Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to December 18, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we honor our heroes and celebrate amazing pairs.

In 1992 a wreath company in Harrington, Maine found themselves with a surplus of holiday wreaths and their founder, Morrill Worcester decided to donate them to Arlington cemetery, a place he had visited as a boy. As he laid the extra wreaths upon the grave sites, he thought of his own life and the success he owed to those fallen heroes. Today, the nonprofit group Wreaths Across America follows in his footsteps with their donation to more than 2,100 cemeteries. By partnering with thousands of schools, and scouting groups they remember, honor and teach the importance of the sacrifice of our veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day.

Twins are fascinating, from their ability to finish each other’s sentences to the striking similarities they share even if they are separated at birth. This genetic anomaly can prove useful, like when a toddler needs a rest from acting on the set of Full House, or when selling Doublemint gum. But did you know that it's also helpful for getting us to mars? Astronaut Scott Kelly spent over a year in space and scientists were able to study the effects this had on his body by comparing the results to his twin brother Mark who stayed back on earth. Turns out that Scott grew a few inches taller and furthered the research for the two year voyage to mars. On National Twin Day keep your eyes open for these wunderkind and all the amazing things they do.

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 17, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the tradition of poor taste and nature’s sweet bounty.

While many traditions uphold the beauty and magic of Christmas some are just plain weird. Behold, the ugly Christmas sweater! No one is 100 percent sure how this became a holiday thing, but tacky sweaters can trace their popularity back to 1980s TV comedies. It started on the Cosby Show and became a running joke that sitcom dads wore sweaters that looked like abstract art. Then in 2002, the city of Vancouver threw an ugly Christmas sweater party that was such a hit, it became an annual event. Each year, the proceeds from this fashion eyesore are donated to the Make A Wish foundation and that’s a truly beautiful thing! On National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day show your holiday spirit with something fun and hideous.

This day was made for pancakes, French toast and biscuits as we pour on the sweetness of National Maple Syrup Day. During cold weather, maple trees store starch in their trunks that is converted to sugar in the Spring. The sap from red, black and sugar maples is collected and processed by heating to evaporate most of the water, which produces a concentrated syrup. About 40 gallons of sap are needed for one gallon of the finished product. Thankfully, the trees that produce this sap can live up to 100 years, though they must be at least 45 years old before they can be tapped. Talk about a late bloomer! On National Maple Syrup Day we celebrate nature’s bounty with our Canadian neighbors who produce most of the maple syrup we enjoy 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 December 16, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate saving your sanity and cocoa mania.

Sometimes being popular is a hazard of the job! But it's hard to argue with success when you’re found in over 150 countries. I’m talking of course about Barbie. More than a billion Barbie dolls have been sold around the world thanks to extensive advertising and decades of popularity. Add to that her 36 movies, bigger and better dream houses every year, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah… there’s bound to be a backlash. But, Barbie shares the spotlight with another annoying figure; the giant purple T-Rex, Barney. If you’re a parent, this paleolithic lounge lizard is ringing in your ears almost every day which is enough to drive anyone to the brink. On Barbie and Barney Backlash Day we’re giving everyone a time out. Go to your corners and think about it before you do something you’ll regret.

The Aztecs considered cocoa beans more precious than gold and even used them as currency. But Europeans were still in the dark about cocoa mania until the Spanish came to the New World in the 16th century. Once chocolate reached the Spanish court, the secret was out. Adding sugar and spices made it all the more addicting. Chocolate houses that catered to the wealthy became all the rage. But thanks to Coenraad Johannes van Houten the Dutch process made cocoa more accessible to the masses. Today, just about anything can be made more delicious by covering it in chocolate from nuts and cookies to potato chips and popcorn. On National Chocolate Covered Anything Day go ahead and splurge as you celebrate cocoa mania.

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 15, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate impossible jobs and inalienable rights.

Have you heard the expression; “It’s like herding cats?” This refers to a job that’s so tedious it requires the patience of a saint: Kindergarten teacher, wildlife photographer, sound engineer. Marlo, did you let a cat in the studio? Because John can totally add that in later. If you find that nothing stays where you put it or your team is off in left field when you’re in the right, you’re not alone. If this sounds a lot like your job, feel free to celebrate Cat Herders Day, by taking the day off.

The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution are more commonly known as the Bill of Rights. Congress created 14 official copies of the original document, one for the federal government and one for each of the original 13 states. It turns out the copies were a good precaution, as somehow four of them went missing. North Carolina’s copy of the Bill of Rights was stolen by a Union soldier during the Civil War and was missing for almost 140 years before the FBI tracked it down. Two other copies have been found over the years. One is housed in the Library of Congress, and the other is kept at the New York Public Library. Thankfully these rights are inalienable and while the paper version may go missing, on Bill of Rights Day we celebrate the permanence of this most important document.

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 14, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate an inspiring State and monkeying around.

When the crew of the Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon, Americans looked on with a sense of awe—and immense pride. And probably no one more so than the people of Alabama. Scientists and engineers in the Cotton State developed rockets for the space program using technology acquired from Germany after World War II. The rockets were designed in Alabama, but also built with steel manufactured in the state. If not for the Saturn rockets produced there, American astronauts wouldn’t have been able to get into orbit and eventually onto the moon. On National Alabama Day, celebrate the people and culture of the Cotton State…or the Yellowhammer state. They have two nicknames. Why not? They deserve it.

On May 28th, 1959, two of the greatest heroes of space travel returned to Earth after a 15 minute space flight. It may not sound like much, but it was the first time astronauts were able to survive a return trip from space. And did I mention that the astronauts were both monkeys? One was named Able, and the other was Miss Baker. These brave little primates paved the way for space exploration by helping scientists to understand the physical stress of spaceflight. Unfortunately, Able passed away only a few days later, but Miss Baker lived another 25 years. When she passed away in 1984, over 300 people attended her funeral, paying tribute to her part in the history of spaceflight. On Monkey Day, we celebrate the primates who took the first steps to make mankind’s giant leap possible.

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 13, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the convenience of cocoa and fancy fiddles.

Thousands of years ago the process of making hot chocolate was long and tedious. Aztecs roasted the fruit of the cacao tree and ground it with water, chilies and even corn. They didn’t understand the health benefits, but they knew it packed a punch, and soldiers drank several cups before battle. The recipe changed over the years but the tradition carried on and hot cocoa was even given to troops during the Revolutionary War as medicine and wages. Thanks to a Dutch chemist who separated out the cocoa butter, the powder could be mixed for a handy, packable drink. On National Cocoa Day, celebrate this instant cold weather fix with some whipped cream or marshmallows.

The violins and violas we play today are a legacy of Mongolian nomads. These horsemen from Inner Asia with their two string, upright instruments are considered to be the world’s first fiddlers. On the other end of the spectrum comes the gold standard of violins, the Stradivarius. Antonio Stradivari crafted about 1,100 stringed instruments during his lifetime. Today, they are rare and extremely valuable. In 2011, a Stradivarius nicknamed Lady Blunt was purchased for nearly $16 million. Another, nicknamed “the Messiah,” is so priceless that no one’s even allowed to play it. On National Violin Day, celebrate in grand style or bust out the fiddle and give a nod to the original.

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 12, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the humble beginnings of two holiday favorites.

The first gingerbread was often used in religious ceremonies thanks to the Armenian monk, Gregory of Nicopolis. In 992 AD, he taught French Christians the art of molding his favorite food into the figures of saints. But when the Brothers Grimm told the tale of Hansel and Gretel and their fateful visit to a gingerbread house, German guilds began crafting the sturdy dough into candy-covered cottages. Do you think that some stories are invented to scare kids into keeping their mitts off the treats? Cause that is one scary story. On Gingerbread House Day build your own festive villages and celebrate the sweet, spicy scent of this holiday tradition.

The cheerful red plant that we associate with the holidays got its start in 16th century Mexico. One legend tells the story of a poor girl who wanted to bring the Christ child a gift. The girl gathered weeds by the side of the road and by the time she presented them, the bouquet had transformed into bright red stars. American botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett sent the first cuttings of the plant from Mexico to the United States in 1825. But it was a California farmer who made their magic bloom. Paul Ecke discovered a technique that made the seedlings grow in branches. In the early 1920s he began selling the plants at a simple roadside stand. On National Poinsettia Day we celebrate this beautiful symbol of the season and its humble beginnings.

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Welcome to December 11, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate one of our favorite ways to beat the odds and the little things that keep us connected.

This month recognizes the birthday of one of America’s favorite games: Bingo. While it seems pretty straight forward, the game is far more complicated than you might think. It’s estimated that there are over 500 septillion combinations of numbers that could appear on your bingo card. A septillion is a 1 with 24 zeros after it. No wonder people get so excited when they win! It was Edwin S. Lowe, a salesman from New York who came up with the idea. He then hired a math professor who created 6,000 cards, each with a different non repeating combination of numbers. Bingo halls could make more money with these cards because they cut back on the number of winners. Celebrate Bingo’s Birthday Month with a game that still makes us excited to beat the odds.

In 1997, the Nokia 6110 phone introduced a simple arcade game called Snake, which is considered by many to be the first mobile app. Almost 20 years later the iPhone was released and with it, users could access nearly 500 apps. Today iPhone users can choose from almost 1.8 million of them and Android users have about 2.5 million. From navigation to learning and even performing surgery, apps have transformed our everyday lives. While they have come a long way from that first game of Snake, apps are still used to entertain us and keep us in touch with family and friends. On National App Day, celebrate the convenience of your favorite apps by sharing them with those you love.

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 10, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate with a toast to Summer and those who change the world.

If you are already chasing the midwinter blues, raise your spirits with a light Summer beer: the lager. Lagers are distinguished from other beers by their cold-conditioning process. They are made with “bottom-fermenting” yeast that can develop at colder temperatures. Before the advent of refrigeration, brewers perfected this process in cellars dug into the ground that were filled with ice. The delicious results are often described as “crisp” and “refreshing.” With so many choices from pale, amber or dark to several craft varieties, you will likely add lager to your list of favorite things. On National Lager Day, grab your friends and celebrate the midwinter season with the taste of Summer.

At the age of 17, Alfred Nobel spoke five languages fluently. This was only the beginning of the young man’s accomplishments. Through the course of his life, Nobel amassed a fortune from his 87 businesses and 355 patents worldwide, including the patent for dynamite. In his third and last will, Nobel stated that the money should be given away to those who had done their best to benefit mankind. Each annual prize would recognize the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. Though it took nearly five years after his passing, the Nobel Committee has awarded these prizes every year since 1901. On Nobel Prize Day, we celebrate the generosity of Alfred Nobel and those who continue to make the world a better place.

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 9, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the success of the underdog.

Traditional clowns wore white makeup, with red noses and cheeks, and pointy hats. During the Great Depression, a clown named Emmett Kelly changed that image. People were down on their luck and while they wanted to be entertained, the usual clown shtick didn’t seem relatable. That’s when Kelly’s clown character, Weary Willie became a reflection of the times. Instead of the typical costume, Weary Willie looked more like a hobo. He wore a frown, had whiskers, and his clothes were torn and dirty. This underdog became iconic because people could see something of themselves in him. On Weary Willie Day, celebrate a clown who was a man of the people. Unless you’re afraid of clowns, in which case, forget we said anything.

Pastry dough dates back to the ancient Mediterranean when it was rolled paper thin and baked into baklava. The Crusaders brought it to Europe where it became a versatile base for pies and pasties. But the variety of pastries we enjoy today is thanks to a French chef who mastered the technique of crafting dough into the sublime. Chef Careme grew up poor, but his career took off at age 15 when his larger than life creations reached the table of Napoleon Bonaparte. From there he served the royalty of Europe with his cream puffs, danish, quiches and tarts, and became one of the very first celebrity chefs. On National Pastry Day we celebrate this rich dessert and the kid who shaped his future with it.

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

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