Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to November 18, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we remember a celebrity host and a mighty mouse.

Just over a year ago we lost one of our most beloved game show hosts: Alex Trebek. While he is best known for his 30 plus years hosting Jeopardy, this was not his first show. Canadian born Trebek began his American career with a show called the Wizard of Odds. Sadly, the odds were not in his favor when he began his battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Anyone facing the 8 percent survival rate knows, this disease is about time. That time is often measured in months and while the odds haven’t changed in more than 40 years, today there is a reason to celebrate. The folks at PancOne are dedicated to research that gives patients more time through something called personalized medicine.

Marlo: What is an organoid?

John: Yeah, what is an organoid?

Anna: Visit PancOne.org to find out more and do your part by donating to this groundbreaking research. On World Pancreatic Cancer Day we come together to find a cure. It’s about time!

Marlo: I miss Alex Trebek, I’ve already donated.

Anna: Me too. I miss Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

John: What’s that website again?

Anna: PancOne.org.

We give a shout out today to the world’s most popular cartoon character: Mickey Mouse. Here are a few facts about Walt Disney’s loveable rodent, that you might not have heard. His original name was Mortimer, but Disney’s wife made him change it. His first appearance was in the 1928 silent cartoon, Steamboat Willie. Mickey didn’t speak until the following year’s animated feature The Carnival Kid, in which he worked as a food vendor. His first words were “Hot dog! Hot dog!” He was the first animated character to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978. Today we celebrate the birthday of this little mouse who’s made a big impact.

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

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Not many foods can be both light and rich at the same time, but baklava holds that distinction. For those of you who’ve never tried baklava, you’re missing out—It’s sheets of phyllo dough layered with honey, sugar, cinnamon, and pistachios. Oh, and butter. Lots of butter. This heavenly dessert got its start way back in the Assyrian Empire around 8th Century BC, when it was made with unleavened bread instead of phyllo. The version we know was invented during the Ottoman Empire and made its way to Greece, the country it’s most associated with. It’s easy to see why this traditional sweet has become such a popular dish around the world. On National Baklava Day, give this old favorite a whirl.

Who doesn’t love the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked bread? Today we celebrate the tradition of making it at home. This day was established in the 1980s by the The Homemade Bread Committee from Ann Arbor, Michigan. The celebration is all about family and friends slowing down, exchanging recipes, and enjoying the process of baking bread together. Perhaps you’ve already learned how satisfying this tradition can be, and if not, it's time to find an expert and learn those well kept secrets that have been around since the dawn of time. One thing is for sure: National Homemade Bread Day will bring joy to any home willing to break bread 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 November 16, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the Hoosier State and food served lickity split.

Indiana is famous for many things: basketball, the Indy 500, and being the birthplace of the Jackson 5. But its lesser known claim to fame is an enormous supply of limestone. In fact Indiana is known as the limestone capital of the world. The Empire State Building was constructed using stone from Indiana. So was the Pentagon. And the United States Treasury. And Rockefeller Center. In fact, more than a dozen state capitol buildings wouldn’t exist without limestone mined by the good people of Indiana. It’s National Indiana Day and today we celebrate the Hoosier State and its hand in helping to literally lay the foundation for America.

Fast food has its origins in the State of Kansas. In 1921, E.W. Ingram opened a restaurant that you might have heard of...White Castle. They served the same small, square burgers as they do today. And the burgers were shaped that way so that more would fit on the grill. When White Castle opened, burgers were thought of as a food only slightly about table scraps for dogs. In order to dispel that notion, Ingram set up the kitchen so that people could see their food being prepared. His “take out” food diner began selling burgers by the sack, which is now a hallmark of fast food restaurants. On National Fast Food Day, indulge in some of your guilty pleasures, and enjoy the convenience of this “fast meal.”

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 15, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate traditional cakes and a legacy of generosity.

The inventor H. David Dalquist was the first to cast the aluminum pan known as the bundt. In 1950 he created the pan in his Minnesota based Nordic Ware company for a local women’s group who wanted to bake a traditional kugelhopf or ring-shaped cake. Naming the pan for the German word for bond, Dalquist added the ‘t’ to the end of “bund” and patented the pan in a stroke of foresight genius. At first the pan did not sell well, and Nordic Ware considered discontinuing it. Then in 1966 the pan was used to create the “Tunnel of Fudge” cake in a Pillsbury bake off that inspired bakers everywhere! Over 200,000 orders for the pan streamed in and over 60 million have been sold to date. On National Bundt Day celebrate the bond of baking with your own family!

Giving back to the community is important and no one did that quite like Andrew Carnegie. As a child, he and his family emigrated to the United States from Scotland and he got a job as a bobbin boy at a cotton mill. Decades later, he became a railroad and steel tycoon who had amassed one of the largest fortunes of all time. Adjusting for inflation, he was worth over $350 billion. Wanting to leave the world a better place, Andrew set up pensions for his employees, gave donations that built universities, museums, and nearly 3,000 public libraries. On National Philanthropy Day, we celebrate the successful men and women who make a difference by helping others.

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 14, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate all things sour and a day in your PJs.

One of the oldest methods of preserving food is pickling. This process involves placing vegetables or fruits in a sealed container with brine or vinegar. The fermentation that takes place changes the flavor and texture of the food, creating pickles, though technically only pickled cucumbers are referred to as “pickles.” Everything else has the word “pickled” before its name. So why do only cucumbers get this honor? Well, for starters, it’s one of the best parts of going to a deli. No corned beef or pastrami sandwich would be complete without one. On National Pickle Day, get your pucker on anyway you please.

Nothing makes us feel cozier than spending the day in our pajamas. That's why we love holidays that invite the whole family to enjoy this feeling together. But why wait for the hustle and bustle of the season when any day of the week will do. At least that's the rationale behind National Family PJ Day. A day spent in our jammies means we prioritize things like board games, brunch and extra time curled up together watching movies or reading books. This day is all the better because there are no expectations or traditions beyond hanging out together and keeping it casual. And if you're into matching jammies you might as well snap a few holiday photos so you can check that off your list. Hey, you just started a trend and you're barely out of bed!

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 13, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate changing the world with empathy and compassion.

The World Kindness Movement began in 1997 in Tokyo, Japan and today includes over 28 countries around the globe. Projects include photo contests that capture moments of goodwill and generosity along with those that mirror the sustainable development goals outlined by the United Nations. But you don’t have to be a formal member to inspire those around you. There are far reaching consequences to simple acts of kindness that you can initiate in your everyday life. In this season of giving you can donate far more than material gifts. On World Kindness Day celebrate making a difference where you stand with acts of courage, positivity and compassion.

Every year, children fill mail boxes with hundreds of thousands of letters addressed to Santa. Since Santa is pretty busy getting things ready for Christmas Eve, the United States Postal Service created a way to send responses to these kids: Operation Santa. While most letters ask for gifts, some ask for help for the kids or their families. Operation Santa passes these letters along to charities and organizations that send gifts in Santa's place. During Dear Santa Letter Week, spend time helping your kids write their own wish lists. And if you're able to help your local charities, rest assured that the folks at Operation Santa will be helping to make a child's wishes come true.

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Welcome to November 12, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the kitchen sink of pizzas and a good old American throw down.

Sharks, halibut, yellowtail. They’re not like us. But not for the obvious reason. These creatures actually like anchovies. In fact, anchovies are an important part of the diet for most fish. But putting them on a pizza…well, that’s a different thing altogether. Anchovies are not eaten fresh. Rather, they’re salted in brine and then eaten. By some people anyway. According to surveys, anchovies are the least popular pizza topping—even more disliked than broccoli or pineapple. It’s National Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day, so when you order pizza, chances are good that the pizzeria won’t even have the option of adding these salty little fish. And thank goodness. How do you guys weigh in on anchovies?

The French Dip sandwich is not actually French but its origins represent a good old American throw down. Two Los Angeles restaurants take the credit for inventing the sandwich, Coles and Philippe's. Both feature thinly sliced beef on crusty French bread that is slathered with spicy mustard and dipped in au jus sauce. And that's where the stories become different. Coles claims that its French Dip appeared in 1908, when a sympathetic chef gave his customer with sore gums a side of meat juice to soften the bread of his sandwich. The much more palatable story comes from Philippe's, where the sandwich was accidentally dropped in a pan with meat drippings. The lucky customer raved of its intense flavor, and a new favorite was born. On National French Dip Day, celebrate with your own mouth watering version of this American classic.

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 11, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate ice cream bliss and our enduring love for Veterans.

From the late 1800s on, states passed what were known as Blue Laws. They were intended to prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sunday. But the laws also prevented the sale of soda, which could be used as a mixer. That meant that drug stores couldn’t sell ice cream sodas. In order to keep sales up, a pharmacy in Illinois created the ice cream sundae. The origin of the name for the frozen dessert seems pretty straight forward—it was served on Sunday, so it should be called a sundae. But there’s also a story that someone with the last name Sontagg, which is German for “Sunday” invented it. Whatever the origin, let’s all thank our lucky stars that someone did it and enjoy some ice cream today on National Sundae Day.

Veterans Day always falls on November 11th to coincide with the ending of World War I. It was originally known as Armistice Day for the treaty that was signed on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour. It has also been approved to be a day dedicated to the cause of world peace. While Memorial Day commemorates all those who lost their lives in service to their country and Armed Forces Day honors those in active duty, Veterans Day encompasses all United States military veterans. It does not change according to where it falls on the day of the week. Veterans Day is a reminder of our admiration for those willing to pay the ultimate price in protection of our freedoms.

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 10, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a sacred fruit and a tradition of loyalty.

Pomegranates have been a favorite of fruit lovers for a very long time. A big favorite. In Ancient Egypt, there are wall paintings depicting the fruit and King Tut was even buried with some so that he could enjoy pomegranates in the afterworld. This delicious fruit was a part of both Greek and Roman mythology and is even mentioned in the Torah. Buddhism considers the pomegranate a sacred fruit. It appears in the paintings of Botticelli and Raphael. So what’s all the fuss about? If you’re asking, then you’ve never had a taste. November is National Pomegranate Month, so get your hands on one of these heavenly fruits and enjoy!

After a few defeats at the hands of British forces, George Washington had requested troops that could fight on both land and sea. On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution to create two Battalions of Marines to serve with the Continental Army and these men changed the course of the Revolutionary War. Their first major test came when they landed on hostile shores in the Bahamas and captured New Providence Island. As a result, Captain Samuel Nicholas became the first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines and is celebrated as the Marine’s first commandant. On the Marine Corps Birthday we celebrate those who are always loyal to each other, their country and their traditions.

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 9, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate spooky adventures in the swamp and in the kitchen.

If you visit Louisiana and you’re the adventurous type, you may want to take a trip to Manchac Swamp. Located about 30 minutes from New Orleans, the swamp is a beautiful but sometimes frightening area. And we aren’t talking about the gators. It’s rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Marie Brown. Brown once lived in a nearby town and was a voodoo priestess. But no one paid much attention to her and she felt ignored. Rumor has it that she sat on her porch singing “One day I’m going to die and take the whole town with me.” Then a hurricane hit in 1915, and she disappeared…along with much of the town. It’s National Louisiana Day and there’s plenty to explore in the Pelican State other than New Orleans. Which is still awesome, by the way.

If you’re not from Philadelphia, you’ve likely never heard of Scrapple. This regional favorite was brought to Philly by German immigrants where it was popular with rural communities. Farmers butchered their hogs, and used most of the meat for sausages or bacon, but all of the remaining parts were made into scrapple. The traditional version was made only with meat, but American immigrants combined it with cornmeal or buckwheat, and formed it into a loaf. The loaf is sliced and fried, and typically served as a breakfast side dish. Today the recipe may also include beef, chicken or turkey. You might see it topped with applesauce, ketchup, maple syrup or horseradish, though not all at the same time. On National Scrapple Day, celebrate by trying something different. Go on, I dare you!

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

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