Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to August 25th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the great outdoors and one clever apprentice.

After serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, Ferdinand Hayden did geographical surveys of the Grand Canyon and what would become the Western United States. One particular region of Northwestern Wyoming caught his attention and he petitioned the government to explore and document this area. Along with photographer William Henry Jackson and painter Thomas Moran, he put together a report that was presented to Congress. It made such an impression that on March 1, 1872, President Grant established Yellowstone as the first National Park. Nearly 150 years later, Yellowstone is still one of the most visited. On National Park Service Founders Day, celebrate the folks who saw the forest for the trees and helped preserve our great outdoors.

In 1904 David Evans Strickler showed more than a little enthusiasm for his job. The 23 year old apprentice enjoyed making up new kinds of sundaes, but little did he know that he would soon make history. At Tassels Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, David stumbled upon the winning combination of three scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry all topping off a split banana. They charged double the price for this new concoction, but the banana split was worth all 10 cents. And eventually David bought the place, renaming it Strickler’s Pharmacy. To this day the Great American Banana Split Festival happens in downtown Latrobe. On National Banana Split Day celebrate the sweet rewards for being top banana!

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

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Welcome to August 24th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate Summertime’s freshest pie and a tasty debate.

Summertime means the freshest crops and the most delicious fruit. In Georgia that means peaches. Sure, California grows more of them than any other state, but in Georgia they have a reputation for being the best. Maybe that’s because to this day there are no major processing operations there. The good news for bakers is that Georgia peaches are always picked fresh and arrive in grocery stores full of juicy flavor. If you’re a pie maker you will know why this prize fruit is worth all the fuss. On National Peach Pie Day celebrate with the freshest you can find, and if you live in the Empire of the South count yourself lucky!

There are two kinds of people, pancake people and waffle people. Sure, pancakes are delicious, but if you leave them in syrup too long, they get soggy. On the other hand, waffles are built for that sort of thing and their deep pockets let you pile on the toppings. Cornelias Swarthout patented the waffle iron in 1869, though folks had been enjoying waffles since the 14th century. His invention, however, made waffles more readily available. By the time people tasted the Belgian kind at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, waffles found their rightful place on the breakfast table. On National Waffle Day serve them anyway you please and invite your pancake friends to enjoy the difference.

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

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Welcome to August 23rd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate challenging new heights in the kitchen and on the runway.

One of the most difficult cakes for bakers to master is the sponge cake. And if you are intrigued by this challenge, here are a few tips to ensure your success. Start with sifting the cake flour which makes for a lighter batter. Cake flour is more finely milled and produces a finer crumb. For egg whites that whip to the highest heights use only the freshest eggs. And skip the fancy frostings as this cake tastes perfect with only a dusting of powdered sugar and a few berries. On National Sponge Cake Day, don’t be intimidated by this lofty queen of cakes.

While the Wright Brothers took to the sky in 1903 with a combustion engine plane, it turns out that a human powered aircraft was much tougher to build. That’s why the Royal Aeronautical Society announced the Kremer Competition in 1959 with a prize of 50,000 pounds. The strict figure 8 course was tough to navigate and the prize was not awarded until August 23rd, 1977. That's when Paul MacCready’s Gossamer Condor 2 beat the Japanese Stork and a year’s worth of work paid off big! On National Ride the Wind Day visit the Smithsonian where the Gossamer Condor 2 is displayed next to the Wright Brothers Plane and the Apollo 11 moon capsule.

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

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Welcome to August 22nd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate food that takes a bow and magical dentistry.

During the Three Kingdoms era of China, a general and his troops found their way home was blocked by a raging river. The river god told the general that passage would only be granted if he cut off 50 of his soldiers’ heads and threw them into the river. Instead, the general ordered his cooks to create buns that looked like heads and threw them in the river instead. And, according to legend, that is how we came to have the delicious steamed buns known as bao. This may be a strange origin story for such a cute little dumpling, but on National Bao Day, we celebrate the small bite that tames our raging appetite.

No one is quite sure how fairies took an interest in children’s health in the 1920s. But when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published photographs of two girls surrounded by fairies the fascination took flight. This phenomenon was useful for teaching kids everything from eating their vegetables to getting fresh air. Then in 1927 Esther Watkins opened a link to the supernatural with her play known as the Tooth Fairy. Since then teeth have been magically transformed into money by the mysterious fairy folk. On National Tooth Fairy Day, celebrate this age old legend that still affects our kids' imagination.

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

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Welcome to August 21st, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate stylish ice cream and late bloomers.

No one does style quite like the Italians and as the popularity of gelato spread across Europe, ice cream makers had to find a way to ship it more efficiently. Chefs in Italy created Neapolitan ice cream, which was one big block with multiple flavors. And in the 1800s when Italian immigrants in New York began shipping it over from Europe they called this treat spumoni, after their favorite molded ice cream treat from Naples. The classic flavors include chocolate, pistachio, and cherry. Though when vanilla is substituted for chocolate, it's just as delicious. On National Spumoni Day, try a new twist on an old favorite that helps you beat the Summer heat alla moda.

If the term “over the hill” has you clamoring for a bottle of hair color, maybe you need some perspective. There are plenty of senior citizens who made a splash that launched their golden years into the stratosphere. Take the Long Island comedian who didn’t land his lucky break until his appearance on the Ed Sullivan show at age 46. While he may have gotten “no respect” in his junior years, his appearance in Caddyshack at age 59 launched an enviable career for Rodney Dangerfield. Other notable seniors, such as the figure skater and editor turned dress designer, did not even hit her stride till after age 40. Today, style maven Vera Wang is a 71 year old fashion icon. On National Senior Citizens Day, celebrate the folks who know that it’s never too late to make your mark!

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

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Welcome to August 20th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate amazing mashups in the kitchen and in the lab.

Few things are as sweet as the Southern favorite pecan pie, but when someone decided to add chocolate, this candy-like dessert went over the top. Pecan trees are native to the American South, and this classic pie sprung up in the region around the late 1800s. Though sugar pies with a mixture of eggs, sugar and flavorings existed throughout Europe before then, the addition of crisp pecans is a claim to fame that’s purely American. But adding a handful of chopped chocolate will likely make this Southern belle a true crowd pleaser. On National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, celebrate the American way of taking things over the top!

While some inventions are created by just one genius, radio was born from a meeting of the minds. Oddly enough, these pioneers never sat down together. In Germany, the research of Heinrich Hertz proved that electricity could be transmitted wirelessly. From Croatia, Nikola Tesla provided the Tesla coil. And the first commercially available wireless was thanks to the Italian born Marconi. His technology was first used by the military but it was a Marconi wireless that broadcast the distress signal from the Titanic. Broadcast stations began airing programs in the 1920s that featured news from around the globe, and when entertainment followed the world became synchronized by the power of sound. On National Radio Day we celebrate this invention that is truly a melting pot of genius.

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

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Welcome to August 19th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate playing with our food and more than a century in the wild blue yonder.

For as long as anyone can remember, parents have told their children to not play with their food. But Mr. Potato Head changed that. In the late 1940s, Mr. Potato Head—or at least parts of him—were included in cereal boxes. Kids would collect the body parts and piece them together with actual potatoes to make the character. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Hasbro began making the plastic version of the beloved character that we know today. So raise a French fry and remember our favorite spud as we celebrate National Potato Day. Later, taters!

While folks have been dreaming of navigating the skies for centuries, we usually give the credit to the Wright brothers for the first controlled, powered and sustained flight. The brothers tossed a coin to see who would test their glider first. Wilbur won the toss, however, his flight at Kitty Hawk lasted only 3 and a half seconds. Orville claimed the second attempt and made history on December 17, 1903. Today we can thank many inventors from Leonardo da Vinci to George Cayley for their contribution to aviation. But it was Franklin Delano Roosevelt who chose August 19th as the official date for National Aviation Day. On this day we also celebrate Orville Wright’s birthday.

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

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Welcome to August 18th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate fussy grapes and a satisfying sizzle.

Pinot noir grapes are notoriously hard to grow. Too much weather variation can ruin a crop very quickly. Plus, the grapes grow in tight, cone-like clusters, which can be a problem because the fruit is extremely thin-skinned. This growth pattern is what gives the grape—and the wine—its name. The clusters look a bit like pine cones, and the skin is dark. Pinot noir. Oenophiles know that this finicky little grape makes a complex wine that doesn’t overpower—perfect for pairing with everything from bleu cheese to roast duck. On National Pinot Noir Day, celebrate with a glass of red that’s worth all the fuss.

Everyone knows that food cooked outdoors just tastes better. Maybe that’s why fajitas became a household favorite. In the early 1930s Mexican vaqueros in Southwestern Texas found a way to use throwaway cuts of meat. These hungry cowboys cooked over an open flame and transformed the ordinary into a sizzling meal. They paired the fire roasted meat with corn and flour tortillas and a regional dish was born. Fajitas took off around the globe when restaurants began serving them with peppers and onions, guacamole and salsa. No matter how you dress them up, it’s the flame licked flavor that makes them special. On National Fajita Day make your taste buds happy with the sizzle that really satisfies.

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

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Welcome to August 17th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate cool cats and doing something good.

Perspective is everything. Take, for example, the black cat. In Ancient Egypt, cats were considered a sign of good luck. This is because felines helped to keep rats and mice away from food in storage. But in Europe, the same animal was seen as unlucky. As you’ve no doubt heard, a black cat crossing your path is bad luck. Mythology of Greek and Norse gods of the underworld were connected to the animal. Unfortunately, this is the superstition that became the most popular. On Black Cat Appreciation Day, drop the silly stereotype and embrace the cool-looking cat for all its charm and beauty!

Nonprofit organizations are the backbones of our communities. They inspire everyday folks to rise to the needs of those in their communities. Everything from reading to a child to performing surgery can be donated, thanks to organizations and capable people coming together. For those who want to lend a helping hand, but aren’t sure how, the nonprofit Do Something offers an opportunity to connect with any number of campaigns. It’s geared towards young people and allows users to select their interests and designate the amount of free time they are able to give. The good news is that no matter what your status is in life, there is likely a project that needs your help. On National Nonprofit Day celebrate your own spirit of giving with the charity of your choice.

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

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Welcome to August 16th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the need for speed and the spirit of the islands.

Roller coasters attract adrenaline junkies to amusement parks around the world. These rides are thrilling and sometimes scary. But oddly enough, they were invented to keep people away from drinking and gambling. LaMarcus Adna Thompson built the first roller coaster in Coney Island, New York and it became very popular. The cars were powered only by gravity and sometimes hit top speeds of…6 miles an hour. The ride only cost a nickel, but people would ride it multiple times. A tradition that lives on to this day. On National Roller Coaster Day, take a trip down memory lane or choose something a little more wild.

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. And in the 1600s when sugar production was booming, life gave the West Indies lots of molasses. This byproduct mostly went to waste until it was discovered that a delicious spirit could be distilled from it. Rum was first recorded in Barbados as rumbullion or kill devil and indeed it caused quite a stir. It is said that British sailors received regular rations of the liquor from the 18th century all the way through 1970. But when England began heavily taxing the Colonies for their sugar, molasses and rum a rebellion started brewing. Today this spirit inspires party drinks with umbrellas and on National Rum Day we celebrate with one of life’s best examples of turning lemons into lemonade.

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

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