Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to September 14th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a heroic sandwich and thinking outside the box.

Depending on where you live, the submarine sandwich might be called a sub, grinder or hero. But did you know that the name “hoagie” goes all the way back to World War I? During that time in Philadelphia there were a lot of Italian immigrants working the shipyards of Hog Island. Apparently, they were known for packing delicious sandwiches for lunch, which came to be known as “hoggies” after the island where they worked. The Philly accent probably explains how the name “hoggie” became “hoagie.” On National Eat A Hoagie Day, call it anything you like, a sandwich by any other name still tastes as good.

If you think you’re not creative, think again. Most of us spend at least a little time each day thinking outside the box. On National Live Creative Day, it’s all about changing things up to give your conscious brain a break from trying to keep it all in check. Try tuning into a show that is halfway finished and let your mind fill in the missing plot info or back story. Or consider taking a different route along the way to doing errands. Whenever you can break up your routine, you give your brain a chance to explore some uncharted territory, before it can give you the same excuses for why you’re not an artist or musician. On National Live Creative Day, expand your perspective on what it means to be original.

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

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Welcome to September 13th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate trading places and how our Nation got its uncle.

National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day is a great way to encourage young chefs while answering the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner?” Sure it might be pancakes or macaroni and cheese, but it could be a delicious change of pace. It also lets kids stretch their culinary legs, while spending some quality time together. You may want to start with something simple that matches your kiddo’s age and aptitude. By the way, it’s also National Ants On A Log Day, which is perfect for junior chefs. In no time they will graduate into more complex meals. Hey John, what did Declan make for dinner this week?

Did you know that Uncle Sam is based on a real person? During the war of 1812, Samuel Wilson of Troy, New York worked in a meatpacking plant. The factory provided American troops with food for the war effort and thus their barrels and crates were stamped “U.S.” The stamping was Samuel’s job and his coworkers began joking that “U.S”. stood for “Uncle Sam.” The joke was on them, however, as the name stuck and became a symbol of our nation’s pride and strength. On Uncle Sam Day, celebrate your own patriotic spirit and be careful with nicknames that can last a lifetime.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us a

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Welcome to September 12th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate chocolate medicine and a real game changer.

In the late 1800s milkshakes were served in pharmacies as a tonic or medicine. These sturdy eggnog type drinks were spiked with whiskey and other ingredients that were thought to be medicinal. By the 1900s, a more wholesome drink was offered with either chocolate, vanilla or strawberry syrup and none of the alcohol. Malt powder made its debut in the 1870s but both malts and milkshakes hit their stride in the 1920s. By this time ice cream and blenders were more popular and elevated the milkshake to its frothy heights! On National Chocolate Milkshake Day, it’s just fine to celebrate with whipped cream and chocolate sauce to make the medicine go down.

In 2018 the film industry grossed over 41 billion dollars worldwide. Not too shabby. But it might surprise you to learn that during that same year, video games sales were over 152 billion! If you’re not quick with numbers, that’s nearly four times as much! Pretty impressive for an industry that started with a game called Pong which consisted of two lines and a dot that bounced back and forth between them. Since then, we’ve been introduced to Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario Brothers. Every year the games get more elaborate and generate more revenue in an already booming market. On National Video Games Day, celebrate the pastime that is now bigger than all other forms of digital entertainment combined.

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

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Welcome to September 11th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we remember the events from two decades ago and hold to the ties that bind us.

Anyone who remembers 911 can recall the intense emotions of an event that united us in tragedy. As we reflect on that day from the distance of more than two decades, we pay our respects to the fallen, along with the families who were forever changed. We also remember the heroism of the first responders and countless volunteers who helped us all overcome the fear of that day. While 911 is referred to as Patriot Day, it is also known as National Day of Service and Remembrance. May we strive to find hope in our common ground and promote acts of unity no matter how small.

When we think of our great Nation, the threads that tie us all together could be called Americana. Since the word was coined in 1841 it’s been used to describe anything in our culture, from folk music to food and events that strikes a chord in the hearts of people coast to coast. This word means home and that place might look different for everyone who embraces the word. What matters most is the history that keeps our roots connected. This pride of ownership in our country can hopefully soothe the gaps between us, while letting us celebrate the things that make us beautiful. September is National Americana Month and while we rediscover our own meaningful songs, stories and food, may we find respect among our nation’s most cherished traditions.

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

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Welcome to September 10th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate big ideas and a dinner flashback.

20 years ago the Ewing Marion Kauffman foundation developed a big idea. They believed in the power of sharing business advice over a simple cup of coffee and from this concept 1 Million Cups was born. Today more than 160 communities meet once a week in a Town Hall style gathering to give feedback to entrepreneurs with big ideas. How does this benefit people without a chapter in their community? Just ask Edie Ramstad from Ada, Minnesota. Edie’s online business, Weave Got Maille, was floundering and a week before closing the doors on her chain maille business she decided to take a trip. Attending 1 Million Cups in a different community not only gave her some encouragement it saved her business, which today earns millions! On National Swap Ideas Day, check out what’s possible in your neck of the woods and leverage the power of a meeting of the minds.

While the first aluminum tv dinner tray was added to the Smithsonian Museum in 1986, the origins of this meal are hotly contested. Maxon Food Systems manufactured the first frozen meal in 1945 for military and civilian air travel. The concept was further developed by Jack Fisher, who sold FridgiDinners to restaurants and taverns in the late 1940s. But it was Swanson and Sons, whose Thanksgiving meal was first sold in 1953 for 98 cents. Packaged in aluminum, this dinner could be baked in the oven in under 30 minutes. That’s pretty good for a meal that normally takes all day to make. And judging by the more than 10 million sold in the very first year, Americans were truly grateful. On National TV Dinner Day, celebrate this modern convenience that still holds a place at the dinner table.

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

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Welcome to September 9th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a serious schnitzel and a presidential bear.

Apparently there was once a brewhaa over Wiener Schnitzel. It’s still well known as an Austrian dish, where it’s made with a few strict rules. In Vienna it is made by law with veal. The name “Wiener” is German for Viennese cutlet. A schnitzel is the method of preparing any meat that is pounded thin, breaded and fried. Austrians claim that the recipe came from an Austrian Field Marshal in 1869. But the Italians have a bone to pick with this story. They insist that the recipe was borrowed from their cotoletta alla milanese, which is identical except that the veal is left on the bone. On National Wiener Schnitzel Day, settle the score with your own favorite recipe. Or head to Wienerschnitzel if you don’t have a dog in this fight.

Theodore Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman and hunter. But during his term as President, he became known for his compassionate side as well. On a hunting trip in 1902, Roosevelt’s companions lassoed a black bear and gave him an opportunity to take a shot. But the President refused to kill the defenseless animal and reportedly said, “I couldn’t be proud of myself if I shot an old, tired, worn-out bear that was tied to a tree.” News of this incident spread across the country and people admired his choice. In Brooklyn, New York a toymaker created a stuffed animal that was dubbed Teddy’s Bear. That bear became wildly popular and was soon in high demand. On National Teddy Bear Day, we celebrate this loveable toy and the softer side of the President who inspired it.

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

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Welcome to September 8th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate liquid gold and awkward moments.

Bees work very hard to make honey. In fact, a hive can produce up to 100 pounds of the sweet stuff each year. To put that in perspective, it takes approximately 768 bees who fly over 55,000 miles to visit 2 million flowers just to make a single pound of honey. And thank goodness that they do because not only does honey power the hive, it has tremendous health benefits for humans as well. For thousands of years honey has been used for food as well as medicine because of its antibacterial qualities. And because of its high acidity and low moisture content, it can last a long time. A really long time. If honey is sealed in an airtight container, it has an infinite shelf life. During National Honey Month, celebrate the golden goodness of this small miracle.

No matter how old we get, school pictures will always remind us of our most awkward moments. Perhaps that’s why we treasure them so much. For better or worse, these photos capture the bygone eras of fashion and hairstyles we wish we could forget. No matter how confident you were back in the day, there will always be a youngster to snicker at your personal time capsule. So get brave and share them on social media today. You can also reassure your kids that they will have a peanut gallery of their own one day. On National School Picture Day enjoy the virtual trip down memory lane for better or for worse.

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

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Welcome to September 7th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate learning how the sausage is made and a top down love for beer.

The Latin word “salumen” means a mixture of salted meats. Salami is a generic term used to describe any encased meat product, but in Italy this typically means pork. In the same way that cheeses are named for the place in which they’re made, salami is more specifically identified by its native region. This could be Salame di Felino from Parma or Soppressata from Calabria. The sausages vary by spice and curing process, but most are tied and aged in cool dark cellars for days or months. On National Salami Day, try something truly special as you find out how the sausage is made.

Americans have loved beer from the very beginning. George Washington was a huge fan of porters. Thomas Jefferson kept his home well stocked with beer. James Madison wanted to establish a national brewery and appoint a Secretary of Beer. Sadly, that idea did not come to fruition. Franklin Roosevelt continued this presidential tradition. When he came into office, FDR promised to have Prohibition repealed. And before the ban was lifted on any other alcohol, Roosevelt signed an executive order to legalize the sale of, you guessed it, beer. During National Beer Lover's Day, crack open a cold one and enjoy the drink that’s always been a favorite

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

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Welcome to September 6th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a sweet breakfast buzz and taking a virtual trip.

You’ve heard the phrase “when in Rome…” but if you can’t hop a plane to Italy just now, why not mix things up with a sweet twist on breakfast? Apparently it’s perfectly acceptable in Sicily to start the day with coffee flavored gelato tucked inside fresh brioche bread. Uh, yum! Italians also make a dessert called Affogato which means “drowned” and you guessed it, a scoop of ice cream gets drowned in espresso. Coffee ice cream has been around since 1869 and it’s been on Howard Johnson’s menus, right alongside chocolate and vanilla since the 1960s. On National Coffee Ice Cream Day it’s ok to have your buzz for breakfast or dessert!

One of the easiest ways to travel the world is to crack open a good book. Take a trip to Middle Earth, fight dragons and save the world from impending doom. Or hop a train at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters to enroll in a school for witches and wizards. And if romance is more your thing, get swept off your feet to the moors of Northern England. Books can take you anywhere and everywhere through the power of your imagination. And reading to your kids is a great way to introduce them to a life-long love of literature. On National Read A Book Day, celebrate by curling up for an hour or two with the perfect way to get away from it all.

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

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Welcome to September 5th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate perfectly simple pies and taking a break.

Whoever said, “Love is all you need” forgot about cheese, and if we are talking about pizza then cheese is definitely all you need. Dating back to ancient Greece, the simple flatbread known as pita was topped with olive oil, herbs and cheese, and it’s here that our love affair with pizza was born. Fast forward to Naples, Italy, in 1889 when a pizza with the colors of the Italian flag was made for the Queen. This Neapolitan style with cheese, sauce and a little basil was given the name Margherita in her honor. Today more than 2 billion pounds of pizza cheese are produced in the United States alone. That’s a lot of amore! On National Cheese Pizza Day, skip all those extra toppings and celebrate the good stuff!

Since 1882 we have honored the folks who labored to build the backbone of our country. These roads, buildings and infrastructure have supported us ever since our nation began. And while Americans are generally considered to be hard working, this day is all about relaxing with family and friends as we recognize the unofficial end of Summer. If you are headed back to school, you still have time for one more adventure. Why not take a road trip to admire some of that original handiwork? The monuments and highways that were proudly built by our ancestors still hold breathtaking views. Whatever you get up to on Labor Day, remember the tradition of patting yourself on the back for a job well done while you kick back with those you love.

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

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