Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to October 24, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the first name in lunch meat and a secret super power.

Some foods owe their success to immigration. They leave behind the identity of the city or place they came from to take on a new role here in America. One of these is bologna. Beginning its life as mortadella, the beloved sausage meat came from the city of Bologna in Italy, where it was even protected in 1661 by the papacy. They created an official definition of the recipe to ensure it would be made with the right amount of lean pork, speckled with lumps of lard. Here in the United States bologna gained popularity as a cheaper food that took off during the Great Depression with the war era practice of rationing. But perhaps its greatest break came from a jingle in the 1970s. On National Bologna Day we celebrate a sandwich favorite that slipped its more serious past.

Marlo: That was the BEST national day we have ever done on the show.

Anna: Are you serious?

Marlo: No. I’m not.

Anna: Well, what was I supposed to read?

Marlo: You read the right thing. Bologna is amazing. It’s my favorite food.

Anna: Really? I would have never guessed that about you.

Marlo: Anna. None of that is true. I’m being completely sarcastic. It’s National Sarcastic Awareness Month. So are you aware now?

Anna: No. Can you explain it again? I missed that.

Marlo: Okay. So sarcasm is…

Anna: I’m not serious, Marlo. You can stop talking now.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 23, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate magical mother-in-laws and the official dessert of Massachusetts.

We’re getting close to Halloween and if you think celebrating National Mother-In-Law Day is more than a little scary, here's something to lighten your spirits. The most magical, fictional mother-in-law award goes to … Agnes Moorhead as Endora on Bewitched. Not only did she possess witchy powers, she knew just how to wilt her son-in-law, Darren by simply refusing to call him by his real name. Durwood, Darwin, Dum Dum, What’s His Name? If you can relate then celebrate this day with caution. On the other hand if you have a gem of a Mother-In-Law you’ll probably want to thank your lucky stars.

When it comes to dessert, Boston Cream Pie has a confusing name. With its delicious layers of sponge cake, pastry cream and a shiny coat of chocolate, one has to wonder why it is called a pie? At the time the dessert was created, cakes and pies were baked in the same pans. Thus, their names became interchangeable. The dessert was created by a French pastry chef at the Parker House Hotel in Boston in the late 1800s, but a newly available ingredient put this dessert on the map: baking chocolate. The glistening layers of melted chocolate probably influenced the decision to make it the official dessert of Massachusetts in 1996. On National Boston Cream Pie Day, celebrate the irresistible dessert with a confusing name.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 22, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a dash of color and rewarding our true blue friends.

The human eye can see nearly 7,000,000 different shades of color. It’s one of the first things we notice when we process visual information. We tend to think of color as an objective perception, but in fact it can vary based on gender, geographic location and even the language we speak. It might be difficult to pinpoint exactly why we view color so differently, but one thing is certain: it comes down to our photoreceptors. These are located in the retina of our eye and the number of receptors can vary widely from person to person. That’s why my blue sky is not yours Marlo! On National Color Day, don’t be afraid to show your true colors. You may just change the world around you.

It doesn’t take much to please our pups; an extra long walk or a special treat would do. What you may not realize is that what dogs crave most is quality time with you. Pet stores stock everything you need to pamper your pooch at just about every price point. And if you haven’t had a dog in a while, there are over 3 million shelter dogs seeking a forever home. This could be the day that you make a dog’s biggest dream come true. On National Make a Dog’s Day go the extra mile for the pets that have been by your side come rain or shine.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 21, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate an early Thanksgiving treat and our scaly neighbors.

If you’re already on pumpkin spice overload you may want to save yourself for the ultimate flavor combination of the season: pumpkin cheesecake. This dessert takes the cake and can even upset all the traditional Thanksgiving standbys. What a perfect day to master your own recipe ahead of the holiday rush. By November you’ll be a cheesecake expert. The smooth combination of rich cream cheese and spiced pumpkin, topped with whipped cream, beats other pies hands down. On National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, celebrate the creamy dessert that has us asking, Why wait to be grateful?

The Mary River Turtle of Queensland, Australia definitely stands out in a crowd. First of all, it has feelers growing out of its chin. It’s also known as the Punk Rock Turtle. That’s because of the bright green moss that grows on the turtle’s head in the shape of a mohawk. Seriously. It makes them look like a Muppet. And then there’s the fact that the Mary River Turtle breathes out of its…well, you can Google that for yourself. In fact, there are over 10,000 species of reptiles to learn about, including lizards, snakes and turtles. On National Reptile Awareness Day, celebrate our scaly neighbors by discovering their weird and wacky facts online or at the zoo.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 20, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate building up our youth and delicious mashups.

Stevland Morris was born prematurely on May 13, 1950, and went blind shortly after. Despite his disability, he had a passion for music. By the age of 10, Stevland had taught himself how to play piano, harmonica, drums and organ. He played during church services and his talent so impressed a fellow parishioner that the man introduced Stevland to a friend named Berry Gordy—the president of Motown records. Gordy took the boy under his wing and helped turn him into the star we know today as… Stevie Wonder. Not every kid will grow up to be famous, but they’ve got a better chance at success if you inspire them to be themselves. On National Youth Confidence Day, celebrate the kid in all of us that just needs a little encouragement.

One of the South’s most famous food creations is chicken and waffles. But this delicious combination of flavors was actually born in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. During the 1940s, the Wells Supper Club was a popular late night spot that attracted Jazz musicians after their gigs. They would come in hungry, but found that they had arrived too late for dinner, but too early for breakfast. In order to accommodate the musicians, the restaurant came up with the genius idea of serving a bit of both meals. Hence, fried chicken for dinner and waffles for breakfast. On National Chicken and Waffles Day, we celebrate this delicious combo and thank the cook who came up with the crazy idea in the first place.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 19, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a flavorful soup and smooth medicine.

The rich creamy soup known as seafood bisque has been around for centuries. It most likely originated in France in the Bay of Biscay where seafood was plentiful. But that’s not exactly how bisque got its name. For that we take a clue from how it's cooked. First the seafood shells are sauteed with onions, celery and carrots then simmered in wine or broth with aromatic herbs. This makes it “bis” “cuit” or twice cooked and by the time the seafood and cream are added an unparalleled flavor has developed. On National Seafood Bisque Day make your mouth happy with this classic seafood concoction.

The British Empire spanned the globe in the mid 1800s and one of its most valuable colonies was India. Though England was able to conquer much of the world with its powerful army and navy, one thing its military couldn’t fight was malaria. This disease had long been eradicated in Europe, but in India’s tropical climate, malaria was still a problem. The locals used quinine powder to prevent the disease, but the British troops stationed here did not have a taste for the bitter medicine. That is until someone mixed it with soda water and sugar creating what is now known as “tonic water.” When they added gin the famous cocktail was born. On International Gin And Tonic Day, enjoy a classic drink that is as smooth as British ingenuity.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 18, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a fashion kick and having your cake and eating it too.

Although this wardrobe essential is a year-round staple, Fall is officially the season for leggings. Historically, they added a necessary layer of warmth. In the 1950’s and ‘60s they were part of our standard workout wear. Today leggings are a feat of modern engineering thanks to breathable materials, textures and designs. With so many styles from sporty to dressy, you can really kick up your style on International Legging Day.

For most people chocolate symbolizes romance, for Kyra Bussanich it means war! Cupcake Wars to be exact. This four time champion of the Food Network’s popular tv show is serious about baking and winning. After a diagnosis with Crohn’s disease, Kyra decided to try a gluten free lifestyle. She attended Le Cordon Bleu patisserie program and married her love for baking with French techniques. Her long battle with food allergies ended in triumph as she became the first gluten free baker to win the Cupcake Wars heated challenge. Today her shop in Lake Oswego boasts a few of the winning flavors, such as Chocolate Caramel Ecstasy. If you can’t make it all the way to Oregon, you might take up the challenge in your own kitchen. On National Chocolate Cupcake Day, celebrate like Kyra by having your cake and eating it too.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 17, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate second chances and perfect pairs.

A mulligan is a do over or a chance to hit the reset button. In golf it’s a term that means taking a second shot if things don’t go according to plan. No one is exactly sure which Mulligan gave us this term whether it was David Mulligan from Canada, John “Buddy” Mulligan from New Jersey or Thomas Mulligan from Ireland. All three were passionate about the game of golf and all three knew the value of blowing off a bad shot. It’s never too late to reframe your thinking with a fresh perspective or a brand new start, on or off the golf course. On National Mulligan Day, give yourself a break and tee up a whole new outlook.

Italians had been enjoying their pasta for centuries before someone came up with the idea for a dried version of the food. This simple innovation allowed the pasta to keep longer and it soon made its way around the world on Italian ships. In the 1500s, explorers brought back tomatoes from the Americas, and you would think that’s where the pairing of red sauce and pasta got its start. But people thought tomatoes were poisonous, and it was nearly 200 years before someone incorporated them into Italian cuisine. Since then, pasta and tomato sauce have been forever linked. On National Pasta Day celebrate with your favorite pairing of pasta and sauce.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 16, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate healthy competition and a nerd with a cause.

Organized sports were introduced to the world at the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. The first events were based on training for war and hunting—races, wrestling, jumping, and javelin throwing. This also became a way for people to hash out differences without hurting one another with weapons. Sports are cathartic and bring people together. Athletes scream and yell and try to beat their opponents, but when the game is over, they congratulate one another with a hand shake. On National Sports Day, celebrate the spirit of friendly competition!

Noah Webster is best known for publishing A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language in 1806. He believed that the English spelling rules were unnecessarily complicated, and this led him to compile the American English ones. Today we take this for granted today until we run across words such as color with an extra u or center with an re ending. This task took 27 years to complete and required Webster to learn twenty six languages, including Old English, German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic, and Sanskrit. He also added American words such as skunk and squash that did not appear in British dictionaries. On National Dictionary Day we celebrate the spirit of a rebel with a wordy cause.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to October 15, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate love at first sight and bringing back that squeaky feeling.

The television show I Love Lucy first aired on October 15, 1951 and for audiences it was love at first sight. That’s because the show featuring Lucille Ball, Dezi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley was a program of firsts, including the first show to be performed before a live studio audience. In four of its six seasons, I Love Lucy was the most-watched television show in the United States and to this day it still stands on TIME Magazine’s list of top 100 shows. On National I Love Lucy Day, catch up on your favorite episodes and fall in love all over again.

In the mid 1800s settlers from all over Europe brought their cheese making secrets to Wisconsin. By 1922 there were more than 2,800 factories in the rich farmland of this state. Today Wisconsin produces over 2 billion pounds of cheese each year. This process starts with separating the curd from the whey, but the curds that eventually become cheddar are the gold standard for snacking. These ones contain the long proteins that squeak against our teeth. If your curds have lost that squeaky feeling, a few seconds in the microwave can bring it back. On National Cheese Curd Day fry up a batch of the freshest you can find and enjoy a true American favorite.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices