Celebrate Every Day

This Wascally Wabbit Has His Own Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame!

Welcome to April 30, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate rare hares and crazy trees. 

What’s up, Doc?  Today we celebrate one of the most famous cartoon characters - that wascally wabbit otherwise known as Bugs Bunny.  Since his debut in the 1940’s cartoon “A Wild Hare,” Bugs has appeared in more films than any other animated character and even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Everyone knows and loves this wise-guy rabbit with the Brooklyn accent, except of course for Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd.  These guys are off plotting revenge for being the butt of all his jokes. Or maybe they’re just jealous that they don’t have their own National Days. Cue up some Looney Tunes and grab some carrots with a side of sarcasm.  It’s National Bugs Bunny Day!

The way that animals and plants adapt to their environments is truly amazing. One of the strangest cases is the Monkey Puzzle Tree from Chile, which has been around for about 200 million years. The thing that’s helped it last so long is its unique adaptation. Because it grew near volcanoes, the Monkey Puzzle Tree developed fire-resistant bark. The name comes from the fact that its branches are very spiky and would cause monkeys to pause before climbing one. Although individual trees can live up to 700 years, the species ended up on the endangered list due to logging and mining throughout the Andes Mountains. On National Arbor Day, take notice of the trees around you…no matter how unique or ordinary they may be. 

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

You've Probably Heard Of BB King, But Do You Know About The Love Of His Life, Lucille?

Welcome to April 29, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate blazing hot guitars and handy notions. 

If you’re a fan of Blues music then you certainly know about BB King. And you may have even heard of his true love: Lucille. But she wasn’t a wife or a girlfriend. Lucille was his trademark black Gibson guitar. So what’s the story behind the name? In 1949, a fire broke out at the Arkansas club where King was playing. Two men had been fighting and knocked over a kerosene heater, setting the club ablaze. After getting to safety, BB realized he’d left his guitar inside and ran back to get it. He found out later that the men had been fighting over a woman named Lucille and he bestowed his guitar with the name. April is International Guitar Month, so maybe it’s time to name your favorite instrument. It’s also a good time to spin some groovy tunes. 

When you take a look at your pants, you may overlook an invention that took several years to perfect.   The first attempt at making a zipper came from the inventor of the sewing machine, Elias Howe. In 1851, he received a patent for the Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure. However, Elias never marketed his invention, so he missed out on receiving recognition. But in 1906, the Universal Fastener Company hired Gideon Sundback, a Swedish American electrical engineer. He was highly skilled and known for his devotion to the company. On April 29, 1913, he was granted a patent for the modern zipper, which he called the Separable Fastener. Today we celebrate National Zipper Day for this handy notion that zips up everything from pants to purses. 

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

Did You Know That Jeans Were Named For The Place In Italy Where They Were First Invented?

Welcome to April 28, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate brave hearts and tough pants. 

Sometimes superheroes come in small packages.  Take the app called Spotlight Hope.  This app was founded by the organization BraveHearts for Kids to help families who are facing pediatric cancer find the resources they need during their toughest challenges.  Find the app on Google play or the Apple Store for an easy download that’s also free.  

BraveHearts for Kids is an organization that helps save the lives of children. It provides information, hope, guidance, and resources to families dealing with a childhood cancer crisis. They offer their services at no cost, and additionally, 100% of individual contributions go to the programs that support kids. This includes emergency fundraising and 1-on-1 mentoring. They match families with a mentor who has experienced a similar diagnosis and crisis with a child of their own.  On National BraveHearts Day we remind you to show your support anyway you can and know that doing good anywhere does good everywhere.

Denim has been around for centuries. The word “jeans” is derived from the name of the place where they were first produced: Genoa, Italy. But what we know today as jeans were born during the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss wanted to create sturdy trousers that could withstand harsh treatment from men working in the mining industry. Because of this, denim was associated with factory workers and laborers for years…until Hollywood helped to make them mainstream. First, Western movies showed cowboys wearing them. Then James Dean wore them in Rebel Without a Cause and suddenly jeans were super cool. And they still are today. On Denim Day celebrate your rugged spirit and a great American fashion statement. 

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

You May Have Heard Of The Sultan Of Swat, But Did You Know He Inspired The Word "Ruthian?"

Welcome to April 27, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate amazing stories and the Sultan of Swat. 

Tomorrow is National BraveHearts Day.  John: Aye, “Every man dies, not every man really lives!” No John we’re not talking about the movie, this is the organization that helps kids with cancer and their families to find the best resources in their time of need.  Visit braveheartsforkids.org to find out how you can help.

It’s been said that we all have a story to tell. But none has ever been told in quite the way of Jean-Dominique Bauby. Jean-Do, as he was known, was a famous French writer and editor. In 1995, he suffered a stroke that left him awake but unable to move, a condition known as locked-in syndrome. The only part of his body he could control was his left eye. Somehow, simply by blinking, he was able to dictate an entire story by pointing out letters. This took approximately 200,000 blinks and gave us the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, in which he talks about his life and the condition that left him in this state. On National Tell a Story Day, let your own story take flight.  You never know who you may inspire!

The word "ruthian" is used to describe a sports feat that is so incredible, it almost seems impossible.  The word is a tribute to the legendary Babe Ruth, who set the bar so high that everyone who came after is compared to him.  In 1920, when he joined the New York Yankees, the record for home runs in a season was 27.  That season he hit 54.  Over the next 14 years, he led the league in home runs 12 times.  And because of his all or nothing style, he also led the league in strikeouts 5 times as well.  The Sultan of Swat was honored on April 27, 1947 before a crowd of 60,000 with his very own National Day. He spoke briefly to the crowd, though he was already battling cancer.  On National Babe Ruth Day, we celebrate a true American icon, who taught us to go big or go home. 

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

This 550 Million Dollar Industry Started As A Little Reward For Kids Who Learned Their Prayers!

Welcome to April 26, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate big shakes up and little rewards. 

The West Coast of the United States is a beautiful place that has seen its fair share of earthquakes. In fact, the earthquake that rocked San Francisco in 1906 is one of the biggest on record. The state’s frequent seismic activity inspired Charles Richter to develop a way to measure them. This formula, which we know as the Richter Scale, records the magnitude of earthquakes and earth tremors. It’s roughly based on a factor of 10. In other words, a Category 4 earthquake isn’t a small increase from Category 3, it’s ten times the size. Thanks to his work, scientists are able to categorize and study the phenomenon that literally shakes things up. On National Richter Scale Day, we celebrate the guy who helps us get a grip on an otherwise rocky world.

Did you know that the shape of a pretzel was based on the folded arms of someone in prayer?  In 610 AD an Italian monk invented the snack as a reward for young children who learned their prayers.  He called them pretiola, which means little reward.  Hard pretzels originated in the United States in 1850 and today, 80 percent of both kinds are made in Philadelphia.  Maybe that’s why folks from this state eat 12 times as many pretzels as the rest of us.  They even boast a pretzel museum which opened in 1993. Little did that first monk know that his little reward would be served to rowdy sports fans at ballparks and malls.  Or that pretiola would become an annual 550 million dollar industry.  On National Pretzel Day celebrate the little reward with big returns.  

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

Sometimes DNA Test Results Are Just The Beginning Of The Story...

Welcome to April 25, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate weird science and staying connected. 

When Lydia Fairchild, a pregnant mother of two found herself in an economic pinch, she decided to apply for government assistance.  Imagine her surprise when a DNA test revealed that her children were not her own.  She was so upset by the implications of fraud that she asked for a government witness be present at the birth of her third child.  Now here’s where it gets strange.  An immediate test of the newborn confirmed that the child was not Lydia’s either.  This case had experts so baffled until science determined that Lydia was a “chimera.”  She herself had absorbed her own twin while developing in utero and it was her twin’s DNA that showed up during testing.  On National DNA Day, celebrate the weird science that may only reveal one piece of the truth.

The first words ever spoken on a telephone were: “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.” That was the phrase uttered by Alexander Graham Bell to his partner Thomas Watson back in 1876. In the nearly 150 years since then, this invention has dramatically changed the world. Mr. Bell would probably be shocked to see what has become of his simple device. Even in our lifetimes, we’ve seen the telephone transform into what is essentially a hand-held computer, but its main purpose remains the same: bringing people together. On National Telephone Day, celebrate by reaching out to your loved ones. Mr. Bell would be awfully glad you did. 

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

This Animal Trumps Them All When It Comes To Its Sense Of Smell.

Welcome to April 24, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a disappearing party food and the mad skill that’s right under your nose. 

If you’ve ever paid attention to the party food that disappears faster than any other snack on the buffet table, then you’ll know: it’s pigs in a blanket.  Why are these tiny hotdogs wrapped in dough so darned popular?  Maybe it’s because they remind us of childhood: baseball games with our dad, or the time your family went to the state fair.  Or maybe it’s because there’s some magic formula that makes eating a dozen of them feel better than downing a full-sized hotdog!  On National Pigs In A Blanket Day, throw yourself a party and celebrate making these piggies disappear.

Bloodhounds are famous for their amazing noses. Their sense of smell is about 1,000 times stronger than a human’s, which explains why they are used for hunting and tracking. But the bloodhound’s sniffer pales in comparison to the African elephant. These gentle giants have more smell receptors than any other animal on Earth and their sense of smell is twice as strong as the bloodhound. Using their snouts, they can sniff out a source of water from nearly 12 miles away. And they can smell rain storms coming from 150 miles away. Which is a great skill to have, especially when you live in an arid climate. Thankfully for dogs, elephants are too big to put them out of a job. Celebrate National Sense of Smell Day by stopping to smell the roses or any other scent that drives you wild. 

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

We're Not Exactly Sure What A Tewkesbury Mustard Is, But Apparently It's An Insult!?

Welcome to April 23, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate having a way with words and the simple pleasures of life.  More after the break.

Anna: Good morrow, sir Anderson. Prithee, answer me honestly: How art thou on this glorious Friday?

Marlo: What are you talking about?

John: We went through this last year too, Marlo. It’s National Talk Like Shakespeare Day. Just play along. We’ll get through this together.

Marlo: Okay, Anna. Get it out of your system.

Anna: Jest upon me, scoundrel. Thy wit’s as thick as a Tewkesbury mustard.

Marlo: John, I have no idea what any of this means.

John: Just nod and try not to make any big movements. 

Anna: You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian!

We have all heard the phrase that life is no picnic, but with Spring in the air it’s time to rethink that. From the French word for piquenique, picnic means a meal eaten outdoors.  This meal hearkens back to mid-18th-century al fresco French dining when all you needed was a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, some cheese and fruit and you could have a party under the sky.  These days we could all use an impromptu celebration as we take advantage of the warmer weather with our family and friends.  Anytime you can get outside, your mood will automatically lift, and for some reason food always tastes better in the great outdoors.  Don’t live close to a park? No problem.  Your own backyard will do. And if the weather is not quite picture perfect, a blanket on the living room floor is just fine.  This casual meal invites conversation, relaxation, eating with your fingers.  What a perfect recipe for connecting with those you love.  On National Picnic Day spread a blanket out and find your way back to the simple pleasures in life. 

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

Did You Know There Is A Portrait Of Ronald Reagan Made Of Jelly Beans At The Jelly Belly Headquarters?

Welcome to April 22, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the big blue ball and an all American treat. 

In 1969, the idea of Earth Day was established at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, CA. By March of the following year the United Nations signed a sanctioned proclamation and another month later, on April 22, 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded National Earth Day. Today we encourage you to get outside and pause to listen to the sounds of a very different world.  This beautiful home that holds us all is reason enough to celebrate every day.  

Lots of innovations have come about during wartime. Jet engines, duct tape, digital cameras…Even candy. During the early days of the US Civil War, William Schrafft of Boston was working on creating a new type of sweet. He wanted to create something chewy that could be easily shipped and stored. Jellied candy such as Turkish Delights had been popular for centuries but it was sticky and didn’t travel well. Then he got the idea to add a hard coating, similar to the one used on Marcona almonds. And—viola—the jelly bean was born. This new candy soon became a popular treat to send to Union soldiers. And civilians were pretty excited about them too. On National Jelly Bean Day, enjoy a handful of these colorful, all-American sweets.

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

Did You Know That Backyards Were Not Always An Oasis For Leisure Time?

Welcome to April 21, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the evolution in our backyard and the garden that grows our kids. 

The next time you’re out enjoying your backyard, you can thank your refrigerator. Yes, we get it. That sounds crazy. But if it weren’t for refrigerators becoming such a common household appliance, what is now known as a place to laugh, play, and barbecue may not have come to exist. Yards used to be a place where people grew vegetables and kept animals. There wasn’t a good way to preserve lots of food at once, so anything left over from crops would be stored in root cellars. Once refrigerators became popular after World War II, the yard became less about work and more about play. And dads have been complaining about weeds on their lawns ever since. April is National Lawn and Garden Month, so grab yourself a lawn chair and a drink, and get outside for some fresh air.

Most of us know that kindergarten is where kids make the transition from learning at home to learning at school.  This very important stage of child development was recognized by a German teacher, Friedrich Wilhelm August Frobel in 1837.   He is credited with starting the first kindergarten in Blankenburg Germany. Realizing that children learn through play and experience, his class was designed to ease this crucial stage in a child’s life.  Here in the United States, the first kindergarten was opened in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1856, but it wasn’t formally adopted nationwide until 1873. On National Kindergarten Day, we celebrate this gentle garden that allows our kids to truly grow.

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