Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to January 7th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate delicious imports and wobbly heads.

You may think of tempura as a Japanese dish, but the art of batter frying first came to Japan from Portugese missionaries. In the mid 16th century Nagasaki, Japan was a closed-port to most of the world, but the Portugese were allowed to bring in Catholicism and with it, a food that they made during lent. The name tempura actually comes from the Latin quattuor anni tempora or Days of Ember when no red meat was eaten. And with fresh veggies, prawns and fish in a delicious light batter, apparently no one was missing it. The dish caught on with street vendors called yatai, and it soon became a foodie favorite. On National Tempura Day we celebrate this culinary technique that covers everything from ice cream to squid.

Bobbleheads have been around since the 18th Century. They were brought to Europe from China, where they were known as temple nodders or nodding head figures. But the bobbleheads we treasure today, first became popular in the 1960s, when sports teams began depicting their mascots and famous players. Some of the earliest were Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. Then in 1964, the first modern bobbleheads that didn’t depict an athlete were made of the Beatles, and they are still some of the most sought after by collectors today. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame Museum houses the world’s largest collection and if you happen to be in Milwaukee you can drop in to see the exhibits. You could even celebrate with a custom made figure of yourself as long as you don’t let it go to your head on National Bobblehead 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 6th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate staying cozy and the age of technology.

If you think you’re cold this winter, try living in Antarctica. In winter, the wind chills can plunge to minus 76°F. One of the only animals who can survive in this climate is the Emperor Penguin and they do it by cuddling together. Their system is simple; one penguin stands in place, surrounded by its friends who protect it from the cold wind. Then, that penguin steps out and another takes its turn in the warm center of the circle. They keep rotating until everyone gets a chance to be nice and cozy. On National Cuddle Up Day snuggle up with someone you love, and be glad it doesn’t take a village to stay warm.

Everything from the invention of the wheel to your smartphone can be considered technology. History is shaped by these gadgets and achievements, and no matter how far into the future you daydream, if you can imagine it, someone will create it. But there are still some who consider technology dangerous. Everything from railroads to cars to electricity were protested and derided back in their day.

Anna: Marlo, where are you right now?

Marlo: I am broadcasting from CES.

On National Technology Day we celebrate the wonders that advance our world and keep us a buzz with food for thought.

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 5th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate an exotic species and sweet inventions.

The Hooded Pitohui is a colorful songbird that lives in the forests of New Guinea. The bird’s black and orange coloring is reminiscent of its cousin the oriole. But there’s something about the Pitohui other than its coloring that makes this bird stand out in the crowd—it’s poisonous. There are many toxic species of reptiles and fish in the world, but there are only a handful of birds who fit this description. This Pitohui’s poison was discovered when a scientist accidentally cut his finger on the bird’s claw. When he licked the cut, his mouth started to go numb too. Luckily, the poison wasn’t deadly, but it is for predators and that’s exactly why these birds evolved this way. On National Bird Day, we celebrate our feathered friends from a safe distance.

The first recipes for whipped cream date back to 1549 when they used a willow branch to beat the cream into “snow milk.” This technique lasted for the next few centuries until a clothing salesman from St. Louis changed all of that. During WWII when cream was rationed, Aaron “Bunny” Lapin began pedaling Sta-Whip, a substitute made of light cream and vegetable oil. Then in 1946 Crown Cork and Seal Company made the first seamless aerosol canister. Lapin used the technology, changed the name to Reddi-wip and with an army of milkmen to deliver it, he made a fortune in only a few short years. On National Whipped Cream Day celebrate Bunny Lapin’s birthday with a little extra on the top.

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 4th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the “Show Me” State and random facts that could pay off bigtime!

The Mississippi River divides the United States roughly into half and crossing over it serves as the gateway to the western part of the country. To mark the crossing point, the city of St. Louis, Missouri, held a contest to find the best design for a landmark. Nearly 200 architects from around the world submitted entries, and the city chose the submission from Eero Saarinen. Eero was the son of a famous architect who had designed buildings across Finland and the United States. And this is likely how the selection committee accidentally addressed the winning telegram to Eero’s father Eliel. This caused some minor embarrassment during the celebration when the gaff was discovered but the Gateway Arch remains a proud landmark. On National Missouri Day, we celebrate the Show Me State and all its impressive sights.

Marlo: Hey Anna, what 1987 song holds the record for most MTV Video Music Awards with 9?

Anna: Hmmm, I have to think about that.

Marlo: If you’ve ever attended quiz night at a local pub, you know how exciting trivia can be. The answers to questions like these might even hold the key to cash and prizes. In the early days of television, trivia was all the rage. Quiz shows were so popular that when news broke about cheating on the shows, it became national news and Congress held hearings to get to the bottom of things. And if you’re still chewing on that first question, the answer is….

Anna: Wait, wait, don’t tell me…It’s Sledgehammer!

Marlo: That’s right! On National Trivia Day, celebrate your inner know-it-all by sharing this, or any other random facts.

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 3rd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the sweet life and blowing off holiday steam.

If life is a bowl full of cherries, why not have yours dipped in chocolate? Folks in the 1700s knew what a perfect mid-winter pick me up this candy could be. In England they included kirsch or cherry liqueur. Here in the United States the treat evolved into a sweet liquid center surrounded by milk or dark chocolate. Even the National Confectioners Association has been known to recognize National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day as an annual event. But if this candy is a bit too much for your sweet tooth try any combination of cherries and chocolate in cookies, bars or cake.

One of the best-selling foods during the holiday season is fruitcake. It’s also one of the most disliked and chances are good, this eyesore is still staring you in the face. The people of Manitou Springs, Colorado have a solution. For the last 20 years they’ve hosted an event that gives folks a chance to work out their seasonal frustrations by hurling this leftover into the sky. That’s right, people come from near and far to beat up on fruitcakes by flinging them either by hand, cannon, or giant slingshot. There are even competitions to see who can propel them the farthest. The price of admission to this event is a non-perishable food item which is donated to charity. On National Fruitcake Toss Day, celebrate your own way of disposing with this leftover, but please launch responsibly.

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 2nd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a feast for everyone and a voyage of the imagination.

In the mid 16th Century Swedish folks gathered around a Brannvinsbord, where they enjoyed a pre-dinner array of schnapps or shots of alcohol. This evolved into the smorgasbord or casual offering of appetizers and snacks before a more formal dinner. When the Swedes rolled out this food showcase at the 1939 New York World’s Fair it was an instant hit. Although the English speaking crowd preferred the term “buffet” which was the French word for the sideboard serving table in a dining room. I can just imagine how that went down. After a few rounds of schnapps everyone sounds like the Swedish chef. On National Buffet Day, head to the feeding table where there’s something for everyone.

Jules Verne is famous for books like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. He’s also known as the Father of Science Fiction. And his novels weren’t only exciting for his time, they also imagined technology that didn’t yet exist. Things like helicopters, submarines, space travel, and even videoconferencing! Though he probably didn’t foresee us having business meetings in our jammies. As a rule, science fiction blends technology with imagination, but Verne almost seems like a time traveler with the accuracy of his predictions. They say art imitates life, but in the case of Jules Verne, maybe it’s the other way around. On National Science Fiction Day celebrate with your own voyage of the imagination.

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

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If you’re looking for a “hair of the dog” that bit you during last night’s reveling, consider the Bloody Mary. It’s become a brunch staple, but how did this drink get such a gruesome name? Many people assume it’s because of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s first daughter. But the widely accepted story is that a Paris bartender in the 1920s created a cocktail of tomato juice and vodka. One of the patrons loved the drink and suggested the name "Bloody Mary” because it reminded him of a Chicago bar called Bucket of Blood Club, and a girl named Mary who worked there. Strange way to pay tribute to someone you have a crush on, but maybe there is more to that story. On National Bloody Mary Day celebrate with this classic drink that helps repair the most ghoulish hangover.

New Year’s Day is one of the most recognized holidays around the world. Though it has been celebrated for thousands of years, the exact beginning of a new year has gone through many changes. In ancient Rome, the calendar started with Martius or March and only had ten months. January and February were added later and the twelve month Julian calendar was eventually adopted. In ancient Babylon, new year’s resolutions were about paying back debts and returning borrowed stuff. If that is on your list it’s a great start. As the new year begins may we follow the advice of author C.S. Lewis who said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” We hope you’ll join us as we find new reasons to celebrate together.

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

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Welcome to December 31, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate memorable wines and forgettable songs.

Nothing says celebration like a good champagne, and while the genuine article comes only from the Champagne region of France, there are plenty of good bubbly wines from California and Italy. Prices vary widely, and if you’ve ever wondered why bottles of Dom Peringnon fetch up to $50,000 a bottle, it’s because Dom only produces wine during years when the grapes have reached top quality. That means that since they opened in 1921 they have only produced 36 vintages. If splurging at that price point is not your thing, just pop open a bottle of your favorite sparkling beverage. On National Champagne Day we toast to your health and good fortune and hope you’ll remember to always drink responsibly.

Tonight, we bid farewell to 2021 and at the stroke of midnight, we’ll all attempt to sing a song that few of us understand. Auld Lang Syne is sometimes referred to as “the most famous song that nobody knows,” and that’s not only because people have been drinking before they sing it. Written by Robert Burns, the phrase is Scottish and roughly translates to “days gone by.” Somewhere along the way, it was set to music and became a traditional Scottish song. So how did it come to be associated with New Year’s Eve? For that we can thank the famous bandleader Guy Lombardo. Beginning in the 1920s, he played the song on his New Years Eve radio show, and for the next 30 New Years after that. We thank you for joining us during 2021 and on New Year’s Eve we welcome all the new opportunities to Celebrate Every 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 December 30, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the power of pork and other ordinary ingredients.

If you’ve ever made a volcano at home then you already know the magic of bicarbonate of soda. In 2017 the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry decided to make the world’s largest baking soda volcano to best the record of an elementary school in the U.K. OMSI’s volcano was constructed from pipes, tarps and scaffolding that was filled with 66 gallons of vinegar, along with 50 gallons of baking soda mixed with water. 3,000 people witnessed the event at the site with another 72,000 viewers watching the livestream. You may be planning your own epic celebration of New’s Years Eve, but on National Bicarbonate of Soda Day, remember that baking soda also makes a good hangover cure.

Most people think that the phrase “bringing home the bacon” refers to a paycheck, although actual bacon is worth cheering for as well. But it turns out that the saying goes back to 12th century England, when married men would swear an oath that they had not argued with their spouse for a whole year and a day. Upon taking this oath they were rewarded with a side of bacon. The phrase then referred to men who were seen as exemplary citizens and husbands. Another story says that the phrase came about in 1906, when boxer Joe Gans got a telegram from his mother before fighting for the world lightweight championship. Her message was simply to “bring home the bacon,” which he did, though not literally. On Bacon Day we pay tribute to a food that receives a hero's welcome, no matter who brings it 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 December 29, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate making the most of the final countdown and a National soup for the soul.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already time to say goodbye to 2021. Most of us look forward to the end of the year, with the promise of a new year just around the corner. But before we break out the party hats and noisemakers, there are still a few things that need our attention. Are there business purchases or donations that can be made that will impact your tax returns? Have you set up your health plans for next year? And did you make use of all the benefits you had for 2021? If there’s still money in a Flex Spending account, now’s the time to purchase that cool new pair of glasses or get your teeth checked. The clock is literally ticking, so let’s make the most of it on Tick Tock Day.

Philadelphia Pepper Pot has been nicknamed the “soup that won the war.” During the brutal winter of 1777 the Continental Army had dug in at Valley Forge and George Washington asked the army’s chef to prepare a meal that would both warm the troops and boost their morale. The chef rounded up some peppercorns, small bits of meat and other ingredients and the rest of course is history. Today you can find recipes online that mimic this one pot wonder and though you may have better ingredients on hand than the chefs at Valley Forge, peppercorns are the humble seasoning that brings it all together. On National Pepper Pot Day, we celebrate the simple things that keep the home fires burning.

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

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