Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to February 11th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate amazing inventors and snappy patties.

James West was born in 1931 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. As a boy, he loved taking things apart and after an accident involving a radio, he discovered a curiosity for electricity. This led West to obtaining a degree in physics and a position with Bell Laboratories as an inventor. By 1968 his inexpensive, highly sensitive compact microphone was in mass production and the technology is still used in 90 percent of today’s microphones as well as telephones and tape recorders. James West was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999 and today holds over 250 patents for his inventions. He is 91 years old and is currently a professor at Johns Hopkins University. On National Inventors’ Day we celebrate the men and women who continue to inspire us with their amazing achievements.

The flavor combination of chocolate and mint has been around awhile. As early as 1840, the Quiggins brothers created a soft mint cake dipped in chocolate. And while the UK based Kendal Mint Cake Company still produces them today, the peppermint patties we love to celebrate got their start in America in 1940. At the York Cone factory inventor Henry Kessler had only one rule; the candy had to pass the snap test. If it didn’t snap in two the patties were out! It’s estimated that over 1.5 billion are produced each year, proving that this candy is still a fan favorite! On National Peppermint Patty Day celebrate the candy that kids still find cool.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 10th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate shaddocks and bumbershoots.

Have you ever eaten a shaddock fruit? Or had shaddock juice with breakfast? If you have no idea what we’re talking about, grapefruits used to be known as shaddock fruits. Hundreds of years ago, the British sea captain Philip Shaddock is said to have planted the first grapefruit seeds in Barbados. Actually, they were pomelo seeds, which is a fruit very similar to the grapefruit. The citrus fruit we know today came from a hybrid of the pomelo and a native orange tree. February is National Grapefruit Month, and you can celebrate with a nice cold glass of healthy shaddock, uh…grapefruit…juice.

The umbrella is something that people don’t typically think about until they need one. Then it’s suddenly the most important thing in the world. And in 19th Century British fashion, it was. Everyone had one! The way to stand out in the crowd was by customizing the handle. Some were made of ivory or gold. Others had flashlights, watches, or compartments for tobacco and cigars. And, of course, the occasional sword. This made the umbrellas very coveted items, so some came equipped with locks or alarms. And that makes sense given that they were a veritable Swiss Army knife in their day. Today we celebrate National Umbrella Day by being prepared with a tool that is still best at keeping us dry

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 9th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate giving big and our big love for pizza.

Big hearts give big on National Giving Hearts Day! The second Thursday in February is the longest running “giving day” in the United States, with more than $90 million donated since it began 16 years ago. This day gives you the opportunity to give to your favorite charity, whether it’s a local soup kitchen or a national organization. There is no limit to the good you can provide to the charities closest to your heart.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that’s the signal to celebrate National Pizza Day. Most Americans consume an average of 23 pounds of pizza every year. That’s a lot of amore! A whopping 17 percent of all United States restaurants are pizzerias. And the first one to open in New York City was Gennaro Lombardi in 1895. You could probably start a war if you took a poll on who makes the best pizza. And don’t even get started on whether or not pineapple is a good topping. On National Pizza Day celebrate love, not war with your own favorite pie, and leave the arguing for another day.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 8th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the ripple effect and famous adventures in kite flying.

On a foggy day in London William Dickson Boyce, an American newspaperman became lost. He was assisted by a Boy Scout who brought him safely to his destination. When Mr. Boyce offered payment to the scout, the boy refused it saying that a good deed needs no reward. But Boyce did indeed pay it forward by organizing similar youth groups into one organization. He founded the Boy Scouts of America program on this day in 1910. Since then the Scouting Program has produced many United States Presidents, 181 astronauts and millions of merit badges that echo that London boy’s good deed. On National Boy Scouts Day, celebrate the ripple effect of those who help others at all times.

For most people, kites are simply toys, a way to have fun in the park or at the beach. But not Benjamin Franklin. When he flew his kite in 1752, it became one of the most important experiments in the history of science. Franklin had been studying lightning for some time and wanted to prove that it was the same thing as electricity. He had planned to use a church steeple as a conductor for his experiment, but he got impatient. So he built a homemade kite from a few sticks, a handkerchief, and some string. Then, as we all know, he tied a key to the end and waited for the storm. Luckily, Ben only got a shock. On National Kite Flying Day, celebrate by making the most of a windy day. But if you see storm clouds roll in, get indoors. Not everyone is as lucky as Mr. Franklin.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 7th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate pasta love letters and strange elements.

In 1908, Alfredo Di Lelio’s wife was pregnant with their first child and was having trouble eating. He made her pasta with butter and fresh parmesan cheese, that she loved it so much he added it to the menu of their small restaurant. In 1927, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, two of the hottest stars in Hollywood, were on their honeymoon in Rome. They dined at Alfredo’s restaurant and fell in love with this simple pasta dish. When they returned to America, they spread the word to their friends and the recipe became famous worldwide. As a thank you for introducing them to this marvelous food, the Hollywood stars sent Alfredo a solid gold fork and spoon engraved with the words: “To Alfredo the King of the noodles”. On National Fettuccine Alfredo Day, celebrate this pasta born from love.

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. Here on Earth, it appears almost everywhere in some form or another. You can find it in the air, water, and in the Earth’s crust. But what is the rarest element? That would be Astatine. It’s a highly radioactive element with a half-life of only 8 hours. Only trace amounts of Astatine have ever been found naturally. Most of the time, it’s only been observed in labs, as a by-product of nuclear experimentation. But as radioactive as the element is, it disappears so quickly that it poses very little threat to humans. On National Periodic Table Day, discover some of the strange and mysterious elements that form the world around us.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 6th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate liberating a lame duck and saying no to the fork.

If the faltering wattle of an aquatic fowl conjures images of outgoing politicians then you’ll appreciate National Lame Duck Day. Celebrated on February 6th in honor of the ratification of the 20th Amendment to our United States Constitution, the Lame Duck Amendment effectively shortened the time that an outgoing office holder has to hold their position. While the two month period has been used to approve some sweeping legislation, it is far better than the former system which allowed 13 months for politicians to “burn down the house!” That makes some sense doesn’t it guys?

Fans of Asian cuisine may have noticed that chopsticks from Korea are different from chopsticks found in other Asian countries. Rather than bamboo or wood, Korean chopsticks are made from metal. According to one legend, this began around the year 500 AD when the royal family switched from wood to silver utensils. If their food had been poisoned, the silver would change color and alert them to the danger. Metal chopsticks then became commonplace in homes across the entire country, though most people used steel rather than silver. Metal is perfect for picking up meat from Korean BBQ grills and is much easier to clean. Celebrate National Chopsticks Day with takeout from your favorite Asian restaurant and say no to the fork.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 5th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate an old school snack and predicting the unpredictable.

The 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago unveiled many amazing things to its visitors. Advancements in transportation, weaponry, and wonders from around the world. But one its most enduring legacies is the popularizing of snack food. Fairgoers were given a box of Cracker Jack upon entry. As much as people loved it, the molasses, popcorn, and peanut snack was too gooey for mass production. A few years later, the formula was perfected and Cracker Jack became a huge hit. Soon after came a host of other foods trying to capitalize on the trend of munching between meals. February is National Snack Foods Month, so tear open a bag of chips or go old school with a box of Cracker Jack.

Until the 1860s, if people wanted to know what the weather would be, they had to rely on looking at the skies or using “weather wisdom”—a knowledge of patterns they’d gained over the years. This method was very popular with sailors and farmers, who paid special attention to wind and temperature changes. It was inexact, but necessary. Then came British admiral Robert FitzRoy, who established the Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade. The Met, as it was known, would collect data on wind speed and storm conditions around the British coast, then deliver them via telegraph from one port to another. This system warned sailors and fishermen of bad weather and saved many lives. On National Weatherperson’s Day, we celebrate the people who give us a heads up on weather conditions and also something to gripe about when the predictions are off.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 4th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate being under pressure and exemplary service, even in fowl play.

Anna: Have you heard of a tardigrade, Marlo?

Marlo: I have no idea.

Anna: Also known as the water bear, they're super small animals can survive in the harshest conditions of heat and cold. They are found near volcanoes and the bottom of the ocean and it turns out they are even found in a vacuum in space. Do you know how a vacuum in space occurs?

Marlo: I thought it was already a vacuum.

Anna: No, a vacuum is created when the pressure inside a space is lower than the pressure outside the area. Do you know how to do this at home Marlo?

Marlo: Of course not.

Anna: You can do this with a syringe, by pulling back on the stopper and creating a space that is free of matter.

Marlo: Oh, interesting. Why are you telling me all these useless facts, you’re making my head hurt.

Anna: I’m celebrating National Create A Vacuum Day. Did it work?

John: Watch out Mr. Dyson.

Benjamin Franklin founded the United States Postal Service in 1775. Since then mail carriers have been getting the job done for more than two centuries, delivering letters in the trillions. This may sound easy, except that it’s not. In 2017 the normal delivery route in Rocky River, Ohio was plagued by an army of ruffians; a gang of ten wild turkeys. The mail carriers were pecked and swarmed as they tried to deliver mail and service to more than 30 homes was disrupted for several weeks. With the help of the Ohio Wildlife Division, loud noises scared off the birds and the postal workers delivered the mail once again. On National Thank A Mail Carrier Day we celebrate a job well done that happens come rain or shine or fowl play.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 3rd, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate healthy cake and saying good-bye with American Pie.

Carrot cake is one of those foods that seems odd on paper. Why on earth make a dessert out of something otherwise seen as healthy? Well, for starters, carrots actually have a pretty high sugar content for a vegetable. In Medieval Europe and the Middle East, sweets were not readily available. Sugar was not the everyday item that we have today, so people needed to get creative. They would boil the carrots, mash them up, add flour and butter, then serve the dish as a pudding or dessert. Eventually, that evolved into a cake. On National Carrot Cake Day, celebrate the chance to have your cake and eat your vegetables too.

American Pie written by Don McLean memorializes the plane crash that claimed the lives of three of music’s brightest young stars. In 1959, the Winter Dance Party tour was traveling across the Midwest, with Buddy Holly as one of the headliners. After several shows, he had grown tired of the long, cold drives via tour bus and chartered a plane for the next leg of the trip. Holly intended to travel with his 2 bandmates, Tommy Allsup and Waylon Jennings. But neither went with him that fateful night. Instead Buddy Holly and Richie Valens joined Holly, and the news was immortalized in the lyrics “the day the music died.” The song topped the charts around the globe in 1972, which was unusual for a song that lasted almost 9 minutes. It held the record of longest songs to top the chart for more than 50 years. Have a listen and remember why we still call today National Day The Music Died Day.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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Welcome to February 2nd, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate tasty spud poetry and a spotlight stealing frog.

Oh tater tots, how do I love thee, let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.

My soul can reach your flavors out of sight.

My ravishment acquires a life of it’s own

To hold steadfast now alas, my stomach groans

Your crispy, crunchy exterior

Your creamy center too

Hot from the fryer

Dare I conspire

You’re better than French Fries, it’s true!

I love thee to the level of every day’s hunger

With hot dogs or burgers, neither’s a blunder

Since childhood, school lunches with ketchup and salt

‘Till now, I am grown and your name I exalt

On National Tater Tot Day, I call out Hooray!

It’s a wondrous, glorious, most happy day.

Marlo: It’s February 2nd and we’re celebrating GroundFrog Day!

Anna: Uh, I think you mean GroundHOG Day.

Marlo: No, the script very clearly says GroundFrog Day.

Anna: That’s gotta be a typo.

John: Uh, no, it’s GroundFrog day.

John: See, for the last five years Snohomish, Washington has celebrated GroundFrog Day. They bring out Snohomish Slew to do the work of predicting the end of winter and, they say, he does a much better job than that other guy in Pennsylvania. I even read that Snohomish is suspicious that Punxsutawney Phil may have a frog in his pocket. This year, if you’re tired of doing the same thing over and over and over again (see what I did there?) then head to Snohomish, Washington for a little “frognostication” on National Groundhog Day.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!

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