Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to April 7, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate big burritos and a beer lover’s dream More after the break.

If you’re going to eat a burrito, it might as well be a big one. Anyone who happened to be in La Paz, Mexico in 2010 was greeted with a big burrito—the biggest one ever. This monster was made with a single flour tortilla that stretched nearly a mile and a half and weighed over 2 tons. A special machine was created to roll out the tortilla and 3,000 volunteers filled it with fish, onion, chilis, and refried beans. On National Burrito Day, pull out all the stops. If it can fit inside a tortilla, it’s fair game.

Niels Bohr was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1885. At a young age, he developed a love for science and learning and in 1922, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics. His work paved the way for Atomic Research and many of the scientific advancements of the modern world. And after his big win, he got what some would consider an even better prize. Niels was a huge beer lover, so the Carlsberg brewing company in his hometown of Copenhagen gave him free beer. Lots of it! They gave him a house right next to the brewery, with a direct pipeline into his kitchen. In short, he had an endless supply of Carlsberg beer on tap whenever he wanted it. On National Beer Day, raise a glass to a man who got to live every beer lover’s dream.

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 6, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate sweet success and a happy accident.

When German immigrants Frederick and Louis Ruckheim first sold their caramel popcorn in Chicago, they had no idea what a huge success it would be. According to legend, one customer loved the snack so much that he exclaimed “That’s a crackerjack!” which meant it was pretty awesome. And that name stuck. The brothers called the new treat Cracker Jack and it soon became a favorite with people across the country. However, the thing that really put Cracker Jack on the map was the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” It’s one thing to have people buying your product, but it’s another to have an entire stadium full of sports fans singing “buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack.” On National Caramel Popcorn Day, enjoy this classic snack. Watching a baseball game is optional.

In 1938, Dr. Plunkett, a chemist for DuPont, was working on an idea for refrigeration when he stumbled upon the formula for polytetrafluro ethylene. He and his assistant discovered that this waxy material was resistant to corrosion. This is why it was first used in the Manhattan Project to produce the atomic bomb. Later it was styled into the Happy Pan, which created a slippery surface that proved to be better than cooking oil. Today, teflon reduces friction in fabric, aerospace fuel tanks and medical devices. On National Teflon Day, we celebrate this Hall of Fame discovery that helps us give the brush off to anything sticky.

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 5, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate awesome artifacts and inventions that help us celebrate far into the future.

One of the biggest fossil discoveries in the United States was thanks to a bunch of chickens. When Nebraska farmer Henry Kariger noticed that his chickens were gathered in one spot on his farm, he went over to see what they were pecking at. It appeared to be a patch of minerals, but it turned out to be part of a mammoth fossil. And that fossil turned out to be the largest mammoth ever found intact. It was dubbed Archie and it’s on display at the University of Nebraska State Museum to this day. On National Nebraska Day celebrate the Cornhusker State and maybe have a wander over to check out Archie the mammoth.

Today we celebrate something that hasn’t happened yet. According to Star Trek lore, a scientist will create the first warp drive engine in 2063 and meet aliens for the very first time. Thanks to Zephram Cochran’s invention, humans become friends with Vulcans and the far ends of the galaxy are finally within reach. Without the warp drive, Kirk would’ve never left Riverside, Iowa and Picard would still be working in his family vineyards. Celebrate First Contact Day just like Mr. Cochran—with some cheese pierogis and some classic rock. Live long and prosper!

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 4, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate tasty nutrition and the spirit of adventure.

As long as humans have sailed the seas, they’ve had to worry about things like weather and staying on course. But no one ever thought about vitamins. In past centuries, one of the biggest threats for sailors was lack of nutrition. It seems like such a simple thing now, but it wasn’t until the mid 1800s that people realized that Vitamin C could prevent scurvy. Today, it’s easy to get your fix. Grab a glass of orange juice or snack on some clementines today. You can even find cosmetics that feature this beauty supplement. On National Vitamin C Day celebrate a supplement that tastes great and keeps you from being a scurvy sailor.

Few vehicles have carved out a place in American history quite like the Jeep 4x4. It replaced the horse during WWII and helped the Allies turn the tide! Jeep’s “go anywhere, do anything” ability personified the American Can Do Spirit. To our troops, the Jeep was second only to their rifle in order of importance. Maybe that’s why it still inspires record breaking feats like the pair of Jeep Wranglers that summited a volcano of more than 22,000 feet. Or the Guinness Book holder for the longest parade which included 2,420 Jeeps in Bantam, Pennsylvania. On Jeep 4x4 Day celebrate the vehicle that was made for great adventures.

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 3, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate epic parties and film scores.

When Edward Russell became head of the British Navy in 1694, he knew it was something to celebrate. And celebrate he did—by inviting 5,000 sailors and naval officers to his home for a big bash. Like really big. He drained the fountain at his estate, then filled it with a cocktail of brandy, Malaga wine, sugar, lemons, and spices. According to witnesses, bartenders paddled around the fountain in canoes to serve guests. The party lasted nearly a week, until the drinks ran out. On World Party Day, make an excuse to celebrate with your friends by throwing an impromptu soiree, but try to end at a reasonable time, will ya? It’s a school night, sailor.

It’s no surprise that the main event in any movie is its visual effects. The part of the film we tend to overlook is the music score, which builds tension and sets the mood. Imagine for a moment the movie Jaws. You see the ripple in the darkened water, the swimmer struggles against their mounting fear and all the while you hear… Not quite the same, is it? On National Film Score Day celebrate those iconic notes that play a starring role and enjoy your own classic film score today.

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 2, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate surprisingly helpful pets and everyone’s favorite mash-up.

When we think of domesticated animals, dogs, horses, and cows spring to mind. But one overlooked animal helper is the ferret. Around 2,500 years ago, these furry little critters were trained to help farmers keep rodents away from grain storage. Their long, slim bodies give ferrets the ability to easily get into holes, which allows them to chase rabbits and rodents from their burrows. Incidentally, this is where we get the expression “ferret out.” Plus, ferrets are very loyal and generally quiet too, which makes them great pets. On National Ferret Day, celebrate a pet that has more than a fuzzy appeal.

Peanut butter and jelly got its start in the early 1900s. While we think of it as kid stuff, it was sold in New York’s finest tea rooms. But in the 1920s the price of peanut butter fell, making it more family friendly. During World War II, peanut butter was one of the only foods that wasn’t rationed. It was the perfect packable lunch for soldiers, especially with a layer of jelly that kept them from gluing their mouths shut. The winning combination earned its stripes in 1968 when the JM Smucker Company started jarring Goober. This mashup of alternating layers is still sold around the world today. On National Peanut Butter And Jelly Day, get your mitts on an all time favorite that satisfies the kid in everyone.

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 1, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate good gags and wild crafted dough.

No one is really sure how playing pranks on April 1st each year became a tradition. One theory links it to the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine. Every year, the Emperor made one of his jesters king for the day. A jester named Kugel was dubbed king and he established what we call April Fools’ Day. The best part of that story? It was just an April Fool’s joke. Boston University professor Joseph Boskin made it up in 1983 and the Associated Press ate it up hook, line, and sinker. It’s April Fool’s Day, so try to not become the butt of a joke. We dare you to be on the offensive instead!

Did you know that the world’s oldest, leavened bread gets its magic from friendly bacteria that’s wild at heart? That’s right! Sourdough’s the name, and its characteristic flavor comes from lactobacillus and un-cultured yeast. During the gold rush this food staple was so popular with prospectors it earned them the nickname The Sourdoughs. Word has it that they kept the sourdough warm by carrying it tucked inside their shirts. And because they were mostly found in San Francisco, the city still bakes up some of the tastiest loaves around. On National Sourdough Bread Day crack open a loaf of golden-crusted goodness.

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

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Welcome to March 31st, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate PR for tators and the King of crayons.

The potato was not a hit when it landed in Europe for the first time. It took some PR from physician Antoine-Augustin Parmentier to give the vegetable its due. As strange as it may sound, Parmentier leveraged his relationship with the king and queen to get potatoes into the public eye. He gifted the royal couple some potato blossoms at an event in Versailles. The queen put some in her hair and the king put one in his buttonhole. When the other nobles in attendance saw the flowers, they followed suit and soon potatoes were a hot topic of conversation. On National Tater Day, take a bite of this tasty tuber and be grateful that someone thought to plant them in the culinary hot bed of the Old World.

Every kid knows the kaleidoscope of colors found in a box of Crayola crayons. The company makes dozens of hues, allowing tiny artists to decorate refrigerators around the world. Oddly enough, Emerson Moser, Crayola’s senior crayon maker, was color blind! He could see color, but couldn’t differentiate between blues and greens. When he retired from Crayola after 37 years on the job, he’d created nearly 1.5 billion crayons. His boots, which had become coated with colorful wax over the years, were donated to the Crayola Hall of Fame. On National Crayon Day, break out a box of creative color and be grateful for all the hues you can see.

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

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Welcome to March 30th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate sharp pencils and doctors with a point.

In 2007, writer Keith Eldred set out to write a novel. Specifically To Kill a Mockingbird. You’re thinking…what? That book was already written. But Eldred was trying to prove a point—he wanted to see how long he could write with one ordinary #2 pencil. He was able to rewrite the entire text to Harper Lee’s famous novel using only one. And when it got down to only a tiny nib, Keith had to splice it together with another pencil in order to hold it. He did manage to transcribe all 100,388 words. On National Pencil Day, celebrate the writing implement that can still go the distance.

In ancient times, indigenous tribes believed that illness was caused by evil spirits or magic. They called on a medicine man to expel these spirits and this was the basis for healing. Hippocrates dispelled this myth and became the father of modern medicine in ancient Greece. He viewed illness as a physical, rather than a supernatural notion, and helped to move the needle forward. No pun intended. Another doctor made a significant stride on this day in 1842. Crawford Long M.D. administered the first ether anesthesia during a surgery and the patient reported feeling no pain. On National Doctors Day, we honor countless medical professionals for their contributions throughout the ages.

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

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Welcome to March 29th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the Silver State and a Golden Cake.

Nevada is well known for its casinos and tourist attractions, but it’s also home to something not nearly as lively. Ghost towns. Because of its mining history, the state has over 600 of them. One of the most interesting is Berlin, Nevada. Not only will you find the remains of a mining community, with abandoned buildings and a cemetery, but also something much much older. The remains of Ichthyosaurs, aquatic dinosaurs that lived in the oceans covering the state 225 million years ago. The fossils are on display in the museum at the state park. On National Nevada Day, we celebrate the Silver State and its long standing history.

The recipe for chiffon cake was a closely guarded secret for decades. While angel food cake was already popular in the 1920s, Henry Baker believed it could be better. The insurance salesman turned caterer worked feverishly on his combination of ingredients. Then in 1927 he stumbled on the perfect method for creating a rich but airy cake. Sure that he had struck gold, Henry offered his services to the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles. This place catered to the Hollywood elite and for the next 20 years, Henry’s claim to fame was being the only person to bake this proprietary recipe. Finally, in 1947 he sold it to General Mills for an undisclosed amount. On National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day celebrate a golden bite of baking history that’s too good to keep all to yourself.

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

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