Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to January 27th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the gift of life and having your cake and eating it too.

Every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. That means over 41,000 donations are required each day to meet that need. You may already be aware that there are 4 blood types: O, A, B, and AB, but actually there are 8 if you consider that each has a positive and negative rH factor. O type blood can be used for anyone who needs it. AB blood types can receive blood of any type, but they are extremely rare. What does that mean for you? Plenty, if you’re in need of a transfusion. But even if you’re not up on your A, B and Os you can still give the gift of life during National Blood Donor Month.

Chocolate lovers like to go over the top and chocolate cake is no exception. There is a chocolate cake recipe from a chef in Dubai that calls for cocoa beans from Italy, organic flour from the UK, vanilla from Uganda and 23 carat gold leaf and dust. The Golden Phoenix, as it’s known, is served on a Marie Antoinette dessert trolley, and comes at a price tag of over one thousand dollars. Luckily the kind that Duncan Hines makes is more accessible and some would argue, equally delicious. Ever since a doctor and a chocolate maker teamed up to grind cocoa beans on a stone mill, the once exclusive ingredient can now be found everywhere. On National Chocolate Cake Day you don’t have to be royalty to have your cake and eat it too.

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

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Welcome to January 26th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate love for our partners in life and our own libraries.

Frida Kahlo was smitten from the moment she set eyes on the mural La Creación in Mexico City. Not only with the art, but also with the man painting it—the famous artist Diego Rivera. It was about 15 years before they were formally introduced and they fell in love and married. Their relationship was rocky, with many ups and downs. However, their impact on one another’s art was enormous. Individually, they became two of the greatest artists of the 20th Century, but it was their mutual love for one another that fueled their creativity. On National Spouses Day, celebrate the partners who stick with you through thick and thin. Because, as Frida put it: “You deserve someone who takes away the lies and brings you hope, coffee, and poetry."

In the early 1500s, Leonardo da Vinci kept a notebook to jot down his observations of the world around him. Among other things, he discusses why fossils of fish can be found in mountains and why the moon shines so brightly. It’s full of random notes and illustrations, and is written in Da Vinci’s famous backwards writing, which can only be read when viewed in a mirror. This simple 18 page book, known as the Codex Lester, was bought and sold several times over the years and became one of the most expensive books in the world. In 1994, Bill Gates bought it for just under 31 million dollars. While the books on our shelf may not be as valuable, we all have our favorites. On Library Shelfie Day, share your own love of books by taking a selfie in front of your prized editions.

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

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Welcome to January 25th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the Sunshine State and a delicious cold weather cure.

According to legend, the Fountain of Youth would grant anyone who drank from it the gift of long life. This story had existed for hundreds of years, but no one knew where it was. When the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon heard rumors from natives in the Caribbean, he set sail to find it. Heading north in search of this miraculous fountain, he came upon land and went ashore. He named the land after the Spanish Easter celebration—The Feast of Flowers, or Pascua Florida. Though he never did find it, you can visit the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St Augustine, Florida. It won’t actually grant you eternal youth, but you will get to explore the oldest city in America. On National Florida Day, we celebrate the Sunshine State and all the natural beauty it has to offer.

On a cold, wet day in 1942, weary travelers to the small Shannon Airport in Southern Ireland found their way to a restaurant run by Joe Sheridan. To warm his guests, Joe served them hot coffee spiked with whiskey and topped with a pillow of whipped cream. One of these guests was travel writer Stanton Delaplane who brought the idea of Irish Coffee to the owners of the Buena Vista Cafe in California in 1952. Intrigued by his story they tried to recreate the flavor, but concluded that it required a pilgrimage of their own to Joe’s restaurant. Their efforts were rewarded with the secret to floating the whipped cream on top and the authentic flavor has been enjoyed Stateside ever since. On National Irish Coffee Day, celebrate the folks who went the distance to bring us this cold weather cure.

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

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Welcome to January 24th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate honeyed words and spreadable gold.

When comic book legend Stan Lee opened his mail one day in 1963 he got what can be called an enthusiastic letter from a fan. It read: “Fantastic Four #17 was greater than great. Even now I sit in awe of it. It was stupendous! It will live forever as one of the greatest of ALL comics.” The compliment most certainly made him smile, but so did many other fan letters. So what made this one so special? Well, it was written by a boy named George R. R. Martin, who later created Game of Thrones. So what was Stan’s reply to this glowing compliment? “We might want to quit while we’re ahead. Thanks for your kind words, George.” On National Compliment Day, take a moment to send kind words to someone who deserves them. And by all means, be gracious if one gets sent your way.

Peanut butter lovers will eat the spread straight from the jar, but it wasn’t quite as yummy at first. In the early 20th century, inventors saw the paste as a protein solution for patients who couldn’t chew meat. The noble efforts of Marcus Edson, Dr. Kellogg and Dr. Straub advanced the cause, but it was Joseph Rosefield who brought peanut butter to the masses. This food chemist from California struck gold when he developed the process for stabilizing peanut butter into a smooth, creamy concoction. He licensed the technology to a company that made Peter Pan peanut butter, but grabbed up his own share of the market with Skippy brand in 1932. On National Peanut Butter Day, celebrate this addictive spread with your choice of chunky or smooth.

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

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Welcome to January 23rd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate winding words and the taste of home.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, civilizations across Europe took many different paths. So did writing. All books were handwritten in Latin, but depending on the region, the script could look much different. Scribes each put their own spin on letters and sometimes a letter like S would be big and loopy, and another it could be tiny. As a result, writing in one area of Europe looked wildly different from writing in another. When the Holy Roman Empire came to power, Charlemagne made it a point to standardize writing across Europe. He commissioned an English scholar to create a standardized font known as Carolingian miniscule. This form of writing was the first to make use of upper and lower case letters, as well as rules for spacing and punctuation. On National Handwriting Day, we celebrate twists and turns of scripts around the globe.

If you’re from England this means the savory kind with some kind of stewed meat and spices, but in America pie is dessert. And it’s not just one of those “driving on the wrong side of the street” differences. When Mark Twain wrote A Tramp Abroad after traveling through Europe, he made a list of all the foods he would eat upon returning to his home in America: apple pie, peach pie, pumpkin pie, and squash pie. And to drive the point home, his recipe for English pie went as follows: “Construct a bullet proof dough, fill with stewed dried apples aggravated with cloves, then solder on the lid and set in a safe place till it petrifies. Serve cold at breakfast and invite your enemy.” Things have certainly improved since 1880, but one thing is sure, on National Pie Day folks still celebrate with their own flavor of home.

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

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Welcome to January 22nd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate having fun with our kids the brownie’s blonde cousin.

Charles Swindoll said that each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. Today is the day to make that investment count by letting our kids know how much we love them. Celebration of Life Day is about appreciating the Now, whether it’s a walk in the park together, coloring or reading a book. And if you wanna score extra brownie points, why not let them choose the activity? Kids grow up much faster than we can imagine. And while your children may be racing towards adulthood, they are never too old to appreciate your attention and encouragement. This day is for everyone who loves a youngster, be they parents, grandparents, or uncles and aunts. It’s a gentle reminder that the best thing you can give your children is time.

If you believe that brownies have all the fun, then make room on your plate for the “blondie.” It turns out that the first brownies didn’t have cocoa at all but got their color from molasses. It’s believed that these dessert bars originated in Sandusky, Ohio at least 10 years before their chocolate cousins. When chocolate became the norm in the early 1900s they told the bars apart by calling the original the blondie. This name appeared in recipe books of the 1940s and called for light brown sugar instead of molasses. Blondies have all the caramel sweetness of a chocolate chip cookie with the soft fudgy texture of a bar. On National Blonde Brownie Day add a scoop of ice cream, some toffee and nuts for the ultimate sweet tooth celebration.

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

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Welcome to January 21st, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate crafty critters and packable snacks.

Each Fall, squirrels gather nuts and then bury them for safekeeping. Because of scavengers, squirrels can’t hide their stash all in one place and use a technique called “scatter hoarding.” A few nuts get buried here, a few there, and before you know it, the treasure is spread out over hundreds of places. Sometimes they even dig fake holes to throw off other animals from finding the real stuff. And, contrary to popular belief, squirrels are really quite good at recovering their hidden nuts. Through a combination of smell and memory, these furry little creatures can locate nearly 3/4 of everything they buried. And, yes, if they find another squirrel’s hoard, they’re not above stealing. On Squirrel Appreciation Day, celebrate these crafty backyard critters.

It’s a gorgeous day and you’ve decided to summit a challenging peak. After hours of pushing ahead through blisters and muscle cramps your senses are rewarded with a breathtaking view. In that moment it was worth all the energy you spent but the only problem is - you’re spent! Granola bars to the rescue. Hikers and sports enthusiasts know that these packable snacks are filled with whole grains, fruit, nuts and seeds, that offer a burst of energy without all the junk found in candy bars. If we’re being honest, there are plenty of granola bars that don’t pass for health food and if it matters to you, then check the labels. But if your active lifestyle requires meals on the go, then celebrate convenience on National Granola Bar Day and take in some gorgeous new heights.

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

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Welcome to January 20th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate cheese glorious cheese and the staying power of those who spin records.

If you’re a cheese lover then you won’t be surprised to learn there are 18 other cheese related holidays. But this one has your name all over it. For people who don’t understand all the fuss, here’s a clue. Science has determined that dairy proteins contain opiate particles that trigger our bodies to want more. Advertisers know that people are either “cheese enhancers,” people who prefer just a sprinkle and people who are salivating just thinking about it. These “cravers” are gob-smacked by ads for stuffed crust pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches with extra cheddar and lasagna piled high with melting mozzarella. Marlo, I think I hear your stomach growling. On National Cheese Lover's Day it’s okay to get carried away in your cheesy obsession.

When Thomas Edison patented the phonograph in 1877, he had no idea of the impact it would have on the world. He intended the phonograph to be a device for recording voice messages. As we know, it also became a way to bring recorded music to the world. Nearly 60 years later, Walter Winchell first used the term "disc jockey” and those who played records over the airwaves changed music history. The 1950s saw the advent of celebrity DJs, whose music choices influenced what the world listened to. But even as our listening devices have changed, DJs have managed to stay in the game. Two turntables and a microphone have become an iconic platform for reaching a global audience. However they bring tunes to the world, we celebrate the power of music in their hands on National Disc Jockey 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 January 19th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate versatile snacks and superfoods.

In the world of science, the term quark refers to a subatomic particle. Recently, the word has also been adopted as the name of a popular European cheese. Quark cheese is similar in taste to cottage cheese, however, it doesn’t have curds. Instead, it’s smooth and creamy, most commonly used in German cheesecake. Quark often finds its way into breakfast foods like crepes and oatmeal. And it can be substituted for ricotta in lasagna and manicotti. So as you can tell, quark is pretty versatile. You’ve probably come across it in the grocery store and didn’t even know it, since in the United States it’s often referred to as pot cheese or farmer’s cheese. It’s World Quark Day, a great time to try this delicious cheese with a funny name.

Early Spanish explorers were fascinated by the small white flower that would burst from a heated kernel of corn. It wasn’t until the late 1800s, however, that popcorn really took off. That’s when Candy store owner, Charles Cretors, developed a steam machine for popping corn. He sold the snack from horse drawn wagons throughout the streets of Chicago. Around this time a new confection known as Cracker Jacks was also popping up. The 1908 anthem Take Me Out To The Ballgame knocked Cracker Jacks into the stratosphere. Then in 1938, Glen Dickson took a gamble on the expensive corn popping machines by installing them in his movie theatres, and popcorn became a home run snack. This January 19th marks the 9th anniversary of National Day Calendar’s website and we credit National Popcorn Day for fueling our curiosity.

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

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Welcome to January 18th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate silly old bears and ZIP codes that float.

Author A.A. Milne brought the adorable, honey loving bear, Winnie the Pooh to life in his 1926 book series. The stories were inspired by a black bear named Winnie who lived at the London Zoo. The author’s son, Christopher Robin, would visit the bear often and named his own teddy bear after her. That’s right, the original Winnie was a female. These tender stories featured friendship and characters that resonated with folks all over the world. And because they were written in the time between two world wars, their innocence became a prized touchstone. Today the books have been translated into more than 50 languages! On National Winnie the Pooh Day we celebrate Milne’s birthday and his classic legacy of gentle adventures in the Hundred Acre Woods.

There are 41,692 ZIP Codes in the United States. But 48222 is one-of-a-kind. This is the only floating ZIP Code. It belongs to the J.W. Westcott II, a mail ship based out of Detroit. Founded in 1874 by John Ward Westcott, this company delivers mail to ships as they pass Detroit. The crews of freighters radio the Westcott Company, which then checks for mail and then sails out to deliver the mail. Westcott operates 24/7, 365 except when the Great Lakes freeze over. On National Michigan Day, we celebrate the Great Lake State. And if you don’t like it, talk to the hand.

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

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