Celebrate Every Day

Has The Word "Humbug" Crossed Your Mind Lately?

Welcome to December 21st, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate beating cabin fever and a change of heart. 

The first crossword puzzle was published in 1913 in the New York World Newspaper.  Created by Arthur Wynne from Liverpool, this amusement using riddles and clues is still enjoyed by millions today. Hey, Marlo what’s a five letter word for feud? And an eight letter word for ice globe? If you need some help fighting feeling cabin fever, spend the shorter, winter days with a pastime that’s been around for more than a century on Crossword Puzzle Day.

The word humbug dates back to the 1750s when it was used to describe anything false or deceptive.  Charles Dickens assigned this phrase to Ebenezer Scrooge, who scoffed at anyone who would find good cheer in a world full of poverty and misery.  We all know that ghosts turned his attitude around, but perhaps it’s wise to acknowledge our frustrations, just for a moment. The holiday season can be as stressful as it is joyful, and we may find ourselves at our wits end in the midst of all the preparations.  No one wants to be Ebenezer Scrooge, but sometimes we need to step back from the hustle and bustle to take time for ourselves. On Humbug Day, give yourself room to pause and reflect about what makes you crabby and what actually brings you joy. You may be surprised by your own transformation into all things bright and beautiful. 

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! 

You Know What Goes With That Tie You Bought Dad For Christmas? How About Some Smarty Pants Tie Trivia?

Welcome to December 20th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate tie trivia and punching things up.

Croatian soldiers who served in the French army during the reign of Louis XIV wore scarves called Cravats. The name is derived from the French word for “Croatian” and soon came to refer to any kind of a neckerchief worn by a man. After the Battle of Steenkerque in 1692, this sort of neckwear was called a steenkirk. As men’s clothing evolved in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this fashion accessory became known as the necktie. The term cravat is still used. It refers to a scarf worn with a dress suit, which is folded in front with the ends tucked inside the coat. And if that snazzy tie you bought for Dad’s Christmas gift doesn’t wow him, you can always dazzle him with your tie trivia during National Tie Month.

If you’re a fan of sangria then you already know how festive this drink can be.  Pour some red or white wine in a pitcher with fruits and some seasonal spices and you’ll see why the Spanish welcome this libation all year round.  It is said that sangria originated in early Greek and Roman times when safe drinking water was not always available.  Mixing the water with spices, wine and anything else on hand made it drinkable.  Today, true sangria is bottled in Spain and Portugal but every culture seems to make it their own with simple variations.  Americans served it up with an extra shot of brandy at the 1964 World’s Fair.  Enjoy a pitcher of celebration on National Sangria Day and add some warmth and cheer to your wintertime festivities. 

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 Is The Most Popular Hard Candy Of All Time?

Welcome to December 19th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a candy that goes the distance and a tradition that honors our heroes.

In 1949, Bill and Dorothy Harmsen founded Jolly Rancher in Golden, Colorado. They chose the name because it sounded friendly and had a bit of western flair to it. Originally, the Harmsens sold ice cream, chocolate, and candy, but because ice cream sales plummeted during the winter months, they focused their business on producing hard candies. The first flavors were grape, apple, and fire stix, but their most popular flavor—cherry—didn’t come along till years later. Today, Jolly Rancher produces the most popular hard candy of all time proving that a little perseverance can pay off big!  On National Hard Candy Day, savor the long lasting sweetness of a candy that sticks with you.

In 1992 a wreath company in Harrington, Maine found themselves with a surplus of holiday wreaths and their founder, Morrill Worcester decided to donate them to Arlington cemetery, a place he had visited as a boy.  As he laid the extra wreaths upon the grave sites, he thought of his own life and the success he owed to those fallen heroes.  Today, the nonprofit group Wreaths Across America follows in his footsteps with their donation to more than 2,100 cemeteries.  By partnering with thousands of schools, and scouting groups they remember, honor and teach the importance of the sacrifice of our veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day. 

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! 

Are You A Twin? If So, Your Super Powers Could Be Useful!

Welcome to December 18th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate amazing pairs and one of kind eyesores.

Twins are endlessly fascinating, from their ability to finish each other’s sentences to the striking similarities they share even if they are separated at birth.  This genetic anomaly can prove useful, like when a toddler needs a rest from acting on the set of Full House ( Olsen Twins), or putting two minds together to form a magical mischief business (Weasley Twins) ding, ding, ding.  But did you know that it's also useful for getting us to mars?  Astronaut Scott Kelly spent over a year in space and scientists were able to study the effects of space travel on his body by comparing them to his twin brother Mark who stayed back on earth.  Turns out that Scott grew a few inches taller and furthered the research for the two year voyage to mars.  On National Twin Day keep your eyes open for these wunderkind and all the amazing things they do.

While many traditions uphold the beauty and magic of Christmas some are just plain weird. Behold, the ugly Christmas sweater! No one is 100 percent sure how this became a holiday thing, but tacky sweaters can trace their popularity back to 1980s TV comedies. It started on the Cosby Show and became a running joke that sitcom dads wore sweaters that looked like abstract art. Then in 2002, the city of Vancouver threw an ugly Christmas sweater party that was such a hit, it became an annual event. Each year, the proceeds from this fashion eyesore are donated to the Make A Wish foundation and that’s a truly beautiful thing! On National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day show your holiday spirit with something fun and hideous, proving once again that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

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! 

Not All Maple Trees Produce Syrup. Turns Out There's An Age Limit!

Welcome to December 17th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate gifts that keep on giving and late bloomers.

Anna: Hey Marlo, if someone gave you all the gifts from the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, how many total gifts would you end up with? 

Marlo: Y’know, I’ve never even thought of that.

Anna: You would have 364 items in total. So you’d better hope you have room for 42 swans-a-swimming. 

Marlo: I’d be more worried about the drummers. My neighbors would hate me.

Anna: Yeah, there’s no regifting those! The best part would be the 12 pear trees (with partridges, of course). But before you buy someone a pear tree, you’d better check for what variety they prefer because there are a lot!

Marlo: How many? I’d guess maybe a hundred.

Anna: Get this…There are 3,000 different kinds of pears in the world. Which is perfect because that means you have plenty to choose from during National Pear Month.  

This day was made for pancakes, French toast and biscuits as we pour on the sweetness of National Maple Syrup Day. During cold weather, maple trees store starch in their trunks that is converted to sugar in the Spring.  The sap from red, black and sugar maples is collected and processed by heating to evaporate most of the water, which produces a concentrated syrup. About 40 gallons of sap are needed for one gallon of the finished product.  Thankfully, the trees that produce this sap can live up to 100 years, though they must be at least 45 years old before they can be tapped.  Talk about a late bloomer!  On National Maple Syrup Day we celebrate nature’s bounty with our Canadian neighbors who produce most of the maple syrup we enjoy 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! 

Does Chocolate Make Everything Taste Better?

Welcome to December 16th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a well timed time out and the secret to making food amazing!

Sometimes being popular is a hazard of the job! But it's hard to argue with success when you’re found in over 150 countries.I’m talking of course about Barbie. More than a billion Barbie dolls have been sold around the world thanks to extensive advertising and decades of popularity.  Add to that her 36 movies, bigger and better dream houses every year, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah… there’s bound to be a backlash.  But, Barbie shares the spotlight with another annoying figure; the giant purple T-Rex, Barney.  If you’re a parent, this paleolithic Elvis is ringing in your ears almost every day and while it’s great for teaching kids the finer points of fair play, Barney is likely driving you to the brink.  On Barbie and Barney Backlash Day we’re giving everyone a time out. Go to your corners and think about it before you Frankenstein these characters into some kind of nightmare from Toy Story.

Central and South Americans cultivated cocoa as far back as 1200 BCE. The Aztecs loved it so much that during the height of their empire, they used cocoa beans as currency. Europeans were still in the dark until the 16th century when they came to the New World. But once the secret got out, they fell in love with the treat as well. And it seems that the world has been making up for lost time ever since, eating as much chocolate as possible. That’s especially true this time of the year, when everywhere you look, there are goodies to eat: popcorn, cookies, nuts and cake. And the best of them are covered in chocolate. ‘Tis the season, as they say, for putting our diets on hold as we celebrate National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. 

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!

Does Your Job Description Include Herding Cats?

Welcome to December 15th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate inalienable rights and impossible jobs.

Many jobs are essential and require a particular set of skills.  But some jobs require the patience of a saint: Kindergarten Teacher, wildlife photographer, sound engineer.  These jobs and many more are often referred to as “herding cats” mainly because the things you’re responsible for have a  tendency to wander off.   Sorry, John.  You’re not alone if you find that nothing stays where you put it or your team seems to be in left field while you’re in the right.  If this sounds vaguely familiar then kick up your feet today and give yourself a well deserved day off on Cat Herders Day.

The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution are more commonly known as the Bill of Rights. Congress created 14 official copies of the original document, one for the federal government and one for each of the original 13 states. It turns out the copies were a good precaution as somehow four of them went missing. North Carolina’s copy of the Bill of Rights was stolen by a Union soldier during the Civil War and was missing for almost 140 years before the FBI tracked it down. Two other copies have been found over the years: one is housed in the Library of Congress, and the other is kept at the New York Public Library. Thankfully these rights are inalienable and while the paper version may go missing, on Bill of Rights Day we celebrate the permanence of this most important document.  

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 Monkeys Pave The Way For Space Exploration?

Welcome to December 14th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate monkeying around and things that make you go “mmmm.”

If I say fish stew, you say... but if I say bouillabaisse you say- Buyah.  That’s because the French have a knack for taking a handful of garden variety ingredients (think snails) and turning them into culinary delights.  Bouillabaisse was a soup created by the fisherman of Marseille who wanted a one pot meal at the end of a long day of work.  Rather than using the more expensive fish in their haul, they gathered up the bonier fish and shellfish left over in the net, added garlic, wine and fennel and voila - a classic that even Julia Child tried to imitate.  On National Bouillabaisse Day cook up your own favorite fish and remember that one man’s “eww” is another man’s “mmmmm.”

On May 28th, 1959, two of the greatest heroes of space travel returned to Earth after a 15 minute space flight. It may not sound like much, but it was the first time astronauts were able to survive a return trip from space. And did I mention that the astronauts were both monkeys? One was named Able, and the other was Miss Baker. These brave little primates paved the way for space exploration by helping scientists to understand the physical stress of spaceflight. Unfortunately, Able passed away only a few days later, but Miss Baker lived another 25 years. When she passed away in 1984, over 300 people attended her funeral, paying tribute to her part in the history of spaceflight. On Monkey Day, we celebrate this species and the few that made the leap forward for all mankind possible. 

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 What The Most Expensive Violins Sell For?

Welcome to December 13th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate illustrious instruments and a quick fix for the chill of winter.

During his lifetime, Antonio Stradivari crafted about 1,100 stringed instruments and his violins became the gold standard among musicians and composers. It’s estimated that about 500 of these rare instruments still exist and they are extremely valuable. In 2011, a Stradivarius nicknamed Lady Blunt was purchased for nearly $16 million. Another, nicknamed “the Messiah,” is in pristine condition and is so priceless that no one’s even allowed to play it. It’s locked in a climate-controlled case in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. My own violin is moldering in its grave because I accidentally stepped on, thus ending my career.  On National Violin Day, enjoy some beautiful violin music played by an expert.

On National Hot Cocoa Day we celebrate the convenience of a beverage made with cocoa powder, sugar, hot water or milk and perhaps some whipped cream or marshmallows.  Thousands of years ago this process took much longer when the Aztecs roasted the fruit of the cacao tree and ground it with water, chilies and even corn. They didn’t understand the health benefits, but they knew it packed a punch, and soldiers drank several cups before battle.  The recipe changed over the years but the tradition carried on and hot chocolate was even given to troops during the Revolutionary War as medicine and wages.  Thanks to a Dutch chemist who separated out the cocoa butter, the powder could be mixed for a handy, packable drink.  On National Hot Cocoa Day, celebrate the instant pleasure of a long standing tradition. 

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 Which Weed Was Found At The Side Of A Road And First Sold At A Roadside Stand?

Welcome to December 12th, 2020 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate cheerful weeds and yummy houses.

The cheerful red plant that we associate with the holidays got its start in 16th century Mexico. Its legend tells the story of a poor girl who wanted to give the Christ child a gift. When she began to worry that she had nothing to give, an angel appeared and reassured her that any gift given with love would do.  The girl gathered a bunch of weeds by the side of the road and by the time she presented them, the bouquet had transformed into bright red stars.  American botanist, Joel Roberts Poinsett sent the first poinsettia cuttings from Mexico to the United States in 1825, but it was a California farmer who made their magic bloom.  Paul Ecke discovered a technique that made the seedling branch and he began selling the plants at a roadside stand in the early 1920s. On National Poinsettia Day we celebrate a beautiful symbol of the season that is still given in love.  

Marlo: Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me…

Anna: I’m the Gingerbread Man! I love that story.

Marlo: Me too. And with the holidays coming up so quickly, there will be lots of gingerbread-flavored things to eat. 

Anna: Gingerbread is always a good thing…unless your name is Hansel or Gretel.

Marlo: Yeah, that didn’t work out so well for them, did it?

Anna: But they did have the right idea. Gingerbread houses are fun to make—and delicious.

Marlo: We should make one for Gingerbread House Day. 

Anna: That’s an awesome idea! Do you think we can hold off eating it until Christmas?

Marlo: Let’s be honest—we’ll probably eat the whole thing this week.

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!