Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to December 8, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate dessert on the go and glitches in time.

They say that necessity is the mother of invention and that appears to be the case for our favorite combination of cookie and cake: the brownie. Legend has it that Bertha Palmer wanted a special dessert that would fit neatly into a boxed lunch for her socialite friends attending the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. Bertha’s husband owned the Palmer House hotel and one of the chefs there devised the perfect cake-like dessert that could be eaten by hand. Apparently, dessert on the go was a hit as this same recipe is served by the Parker House hotel to this day. On National Brownie Day splurge on your own chocolate fix with or without utensils.

On Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day we invite you to slip through the space time continuum with your own imaginary voyage. This celebration began with a blog post in 2007, inviting participants to create a character from the future or past and to dress as that character for an entire day. Of course staying in character means those around you will scratch their head and wonder if you've gone mad, but you can let them in on the game by choosing a recognizable source. Books, shows and movies such as Doctor Who, Outlander, The Terminator or Groundhog Day will at least give your audience a clue as to what you're up to. And if you just don't care what others think, feel free to stay fully immersed in your own strange world. 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 December 7, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a state that stays cozy and remember the day that will live in infamy.

There are plenty of things you can see during a typical Chicago winter. Ice skating at Maggie Daley Park…People walking on Lake Michigan…Train tracks being set on fire. Seriously. Chicago winters can get very cold. Cold enough to affect the operation of the city’s L Train. Sub-freezing temperatures cause the metal rails to contract, which pulls them apart at their connection. Chicago Transit Authority workers light the tracks ablaze to monitor the flames. This may sound crazy, but this simple act keeps the train system running throughout the winter months. On National Illinois Day, celebrate by visiting the Prairie State which has plenty to offer even when the weather outside is frightful.

On this day in 1941 more than 3,500 Americans lost their lives or were wounded when the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service attacked the Naval Station Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The ambush was designed to destroy our U.S. Pacific Fleet. Up until this time the United States had remained neutral but on November 8th President Roosevelt announced the beginning of our military involvement in World War II. Today, the USS Arizona lies beneath the surface of gentle waves. As a tribute to their lost comrades more than 44 survivors of the attack have chosen to have their ashes laid to rest on this sacred site. On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day we display our nation’s flag at half mast until sunset and remember the day that will live in infamy.

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 6, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate shortwave miracles and the spirit of old St. Nick.

In 1945, Percy Spencer, a self taught engineer from Howland, Maine was working on an active radar set when he noticed something strange. A chocolate bar in his pocket had started to melt. The idea for dielectric cooking with a shortwave transmitter had already been demonstrated by Westinghouse at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, but Spencer picked a winner when he tried his hand at cooking popcorn with this method. Raytheon filed a United States patent for Spencer’s microwave cooking process and by 1947 the first commercially available microwave oven was built. The British used this technology to reanimate cryogenically frozen hamsters, but on National Microwave Oven Day, we recommend celebrating with something delicious like popcorn.

Saint Nicholas, the real life inspiration for Santa Claus, was born around 280 AD in what is known today as Turkey. His parents died when Nicholas was very young, leaving him with a large inheritance, but out of tragedy his generous spirit was born. Nicholas used the money to help those less fortunate than himself. As an adult, he became a bishop and was known for his generosity and kindness, especially toward children and the poor, and even after he passed away, his legend grew. Children who left their shoes out by the fire would awake to find money or candy inside and this inspired the tradition of leaving out stockings for Santa. On St. Nicholas Day, start the fun early by surprising your family with a gift in their shoes. Just make sure it’s not something sharp or uncomfortable!

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 5, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate hidden warriors and the rebel spirit.

Anna: Whenever we see a ninja…

Marlo: Um…you don’t actually see ninjas unless they want to be seen. That’s kinda the point.

Anna: Okay. Well, when we envision what a ninja looks like, it’s typically a person dressed all in black, carrying a sword and throwing stars. But that’s not true. While they did carry those weapons, ninjas did not wear black. It turns out that the most effective color for a ninja to wear is actually navy blue. Because at night, black clothing will stand out more than blue. If you don’t believe us, just check with the Ninja Museum in Igaryu, Japan. Now have one more trip to add to your bucket list, Marlo. On International Ninja Day, celebrate the history of these silent warriors and hope that we don’t end up on their bad side. Because if we do, we’ll never see them coming.

The controversial 18th Amendment banning the production, transport and sale of alcohol sparked a revolution of speakeasy style. In the early 1800s, groups such as the Prohibition Party and the Anti Saloon League believed that drinking was the root of all evil. They pushed to eradicate it altogether and by 1919 the 18th Amendment was ratified. But this didn’t ban folks from drinking, and enforcing the law became expensive during the Roaring Twenties. The terms gangster and moonshine reached their peak. Though the experiment had good intentions, National Repeal Day has been celebrated since December 5th, 1933 when the 21st Amendment was ratified and Prohibition officially ended. Even Al Capone celebrated from his prison cell.

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 4, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate rolling out the fun in cookie dough and games of chance.

Cookies first appeared in Persia in the 7th century and made their way to Europe through Spain in the 14th century. They later traveled to the United States with Dutch settlers. In the Netherlands they were called koekies or little cakes. Apparently, cookies made good travel companions and a sturdy kind were called jumbles in the early days. Also known as biscuits throughout Europe, the treat became popular in the street markets all the way to the high courts. Today we celebrate National Cookie Day thanks to a Sesame Street Monster, who sums up their deliciousness with a universal phrase, "num, num, num, num, num." At least I think that's universal.

Dice have been around for thousands of years. A game of backgammon, discovered at an archeological site in Iran, is thought to be 5000 years old! But it was Sir William of Tyre who invented a dice game called “Hazard,” in the 12th Century AD. He named it after a castle he’d seen while serving in the Middle East during the Crusades. The game became extremely popular in 17th Century France. Because it required nothing other than dice, Hazard could be played just about anywhere—in taverns, on tables and even on the street. People would crouch down near the ground to play, so the French started calling it crapaud which means toad. This name was later shortened to the game we know today as craps. On National Dice Day roll out some fun of your own, with or without the gambling.

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 3, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate tie trivia and rolling out the holiday spirit.

Croatian soldiers who served in the French army during the reign of Louis XIV wore scarves called Cravats. The name is derived from the French word for “Croatian” and soon came to refer to any kind of a neckerchief worn by a man. After the Battle of Steenkerque in 1692, this sort of neckwear was called a steinkirk. As men’s clothing evolved in the 19th and 20th centuries, this fashion accessory became known as the necktie. The term cravat is still used. It refers to a scarf worn with a dress suit, which is folded in front with the ends tucked inside the coat. And if that snazzy tie you bought for Dad’s gift doesn’t wow him, you can always dazzle him with your tie trivia during National Tie Month.

Nothing puts the joy in your holiday season like baking homemade cookies. This is the week to roll out some dough and press it with your favorite cookie cutters. Even the ancient Egyptians liked forming sweet cakes in various shapes and folks in Greece, Rome and Western Europe followed suit. By the 1500s Germans made carved wooden cookie molds and gingerbread men, women and houses popped out by the dozens. American tinsmiths of the 1700s made the cookie cutters we still love today. People trimmed their trees with the elaborate creations but when we started adding vanilla and baking soda in the 1930s, cookies became irresistible. During National Cookie Cutter Week, roll out your own favorite tradition and watch the holiday cheer appear!

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 2, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate loveable mixes and deep fried comfort.

In the world of dogs, some come with pedigrees and champion bloodlines that win dog shows time and again, and others are...well, mutts. Unlike their purebred cousins, mutts are what Bob Ross would call “happy little accidents.” I have to give a shout out today to my adorable Cheezer. She was a mix of Chihuahua and miniature Schnauzer and if you’ve ever met a pure bred of either of those breeds you might be tempted to give them a wide berth on the dog path. But Blanca was the best of all worlds with her crazy dreadlock hair and a sweet personality. And that’s the very best thing about mutts; their personalities. On National Mutt Day, celebrate the uniquely weird dogs that make the most loveable pets.

Today we celebrate all things fried with National Fritters Day. Fritters are synonymous with comfort and come in three types: the basic dough kind, the battered meats and vegetables and the small cakes made from chopped food such as corn. Frying food in oil has been around for thousands of years and almost every culture has a tasty version.. The technique of batter frying, however, was introduced by the Spanish and Portuguese in the late 16th century. This culinary inspiration spread to Japan, where it became known as tempura. Today just about anything can be frittered from beignets to squash blossoms. And of course there’s always good ole’ apple. On National Fritters Day, celebrate your favorite comfort food, no matter what language you speak.

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 1, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a civil rights gamechanger and giving to our furry friends.

While some states honor the birthday of this civil right hero, others celebrate the day of her arrest. On December 1, 1955, after a long day of work, Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. She sat in the “colored section” but as the bus began to fill, the driver demanded that she give up her seat for other passengers. Rosa refused. She was arrested and was later found guilty of violating a city ordinance. What followed made civil rights history. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others had organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott for the day of Rosa’s trial. The boycott succeeded and lasted several months, devastating the transportation system in Montgomery. On Rosa Parks Day we honor the courage and heart of a woman that dared to change a nation.

While you may not have room to adopt a pet this season, you can still be a part of a holiday tradition that brings comfort and joy to millions of shelter animals through Operation Santa Paws. This month we celebrate the spirit of giving to our four legged friends to make their stay a little bit brighter until they find their forever home. The cause encourages you to donate blankets, food, toys and money that will make animals feel secure and cared for, which is an important part of keeping them adoptable. And if you’re ready for a new family member, they can help you find that perfect pet. Look for Operation Santa Paws at your local shelters between now and December 24th to bring the holiday spirit to our furry friends.

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

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Welcome to November 30, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate amazing flights and the spirit of giving.

Mississippi is best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley and The Blues. But it’s also known as the setting for one of the world’s greatest feats of aviation. In 1935, two brothers from Meridian, Mississippi—Al and Fred Key—took off in a single-engine plane from the local airport. They wanted to see how long they could stay in the air before having to land. Their aircraft, called the Ole Miss, circled the area and refueled from another plane via a special nozzle they had invented. When it was all said and done, the brothers had been flying for just over 27 days and had traveled 52,320 miles--which at the time was a world record. It’s National Mississippi Day, and we celebrate The Flying Keys and all of the fine folks in the Magnolia State.

If you’re already stressed out from a weekend of holiday shopping, today is the perfect time to hit pause. On the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, folks celebrate Giving Tuesday also known as the National Day of Giving. It doesn’t take a lot to lift someone’s spirits. Take the story of Matthew Flores. Matthew was a 12 year old boy who just wanted something to read. He could not even afford a bus pass to the library, let alone books of his own. Matthew asked his mail carrier, Ron Lynch, for any extra junk mail he could read and the postal worker put the story on FaceBook. 3,500 books later Matthew has his own personal library, which he now shares with those in need. On Giving Tuesday, celebrate your own good fortune by sharing it with those around you.

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

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Welcome to November 29, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate convenient ways to stay connected and shopping with ease.

When Neil Papworth sent the first ever text to his boss in 1992, he had no idea the impact it would have. The text was pretty simple—it said Merry Christmas—but this message changed the world. Texting has become a part of everyday life. In fact, it’s the most popular form of electronic communication in the world. Last year, 2 trillion texts were sent—and that’s only counting the United States. This form of communication makes it easy to keep in touch with friends and family, no matter where they live. And as we enter the holiday season, thank goodness for that. On Electronic Greetings Day, celebrate by reaching out to those you love.

Shopping from the convenience of your living room has never been easier as we celebrate the phenomenon known as Cyber Monday. What began as a marketing gimmick in 2005 was actually a clever trend prediction by Ellen Davis and Scott Silverman of The National Retail Federation. They noticed the spike in online sales after Black Friday and figured that folks were using the faster internet at work to round out their holiday shopping. A simple press release launched the phrase and the Monday after Thanksgiving became the biggest online shopping day of the year. In 2019 that translated into more than 9 billion dollars in sales. It’s also a win-win for shoppers who enjoy the ease of purchasing from their mobile devices. On Cyber Monday keep calm and shop on.

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

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