Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to April 27, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the Sultan of Swat and spinning a yarn with the best of them.

The word “Ruthian” is used to describe a sports feat that is so incredible, it seems almost impossible. The word is a tribute to the legendary Babe Ruth. When he joined the New York Yankees in 1920, the record for home runs in a season was 27. That season he hit 54. Over the next 14 years, he led the league in home runs 12 times. And because of his all or nothing style, he also led the league in strikeouts 5 times as well. The Sultan of Swat was honored on April 27, 1947 before a crowd of 60,000 with his very own National Day. On National Babe Ruth Day, we celebrate a true American hero, who taught us to go big or go home.

The art of storytelling has been around since the dawn of time. Before we had writing, history was passed on through stories. These days you can find almost any tale online, but there is a particular joy in hearing one told firsthand. Luckily, the real McCoy still walks the streets of Kingman, AZ in storyteller Jim Hinckley. Jim has made an international name for himself with 18 books, lectures and a recorded walking tour, but he is equally happy to guide you one on one. His tagline is “Telling people where to go since 1992.” The good natured soul in a cowboy hat is literally brimming with a love for history. You may have your own resident storyteller but here at the Gateway to Route 66, Jim is up for an adventure and happy to take you with him. On National Tell A Story Day, celebrate the art of spinning a yarn with someone who knows it best.

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

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Welcome to April 26, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate big discoveries and shaking things up.

There are many one-named celebrities out there, but none as big as Sue. She’s a big deal. Literally. Sue the T. Rex is the largest and most intact fossil of the dinosaur species ever found. The discovery was made in the South Dakota Badlands in 1990 by Susan Hendrickson, who lent the T Rex her name. Sue (the dinosaur, not the person) is over 40 feet long and 13 feet tall at the hip. The fossil was in such good shape that museums got into a bidding war over it. When all was said and done, Sue the T Rex sold for over $2.5 million. On National South Dakota Day, celebrate the Mount Rushmore State from the Badlands to the Black Hills and everything in between.

The West Coast of the United States is a beautiful place that has seen its fair share of earthquakes. In fact, the earthquake that rocked San Francisco in 1906 is one of the biggest on record. The state’s frequent seismic activity inspired Charles Richter to develop a way to measure them. This formula, which we know as the Richter Scale, records the magnitude of earthquakes and earth tremors. It’s roughly based on a factor of 10. In other words, a Category 4 earthquake isn’t a small increase from Category 3, it’s ten times the size. Thanks to his work, scientists are able to categorize and study the phenomenon that literally shakes things up. On National Richter Scale Day, we celebrate the guy who helps us get a grip on an otherwise rocky world.

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

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Welcome to April 25, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate ringing up old friends and weird science.

The first call ever made on a telephone lasted only a couple seconds. But the duration didn’t matter to its inventor Alexander Graham Bell, who was ecstatic that his device worked. But he would’ve positively freaked out if he witnessed the call between two Harvard University students in 2012. Eric Brewster and Avery Leonard spoke on the phone for a record-setting 46 hours, 12 minutes, and 52 seconds. So what were they talking about? Everything. It was part of an art installation and by the time the call was over, it’s safe to say they were probably ready for lots of silence. On National Telephone Day, celebrate by ringing up an old friend to catch up.

We’ve all heard stories about children switched at birth, but this story takes the cake. When Lydia Fairchild, a pregnant mother of two found herself in an economic pinch, she decided to apply for government assistance. Imagine her surprise when a DNA test revealed that her children were not her own. She was so upset by the implications of fraud that she asked for a government witness to be present at the birth of her third child. Now here’s where it gets strange. An immediate test of the newborn confirmed that the child was not Lydia’s either. This case had experts so baffled until science determined that Lydia was a “chimera.” She herself had absorbed her own twin while developing in utero and it was her twin’s DNA that showed up during testing. On National DNA Day, celebrate the weird science that may only reveal one piece of the truth.

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

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Welcome to April 24, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the pets in our hearts and pigs in a blanket.

Audrey Hepburn was one of the first celebrities to go everywhere in public with her dog. Mr. Famous, her Yorkshire Terrier, was along for photo shoots and Hollywood events. This wasn’t common practice at the time and it helped make pets seem more like family. When asked why her dog was always with her, Hepburn said “I walk my dog to keep me fit. I talk to my dog, which keeps me sane.” Pet parents everywhere can likely relate. There’s nothing quite like a furry friend to make you feel better at the end of a long day. On National Pet Parents Day, we celebrate the special bond between people and their pets.

If you’ve ever paid attention to the party food that disappears faster than any other snack on the buffet table, then you’ll know: it’s pigs in a blanket. Why are these tiny hotdogs wrapped in dough so darned popular? Maybe it’s because they remind us of childhood: baseball games with our dad, or the time your family went to the state fair. Or maybe it’s because there’s some magic formula that makes eating a dozen of them feel better than downing a full-sized hotdog! On National Pigs In A Blanket Day, throw yourself a party and celebrate making these piggies disappear.

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

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Welcome to April 22, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate our natural world and the beans that everyone adores.

Scientists refer to Earth’s location in our solar system as a “Goldilocks Zone.” In other words, it’s just right. Any closer or farther from the sun and the temperature on Earth wouldn’t be able to host life. No other planet we know of has this exact combination of factors that make a prime place for humans. We are living on a bonafide miracle. Clean water, breathable air, and animals of every shape and size. All perfect. National Earth Day is a time to better appreciate the natural world around us and to take steps to keep it as bright and vibrant as it can be.

Lots of innovations have come about during wartime. Jet engines, duct tape, digital cameras, even candy. During the early days of the United States Civil War, William Schrafft was working on creating a new type of sweet. He wanted to make something chewy that could be easily shipped and stored. Jellied candy such as Turkish Delights had been popular for centuries but it was sticky and didn’t travel well. Then he got the idea to add a hard coating, similar to the one used on Marcona almonds. And voila, the jelly bean was born. This new candy soon became a popular treat to send to Union soldiers. And civilians were pretty excited about them too. On National Jelly Bean Day, enjoy a handful of these colorful, all American sweets.

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

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Welcome to April 21, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate high fives and a garden for kids.

If you’ve ever given someone a high five—and who hasn’t?—you can thank the Los Angeles Dodgers. On October 2, 1977, Dusty Baker hit a home run to put the Dodgers ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in their playoff game. As he crossed home plate, his teammate Glenn Burke ran toward him with a hand in the air and slapped Baker’s raised hand. This perfect bonding moment is widely regarded as the first ever High Five. The gesture has become so ubiquitous that it now feels like second nature in a moment of celebration. On National High Five Day, celebrate by putting your hands in the air and passing on the joy to a friend. If you really want to get crazy, go for the double high five.

Most of us know that kindergarten is where kids make the leap from learning at home to learning at school. This very important stage of child development was recognized by a German teacher, Friedrich Wilhelm August Frobel in 1837. He is credited with starting the first kindergarten in Blankenburg, Germany. Realizing that children learn through play and experience, his class was designed to ease the transition at this crucial stage of life. Here in the United States, the first kindergarten was opened in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1856, but it wasn’t formally adopted nationwide until 1873. On National Kindergarten Day, we celebrate those special first teachers who make a difference in the lives of our children.

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

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Welcome to April 20, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a mysterious fruit and a cake that says Aloha.

Today we celebrate one of the most popular fruits in the world. The banana. But despite how common it is, our friend the banana has been keeping plenty of secrets. First of all, they grow from bulbs not seeds. Also they are technically considered berries. And did you know that they don’t grow on trees? It turns out that banana “trees” are actually big herbs. What else are they hiding? Well, in the early 1900s, bananas became such a hot commodity that war broke out between the United States and Honduras! Thankfully we came to a peaceful resolution. On National Banana Day, we celebrate this international fruit that was once a hotbed of controversy.

Pineapples have been a symbol of hospitality for centuries and for this reason they are given to guests as a present. The problem is that not everyone knows how to carve this spiky fruit. Pineapple upside down cake to the rescue! With its sweet caramelized topping and cherries peeking through the golden rings, your guests will know you thought of them and baked a perfect cake. The origins of this cake date back hundreds of years to when folks cooked in cast iron skillets. A simple way to bake was to line the skillet with fruit and pour batter over the top. When the cake is done it is inverted on a platter and the results bring an instant smile to camp chefs and home cooks alike. On National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day, celebrate friendship with a cake that says Aloha, no matter where you live.

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

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Welcome to April 19, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the Peace Garden State and peace of mind for garlic lovers.

When you think of places associated with Italian food, North Dakota is probably the last thing that comes to mind. But consider this: each year, Americans eat nearly 6 billion pounds of pasta. Pasta is made from durum wheat and 80% of that wheat is grown in North Dakota. According to statistics from the North Dakota Wheat Commission, the state produces enough wheat to supply each person in the United States with over 90 pounds of pasta annually. Think about that the next time you’re eating a plate of spaghetti. On National North Dakota Day, we celebrate The Peace Garden State and all its citizens, especially our very own Marlo Anderson!

For date nights, it’s best to avoid eating anything with garlic in it. Unless your date involves hunting vampires. Folktales and superstitions vary around the world, but one of the things most everyone agrees on is that garlic is a good vampire deterrent. These blood suckers supposedly have heightened senses, which would explain why they would hate the smell so much. But there may be more to the legend. Garlic has medicinal properties and traditionally has been pretty easy to come by, even for the poor. So what better way to keep people from freaking out about monsters than to tell them some everyday item could keep them safe? On National Garlic Day, enjoy some of this delicious seasoning and leave monster hunting to the professionals.

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

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Welcome to April 18, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate good advice and a box full of fun.

Every family seems to have someone who likes to dispense advice to everyone else. The Friedman family of Sioux City, Iowa had two—twin girls Pauline and Esther. The world knows them better as the famous newspaper columnists Abigail Van Buren and Ann Landers, respectively. For decades, these two women published advice columns and helped Americans sort through delicate matters dealing with work, romance, and family life. When the original Abby retired, her daughter took over and continues answering readers’ letters to this day using the pseudonym. It’s National Columnists’ Day, when we celebrate the writers and reporters who entertain and inform us throughout the year.

When animal crackers were first made by the Stauffer Biscuit Company in 1871, they came in barrels and had very little detail. The fun shapes caught on in America, however, and were reimagined by the Nabisco Company in 1902. The red box with a string handle became known as Barnum’s Animals after the iconic circus showman. Originally, the box was made as a Christmas ornament and to this day they are made with a handle for hanging. Barnum’s Animals remain a fan favorite and perhaps that’s because the more than 37 different animals are stamped with impressive detail. Only one of these stands out from the rest, as the only animal that’s depicted wearing pants. Who knows why the monkey is special, but on National Animal Crackers Day we celebrate this sweet box of nostalgia that still has a place in our hearts.

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

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