Celebrate Every Day

Who Is Your Favorite DJ?

Welcome to January 20th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate iconic radio voices and lovers of cheese.

On July 4th, 1970, a syndicated radio show made its debut with little fanfare. Appearing on only 7 stations, the show spotlighted the best-selling songs of each week. It wasn’t expected to do well, however, because radio was focusing on rock albums at the time. But the show became a huge success and its host, Casey Kasem, became a star. If you grew up in the 1980s then Kasem’s name will remind you of “Long-Distance Dedications.” But you’ve probably heard him somewhere else too. Casey provided the voice for Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo cartoon, which oddly enough, started in 1969, the year before his radio show hit the airwaves. On National Disc Jockey Day, we celebrate the iconic voices that share music with the world.

If you’re a cheese lover then you won’t be surprised to learn there are 18 other cheese related holidays.  But this one has your name all over it.  For people who don’t understand all the fuss, here’s a clue.  Science has determined that dairy proteins contain opiate particles that trigger our bodies to want more.  Advertisers know that people are either “cheese enhancers,” people who prefer just a sprinkle and people who are salivating just thinking about it.  These “cravers” are gobsmacked by ads for stuffed crust pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches oozing with extra cheddar and lasagna piled high with melting mozzarella.  I’m not saying which one I am, but my stomach may or may not have just growled.  On National Cheese Lover's Day it’s okay to get carried away in your cheesy obsession. 

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Can You Imagine The Movies Without Popcorn? Believe It Or Not One Guy Took A Big Chance To Put Popcorn Machines In His Theatres.

Welcome to January 19th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate food that cooks itself and a snack with celebrity status.

In 1800s Lithuania, Jewish families would put food in pots each Friday before sundown, then take them to the bakeries in town. Because the Sabbath prohibited actively cooking anything, Jewish people used the ovens, which were still hot, to slowly cook the food for them overnight.  And on Saturday morning, they’d have a fully prepared stew. This old idea was brought into the modern era in 1971 when Rival produced the crock pot. In the first year of its release, the company logged $2 million in sales. By 1975, that number rose to almost $95 million. Since then, it’s become a fixture in households around the world. During National Slow Cooker Month, enjoy the convenience of a hot home-cooked meal that’s ready for you when you get home.

Early Spanish explorers were fascinated by the small white flower that would burst from a heated kernel of corn, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that popcorn took off. That’s when Candy store owner, Charles Cretors, developed a steam machine for popping corn. He sold the snack from horse drawn wagons in the streets of Chicago, and around this time a new confection was popping up. The 1908 anthem Take Me Out To The Ballgame knocked Cracker Jacks into the stratosphere. Then in 1938, Glen Dickson decided to take a gamble on installing the expensive machine in his movie theatres, and popcorn became a home run. National Day Calendar and National Popcorn Day will forever be linked as January 19th also marks our 8th anniversary of bringing you the National Days.

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Did You Know That This Nobel Peace Prize Winner Shared His Prize Money With Other Organizations?

Welcome to January 18th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate having a way with words and a dream that lives on today.

You may not immediately recognize the name Peter Mark Roget, but chances are you’ve read his book. Or at least parts of it. In 1852, he published his Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases, which is still in use today. Over the years, Roget’s publication has been a lifesaver for writers trying to avoid overusing the same words. And oddly enough, the word “thesaurus” is derived from the Greek word for “treasure.” Others have published thesauri over the years, but on National Thesaurus Day we celebrate the original—Mr. Roget’s book. Wait. Maybe that should say volume. Or does tome sound better? Text. Definitely text.

Martin Luther King Jr. was once called the apostle of nonviolence by President Johnson, for his commitment to using civil disobedience throughout his legendary service.  As a clergyman, activist and leader of the civil rights movement, Dr. King is perhaps best known for his “I Have A Dream.”  Hundreds of streets throughout our country still bear the name of this Nobel Peace Prize winner.  King chose to share that prize money with several organizations including the Gandhi Society for Human Rights. For as he said in his most famous speech, “We cannot walk alone.”  On Martin Luther King Jr. Day we honor the unifying spirit of a man whose voice still echoes that dream today.  

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Do You Know Where The Phrase "Real McCoy" Comes From? Hint: It Has To Do With Bootlegging.

Welcome to January 17th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a better batter and unmasking the real McCoy.

Hot buttered rum has been around since long before the American Revolution but with rum being one fifth of the colony’s economy at the time, this was the drink of choice.  It is said that people were miserly with offering their tea, but almost every social occasion included breaking out the rum, and many of the early Colonists had a favorite recipe for spicing things up.  But when tiki bar owner Trader Vic pointed out how off putting it was to see globs of butter on his customers’ upper lip he offered a solution.  His drink included a recipe for a batter of whipped butter, sugar with spices that melted pleasingly in the hot drink.  On National Hot Buttered Rum Day enjoy a bit of better batter in your buttered rum.  And if you can’t say this fast five times you know you’ve had too much.

Before Prohibition, Bill McCoy used to build yachts for people like the Carnegies and Vanderbilts. But once alcohol became illegal, he moved into another business. Smuggling. He built himself a ship with a motor fast enough to outrun the Coast Guard and with plenty of storage for carrying liquor into the United States. It even had a hidden machine gun just in case he needed to get out of trouble. A lot of the alcohol being served at the time was homemade and not very good. But if you were lucky enough to get your hands on some of the genuine alcohol that Bill smuggled in, then you knew you had the Real McCoy. Which is where we got the phrase. National Bootlegger’s Day is celebrated on the day that Prohibition went into effect.  It’s also the birthday of legendary bootlegger, Al Capone.  

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Welcome to January 16th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate philosophy and a food that helps us slow down.

According to some philosophers, there is no such thing as nothing. With the very idea of thinking of the concept of nothingness, you’re proving that it doesn’t exist. That may sound like a big concept, but I think we can all relate. In the midst of our hectic lives, there’s almost no time for nothing. But the truth is we need to take a step back and relax— and basically, do nothing. Turn off your phone, stay away from social media, take a nap. Embrace the nothingness. It’s not often that you can get away with it, but on National Nothing Day, you’ve got the perfect excuse. When someone asks you what you’re doing, feel free to tell them to buzz off because you’re busy doing nothing. Which is actually something. Kinda.

Some say that the secret to delicious soup is letting the ingredients simmer for a long time.  But how about a recipe that's been simmering for 45 years?  On a busy street in Bangkok, one soup pot has been tended by three generations of cooks, who stir and add ingredients to it every single day.  The flavor of this Beef Noodle soup is incomparable and those who have tried it are devoted fans.  About 150 pounds of beef are used to make the soup each day.  And each night a portion of it is placed in a separate pot to simmer while the main 5 foot pot is washed. Not all recipes take 45 years, and we bet that Mom’s chicken noodle tastes just as good to you. During National Soup Month simmer up your own favorite recipe for a bowl of warm comfort. 

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Welcome to January 15th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate carb fever and "mad hattery. "

The recipe for making bagels was once a closely guarded secret. Jewish immigrants in New York City had brought this baked good to America in the early 1900s. They formed a union to keep their tradition to themselves and to keep jobs within their community. Only the sons of members were offered membership, and meetings were conducted only in Yiddish. As crazy as it may sound today, this bagel union was extremely powerful. But they only made bagels, you’re thinking. Well, when workers went on strike in the 1950s, all but 2 bagel bakeries in Manhattan had to close, leading to what was called a Bagel Famine. And the sales of lox dropped by over 50%. On National Bagel Day, we celebrate the love for  chewy delicious bagels and the fact that you can find them almost anywhere today.

Hats have been worn throughout the ages and while they are practical for warmth and protection, sometimes they define an event.  Think Kentucky Derby.  It is said that the hats people wear are as important as the race itself, and for this we can thank Col Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr.  When he founded the event in 1875, Clark wanted to  minimize the dangerous and immoral reputation of the racetrack. The story goes that he loaded up a wagon full of high society women, who went door to door telling their friends, “We’re going to have a picnic at the racetrack.” And it worked! The wealthy class poured into the stadium in their finest, as a place to see and be seen. On National Hat Day, sport your own chapeau and enjoy getting noticed for your personal style.  

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Did You Know That We Nearly Missed The Deadline To Bring The American Revolution To A Close?

Welcome to January 14th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate stories in the nick of time and poseable pets.

The official founding of the United States nearly didn’t happen because people couldn’t show up on time. The United States colonies signed the Treaty of Paris to end the war with England on September 3, 1783. They were then given 6 months to ratify the agreement and send it back to England to make it official. However, the ocean voyage took about 2 months, so the Continental Congress needed to vote on the treaty by January at the latest. Even though they were supposed to be there in November, not enough delegates showed up. If Richard Beresford of South Carolina hadn’t left his sickbed to show up to vote, the whole war could have been for nothing. National Ratification Day is a time to celebrate one of America’s lesser-known holidays and one man who knew how to be fashionably late.

Part of the fun of owning a pet is dressing them up now again.  For maximum fun, we recommend a few tips to make sure your pets shine.   First and foremost, their happiness counts.  If your pet is having a major meltdown, it's time to call it quits.  Not every species enjoys wearing tutus and tiaras, no matter how adorable it seems.  Choose outfits that are comfortable as well as cute.  If your cat isn’t ready for the catwalk they will definitely let you know.  On National Dress Up Your Pet Day make your photo shoot fun for everyone and they’re bound to steal the show. 

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Is Your Rubber Ducky Still The One?

Welcome to January 13th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate sticking around and ducky divas.

We see them every day, but have you ever paid attention to the stickers on many fruits and vegetables? These are known as PLUs, or "price look up" labels, and they’re the same everywhere around the world. So if you buy a banana in Germany the code on it will be identical to one you buy in Minnesota. These stickers also have a story to tell: If a fruit has been grown with pesticides, the 4-digit code starts with a 3 or 4. If it’s GMO, the code is 5 digits and starts with an 8. And if the produce is organic, there’s a 5-digit code that starts with a 9. A lot of info for such a small item, right? And one last thing, if today on National Sticker Day, you can’t remove that darn sticker from your apple, use a piece of Scotch Tape to get it off more easily.

In 1970, when a celebrity puppet from Sesame Street proclaimed his love for an unknown rubber ducky, a new star was born.  This meteoric rise began long before then, however, as the rubber ducky was already paying her dues in the late 1800s.  She saw transformational times during World War I and II, when rubber was rationed and the new ducks were fashioned in vinyl and plastic.  Adored by Queen Elizabeth and kids around the world, rubber ducky’s star reached new heights when her song made it to number 16 on the Billboard charts.   She was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2013, where only 52 other toys enjoy this status.  On National Rubber Ducky Day squeeze in some bath time fun and find out why this diva is still the one!  

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

Did You Know That Chicken Curry Has An Alias?

Welcome to January 12th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate exotic birds and playing with your food.

Country Captain is a chicken curry dish with a long association to the American South.  But just when did this marriage of exotic spices and humble chicken take place?  We know that Britain’s longtime presence in India gave them a taste for curry’s spicy mix of cumin, coriander, ginger garlic and turmeric. Country Captain was served aboard British trading ships, with the word “country” referring to things indigenous to India.  This food sailed west to the ports of Charleston and Savannah and eventually became a favorite of Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Patton.  It was even added to the United States Army’s Field Ration Menu because Patton loved it so much.  On National Curry Chicken Day we celebrate 

the happy union that lasted for ages.

During the Middle Ages, marzipan made its way from the Middle East to Europe, where it was sold in pharmacies. Doctors even recommended it for treating physical and mental ailments.  Marzipan became a favorite amongst the royalty, who couldn’t resist this candylike cure. What made it so appealing was that the paste made from almonds, sugar and water was easy to mold and could be used for decorating desserts. Today marzipan is baked into breads and shaped into everything from fruits and flowers to animals.  If you received a marzipan pig on New Year’s Day, count yourself lucky for this omen of good fortune.  On National Marzipan Day we celebrate the treat that lets you play with your food. 

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

What New Hobby Have You Wanted To Try? This Is Your Lucky Month!

Welcome to January 11th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate cleaning up and having more fun.

Anna: Marlo, what’s going on with your desk?

Marlo: What are you talking about?

Anna: I mean, there are so many papers and tchatchkes that I can’t even see the desktop. Do you really need that many Star Trek bobbleheads?

Marlo: Yes I do. And I’m offended that you even have to ask.

Anna: Ok what about all these business cards? 

Marlo: Don’t touch that stack!

Anna: You really need to clear this off. No wonder you couldn’t find our meeting notes the other day.

Marlo: I have a system.

Anna: Ok, well, it’s National Clean Off Your Desk Day, so it’s a great time to start fresh and come up with a new system. 

Marlo: Fine.

Anna: This newspaper is from 2006.

Marlo: I have a system!

They say it takes at least 66 days to form a new habit, and if your resolve is already fading, have no fear.  You may just need a better goal.  January is National Hobby Month and if your goals have been about denial, why not try some permission instead.  That’s right!  Permission granted to explore what brings you a little bit of joy each day.  If you’ve never thought about hobbies as self care, consider this, indulging in something you love to do isn’t just for your own good, it’s good for those around you too.  With this in mind, it’s time to try something new. Whether it’s painting, photography, exercising or crafting, making fun activities part of your daily routine will boost your mood and your overall well being.  And that’s a goal you’re bound to keep. 

If you’d like to know more, be sure to follow us on Facebook and check out our website TheNationalDailyShow.com. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day!