remember playing wiffle ball all the time! It was easy to find a place to play because the ball didn’t travel far and would not cause any damage to our neighbors homes. We used to set up leagues with teams of 3 or so and even grab a couple t-shirts from home and make up uniforms, usually a replica of our favorite major league baseball teams…. Yankees, Mets and Phillies.

Today ( August 14th ) is National Wiffle Ball Day! The ball was invented in Connecticut in 1953 by David N. Mullany.

Source for this holiday -

http://wobm.com/national-wiffle-ball-day/


###Melon Day

Melon Day takes place on August 14, 2016. Melon Day is an annual national holiday in Turkmenistan devoted to festivities to celebrate the country’s muskmelon, in particular a recent crossbreed product named “Turkmenbashi melon” (after Turkmenistan’s first president), which is praised for its aroma, taste and large size. It takes place on the second Sunday in August.

This holiday was established by Turkmenistan’s then-president Saparmurat Niyazov in 1994, who preferred to be known as Turkmenbashi, or leader of the Turkmens. The day’s celebrations feature a large display of the fruit in all its varieties, as well as a series of dance and music events, in the country’s capital Ashgabat. In his address to farmers in 2004, President Niyazov said: “Almighty God has turned Turkmen soil into a fertile source of an abundance of the tastiest fruits. Among them are Turkmen melons, which are the result of farmers’ hard work and which have a unique taste reminiscent of the fruit of paradise.”

In newspapers Niyazov has been quoted as saying, “The Turkmen melon is the source of our pride. Its taste has no equals in the world, the smell makes your head spin.” (With material from: Wikipedia)

Source for this holiday -

http://www.cute-calendar.com/event/melon-day/16187.html


###National Navajo Code Talkers Day

Cipher machines, or machines that create coded messages, did not work well in the jungles of the Pacific Islands during World War II. However, the United States military needed coded messages to send secret information from the battle lines to air bases and other locations. Native Americans who spoke the Navajo language helped solve this problem.

The Navajo “code talkers,” as they became known, used English code words that they translated into their language to send messages. The Japanese military could hear these coded messages, but they could not understand their meanings. The Navajo language was not well known.

The Navajo code talkers served in some of the fiercest battles of the Pacific. They saved many lives and helped the United States and its allies win the war. However, the code talkers were never allowed to discuss their work with anyone. Most Americans did not know about the code talkers’ role in World War II until much later.

For their bravery and service, President Ronald Reagan set aside a special day to honor the Navajo code talkers. In 1982, he declared August 14 to be National Navajo Code Talkers Day.

Source for this holiday -

http://hmhinthenews.com/national-navajo-code-talkers-day-2/


###Assistance Dog Day

Assistance Dog Day is to make the public more aware of assistance dogs. Most people are familiar with guide dogs for the blind, but there are hearing dogs for those with hearing problems and service dogs for people with other disabilities. These dogs help to improve the life of people that would be dependent on others by giving them more freedom. There are many organizations all over the world that train these special dogs.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Chef’s Appreciation Day / Week Worldwide

Celebrate the annual 2016 Chef’s Appreciation Week Worldwide! This week is to recognize all chefs and those in the culinary industry! Share this with your staff and network of chefs! Mark your calendars now! Start spreading the news! Starts August 14th 2016 to August 20th 2016!

In 2013 the founder Donald L. Crutch of the National Pink Tie Organization “Chefs Against Cancer” division wanted to recognize chefs and those serving in the culinary industry for their great talents and hard work in every community worldwide together.

Chef’s Appreciation Day was formed, and as of 2015, Chef’s Appreciation Week will be observed every third week of August. The observance of Chef’s Appreciation Week not only preserves the historical significance, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Chef’s Appreciation Week. A celebration to honor and recognize all chefs for their dedication, love of culinary, and willingness to serve their community for the common good.

In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this recognition, all chefs, all culinary organizations, and the entire citizenry will need to be informed about this outstanding honor and celebration.

Source for this holiday -

http://heyevent.com/event/j75hbb5fjra4ya/2016-chefs-appreciation-week-worldwide


###Social Security Day

Wherever we are and whatever we do we’re a small part of a greater society and there’s no better indicator of our togetherness than a social security system, which is why we should celebrate Social Security Day.

Anyone can fall on hard times, or have a period during which a little help doesn’t go amiss, which is why these support systems exist. A good way to celebrate Social Security Day is to think about the more unfortunate members of society and do something for them.

Cooking a traybake or a big stew and taking it to a soup kitchen is one good idea. Another good idea is to volunteer for a shift in that same kitchen. Send the kids out to mow the lawn of an elderly or infirm neighbor, or have a yard sale and donate the proceeds to a homeless charity. Have fun, but be generous as well.


###Creamsicle Day

A soft flavor that kids the world over have discovered to sate the heat and give energy to them during the oppressive summer months. That first bite seems to overpower the taste buds, giving a hint that even more surprises await within the frozen delight, this is a day of celebration – Creamsicle Day!

Originally created b Frank Eppperson in 1905, this industrious, and inventive 11 year old experimented with putting fruit juice around vanilla ice cream. The original ‘Epsicle’, which later became known as a Popsicle, Creamsicle and even Dreamsicle, were done with just the orange juice outside. However now you can find them in a myriad of flavors, from orange to blue raspberry, lime, grape, cherry and even blueberry! This cold delight has been a staple of the summertime ice cream truck since they started moving around, and served at various warm locations since they were spread around as a treat. People have been going around trying all sorts of creamsicles from different areas and locales. Apparently the ones served on Long Island are less about the orange as they are the strong vanilla, while in Florida’s Palm Beach you get a small amount of vanilla flavor and a crazy amount of orange.

Well, one would think just going out and getting a Creamsicle would be the end of celebrating Creamsicle Day. Yet you wouldn’t be farther from the truth. Even today, grocery stores and markets have them in large boxes, individually wrapped, or sometimes even in small packages for a couple of the Creamsicles, perfect for the whole family. And yet despite being so well known, there are those that have never had one! So you could always share it with those that have never encountered one before. Instead of just going to the store and buying the creamsicles, one could always make them at home. Turn it into a family project, or even experiment with different flavors. Just mix together fruit juice and vanilla ice cream into a large bowl. Then add milk slowly and carefully, while continuing to mix. Finally, pour this mixture into small paper cups. Put them into your freezer, and once they are partially frozen, push in Popsicle sticks or lollipop sticks into them and carefully replace them back inside the freezer. Once frozen solid (the best way to tell if it is frozen is to squeeze the cup a little – if it doesn’t stay solid, it isn’t frozen enough yet), peel off the paper cups and enjoy your homemade Creamsicle!

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

2 Likes

##August 16th is…

###National Tell a Joke Day

What would be better than a day filled with laughter? National Tell a Joke Day is observed annually on August 16th, and that’s no joke!

This day will be filled with smiles and much laughter from morning till night as everyone shares their favorite jokes. The more jokes you tell, the more fun you will have and so will those around you.

Jokes have been a part of human culture since at least 1900 BC.

A joke is described as something that is spoken, written or done with humorous intention. They can come in many forms. On National Tell a Joke Day, try a one-liner or a knock-knock joke if you aren’t comfortable with the whole comedic act that can be involved in the short story versions. Some simply rely on gestures to express humor.

With humor, timing and delivery can be an essential element. Without it, the joke will fall flat. Be sure to know the audience. Clown jokes may not go over well at a phobia convention.

In moderation, laughter is healthy, uses the abdominal muscles and releases endorphins (natural “feel good” chemicals) into the brain.


###National Roller Coaster Day

Each year on August 16th, you will find people at amusement parks and theme parks across the country participating in National Roller Coaster Day.

In 1885, a patent was awarded to LaMarcus Adna Thompson regarding roller coasters which were made out of wood. However, there were “Russian Mountains” roller coasters considerably earlier.

The oldest roller coasters are believed to have originated from the so-called “Russian Mountains”. Built in the 17th century, these were specially constructed hills of ice that were located near Saint Petersburg, Russia. The slides were made to a height of 70 to 80 feet consisting of a 50-degree drop and were reinforced by wooden supports.

A roller coaster consists of one or multiple cars on a track, similar to a specialized railroad system that rises in designed patterns, sometimes with one or more vertical loops.


###National Airborne Day

National Airborne Day is observed each year on August 16. Designated by the United States Congress, National Airborne Day honors the nation’s airborne divisions of the Armed Forces. National Airborne Day was created in 2001 by 43rd United States President, George W. Bush.

August 16, 1940, marks the date of the first official Army parachute jump at Ft. Benning, Georgia. The successful jump validated the innovative concept of inserting United States ground combat forces behind a battle line by parachute. These sky soldiers represent some of the most prestigious and effectively trained forces in the United States Army.


###National Rum Day

National Rum Day is observed annually on August 16. Rum is a distilled clear alcoholic beverage which is a byproduct of molasses production or made directly from sugar cane juice. After the fermentation and distillation process, most rum is aged in wooden oak barrels.

RUM FACT:
The Sugar Act of 1764, which was a tax on sugar, molasses and rum by the British on the American colonies, helped start the unrest that finally became the American Revolution.

Followed by the vodka and all the whiskies combined, rum is the third most popular spirit in the United States. It stirs up images of sandy beaches and brightly colored umbrellas in fruity drinks. And it should. It is a sweet spirit and originated in sunny Papua New Guinea. It made its way to the Caribbean by way of the West Indies.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Elvis Memorial Day

Elvis Memorial Day commemorates the anniversary of the death of the King of Rock 'n Roll, and chances are you’re “All Shook Up”, so “Put On Your Blue Suede Shoes” and do some “Crying in the Chapel”. Elvis Presley died on this day in 1977 at the age of 42.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Bratwurst Day

Today is Bratwurst Day! Bratwurst is a heavily spiced sausage, usually enjoyed on a roll with mustard or by itself with a side of sauerkraut. The term “bratwurst” is a compound of two German words—“braten,” which means “to fry” and “wurst,” which means “sausage.”

Bratwursts originated in Germany and have been around since the 14th century. These sausages are generally made from pork, veal, or beef. Truly dedicated fans can attend the annual Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival in Ohio to celebrate this historical dish.

Today, grab a “brat” in honor of Bratwurst Day. Don’t forget to wash it down with some beer!

Source for this holiday -

https://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/bratwurst-day


###True Love Forever Day

Every year the True Love Forever Day is celebrated on 16th of August.

True Love Forever Day is the right day to express your awaiting, true affection or love for a person. One can follow all those ideas which can express your emotions to your true love.

The intensity of the emotion is revealed in the kind of idea chosen to convey the message of love to the most beloved person in your life.

The trendiest ideas followed on True Love Forever Day include some kind of gift, greeting card;beautiful items available to express special feelings etc. Besides these, gifts are also self created sometimes like a passionate painting or a fabulous craft work expressing love.

Most of the young people wait for True Love Forever Day to initiate their love story.

There are parties thrown on the true love forever day eve. The party and its decorations are planned in advance. Party decorations should reflect your idea behind the party. On True Love Forever Day party invitations are given packed with excitement like attaching invitation cards with some chocolate or cookies, flowers, conversation hearts etc.

The most enjoyable activity in a party is the dance. So people enjoy with Sweetheart Dance, ball dance, Twist dance, paper dance, with different music. There are variety of games played in the party all based on love themes.

Love songs are played as well as sung on True Love Forever Day to express love and affection for one’s true love. Lovers promise to be there for each other.

There are many popular love songs which are usually included in the celebrations on True Love Forever Day. There are all kinds of romantic songs. These can be classic, ballads to mellow rock songs. There are many famous singers who have composed fabulous music and lyrics that are prevalent on True Love Forever Day since long ago.

One of the best expressions is to give or send flowers on True Love Forever Day. It has been prevalent through ages. The beauty and delicacy of flowers has the irresistible attraction and power to put across the divine emotion of love.

A heart is supposed to be the sign of love. So there are many outstanding and beautiful gift items with heart representations on them available to purchase. Creative stuffed hearts, greeting cards in shape of heart, fun craft ideas using hearts, heart shaped jewelry, etc. are perfect choices for True Love Forever Day.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Society/2008/08/true-love-forever-day-16th-august.html


###Wave At The Surveillance Cameras Day

These days there are more and more people who think that the whole surveillance issue has gone a bit too far. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing, if we’re outdoors, especially in a city, there is a very high probability that we’re being recorded. Of course, surveillance cameras have helped to make countless cities safer by catching various crimes on video—from theft to vandalism to assault—thus allowing the police to apprehend the criminals committing them faster and easier. Still, many can’t help but feel uncomfortable with the fact that almost all of their actions are being monitored, especially those who would not think of committing crimes. Some have even gone as far as to call surveillance cameras an Orwellian invasion of the privacy everyone should be entitled to.

The first surveillance cameras were created by German engineer Walter Bruch and was installed by Siemens AG in Germany in 1942 to observe the launch of V-2 rockets. In the U.S. the first commercial closed-circuit television system, Vericon, became available in 1949. The earliest video surveillance systems required constant human monitoring because at the time there was no way to record and store information. Then, when VCR technology became available in the 1970s, it became possible to record and erase information, causing the use of video surveillance to become much more practical and thus much more common.

Olean, New York was the first city in the United States to install video cameras along its main business street in an effort to fight crime in 1968. A few years later, in 1973, cameras also appeared in Times Square in New York City. In the 1980s video surveillance began to spread across the country, especially in public areas. Businesses that were especially prone to theft, such as banks and stores, also began to install surveillance cameras. In 1998, 3,000 CCTV systems were in use in New York City. Today, surveillance cameras are also used in traffic monitoring, transport safety, control of retail, as well as home and school security. The use of video surveillance in public places became more common after the September 11th Terrorist attacks so as to deter future terrorist attacks. In 2010, there were more than 10,000 CCTV systems and counting in Chicago. Greater London also has a large amount, with the number being estimated around 500,000, and the total number of cameras in the UK to be around 4,200,000.

Wave At The Surveillance Cameras Day was created several years ago to help us all take a step back and having a bit of fun with issues that are usually gravely serious.

As mentioned before, surveillance cameras have been criticized for depriving regular citizens of their privacy and allowing the authorities and governments too much control over citizens’ lives. However, the good they have the potential to do for society as a whole is a strong argument in their favor. On Wave At The Surveillance Cameras Day, take a moment to have a little bit of fun with the cameras surrounding you and do what little kids do when they see a train: wave! With all of the problems the world is facing, it’s nice to just let go and have a laugh every now and then, and the person who might be watching the recordings later on will likely find him or herself chuckling as well. The more people doing it, the cheerier the world will be, if just for a moment!

Source for this holiday -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

1 Like

##August 18th is…

###National Fajita Day

On August 18, we recognize a dish sizzling with savory Tex-Mex flavor. It’s National Fajita Day!

Originally made from throwaway cuts of beef by Mexican vaqueros in Southwest Texas, the fajita was developed as a regional staple in the early 1930s. These cowboys cooked the steak over an open fire or grill and served it with flour or corn tortillas. Fresh Pico de gallo, guacamole and southwestern spices elevated the fajita, introducing it to new audiences as it later became a destination food in the culinary world.

As their popularity grew, fajitas added colorful flair to Tex-Mex menus with sizzling platters full of bright peppers, onions, tender steak, shrimp, chicken or pork with freshly made tortillas. By the 1980s, most Mexican restaurants in the United States served fajitas. In the modern culinary kitchen, lime, cilantro and a plethora of vegetables find their way into a fajita along with the perfect seasonings. Grilling with mesquite adds a smoky flavor and bacon adds crunch. Of course, who could forget the cheese?

With their festive presentations, they continue to be enjoyed today. The fajita has come a long way from skirt steak trimmings!


###National Mail Order Catalog Day

What was once one of the most popular ways of shopping is remembered each year on August 18th as it is National Mail Order Catalog Day.

Today marks the anniversary of when, in August of 1872, Aaron Montgomery Ward, of Chicago, produced the very first Montgomery Wards mail order catalog. It was by buying the goods and then reselling them directly to the customers that Aaron Montgomery Ward removed the middlemen at the general store and to the benefit of the customers drastically lowered prices.

The very first catalog consisted of an eight by 12 inch single sheet of paper which included the merchandise for sale, the price list and ordering instructions. Montgomery Wards single page list of products grew into a 540 page illustrated book selling over 20,000 items.

It was soon after that the Montgomery Wards catalog was copied by other enterprising merchants, most notably Richard Warren Sears. The first general Sears catalog was mailed in 1896. Many others entered the field, and catalog sales grew. By 1971, catalog sales of major United States firms exceeded more than $250 million in postal revenue.

According to the National Mail Order Association, Benjamin Franklin is believed to have been the very first cataloger in the United States. He formulated the basic mail order concept when he produced the first catalog, which sold scientific and academic books. Franklin also receives credit for offering the first mail order guarantee: “Those persons who live remote, by sending their orders and money to B. Franklin may depend on the same justice as if present.”

Today, mail order catalogs have been replaced with internet websites and the term “mail order” has been replaced with the term “online shopping”.


###National Ice Cream Pie Day

National Ice Cream Pie Day is observed annually on August 18th. This food holiday honors this refreshing frozen dessert that comes in many delicious flavors.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Bad Poetry Day

Bad Poetry Day is the day we celebrate really bad poetry. It’s a day for us normal folk with little poetic talent to poetically express ourselves without the worry of needing it to be good. In fact, on this day, badder is better. One idea is to get together with your high school friends to write bad poetry and send it to your high school English teacher. Another fun idea is to get together with a group of people and take turns having each person write a line to add onto the poem.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Serendipity Day

Serendipity is the term for a “happy accident” or a “pleasant surprise.” Thus, Serendipity Day encourages people to look for and notice those unexpected good things that are always out there, if we have the eyes to see them. In fact, the creators of this holiday believe that serendipity is no accident at all, but an attitude or a lifestyle in which you are always reaching for those unexpected things and expecting happy surprises to occur.

The word serendipity was coined in the mid 1700s by a man named Horace Walpole. In a letter to a friend, he explained how he had created the term from a Persian fairy tale known in English as The Three Princes of Serendip. The story tells of three princes who were banished from the kingdom of Serendip (another term for Sri Lanka) in order to prove their worth. As they wander the world, “serendipitous” moments occur to them time after time, in a rather unbelievable amount, much like some children’s stories, where they just happen to run across the perfect place or the clue to solve the mystery, or old, corny superhero movies, where they just happen to have the antidote lying around.

In other words, it seems like Walpole first created the word serendipity as some mild ridicule of these “happy accidents” and now the term is a favorite inspirational line everywhere: “seek serendipity!”

Source for this holiday -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

2 Likes

##August 19th is…

###National Aviation Day

National Aviation Day is observed each year on August 19th. This day is dedicated by Presidential Proclamation to those who helped pioneer aviation in the United States.

Two American inventors and aviation pioneers, the Wright brothers are credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane and making the first controlled powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903.

Established in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, this holiday was issued a presidential proclamation designating the anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday to be National Aviation Day. Born August 19, 1871, Orville Wright was still alive when the proclamation was issued and went on to live for nine more years until his death in 1948.


###National Soft Ice Cream Day

National Soft Ice Cream Day is observed annually on August 19th. Soft service ice cream is the result of air being introduced to the dairy product during the freezing process.

In 1934 on Memorial Day weekend, Tom Carvel had a flat tire on his ice cream truck in Hartsdale, New York. After pulling into a parking lot, he began selling the softened ice cream to vacationers driving by. With amazement, seeing the love that people had for soft ice cream, he concluded that a fixed location selling the new-found dessert was potentially a good business idea. In 1936, Carvel opened his first store on the original broken down truck site, selling his secret formula soft serve ice cream dispensed from his patented super low-temperature ice cream machines.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###National Potato Day

National Potato Day celebrates these inexpensive, easy to prepare, and versatile root vegetables. Potatoes come from the Spanish word patata and contain more potassium than bananas, a significant amount of vitamin C, and are a good source of vitamin B6. China produces more potatoes than anywhere else in the world.

There are endless ways to cook potatoes. Some of the more common ways people make and eat potatoes include mashed, baked, as French Fries, home fries, whipped, fried (often with peppers or onions), scalloped, in a stew or soup, twice baked, or roasted.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###National Sandcastle and Sculpture Day

A sand castle is a type of sand sculpture resembling a miniature building, often a castle. The two basic building ingredients, sand and water, are available in abundance on a sandy beach, so most sand play takes place there, or in a sandpit.

A variant on the sandcastle is the drip castle, made by mixing the sand with water and dripping it from a fist held above. Some refer to the technique as “dribbling.” When the slurry of sand and water lands on existing sand structures, the effect is Gaudi-esque.

Sand castles are typically made by children, simply for the fun of it, but there are also sand sculpture contests for adults that involve large, complex constructions.

Since 1989, a World Championship in Sand Sculpture has been held in Harrison Hot Springs (Canada, BC), also known as “Harrisand.” The competition has solo, double and team categories. The world’s tallest sandcastle was built on Myrtle Beach in South Carolina as part of the 2007 Sun Fun Festival. The structure was 49.55 feet (15.1 metres) high. It took 10 days to construct, and used 300 truckloads of sand.

On September 1, 2007, Ed Jarrett completed his world-record 31.7-foot (9.66 m) high sand castle, at the Point Sebago Resort in Casco, Maine. The “Castle to the Sun” was constructed to raise funds to benefit sick children at Camp Sunshine on Sebago Lake. He created a 29-foot 3 inch (8.9 m) sand castle in Falmouth, Maine in 2003 declared the world’s tallest.

Find yourself a sandy beach somewhere and build yourself a sandcastle! It’s a lot of fun to build a sandcastle and you don’t have to be a kid to build one either. Give it a try.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.gone-ta-pott.comnational_sandcastle_and_sculpture_day.html


###World Humanitarian Day

Humanitarian Day is dedicated to raising public awareness of the work undertaken by humanitarian organizations, and the huge challenge they face; we well as honoring the lives and dedication of those who’ve lost their lives in humanitarian causes. Consider using this day to offer your support to humanitarian workers, who strive to stop human suffering wherever it is found, by donating to, joining or supporting a local or global humanitarian organization.


###Photography Day

The soft click of the camera, a flash of light and a moment in time captured forever. Maybe digitally, maybe on film, the medium is never as important as the memory or moment caught. A group of people, a sunset, or even a fish jumping out of the water, a photograph is a way to feel the emotion and context of that exact moment. Celebrate that, on this picturesque Photography Day!

The photograph originally was made by Nicéphore Niépce, using silver chloride coating a piece of paper. However, the photo would eventually turn fully dark as he knew no way to remove the silver chloride from the paper to preserve the photo. Photographs got better and better over the years, first with the ‘still camera’, and the ability to take a picture that way. Think the old west in America, and that camera’s differences to the ones of World War 2, then compare them to modern cameras. The major jumps in technology affected photography as much as any other facet of life around the world. With Kodak, Canon and so many other brands out there, it was of no surprise when the market of photography got such a jump, even more so with the military and surveillance capabilities offered as cameras got better, lighter and more easily used. Yet for all the innovation and creativity, science and even the large amount of art that occurs in the photography realm, not much can beat the simple pleasure of snapping photos and developing your frames to enjoy the integrity of the photos.

Why not go out and snap a few pictures yourself? Find an older camera, and enjoy the feel, and look, of 35mm film. Walk around and snap some pictures to preserve the time in photographic form. Make a collage, which is a mixture of pictures, sometimes cut into different shapes than the usual rectangles of photos. Go snap some wildlife, either in the wild or at a zoo. Maybe some family photos wouldn’t be out of the question; and you could even use them in the yearly holiday cards in place of the stock sitting stills. Or go see a museum about photography, if you have one nearby to visit. Many museums have cameras in them, and some even explain the use of photography in major events worldwide. How do you think they get the pictures of these events anyways? With a camera of course! So go out there, snap some photos and maybe record a piece of history on this year’s Photography Day!


###Men’s Grooming Day

There’s a lot of stigma around male grooming. But in today’s society it’s simply not acceptable to be scruffy, smelly and unkempt. So catch up, men! Men’s Grooming Day encourages men everywhere to buy and use grooming products, and to proactively manage their appearance. Salons, hairdressers and beauty parlors often cater especially to men on this day with offers, education and special consideration.

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/


###“Black Cow” Root Beer Float Day

August 19th is “Black Cow” Root Beer Float Day.

The first root beer float - so the story goes - was served on August 19th, 1893, by Frank J. Wisner, owner of Cripple Creek Brewing, in Cripple Creek, Colorado. He called his creation the “Black Cow Mountain,” and it soon became a hit with the kiddos, who began referring to the tasty treat as simply, the “Black Cow.”

Nowadays, a root beer float means different things to different folks. For some, it’s not a root beer float unless you use plain vanilla ice cream dolloped into your root beer. Others put a little spin on things: plopping some chocolate ice cream into their root beer and calling it a “chocolate cow” or a “brown cow.” Still others insist it’s only a “brown cow” or a “black cow” if you use regular cola and ice cream. Then there’s folks in places such as northeastern Wisconsin, who only call it a “black cow” if the root beer and ice cream are all mixed together, instead of leaving the ice cream floating on top. And would you believe, there’s also a such thing as a “purple cow?” Yup, a “purple cow,” created when you put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a mug of purple grape soda.

Source for this holiday -

http://bugsandbunnies.blogspot.com/2013/08/august-19th-is-black-cow-root-beer.html

###National Hot and Spicy Food Day

August 19th is National Hot and Spicy Food Day.

Your favorite chicken wing shop may rate its spiciness in clever terms ranging from “mild,” to “hot,” to “suicide hot,” but did you know that there actually is the semi-scientific Scoville scale for measuring spicy hotness? This scale rates the amount of capsaicin, an ingredient in chili peppers that creates that burning sensation. CDK has 1,200 recipes with the word “spicy” in the title. Test your resolve today, National Hot and Spicy Food Day!

Source for this holiday -

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/articles/view/180/1/National-Hot-and-Spicy-Food-Day.html


###International Orangutan Day

To recognize the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry, International Orangutan Day has been set for August 19th, EVERY YEAR! The aim of this campaign is to help encourage the public to take action in preserving this amazing species.

From 1992-2000, the population of the Sumatran orangutan is considered to have declined by more than 50%. Estimates suggest there are as few as 6,500 Sumatran orangutans in the wild.

The Bornean orangutan population fell nearly 43 percent in the past decade, from an estimated 35,000 in 1996 to 20,000 in 2006. Since these studies were done, deforestation rates have continued to climb which means the actual populations could be well below these.

Something has to be done to save orangutans and that is the reason for International Orangutan Day! Visit the Orangutan Day webpage to learn more.

Source for this holiday -

https://redapes.org/august-19th-is-international-orangutan-day/

2 Likes

##August 20, 2016 is…

###National Radio Day

Each year on August 20th, National Radio Day recognizes the great invention of the radio.

In the late 19th century, it became clear that wireless communication was possible.

There were several inventors who had a part in the invention of the radio in the late 1800s and not just one person can be credited with its beginning. To make the radio a reality, it required a number of different inventions and discoveries including both transmission and reception methods as well as technology.

It was in the 1920s when the first broadcast stations began airing programs. These first programs were those of news and world events.

Radio ownership grew from two out of five homes in 1931 to four out of five homes in 1938.

According to FCC statistics, at the end of 2012, there were more than 15,000 licensed broadcast radio stations in the U.S.


###National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day

National Pecan Pie Day is observed each year on July 12. However, if you add some chocolate to this delicious dessert, you can celebrate National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day on August 20.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###National Lemonade Day

National Lemonade Day is always - August 20

National lemonade day is a day we honor the old time favorite drink called lemonade. On National lemonade Day, it’s traditional to celebrate by mixing up your favorite flavor of your choice. Lemonade now has a broader range of flavors to choose from. You can make regular lemonade, pink lemonade, strawberry lemonade and even watermelon lemonade. All of these are cool and refreshing drinks and make great bases for cocktails too. This is one beautiful drink so make some homemade lemonade and enjoy in the freshness.

The basic lemonade recipe has been popular in the Southern United States for years! Sweet tea and lemonade are practically trade marks for the south.

U.S. lemonade is usually sold as a summer refresher. It is commonly available at fairs and festivals, often as a “lemon shakeup” with the shell of the squeezed lemon left in the cup. Lemonade was also the traditional mixer in a Tom Collins, but today it is commonly replaced by a bar mix.

UK-style lemonade and beer produce a shandy. Lemonade is also an important ingredient in the Pimm’s Cup cocktail, and a popular drink mixer.

Conventionally, pink lemonade is coloured with grenadine. The Greeks were the first to have pink lemonade. They made this so that while the adults were having wine at celebrations, the children would also have a special treat. When the Greeks dyed the lemonade pink by adding wine, the common myth in the community was that this drink was made from pink lemons that grew in a forest that no man could enter and come out alive. They made the children believe that these magical pink lemons were brought back by a noble king.

The New York Times, however, credited Henry E. “Bunk Allen” Allott, as the inventor in his obituary:

At 15 he ran away with a circus and obtained the lemonade concession. One day while mixing a tub of the orthodox yellow kind he dropped some red cinnamon candies in by mistake. The resulting rose-tinted mixture sold so surprisingly well that he continued to dispense his chance discovery.

Limeade is a beverage similar to lemonade, but is made with lime juice or lime flavor(s) instead of those of the lemon.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/national_lemonade_day.html


###National Bacon Lover’s Day

August 20 is National Bacon Lover’s Day.

Bacon is one of the oldest processed meats in history. The Chinese began salting pork bellies as early as 1500 B.C.

More than half of all homes (53%) keep bacon on hand at all times.

Pregnant women should eat bacon. Choline, which is found in bacon, helps fetal brain development.

Each year in the US more than 1.7 billion lbs. of bacon are consumed.

Bacon is said to cure hangovers.

Source for this holiday -

https://foodimentary.com/2015/08/20/august-20-is-national-bacon-lovers-day/


###Virtual Worlds Day

The new AssociationOfVirtualWorlds.com in recognition of the rapid emergence of virtual worlds has named August 20 the first annual Virtual Worlds Day and applied to Chase’s Calendar of Events for inclusion.

“How better to recognize virtual worlds than to give them their own day? People everywhere work and play inside of virtual worlds and the number of users is growing dramatically. Whether you enjoy on-line games or simulating real life events for training or connecting with colleagues around the globe inside a virtual workspace, this day is for you,” says Dave Elchoness, Executive Director.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/03/prweb758014.htm


###International Homeless Animals Day

Every day, animals are abandoned or placed into kennels, dependent on charities and goodwill. These organisations are strained beyond coping, and are desperate to raise awareness of the plight of homeless and abandoned animals. Homeless Animals Day aims to educate people about pet abandonment, feral animals and benefits or neutering domestic animals.


###World Honey Bee Day

World Honey Bee Day, previously known as Honey Bee Awareness Day, is an idea put together by beekeepers in the USA, who petitioned the USDA in 2009 for an official day to honor honey bees and beekeeping. A few years down the line, people across the globe are holding a date of observation every year.

Honey Bee awareness enthusiasts will likely put a bee in your bonnet and say this is not so much a day to celebrate honey bees, as it is to promote their involvement in sustainable farming.

On this day, bee lovers everywhere decorate their gardens with lavender, borage and marjoram, the bee’s knees in pollinator lures. If you have the time and patience, bake some honey chippers and make your own honey fruit cobbler. And because you’ve been as busy as a bee all day, sit back and watch Hitchcock’s ‘The Bees’. You’ll count your blessings honey bees are nothing like South American killer bees!


###World Mosquito Day

World Mosquito Day was first established in 1897, when the link between mosquitoes and malaria transmission was discovered by Sir Ronald Ross. It aims to raise awareness about the causes of malaria and how it can be prevented, as well as fundraising for research into the cure of malaria. It is also a salute to the groundbreaking work of Sir Ross and scientists who have followed him.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine celebrates World Mosquito Day with exhibitions and parties designed both to entertain and to inform, while other celebrations include Malaria No More’s ‘Mozzy Air’ campaign, encouraging people to take anti-malarial when flying to malaria zones, and Nothing But Nets’ twitter campaigns to provide mosquito nets for poor communities.

Get involved by holding a fundraiser to provide nets or quinine, distributing information about the precautions people should take when traveling to danger spots, or celebrating the achievements of research into mosquitoes and how to prevent the diseases they carry.

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

1 Like

There’s a well-balanced meal!

Bacon
Honey
Lemonade
Chocolate Pecan Pie

2 Likes

##August 21 is…

###National Spumoni Day

National Spumoni Day is observed annually on August 21.

Spumoni is a molded Italian ice cream that is made with layers of different colors and flavors that usually contain candied fruits, such as cherry bit, and nuts. The typical flavors are cherry, pistachio and either chocolate or vanilla. These ice cream layers are often mixed with whipped cream.

Spumoni originated in Naples, Italy and was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s.

Differing from ice cream, Spumoni is sliced and never scooped.

Neapolitan flavored ice cream was inspired by Spumoni.

If you have never tried the delicious Italian ice cream, National Spumoni Day is the day to do so.


###National Senior Citizens Day

Each year on August 21, there are various events and activities held across the United States in recognition of National Senior Citizens Day. This day was created as a day to support, honor and show appreciation to our seniors and to recognize their achievements. Their valuable contributions to our communities create better places to live.

For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older — places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity. ~ President Ronald Reagan – August 19, 1988 Proclamation 5847

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Summer Olympics Games

Opening Day Ceremony: August 5, 2016

Closing Day Ceremony: August 21, 2016

Location: Rio de Janerio, commonly called “Rio”

Once every four years, the world’s top athletes meet, to compete in the games of the Summer Olympics. It is officially called the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.

Opening Day ceremonies for the Summer Olympics is a huge, and very special event. The Olympic competitions are held over a two week period. It concludes with a closing ceremony.

The Next Summer Olympics: The 2020 Olympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan from July, 24, 2020 through August 9, 2020. It will be the XXXII Olympiad.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm


###Poet’s Day

Poetry… We hear the term bandied about all the time, and there isn’t a one of us that avoided writing some in our younger days. Whether that poetry was written by the dictate of our instructors in school, or driven by hormone fueled teenage angst, there was a portfolio of our work available to embarrass or edify us. But the question has to be asked, what is poetry really? There seems to be so many varieties of it, and in a world containing hundreds of countries and thousands of cultures, it’s the one thing that is nearly universal. So what is poetry, let’s take a look shall we?

At it’s most base description, Poetry is a form of writing that uses the aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of a language, combined with simile and metaphor, to bring out meanings deeper than the mere definition of the words. The history of poetry is lengthy, traceable in written form as far back as the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, and has been used as a memetic method of passing down stories and mythologies throughout cultures for countless ages before that. The question of “What is Poetry?” has been a question that has vexed philosophers for time out of mind, with Aristotle writing a book aptly named Poetics, trying to define it. However he was only able to address a small portion of what poetry is, and how it is used in rhetoric, song, drama, and comedy.

One of the greatest poets of all time heralded from England, along the Avon river in the aptly named Stratford-upon-Avon in south Warwickshire, England. This, of course, was the man who was to come to be known as ‘The Bard’, William Shakespeare. His body of work is the foundation for the study of poetry in college’s throughout the world, and is considered to be the absolute pinnacle of the art by many. Such was the love of ‘The Bard’s works, that during the time of the Victorian’s, the term ‘Bardolotry’ was used to describe their love of his works. Perhaps the most important lesson to take from the Bard’s rise to prominence in the world of Poetry and literature lay in the time it took for his works to become legend. It wasn’t until the 19th Century, hundreds of years after his death, that Shakespeare became the legend we know today.

Poet’s day is dedicated to the long history of poetry in the world, and most especially to those who fill our world with the passion and wonder that flows from the tip of their pens. Each form of poetry is unique to the author, as poetry is inevitably born from their feelings and personal experiences, and those experiences are not replicated even in another sharing them. If you’ve ever written poetry in your life, and we all know you have, on Poet’s day it’s time to pick up that pen again and let your inner self spill upon the page like blood upon a dance floor.

Take up the pen, and write what’s in your heart today! Whether you are describing a sunny morning in a garden, the tumultuous rumble of people on a city street, or the final struggling moments of a dying robin in the lawn, bring the world through your eyes to the page. The best celebration of Poet’s Day is to compose works of poetic art, and compile them for submission to one of the hundreds of amateur poetry publication in the world today, who knows, a hundred years from now you may be considered one of the greats!

Source for this holiday -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/

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##August 22nd is…

###National Pecan Torte Day

Each year on August 22, pecan lovers across the country participate in National Pecan Torte Day.

A torte is a rich dessert filled with whipped cream, buttercream, mousse, jam, fruits or nuts. The baker will often glaze and garnish the torte once it is cooled. Generally made with little to no flour, tortes use ground nuts or breadcrumbs, along with sugar, eggs and flavorings instead.

The pecan tree is the only nut tree native to North America.


###National Tooth Fairy Day

Wiggled and loose, that tooth that comes free just might get collected on National Tooth Fairy Day observed on August 22. The day is also celebrated on February 28.

This childhood favorite evolved with a group of healthcare fairies during the mid-1920s. From bath fairies to Fairy Wand Tooth Whitener, kids were encouraged through a wave of advertisements and health classes to eat their veggies, brush their teeth and get fresh air.

Esther Watkins Arnold brought the tooth fairy to life in an eight-page playlet in 1927 called The Tooth Fairy. At the same time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made his claim that fairies and gnomes were real by publishing pictures of two girls surrounded by “verified” fairies. Schools began performing Arnold’s play the following year, and children, primed with vivid imaginations, placed their freshly lost teeth under their pillows at night in the hopes of a visit from the tooth fairy.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Be An Angel Day

Be An Angel Day is a non-profit, non-denominational event celebrated annually on August 22. This is a day on which people around the world are encouraged to be like the angels, and do one small act of service for someone, and be a blessing in someone’s life. The date of the 22nd was chosen because 22 is recognized as a master number in the study of the sacredness of numbers. The month of August was chosen as it is the 8th month among the 12 months. Eight has a numerical vibration of achievement, accomplishment, and fulfillment.


###Southern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day

On Southern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day you are to go out at noon and shout, three times, “Hoodie-Hoo". This is to help welcome the start of spring and chase away winter. This applies only to people that live in the Southern Hemisphere.


###National Hug Your Boss Day

National Hug Your Boss Day was started by an international online recruitment resource. Their mantra: if you can’t hug your boss, you may want to find another job! Use this day to examine your workplace relationships and show your love for the man or woman in charge.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.giftypedia.com/Fun_and_Unique_Holidays


###Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

If you’re struggling to decide what to do towards the end of August, then you may be relieved to know that one special day is Take Your Cat to the Vet Day (unless you don’t have a cat, that is). Bizarre though this might sound, there is, in fact, a very legitimate purpose to this annual occasion. While humans are used to visiting the dentist, doctor and optician regularly for health assessments, many cat owners forget to take their moggies to the vet for check-ups and instead only when a medical problem arises. This, of course, results in costly bills which might otherwise have been avoided if routine checks, worming, inoculations and blood screening were carried out. In other words, you can celebrate Take Your Cat to the Vet Day by doing just that, helping your feline friend to stay supple and healthy by identifying any medical problems long before they require extensive and expensive treatment.

Source for this holiday -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/z

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##August 23rd is…

###National Ride The Wind Day

Enjoy the last days of summer and the warm summer breezes on August 23 as you celebrate the annual National Ride the Wind Day.

National Ride The Wind Day commemorates the anniversary of the first human-powered flight to win the Kremer prize. It was on August 23rd of 1977 that the Gossamer Condor 2, flew the first figure-eight course specified by the Royal Aeronautical Society, at Minter Field in Shafter, California. Slowly cruising at only 11 mph, it traveled a distance of 2,172 meters.

The Gossamer Condor 2 was built by Dr. Paul B MacCready and piloted by amateur cyclist and hang-glider pilot Bryan Allen.

The Gossamer Condor 2 aircraft is preserved at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

We all know that cooler air is right around the corner so take advantage of these nice days and get outside as much as possible. Test out those human-powered aircraft and make some history. In the event you lack a human-powered aircraft, flying a kite is always a good back-up plan.


###National Sponge Cake Day

The quintessential classic of the cake world, this airy queen of teas is the guest of honor on National Sponge Cake Day on August 23rd.

One of the trickiest cakes for bakers to master, a perfect sponge stands tall with a fine crumb while remaining moist. Often served with fresh whipped cream and berries, sponge cake layers nicely as well.

The sponge cake is believed to be one of the first non-yeasted cakes.

Believed to have originated in the Caribbean, the earliest English printed recipe for sponge cake is in the 1615 book of English poet and author Gervase Markham entitled The English Huswife, Containing the Inward and Outward Virtues Which Ought to Be in a Complete Woman.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Valentino Day

Valentino Day commemorates the death of Rudolph Valentino (or Rudolfo Alfonzo Raffaelo Piero Filibert Guglielmi De Valentina D’Antonguolla), 1920’s film star of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik.


###Cuban Sandwich Day

Cuban Sandwich Day is a day to celebrate the traditional pressed Cuban sandwich and its many variants, which have spread from Tampa, Florida’s Ybor City neighborhood to restaurant menus in all corners of the world.

The Cuban sandwich is a history lesson pressed between two pieces of bread. Perhaps no other food represents the United States’ history as a melting pot at the turn of the century better than the Cubano, which combines elements from three different immigrant groups that came together, surprisingly, in the deep south. Also, it’s delicious?

A traditional cuban sandwich consists of ham, mojo pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard and dill pickle slices on crispy-but-not-too-chewy Cuban bread, all heated in a press, though Cuban Sandwich Day celebrates all variations.

Cuban sandwich fun facts:
While an early cousin of the Cuban sandwich was born in Cuba proper, the Cuban sandwich as we know it today originated in Tampa, Florida’s cigar-producing neighborhood of Ybor City in the late 1800s (then known as Cigar City, the “cigar capital of the world”) and caught on by the early 1900s. It was popular among workers in the district’s many cigar factories.

While it’s called a “Cuban” sandwich after the Cuban immigrants who settled in early Ybor City and influenced the sandwich the most, the ingredients are also a nod to the southern Italian bricklayers and the German cigar workers who also immigrated there.

Salami was added via the Italian bricklayers, who found that placing a hot brick on top of the sandwich for a few minutes pressed it flat and made it taste better.

Mustard was a condiment and flavor preferred by the Germans. It also didn’t spoil in the Florida heat. That’s why there’s no mayonnaise on a traditional Cuban sandwich–refrigeration was scarce in tropical Tampa in the early 20th century.

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/z


###National Buttered Corn Day

August 23rd means it’s Buttered Corn Day and I don’t know about you but I could make a pig of myself with buttered sweet corn. Especially if it’s cooked on the grill. Even if it’s not, just give me a bowl of hot corn and melted butter with a big fat spoon and I’m happy.

I was reading about the Health benefits of corn and Wikipedia says “Cooked sweet corn has significant antioxidant activity, which can substantially reduce the chance of heart disease and cancer.” Cooked sweet corn retains its antioxidant activity, The scientists measured the antioxidants’ ability to quench free radicals, which cause damage to the body from oxidation. Cooked sweet corn also releases increased levels of ferulic acid, which provides health benefits, such as battling cancer. “When you cook it, you release it, and what you are losing in vitamin C, you are gaining in ferulic acid and total antioxidant activity.”

Nice health benefits! So lets eat more corn!

Source for this holiday -

http://gonetapott.blogspot.com/2009/08/national-buttered-corn-day.html#.VbGmQfm6dhE


###European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism

The European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, known as the Black Ribbon Day in some countries, which is observed on 23 August, is the international remembrance day for victims of totalitarian ideologies, specifically totalitarian communist regimes, Stalinism, Nazism and fascism.

It was designated by the European Parliament in 2008/2009 as “a Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, to be commemorated with dignity and impartiality,” and has been observed annually by the bodies of the European Union since 2009. The European Parliament’s 2009 resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism, co-sponsored by the European People’s Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, The Greens–European Free Alliance, and the Union for Europe of the Nations, called for its implementation in all of Europe. The establishment of 23 August as an international remembrance day for victims of totalitarianism was also supported by the 2009 Vilnius Declaration of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

23 August was chosen to coincide with the date of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a 1939 non-aggression pact between the USSR and Nazi Germany which contained a protocol dividing Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland into designated German and Soviet spheres of influence. The treaty was described by the European Parliament’s president Jerzy Buzek in 2010 as “the collusion of the two worst forms of totalitarianism in the history of humanity.” The remembrance day originated in protests held in western cities against Soviet crimes and occupation in the 1980s, initiated by Canadian refugees from countries occupied by the Soviet Union, and that culminated in The Baltic Way, a major demonstration during the Revolutions of 1989 that contributed to the liberation of the Baltic states.

The purpose of the Day of Remembrance is to preserve the memory of the victims of mass deportations and exterminations, while promoting democratic values with the aim of reinforcing peace and stability in Europe.

23 August is also officially recognized by Canada and the United States, where it is known as Black Ribbon Day.

Source for this holiday

https://en.wikipedia.org


###International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is annually observed on August 23 to remind people of the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. It gives people a chance to think about the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of slave trade.

Each year the UN invites people all over the world, including educators, students and artists, to organize events that center on the theme of this day. Theater companies, cultural organizations, musicians and artists take part on this day by expressing their resistance against slavery through performances that involve music, dance and drama.

Educators promote the day by informing people about the historical events associated with slave trade, the consequences of slave trade, and to promote tolerance and human rights. Many organizations, including youth associations, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations, actively take part in the event to educate society about the negative consequences of slave trade.

The UN’s International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is a United Nations observance worldwide but it is not a public holiday.

In late August, 1791, an uprising began in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) that would have a major effect on abolishing the transatlantic slave trade. The slave rebellion in the area weakened the Caribbean colonial system, sparking an uprising that led to abolishing slavery and giving the island its independence. It marked the beginning of the destruction of the slavery system, the slave trade and colonialism.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was first celebrated in many countries, in particular in Haiti, on August 23, 1998, and in Senegal on August 23, 1999. Each year the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reminds the international community about the importance of commemorating this day. This date also pays tribute to those who worked hard to abolish slave trade and slavery throughout the world. This commitment and the actions used to fight against the system of slavery had an impact on the human rights movement.

Source for this holiday -

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/international-day-remembrance-of-slave-trade-and-its-abolition


###Hug Your Sweetheart Day

On 23rd August we celebrate Hug Your Sweetheart Day.

This is the perfect day on which you can express your love and affection to your dear beloved and let him or her know that he or she has a very special place in your heart.

Source for this holiday -

http://enjoyfestivals.com/hug-your-sweetheart-day-on-23-august/309/

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##August 24th is…

###National Waffle Day

The first United States patent for a waffle iron was issued to Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York on August 24, 1869. In honor of this anniversary, National Waffle Day is observed each year on August 24th.

Eaten throughout the world, a waffle is a leavened batter or dough that is cooked between two plates that are patterned to give a characteristic size, shape and surface impression. Waffles come in many forms. Depending on the type of batter or iron used, the resulting waffle vary by consistency, size, shape and flavor.

Waffle irons and waffles originated around the 14th century. An anonymous husband penned the first known waffle recipe as a set of instructions for his wife. According to the manuscript, Le Ménagier de Paris, each of the four recipes began:

Beat some eggs in a bowl, season with salt and add wine. Toss in some flour, and mix. Then fill, little by little, two irons at a time with as much of the paste as a slice of cheese is large. Then close the iron and cook both sides. If the dough does not detach easily from the iron, coat it first with a piece of cloth that has been soaked in oil or grease.

1911 – First electric waffle iron introduced by General Electric.

1953 – Frank Dorsa’s Eggo Frozen Waffles are sold in Supermarkets for the first time.

1964 – Belgian Waffles debut at New York’s World’s Fair.


###National Peach Pie Day

National Peach Pie Day is observed annually on August 24th. We celebrate this mouth-watering dessert during the heart of the Peach harvest season. Don’t forget the à la mode!

The state of Georgia has been known as the center of peach growers.

Georgia is known as the “Peach State”.

Peach harvest occurs between June and August.

Harvest from each peach tree lasts about one week.

There are two main varieties of peaches: Clingstone and Freestone.

A medium peach weighs 2.6 oz.

A medium peach typically contains 30 calories, 7 g of carbohydrate, 1 g of protein, 140 mg of potassium, and 8% of the daily value for vitamin C.

Source for these holidays -

http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/


###Knife Day

Knife Day is the day to appreciate the knives that folk use on a daily basis. This day is a celebration of this marvelous tool that has been with humans since the dawn of time. The evolution of knives has been a remarkable feat – from knives made of bone, stone and flint, to modern creations using titanium, bronze, iron and steel. Nobody can deny the knife is one of man’s most useful tools – for cooking, eating, fishing, hunting, and not to forget the oh so handy Swiss Army knife. To make the most of Knife Day, why not test your knife chopping skills in the kitchen, or buy that knife set you’ve always wanted. Invite family and friends over to compare and swap knives, or get together to clean and sharpen your knives. Then there’s nothing like having a cake and enjoying a slice by the knife. And instead of wishing one another to have a nice day, why not just say: “Have a knife day!”


###Pluto Demoted Day

Many of us are fascinated by outer space and its many mysteries. Our own solar system went through a change in classification in 2006, when Pluto was demoted from a planet to a dwarf planet. Pluto Demoted Day now takes place every year to mark that very occasion. While sad for fans of the former ninth planet of the solar system, Pluto Demoted Day is an important day for our scientific history and is important to remember.

Pluto Demoted Day is a great opportunity for study into space and our solar system in general, as well as the history of Pluto itself. Children will be interested to learn about the composition and nature of planets, and Pluto is a fascinating subject for science projects. Marking the day itself is a good way to remember Pluto’s former status as a planet, from its discovery in 1930 to its demotion in 2006.


###Vesuvius Day

The rumble and groaning of the earth as it starts to boil and roll. A cloud of dark ash that spread wherever the wind takes it. Bright, and extremely hot molten rock flowing down the hillside. These are just a few of the markers that explain a volcanic event, and none are larger than the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is in remembrance of that very location, and the destruction that has been caused by Mount Vesuvius.

The Mount of Vesuvius is most widely known for it’s eruption in 79 A.D. It was this very eruption that killed over a thousand souls, and destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and a number of other, smaller settlements. Mount Vesuvius has erupted many times since, being regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to the large population living nearby. Being only 9 km from Naples, it is that very area being one of the most highly populated volcanic areas on the planet, being hope to over 3,000,000 people. The tendency towards explosive, or Plinian, eruptions also factors into that title.

The large cone at the top, or summit, was formed by the collapse of an earlier mountain structure, originally much higher than the summit is now. This, along with Mount Vesuvius’ active status as a volcano, makes it a dangerous, if beautiful, site to be around.

Celebrating a day marked with so much death and destruction can be a sensitive thing, however there are a few ways to do this. Watching a documentary on Mount Vesuvius, or on any of the many locations destroyed is a way to remember it. Or you could make a model volcano and make it erupt, just like the science fair projects of your youth. One could always go and look up what was lost in Pompeii, or how the mountain is made safer in the event of a future eruption. Visiting Mount Vesuvius is of course possible, as in 1995 the entire mountain was declared a national park. Italian authorities are very carefully monitoring the volcano, and make many attempts and watch very many different things about Mount Vesuvius in order to protect those nearby. Despite the dangers, Mount Vesuvius is a beautiful area to visit, with the entire mountainside, and even inside the crater is filled with shrubbery and various plants. So take a trip, if you can, and enjoy good Italian cuisine, and see one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world on this year’s Vesuvius Day.


###International Strange Music Day

International Strange Music Day was created by Patrick Grant, a New York City musician. The premise is simple: to get people to play and listen to types of music they have never experienced before. The ‘strange’ part can mean either unfamiliar or bizarre – the choice is entirely yours. Patrick believes broadening people’s musical spectrums can also change the way we look at other aspects of life – his mantra is ‘listening without prejudice’. This growing movement has concerts, a record label and strong support from summer schools, where it is appreciated as a great way to stimulate young minds. Have you ever wanted to combine a tight Wonder Woman costume, a frozen turkey drumstick and an inflatable wildebeest into a percussion concert? International Strange Music Day gives you the perfect excuse. What you do with these items once the music stops, of course, is your business…

Source for these holidays -

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/z

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