Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to September 7th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate learning how the sausage is made and a top down love for beer.

While American cuisine boasts an array of international flavors, today we celebrate an Italian favorite. The Latin word “salumen” means a mixture of salted meats. Salami is a generic term used to describe any encased meat product, but in Italy this typically means pork. In the same way that cheeses are named for the place in which they’re made, salami is more specifically identified by its native region. This could be Salami di Felino from Parma or Soppressata from Calabria. The sausages vary by spice and curing process, but most are tied and aged in cool dark cellars for days or months. On National Salami Day, try something truly special as you find out how the sausage is made.

Americans have loved beer from the beginning. George Washington was a huge fan of porters. Thomas Jefferson kept his home well stocked with beer. James Madison wanted to establish a national brewery and appoint a Secretary of Beer. Sadly, that idea did not come to fruition. Franklin Roosevelt continued this presidential tradition. When he came into office, FDR promised to have Prohibition repealed. And before the ban was lifted on any other alcohol, Roosevelt signed an executive order to legalize the sale of—you guessed it—beer. During National Beer Lover’s Day, crack open a cold one and enjoy the drink that’s a favorite of world leaders and regular Joes alike.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to September 6th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate taking a virtual trip and a job well done.

One of the easiest ways to travel the world is to crack open a good book. Take a trip to Middle Earth, fight dragons and save the world from impending doom. Or hop a train at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters to enroll in a school for witches and wizards. And if romance is more your thing, get swept off your feet to the moors of Northern England. Books can take you anywhere and everywhere through the power of your imagination. And reading to your kids is a great way to introduce them to a life-long love of literature. On National Read A Book Day, celebrate by curling up for an hour or two with the perfect way to get away from it all.

Since 1882 we have honored the folks who labored to build the backbone of our country. These roads, buildings and infrastructure have supported us ever since our nation began. And while Americans are generally considered to be hard working, this day is all about relaxing with family and friends as we recognize the official end of Summer. If you’re headed back to school, you still have time for one more adventure. Why not take a road trip to admire some of that original handiwork? The monuments and highways that were proudly built by our ancestors still hold breathtaking views. Whatever you get up to on Labor Day, remember the tradition of patting yourself on the back for a job well done while you kick back with those you love.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to September 5th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate small miracles and the simply sublime.

Bees work very hard to make honey. In fact, a hive can produce up to 100 pounds of the sweet stuff each year. To put that in perspective, it takes approximately 768 bees who fly over 55,000 miles to visit 2 million flowers just to make a single pound of honey. And thank goodness that they do because not only does honey power the hive, it has tremendous health benefits for humans as well. For thousands of years honey has been used for food as well as medicine because of its antibacterial qualities. And because of its high acidity and low moisture content, it can last a long time. A really long time. If honey is sealed in an airtight container, it has an infinite shelf life. During National Honey Month, celebrate the golden goodness of this small miracle.

Whoever said, “Love is all you need” forgot about cheese, and if we are talking about pizza then cheese is definitely all you need. Dating back to ancient Greece, the simple flatbread known as pita was topped with olive oil, herbs and cheese, and it’s here that our love affair with pizza was born. Fast forward to Naples, Italy, in 1889 when a pizza with the colors of the Italian flag was made for the Queen. This Neapolitan style with cheese, sauce and a little basil was given the name Margherita in her honor. Today more than 2 billion pounds of pizza cheese are produced in the United States alone. That’s a lot of amore! On National Cheese Pizza Day, skip all those extra toppings and celebrate the good stuff!

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to September 4th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the call of the wild and one kid who changed the newspaper industry.

Did you know that tiger stripes are as unique as human fingerprints? Or that otters hold hands while they sleep to keep from drifting apart in the water? The natural world is a curious place, full of fascinating animals that most of us will never see in person, unless you live close to a zoo. But thanks to filmmakers such as Sir David Attenborough, we can watch the beauty of the animal kingdom from a front row seat in our living room. His amazing documentaries capture our imagination and plant wonder and compassion in our hearts for the natural world. They also answer questions like, “Which animal is more deadly, the crocodile or the hippo?” It’s the hippo of course. On National Wildlife Day, celebrate the call of the wild by taking a virtual safari.

When a young boy answered an ad in the New York Sun, looking for “steady men” to sell newspapers, little did he know that he would change history. On this day in 1933, 10 year old Barney Flaherty answered the call as a “steady man.” His attitude was so sincere that the newspaper’s publisher hired him on the spot. From then on, the infamous shout of: “Get your papers here!” was heard on street corners around the city. In 1960, The Newspaper Carrier Hall of Fame was created. It honors some of the more illustrious newspaper carriers including Martin Luther King, Jr., Warren Buffet and John Wayne. On National Newspaper Carrier Day give an extra shout out to the folks who carry on this tradition and an extra tip for great service.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to September 3rd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate poor man’s rabbit and team spirit.

We all know that nicknames have a way of sticking with us. Take the name “Welsh Rarebit” for example. This basic dish of toasted bread with cheese sauce contains no actual rabbit and was originally called caws pobi in 16th Century Wales. The countrymen loved it so much that a joke sprang up at the time. It was said that God asked St. Peter to get rid of the Welsh from heaven as they were causing too much trouble. St. Peter stepped outside and yelled “caws pobi!” and the Welshmen all came out at once. The English dubbed this dish Welsh Rarebit towards the end of the 18th century as a nod to “poor man’s rabbit.” On National Welsh Rarebit Day try a bite of something classically delicious and raise a pint to the Welsh who don’t mind a bit of ribbing.

Fall is back and with it comes college football. The season can lead to heated arguments as friends and families cheer on their favorite teams. This fierce team loyalty even extends to the US Armed Forces. Army and Navy are usually on the same side. Except for once a year when the Army-Navy matchup takes place—possibly the fiercest rivalry in college sports. These teams have gone head to head 121 times, with the Navy winning 61 of them. Even sitting Presidents have attended the games between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen, and the stands are usually full of either black, gold and gray or navy blue and gold. On National College Colors Day, celebrate your team spirit with the colors of your choice.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to September 2nd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate topping things off and the heart strings that tie us all together.

The image of the bowler derby immediately calls to mind British gentlemen walking around London with an umbrella at their side. But this chapeau was conceived for the countryside. Edward Cook, a British politician, wanted a hat that was well suited for hunting. The traditional hats at the time were tall and would be knocked off when walking or riding through trees. Cook wanted something that fit closer to the head and the hat makers at James Lock & Co created the perfect cap—the bowler. So why is it called a bowler? Because London hat-makers Thomas and William Bowler got the credit for inventing it…even though it was Lock & Co. During Fall Hat Month, celebrate by dusting off your favorite chapeau, no matter how fancy or casual it may be.

When we think of our great Nation, the threads that tie us all together could be called Americana. Since the word was coined in 1841 it’s been used to describe anything in our culture, from folk music to food and events that strikes a chord in the hearts of people coast to coast. This word means home and that place might look different for everyone who embraces the word. What matters most is the history that keeps our roots connected. This pride of ownership in our country can hopefully soothe the gaps between us, while letting us celebrate the things that make us beautiful. September is National Americana Month and while we rediscover our own meaningful songs, stories and food, may we find respect among our nation’s most cherished traditions.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to September 1st, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate burnt ends and new beginnings.

While fans of barbecue have their personal favorite when it comes to style, Kansas City has one of the most distinctive takes on barbecue. Yes, there are ribs and pulled pork, but Kansas City is known for its burnt ends. This favorite is a cut from the tip of a smoked brisket. The outside is charred from the heat, but the inside is where the drippings collect, making for a flavorful bite-sized piece of BBQ heaven. For years, it was thrown away or tossed into stew, but now it’s a prized cut of meat. You can get all heated up over who has the best sauce, but no one can deny these tidbits are delicious. On National Burnt Ends Day, celebrate the perfect bite you can really sink your teeth into.

During its heyday, Route 66 offered beautiful scenery and lots of fun places to stop along the way. Chicken Boy was one of the most famous of these roadside attractions. The fried chicken restaurant boasted a giant statue of a man with a chicken’s head that welcomed visitors to the city of Los Angeles. But when a new highway system made Route 66 obsolete, many of the stops went out of business. This included the Chicken Boy, who was headed for the trash heap in 1984, when a local artist rescued him. Now installed on a rooftop, this icon is known as the Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles. On National Chicken Boy Day, celebrate this blast from the past with some wings or fried chicken and maybe a trip down Route 66.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to August 31st, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate cupid’s little helpers and snacks that go the distance.

Before online dating sites, the art of matchmaking was devised by a few brave souls who were willing to fire cupid’s arrows. The comic and tragic results of the professional matchmaker are portrayed by Will Smith in the movie Hitch, though occasionally, things work out smoothly. When Kat McClain got fed up with cupid’s algorithms, she turned to a professional matchmaking service to try things the old fashioned way. They matched her with Kevin Biely and the two agreed to record their first date. The difference was striking, as Kevin later revealed. He believes that it worked out so well because a lot of the criteria he had in his head were not actually consistent with what he really wanted. As for her response: a year later she said yes! On National Matchmaker Day, we celebrate the chemistry that can’t be found by a computer.

When you’re craving an outdoor adventure, you want to pack light. Trail mix is the perfect snack that fuels you up without weighing you down. This convenient snack has been used for thousands of years with a variety of ingredients. Native Americans added dried buffalo to the fruit and nut mixture. Trail guide Horace Kephart was the first to add chocolate to the mix in 1910. In Australia and New Zealand they call trail mix scroggin and add orange peel and grains. The term GORP stands for good ole raisins and peanuts, which was a recipe made up by two surfer dudes. In the spirit of keeping it simple, celebrate National Trail Mix Day with any combination that keeps you going for the long haul.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to August 30th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate finding our happy place and dessert on a stick.

Someone once said, “Happiness is a day at the beach.” That pretty much sums it up! The beach can be the very best place to get away from it all, with the smell of the salty air, the sand crunching between your toes and the sound of waves crashing into the shore. Just thinking about it makes you want to hop in the car and drive to the ocean. And if you want to avoid the crowds, taking a walk at sunset can be one of the most relaxing things you’ll ever do. Be sure to do your part and leave this paradise better than you found it. On National Beach Day, there is no better way to celebrate than by following the advice of Ralph Waldo Emerson: live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.

There is something truly magical about toasting marshmallows. When the fire dies down and you’ve had your fill of s’mores, there’s always room for another toasted marshmallow. In fact not everyone around the world enjoys making s’mores, but toasting perfect marshmallows seems to intrigue us universally. As far back as ancient Egypt, the sap from the mallow plant has been used for this confection. But it wasn’t until the late 1940s that marshmallows got their modern shape. And thanks to the extrusion process, those perfect puffy cylinders toast up evenly on a stick. On National Toasted Marshmallow Day enjoy the sticky dessert that makes camping life sweeter.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to August 29th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate odds and ends and all the ways we love lemon.

Alan Davidson calls the origin of chop suey a prime example of culinary mythology. It is believed that the name means “assorted pieces” and this name fits the hodge podge of myths surrounding its creation. Though the Chinese don’t claim the dish, they are usually at the heart of its stories, which go back as far as the 1860s. A Chinese chef in San Francisco was reportedly called upon to serve something to drunken miners after hours. He had nothing fresh to offer, so he combined leftovers and served a makeshift meal. It went over so well that the customers demanded a name for this dish and he supposedly replied, “chop suey,” which means odds and ends. On National Chop Suey Day, celebrate the delicious combination of flavors that piece together our love of Chinese cuisine.

The sunny yellow citrus fruit that brightens our ice tea and drinks turns out to be mighty useful around the house. Did you know that lemon juice freshens your garbage disposal and takes the stains out of your sink? Of course we know that it prevents apples from browning, but did you know it works on veggies too? Try the same trick on cauliflower or give wilted lettuce a lift by soaking it in water with the juice of a lemon. It can also brighten hair and fingernails and can be used in place of deodorant. Of course it still tastes great in lemonade, which is probably the best use of all. On National Lemon Juice Day, celebrate the multipurpose wonder of this mighty little fruit.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices