Don't Forget To Pick Up Your Free Comic Book Today! Welcome to May 6, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate good stuff for free and dedicated nurses. If you haven’t been paying attention to the exploits of your favorite masked heroes, today is the day to get caught up. Each year on the first Saturday of May, comic book stores around the country give away free issues of their most in-demand titles. This tradition began in 2001, when superheroes began to appear on the big screen. Publishers realized that casual fans had questions about their favorite heroes and decided that this could help to build business. On Free Comic Book Day you can drop in and pick up a limited-edition of anything from the Avengers to Archie Comics. This year, there are over 40 titles to choose from, so get out and support your local comic book store. You might find a new favorite hero (or villain) to cheer for. In the midst of the Civil War, an unlikely hero emerged.  This person was not a soldier or even a politician.  Clara Barton, a trained nurse, was working as a patent clerk, when she decided to leave her civilian post to serve in the conflict.  She attended the sick and injured troops on both sides of the front line, bringing food and medical attention wherever it was needed most. This earned Clara Barton the unofficial distinction of being an Angel of the Battlefield. She went on to found the American Red Cross and is celebrated today in both the North and the South.  On National Nurses Day we celebrate the hard work and dedication of the people on our front lines today.  I’m Anna Devere and I’m John McClain.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Today We Celebrate The Heroes Who Were Willing To Go First! Welcome to May 5, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate Mexican independence and reaching for the stars. In 1862, France tried to take over Mexico. The country had defaulted on loan payments to France, and the European nation was so angry that it sent troops to Mexico to resolve things with force. Normally, the United States would have intervened, but was in the midst of civil war…and France took advantage of the situation. As the French army marched toward Mexico City, it had to pass through the town of Puebla. There, a small force of Mexican soldiers, though badly outnumbered, beat the French and sent them running back to the coast. Cinco de Mayo celebrates this victory and the fiercely independent spirit of our southern neighbor. ¡Viva México!  If you were alive on this day in 1961 to watch the Freedom 7 Space capsule and its 15 minute orbit, chances are good you can still feel the excitement of that moment.  Astronaut Alan Shepard is regarded as a hero today and no matter your age or how you spend your time on earth, one truth remains constant, “Space Inspires.” Today we celebrate the pioneers like Shepard and many others who were willing to risk it all and go first.  We know that our kids will reach new frontiers as they stand on the shoulders of these giants.  On National Astronaut Day, reach for the stars and support the programs that teach the next generation of space explorers, who already know that the sky’s the limit!  I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

May The Fourth Be With You! Welcome to May 4, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate epic movies and fancy birds. Male birds tend to be more beautiful than their female companions. And there’s a reason. In the bird world, the female chooses her mate based on how he woos her—and this involves catching her eye. Take, the Costa’s Hummingbird, who puts on an elaborate aerial show in front of the lady he’s courting. Twisting and turning and doing mid-air tricks, he shows off his radiant green body in the hopes that she’ll want him. But then he has to pull off the big finale: puffing out the plumes on his head to look like a big purple dandelion. And even then, she might shrug and fly away. Suddenly, swiping right doesn’t seem like such a big deal, does it? On Bird Day celebrate the eye-catching dance rituals that you thankfully don’t have to pull off yourself. A long time ago, in a decade far, far away…well, a few decades away…1977 to be exact. We all know the story; George Lucas created Star Wars and movie going has never been the same. Wookies and droids, the Empire and the Rebellion, we love the franchise but…where would we be without those iconic sounds? Ben Burtt was Lucas’ sound designer and is responsible for most of the sounds such as blasters and lightsabers but how did he do it in the age before computers? Imagination, trial and error! Burtt tapped a high tension wire with a mallet to get that laser blaster noise. For the lightsaber he waved a microphone in front of a speaker playing electronic noise and recorded the sounds he created. On National Star Wars Day, grab the popcorn and don’t forget to thank Ben Burtt for the most iconic sounds of all time. I’m Anna Devere and I’m John McClain.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Everyone Should Have Something In Their Closet From The Camelid Family, Right? Welcome to May 3, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the big sky state and fancy fabric. Today we’re celebrating Big Skies, Yellowstone, Glaciers and grizzlies. It's National Montana Day and we’re celebrating the Treasure State, from Missoula to Miles City and everywhere in between. Montana became our 41st state on November 8, 1889. Montana has an average of only 7.5 people per square mile, the national average is 75! It’s the only state that has only one time zone (Mountain time!) and the largest snowflake ever was recorded in Fort Keogh with a diameter of 15 inches! Only California has more hiking trails and Montana has more than 100 mountain ranges in its western half. And finally, only one gem from North America is included in England’s Crown Jewels, the Montana Yogo Sapphire. Take a road trip across the Big Sky State on National Montana Day! If you are into luxury items then be sure to add something made of vicuña wool to your list of “must haves.”  Companies that manufacture cashmere and merino wool goods know this specialty textile as the world’s most expensive fabric.  It comes from the vicuña, an animal in the camelid family that lives in the Andes mountains. Vicuña are wild and more difficult to catch than their alpaca and llama cousins.   Their wool can only be shorn every two to three years, but being as it is exceptionally fine, soft and warm, vicuña wool is worth the wait.  The price on the other hand may give most people pause, as a yard of this wool starts at $3,000 and can cost up to $4,300 for adding a gold thread. On National Textiles Day celebrate something in your price range with a wide variety of choices. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

This Smelly Food Is Worth More Than Its Weight In Gold. Welcome to May 2, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a month of pedaling and smelly fungus. Anna: John! Check out my new bike! John: Wow Anna, that’s pretty cool! It reminds me of the bikes when I was a kid, I had one with  a sissy bar and those chopper handlebars, man, I went everywhere on that bike! Anna: That’s so cool! Do you have a bike now? John: I do! Wanna go for a ride? Anna: You know it! It’s National Bike Month so grab your bike and let’s go for a ride… you coming? John: I thought you’d never ask, here I come! If you’re a fan of all things chocolate, then the word “truffle” brings to mind rich, decadent candy.   But if you’re a connoisseur of the fungus kind then you know truffles are a culinary treat.  Truffles are mushrooms that grow underground, and when they are ready for harvesting,  they give off an odor that is best detected by a pig or a dog.  This pungent aroma is what gives them their characteristic flavor and ridiculously high price.  But buyer beware; most truffles lose this flavor after only four days!  For a product that fetches up to $350 an ounce, the market can be full of counterfeits.  It’s best to buy them from a reputable supplier.  Or better yet, celebrate National Truffle Day by dining out at your favorite fancy restaurant. I’m Anna Devere and I’m John McClain.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

All You Need Is Love And Mother Goose. Welcome to May 1, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate more to the story and a day of love. There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn’t know what to do. We’re all familiar with this Mother Goose rhyme but…who is this old woman and why does she live in a shoe? Well, like most fairy tales and rhymes there is a backstory that is far more interesting than the rhyme itself! In this case, the Old Woman is thought to be King George II of England and he is the old woman as it was believed that his wife, Queen Caroline, was the real power. The children are the members of Parliament and since she can’t control them she puts them to bed (i.e. puts them in the House of Commons), where they meet daily and argue incessantly. On National Mother Goose Day enjoy the simple stories and the backstories that make you go “hmmmm.” They say that love is the universal force that binds us all.  With such a powerful impact, it makes sense to dedicate an entire day to all the positive things love brings.  Global Love Day on May 1st, reminds humanity that anything can be achieved when we attune our minds to the frequency of unconditional love. I’m Anna Devere and I’m John McClain.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

This Wascally Wabbit Is One Of The Most Famous Cartoon Characters. Welcome to April 30, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate special pets and rare hares. Audrey Hepburn was one of the first celebrities to go everywhere in public with her dog. Mr. Famous, her Yorkshire Terrier, was along for photo shoots and Hollywood events. This wasn’t common practice at the time and it helped make pets seem more like family. When asked why her dog was always with her, Hepburn said “I walk my dog to keep me fit. I talk to my dog, which keeps me sane.” Pet parents everywhere can likely relate. There’s nothing quite like a furry friend to make you feel better at the end of a long day. On National Pet Parents Day, we celebrate the special bond between people and their pets. 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!  I’m Anna Devere, and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

Did You Ever Let A Movie Make You Scared To Go Swim? Welcome to April 29, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate staying cool under water and cool inventions. Anna: Do you remember the summer that the movie Jaws premiered? On National Pool Opening Day, be grateful that Steven Spielberg is releasing any new blockbusters! Zippers are something that we use almost daily but probably don’t give much thought. This essential but overlooked part of our lives was invented in 1851 by Elias Howe, the same man who invented the sewing machine. But the idea didn’t become popular until 1917 when Gideon Sundback reworked the design. At first, the zipper was used only for boots and purses, but then it caught on with the fashion industry and the rest is history. On National Zipper Day, celebrate by wearing something you haven’t worn in a while. But no buttons, please. Zip-up clothes only.

This Organization Believes That Doing Good Anywhere Does Good Everywhere Welcome to April 28, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate heroes both fictional and real-life. Marvel Comics debuted its first superhero in October 1939. His name was the Human Torch, an android with a design flaw. Any time he is exposed to oxygen, he bursts into flame. (Seems like something that should’ve been caught earlier in the design process, but what do I know?) The Human Torch fought alongside Captain America in WWII, so you’d think that would get the character a lot of respect in the world of comic books. Not really. He still exists, but fans have never seemed very interested. There’s even a character in the Fantastic Four who has the same powers and name. Poor ole Torch. On National Superhero Day, we celebrate heroes both fictional and in real-life.  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.  I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

This Word That Means "Impossible" Came From The Sultan Of Swat. Welcome to April 27, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate amazing stories and the Sultan of Swat. 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 seems almost impossible.  The word is a tribute to the legendary Babe Ruth. When he joined the New York Yankees in 1920, 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.  On National Babe Ruth Day, we celebrate a true American hero, 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.