Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to July 26th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a courtly carb and risking it all.

In the 17th Century an Austrian baker presented the King of Poland with a new creation. Based on the king’s love of horses, the baker made a circular, doughy bread shaped like a stirrup, or “boogel.” Rumor has it that bagels have been a favorite in Poland ever since. And when Polish immigrants set up bakeries in New York’s Lower East Side, people in the United States started celebrating bagels with a generous schmear of cream cheese. Thanks to the Lender family, bagels rolled out across the nation with their automated process for manufacturing, freezing and shipping our favorite kosher carb. On National Bagelfest Day, stop by your local bakery or coffee shop and enjoy a breakfast fit for a king.

Most of us take a leap of fate when we want to advance our careers or relationships. Alexander the Great took a risk that changed the course of Western civilization. In a major battle against the mighty Persian Empire, Alexander’s army was outnumbered nearly 5 to 1. If his troops were defeated, the Persians would spread their influence across the Mediterranean and make their culture the dominant force in the world. Against the advice of his generals, Alexander led his army straight into the Persian ranks…and somehow he came out on top. Big risks, big rewards. On National All Or Nothing Day, you may not be shaping the world, but as Yoda says, “Do or do not, there is no try.”

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 July 25th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a dynamic duo and the ride that proves what comes around goes around.

According to Greek Mythology, Aristaeus was the god of olive-growing, bee-keeping, and…most importantly…cheese-making. To add to his repertoire, he asked his uncle to teach him how to make beer and wine. And as far as teachers go, Aristaeus couldn’t ask for a better one. Because his uncle, Dionysus was also the god of wine. We can’t be sure, but this was likely the beginning of one of history’s greatest pairings: Wine and cheese. Whether it’s port and gorgonzola or chardonnay and cheddar, these two things were made for one another. On National Wine And Cheese Day, enjoy a delicious pair courtesy of the Olympians.

No amusement park would be complete without a classic roller coaster or merry-go-round. But the oldest of these rides was first depicted in 500 AD during the Byzantine Empire. Baskets that carried a rider were suspended from a central pole and whirled around in a circle. The more modern carousel was inspired by the sport of jousting, but not the dangerous medieval kind. Apparently in the 12th century knights made a game of riding in a circle and tossing a glass ball filled with perfume at one another. This required great skill and horsemanship to avoid dropping the ball, which would prove a shameful and smelly defeat. On National Merry-Go-Round Day, celebrate a classic ride that’s been around the block.

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

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Welcome to July 24th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate legends of the still and the sky.

Tequila dates back to the 16th century when Cortez and his Spanish conquistadors arrived in North America. While they didn’t think much of the fermented mezcal wine, the Spanish introduced the copper still and a legendary improvement was forged. Today the production of tequila is protected by law in Mexico and must be produced in the town for which it is named in the State of Jalisco. While a few other regions can claim the same rights, all other agave based spirits are called mezcal. However you serve up National Tequila Day, be sure to celebrate responsibly.

At age 10, Amelia Mary Earhart knew she wanted to fly an airplane. While women in her day were not supposed to do such things, this adventurous tomboy saved up and bought a bright yellow biplane called The Canary. From there, she blazed a trail across the sky. Charles Lindbergh was the first to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic, but Earhart was the first woman to achieve this mission four years later. Her flight was fraught with complications and after more than 14 hours she landed in Derry, Ireland. This earned her the United States Distinguished Flying Cross. Throughout her life, Earhart broke many records and her disappearance in 1937 while circumnavigating the globe remains a tragic mystery. On National Amelia Earhart Day, celebrate this pioneer who inspired the world with her love of aviation.

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

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Welcome to July 23rd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the spirit that won the old West and an ice cream that stands out from the crowd.

Many of us have wondered what it would be like to completely reinvent ourselves. In the late 1800s, all it took was to move to the American West. Take for example John Henry Holliday. He came from a respectable family in Georgia and studied dentistry in Philadelphia. After a few years, he moved his practice to Dallas, Texas. But then John gave up dentistry and became a gambler…and a gunfighter. The legend we now know as Doc Holliday earned a reputation as a man not to be messed with, especially after joining up with the famous lawman Wyatt Earp. Cowboys became a symbol of the American West because of men like these. On National Day of the Cowboy we celebrate the spirit that helped build our Nation.

The International Ice Cream Association has determined that 29 percent of us prefer vanilla over any other flavor. You may be surprised to learn that chocolate is preferred by only 9 percent. And there was a time when the two flavors were inseparable. In the Aztec culture vanilla was added to chocolate drinks for flavor. Chocolate and its counterpart were then imported to Europe, but it took until the 17th Century to separate them. An apothecary named Hugh Morgan created chocolate free treats for Queen Elizabeth I, and vanilla stood on its own at last becoming wildly popular in France. In the 1780s the American Minister in Paris took great interest in this exotic taste. This was of course Thomas Jefferson. On National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, celebrate the flavor that stands out from the crowd.

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

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Welcome to July 22nd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate paying your dues and taking it easy.

The small town of Hamelin, Germany found itself overrun by rats. One day a man arrived in Hamelin wearing brightly colored clothes and playing a flute. He told the townspeople that he could get rid of the vermin that plagued their homes. His flute music not only hypnotized the rats, they followed him out of town. But when the man returned to collect his payment, the people refused to give him any money. So he played his flute once more, and all the town’s children followed him away. And for some strange reason the people of Hamelin celebrate this story every year with festivals and reenactments. On National Rat Catcher’s Day you can celebrate by settling any unpaid debts or maybe just try tipping the exterminator.

Summertime is all about the simple life. And there’s no better way to catch some z’s than by swinging from trees in a hammock. Dating back thousands of years, the sling bed was used in Central America to protect people from dirt and bugs. European explorers of the 17th Century discovered its comfortable convenience. And naval ships used them to save space in close quarters. Today, backpackers still enjoy a good night’s sleep in this portable bed that doesn’t weigh them down. No matter where you’re headed this Summer, from the adventurous trek to a staycation in the yard, your siesta is better when you’re swinging in the breeze. On National Hammock Day, celebrate the easiest way to rock yourself to sleep.

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Welcome to July 21st, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate making a difference and the good things that come in small packages.

Project Harmony founded National Be Someone Day to help end child abuse and bring communities together through education and awareness. They remind us that it only takes a few seconds to make a difference in a child’s life and by taking the pledge to report what we see, the results can last a lifetime. Today there are so many worthwhile organizations that help children, and if you feel compelled to “be someone” for a child in need, check out all the great things happening in your own community.

If your taste for junk food needs some inspiration it might be time for a taste bud vacation. Packaged foods in one form or another took off in the 1800s when the process became commercial. While snacks that come in cans, bottles and cellophane are not necessarily more appealing, the added sugar, salt and fat are downright addicting. Enjoy a guilt free excursion today with a virtual tour of snacks from around the globe. Our Aussie friends are celebrating National Lamington Day with sponge cake squares covered in chocolate and coconut. In Canada the favorite messy snack is poutine or French fries covered in cheese and gravy. And across the pond there are Jaffa Cakes and crepes. You may not be able to hop a plane for all your cravings, but on National Junk Food Day, you can certainly appreciate the convenience of your hometown favorites.

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

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Welcome to July 20th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a sweet ending and a royal dog.

One of the staples of Chinese takeout didn’t come from China at all, but rather from Japan. In the late 1800s, Japanese bakers began making crackers with small notes inside. Japanese immigrants to America opened up Chinese restaurants to capitalize on the growing popularity of Chinese food. They served these fortune cookies as dessert and the treats caught on. During World War II, Chinese immigrants to the United States opened more restaurants and kept the tradition of fortune cookies alive. Now, a takeout meal of General Tso’s Chicken wouldn’t be complete without a fortune. On National Fortune Cookie Day, celebrate this sweet ending to any good meal.

When King George VI visited the United States in 1939, FDR hosted him at his Hyde Park estate. In the weeks prior to the event word got out that an American picnic featuring hot dogs would be served to the English King and Queen rather than a fancy state dinner. This news caused such a stir that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had to address it. And while the queen was heard to say, How do you eat this? as she had never had a hot dog before, the king loved them so much that he asked for seconds. On National Hot Dog Day, fire up the grill and enjoy this summertime favorite fit for a king and queen.

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

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Welcome to July 19th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate friendly competition and cooling off.

Today is National Words With Friends Day and I have a few choice words for you guys!

Marlo: Don’t say french fries.

John: Marlo hates fries!

Anna: That is so yesterday’s news! I had my seasoned fries on a Friday and I am just glad Marlo came to his senses. Anyway this game looks really fun, it’s like a scrabble game you can play with your friends in an app form. On National Words With Friends Day enjoy a friendly spar with your favorite nerds.

Some drinks are synonymous with tropical vacations, but the daiquiri is named after a small mining town in Santiago de Cuba. During the Spanish American War, workers at a mine in Daiquiri would gather to cool off at the end of a long day’s work. At a place called the Venus bar their American supervisor, Jennings Cox came up with the drink made from rum, lime juice, and sugar. But when Ernest Hemmingway first encountered the daiquiri, he ordered another without the sugar and double the rum. This drink became known as the Papa Doble. While he usually drank whiskey, Hemingway bragged that he could drink 17 daiquiris without getting a hangover. On National Daiquiri Day, celebrate responsibly with the drink that still tastes good at the end of a long, hot 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 July 18th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a splurge from the sea and our obsession with sweet tart flavor.

Caviar is a delicacy that is typically served at only the most elegant of events, being that it’s so expensive. Beluga caviar is widely considered to be the best that money can buy, but it might as well be plain old scrambled eggs when compared to almas caviar. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this delicacy isn’t just the priciest caviar in the world, it’s the most expensive FOOD in the world. Period. 1 pound of it can cost up to $17,000! It’s produced from the eggs of the endangered albino sturgeon, which can only be found near Iran, in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. On National Caviar Day, celebrate this extravagant morsel.

The history of sweet tart candies goes back to the 19th century, and it began with the process of candy making itself. Hard candy manufacturing back then relied on acid to convert cane sugar into glucose to resist crystallization. Vinegar did the trick and from then on our mouths naturally craved this sweet tart combination. Then along came the Lemonhead in 1962 which used citric acid to power our pucker and a new kind of arms race was born. Since then we have raised the bar ever higher with kids demanding a mouth punishing experience that seemed to culminate with the 1993 impact of the Mega Warhead. On National Sour Candy Day, pucker up anyway you please and leave the fear factor kind to the kids.

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

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Welcome to July 17th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate emotional icons and a dessert that makes us cheer.

Like it or not, our teenagers are influencers. That’s why a Japanese programmer created emoticons in 1990 to appeal to teens. When Apple released the first iPhone in 2007, they added the emoji keyboard to grab the attention of the Japanese market. But the picture words took off around the globe. Who knew that a simple text could become so misinterpreted out of context? Emojis to the rescue. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and today there are over 1800 of them listed on emojipedia.org. That’s nearly 2 million ways to bridge the generation gap. On World Emoji Day celebrate the cute little characters who have taken on a life of their own!

For as long as folks have been enjoying ice cream, we bet they’ve been letting out a scream. In Ancient Persia the dessert was made with snow. Hopefully no one started an avalanche by screaming from a mountain peak. The first use of ice and salt to freeze ice cream was discovered in China in 697 AD. From there the Italians made sorbet in 1642. Here in the United States, one of the first ice cream recipes can be traced to Thomas Jefferson. A copy of his handwritten instructions for old fashioned vanilla are preserved in the Library of Congress. And some shops around the country still serve his recipe to this day. In 1984 Ronald Regan declared July to be National Ice Cream Month, and on National Ice Cream Day, we celebrate the treat that always inspires a cheer.

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

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