George Spelvin Day - This is one of the oddest days I’ve come across because today we are celebrating a man who is not a real man. He is an actor who first performed on this day in 1886 in the Broadway production of Karl the Peddler by Charles A. Gardiner. He has been in many theatrical productions since then but he looks different every time because he is different every time. It is a fake name that is used by actors who play two parts in a play and don’t want that to be known. Or if the actor playing a part hasn’t been decided yet at the time the program is created. It is a fake name given to people who are not really people such as props used as dead people or scarecrows or statues. Some authors have also used this name as their pseudonym. There are other names that fill this role for women (Georgina Spelvin, Georgette Spelvin) and British theater has their own names as well (Walter Plinge, Mr. F. Anney, Mr. Bart).
Day of the Imprisoned Writer - This is a day to support writers who fight back against those who attack their basic human right to freedom of expression. It was begun by PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee back in 1981 in order to draw attention to the fact that many countries try their best to keep their citizens from saying things the government doesn’t like. This censorship usually takes the form of physical beatings and imprisonment. So on this day every year PEN works to draw attention to the plight of several specific writers who have been imprisoned and/or persecuted. They also commemorate all those writers who have been killed since the last Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
National Raisin Bran Cereal Day - Raisin Bran is a healthy cereal that you can also use for baking things like Raisin Bran muffins or Raisin Bran ice cream. I didn’t even make up that last one. I’m sure no one will claim it’s healthy, but it exists. If you don’t believe me, google it.
National Bundt (Pan) Day – A bundt cake is a cake that is baked in a bundt pan which shapes it into a ring with a hole in the center. It is of European origin and came to the United States in 1950 when H. David Dalquist, of the cookware company, Nordic Ware, began producing them. They almost stopped making them because it just wasn't catching on in this country but then it was mentioned in the New Good Housekeeping Cookbook in 1963 and sales began to pick up. In 1966, Ella Helfrich won $5,000 at the Pillsbury Bake-Off with her Bundt cake called the “Tunnel of Fudge” and then sales of bundt pans skyrocketed.
National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day – I love hermit cookies, the rest of my family tolerate them and will eat them if there is nothing better around. I have to find a gluten free recipe that is good because I cannot give up these soft, delicious, almost cake-like cookies.
America Recycles Day – This is a day to promote recycling. If everyone recycles everything they can possibly recycle, not only will our landfills be less crowded because we will be throwing far fewer bags of garbage into them, but the world will be cleaner because there would be far fewer bottles and cans and other garbage littering the environment.
I Love to Write Day – This day was founded in 2002 by Delaware Author and Ghostwriter, John Riddle. It is an chance for everyone to write something no matter how old or young you are, you can write a story, poem, paragraph, letter, diary, begin a long work such as a book or finish something you have been working on for a long time. Last year over 30,000 schools all over the country participated in this day.
Guinness World Record Day – Celebrated on the third Sunday in November, this day is all about world records. On Nov. 10, 1951, after being involved in an argument about which was the fastest game bird in Europe, an issue that couldn't be resolved because of a lack of available information, Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of Guinness Breweries, decided that a book that could answer questions like that might be a good idea. The first edition came out in 1954 and one thousand copies were printed and given away. The next year they had a 197 page edition that sold enough to go to the top of the British bestseller lists. In 1956, it came to America and sold 70,000 copies. It has been produced yearly ever since. It has the distinction of being the most frequently stolen item from public libraries in the United States.
National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day - This is a day that is all about getting rid of the things that get pushed to the back of the fridge because no one wants to eat them but when they get put in there they are perfectly good so no one wants to throw them out. Well, now it’s time. They aren’t good any more and no one is ever going to eat them so throw them out!
National Philanthropy Day – Proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, this is a day to recognize and honor individuals, businesses, and organizations that are active philanthropists. A philanthropist is someone who gives of their time, or money to benefit others. While this is the official day, you may find many organizations celebrating this day in different ways on different days according to what is convenient for them.
Pack Your Mom’s Lunch Day - I could really get into this day. After all the meals I have made for my children, I think I’m due to have one of them make me lunch today. Now I just have to convince them of that.
American Enterprise Day - Today is a day for United States citizens to recognize how free enterprise has shaped our country and helped our economy grow to what it is today.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims – Observed on the third Sunday in November every year, this is a day to remember all those who have died or been injured as a result of a traffic accident. This day was created by the United Nations in 2005 to support the victims and their families and communities all around the world.
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