Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to August 8th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate an overzealous fruit and well traveled bill.

Backyard vegetable gardens can be difficult to maintain. Carrots, tomatoes, beans…you never know what kind of harvest will come from weeks and months of care and cultivation. One summertime vegetable that’s easy—almost too easy—is the zucchini. This squash seems to grow no matter what the weather or quality of your soil. In fact, one plant can yield up to 10 pounds of fruit, leaving gardeners with more zucchini than is humanly possible to consume. And yes, it’s technically a fruit. If you’re overwhelmed by your zucchini harvest, enjoy National Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor’s Porch Day and hope that they’re not celebrating too.

Here in the United States, it’s estimated that one dollar bills exchange hands at least 110 times a year. And because they’re passed around so frequently, they have a shorter lifespan than our larger currency. A one dollar bill lasts only about 6 years, whereas a one hundred dollar bill can last up to 15 years. Most paper would tear or fade from all that use, but here in the United States we have a solution. Our notes are made from an exclusive blend of cotton and linen, which is a closely guarded secret. Due to counterfeiting, the design of larger bills has changed over the years. But the dollar has remained the same for more than fifty years. It may not get much attention but on National Dollar Day we celebrate the bill that has probably already out traveled 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 August 7th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate an age-old condiment and the oldest military honor.

On this day we celebrate one of the oldest condiments in the history of the world. No, it’s not that long-forgotten bottle of ketchup in the back of your fridge. It’s mustard. The ancient Romans ground mustard seeds into a powder which they combined with vinegar to make a paste. They discovered that this flavor combo was delicious on all sorts of foods. As the Roman Empire spread across Europe, so did the love of this condiment. Households during the Middle Ages used a lot of mustard, as did 17th century England, where the modern version was created. And that’s how mustard made its way from ancient Rome to the top of that hotdog you’re about to eat. On National Mustard Day enjoy a classic flavor that never goes out of style.

Purple Heart Day honors the extraordinary men and women who are of the Military Order of The Purple Heart. George Washington first created the Badge of Merit in 1782, which was awarded to six veterans of the Revolutionary War. The modern day Purple Heart, which bears Washington’s image, was given to General Douglas MacArthur in 1944. MacArthur helped to change the requirements that limit the award to only those wounded or killed in combat. Today it is estimated that the oldest military honor has been bestowed on nearly 1.9 million people since it was created. On Purple Heart Day we thank all those who have dedicated their lives in service to our country.

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

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Welcome to August 6th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the beer melting pot and frosty dreams.

When German immigrants arrived in the United States, they introduced America to lager beers, a traditional German style. So it’s ironic that lagers became popular during World War II at a time when our country hated everything German. American soldiers serving in Europe discovered the brew and loved it. Lagers had lower alcohol content than ales and came in cans, for easy transport. When the soldiers returned home, they brought their taste for the beer, as well as the tradition of drinking it from cans—something that was once frowned upon. On International Beer Day we celebrate our heritage as a cultural melting pot and the small things that never fail to bring us together!

Staying frosty during the Summer heat is a challenge. Especially when it tends to stay hot well into the evening. It was on such a night, in 1893, that Frank Wisner found himself gazing at the snow capped peaks of Cow Mountain in Colorado. He noticed that they looked just like ice cream floating in soda. The vision turned to inspiration and the next day he scooped creamy vanilla into ice cold root beer. This first creation was dubbed the Black Cow after the mountain peaks, but we know them today as a root beer float. For that we can thank Wisner’s kids whose favorite drink was Myers Avenue Red Root Beer. Any other flavor combo wouldn’t be the same. On National Root Beer Float Day celebrate the soda fountain classic inspired by nature.

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

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Welcome to August 5th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate dogs and beers that go the distance.

Before snowmobiles and airplanes, the best way to get around in snow country was via dog sled. This method of transportation is rare today, but once a year in Alaska, racers and their teams of dogs keep the tradition alive with a race called the Iditarod. Sleds travel from Anchorage to Nome, a journey of nearly 1,000 miles! It takes the team of 16 dogs at least a week to complete this distance. This not only commemorates the role that dogs played in the settlement of Alaska, it defines the saying “work like a dog.” On National Work Like a Dog Day, you may wanna let your pooch curl up on the couch while you do the heavy lifting.

In the late 1700s, the British Empire spanned the globe, and one of its largest colonies was India. The Brits living there demanded goods from back home which created a significant trade route between the two countries. One of the most popular imports was beer, which didn’t age well when it was shipped to warmer climates. George Hodgson of the Bow Brewery came up with a solution. He brewed a lighter beer, called pale ale, then increased the amount of alcohol and hops in order to prevent spoilage. The downside was that the hops would lose their fruity flavor and produce a bitter taste. And so India Pale Ale was born. Some say this drink is an acquired taste, but on National IPA Day we celebrate beer that really went the distance.

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

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Welcome to August 4th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a portable meal and one smart cookie.

John Montagu was obsessed with gambling. So much so that he played cards for hours on end, even forgetting at times to eat. Then one day, he devised a meal that could be eaten with one hand. He requested that a servant bring him some meat between two pieces of bread, and thus the Earl of Sandwich created the, well, the sandwich. Since then, this portable meal has become one of the most popular finger foods in the world. And with so many good choices, from a multilayered club to the humble peanut butter and jelly, we decided that you need a whole month to celebrate. During National Sandwich Month, enjoy packing your fun on the go. Though you may not be as obsessed as the Earl who started it all.

Ruth Wakefield and her husband Kenneth ran the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts. Ruth was a renowned baker, but is best known for adding semisweet chocolate to her butterscotch cookie dough. This recipe became a regional favorite, but during World War II it caused a cookie craze. Soldiers from Massachusetts that were stationed overseas began to receive chocolate chip cookies in care packages from home. Soon Wakefield was inundated with requests for her recipe from all around the globe. Nestle offered her a lifetime supply of chocolate in exchange for it, and to this day the Toll House recipe is printed on every bag of chocolate chips. On National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day celebrate the sweet success of one smart cookie.

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

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Welcome to August 3rd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate Summertime favorites and protein on the go.

Summer wouldn’t be the same without a slice of juicy watermelon. Most of us look forward to the season when the round or oval melons can be seen stacked one on top of one another. Unless you’re in Japan. There, the watermelons are square. It’s not some weird mutation—the fruit is intentionally grown this way. When the melons are still small, they are put into square boxes made of tempered glass. As they grow, the fruit takes on the shape of the box. This makes for easier storage and display in grocery stores. But no matter how you stack it, National Watermelon Day is the perfect time to enjoy this refreshing treat.

Nuts have been a healthy snack for thousands of years. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon featured pistachio trees. And the Ancient Greeks believed that hazelnuts could cure baldness. But here in America, the most popular nut is actually a legume. And thanks to the cartoon version known as Mr. Peanut, this snack has enjoyed one of the best ad campaigns of all time. In 1916 young Antonio Gentille submitted his drawing of the character for a contest run by Planters. The company paid him five dollars for his design, but later paid his college tuition, after realizing the value of this icon. Mr. Peanut still appears in Super Bowl ads and on National Grab Some Nuts Day we celebrate this healthy way to get some protein on the go.

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

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Welcome to August 2nd, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate two old school ways to treat the kid in all of us.

Any kid who’s spent a rainy afternoon cooped up in the house with a coloring book owes a debt of gratitude to Kate Greenaway. The Victorian-era artist became famous for her work with popular children’s authors of the day. Her whimsical illustrations of Victorian life, famous nursery rhymes, and fairy tales made her a favorite of both kids and parents. In the late 1800s, she teamed up with the McLoughlin Brothers to put together a book of black and white drawings that would later be known as coloring books. They were initially meant to be used with watercolor paint, but coloring books really took off when paired with their best friend—the crayon. On National Coloring Book Day, celebrate the kid in all of us with the best way to brighten up any day.

If you are a fan of the ice cream sandwich, you can thank a pushcart salesman, who invented the treat in 1899. Though his name remains a mystery, it’s believed that this inventor peddled his creation for one penny, in the Bowery neighborhood of New York City. Carts soon popped up everywhere and by 1940, ice cream sandwiches were sold in grocery stores nationwide. Today it is estimated that around 48 sandwiches are consumed every second in the United States alone, and around 50 percent of them are consumed on the Eastern Seaboard. On National Ice Cream Sandwich Day celebrate this classic treat that never goes out of style.

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

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Welcome to August 1st, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we remember that there’s no time like the present to celebrate our friends.

When Harry Houdini met Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, each man was at the height of their careers. One was the world’s most famous magician and the other the creator of the wildly popular Sherlock Holmes. They immediately took to one another and became good friends. Doyle and Houdini would write back and forth often, and their families even went on vacation together. However, the two began arguing over something trivial—ghosts and the supernatural—and had a falling out. When Houdini died, Doyle realized how much he missed his friend and greatly regretted their estrangement. On National Friendship Day, take time to let the people in your life know how much they mean to you and look past all the ghosts in your closet.

While these two redheads were both comedians, their age gap of 22 years made them an unlikely pair. But when Lucille Ball first saw Carol Burnett in an off-Broadway production of Once Upon A Mattress, she had to go backstage and pay her respects to this funny gal. On their very first meeting Lucy told Carol, “Kid, if you need me for anything, give me a call.” And Carol took her up on it when she invited Lucy to be on her show. CBS had given Carol a break by inviting her to do an hour long special, but only if she could land a big name star. Lucy said “yes” and it more than launched Carol’s career, the two became lifelong friends. On National Girlfriends Day celebrate the bffs who have always got your back.

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

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Welcome to July 31st, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the extraordinary deeds of an ordinary breed and a mighty fruit.

Nobody’s really sure how Owney, a scruffy little dog, came to be at a post office in Albany, NY. But one day he just started showing up and became a part of the team. People speculate that Owney was attracted to the smell of the leather mail bags, which he would follow around, including onto trucks and trains! Soon he was escorting mail carriers all around the state and the country. At each new location, the workers would add a tag to his collar, marking his travels. Owney collected so many tags that the Postmaster General ordered him a custom harness to wear instead of the collar. He became so important to the US Postal Service that the little mutt was given his own special memorial in the Smithsonian Institution. On National Mutt Day, celebrate the ordinary breads that find a special place in our hearts.

While the Aztecs knew the power of the mighty green avocado, it took a modern company to put this fruit on the map. Model Meals founded National Avocado Day in 2017 and since then we have discovered lots of reasons to celebrate. For one, avocados target insulin resistance with heart healthy fats. They also fight Alzheimer's with their Omega 3 fatty acids. Another avocado superpower is preventing and repairing damage with its source of Vitamins C, E and K. Best of all avocados taste great in guacamole, sliced over a salad and topping off a burger or chicken sandwich. And if you’re not a huge fan, you can still celebrate National Avocado Day by slipping some into a smoothie.

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

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Welcome to July 30th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate healthy cheesecake and getting gnarly.

Family recipes often get passed down through several generations before anyone thinks to write them down. According to historical records, the Ancient Greeks invented cheesecake over 4,000 years ago. It was considered a healthy food that was a good source of energy. So much so that Olympic athletes would eat it before competitions. Cheesecake was even served as a wedding cake. But no one thought to write out the recipe until the Greek author Atheneaus did so in the year 230 CE. Though it’s not the same style of cake we know today, you can still find it online and give it a try. On National Cheesecake Day, celebrate with your own family recipe and don’t forget to share!

If you’ve been craving some adventure in your life then National Get Gnarly Day is your day to break free. The way surfers chase after perfect waves, getting gnarly is all about doing something over the top that sets your heart on fire. If you need some inspiration, look no further than Hulda Crooks. Born in 1896, Hulda decided to take up mountain climbing at age 54. She was already an avid runner, but never considered hiking or climbing, until her husband passed away and her own struggle with pneumonia left her feeling weak. That didn’t keep her from scaling Mount Whitney at age 66. Another 23 ascents gave her the title of Grandma Whitney. Then at age 91, Hulda climbed Mount Fuji in Japan! On National Get Gnarly Day, get out of your head and get into your heart!

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

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