May 5, 2018

Today we celebrate:

International Drone Day - This is a day to show the world that drones can be used for a positive purpose. Many of us are afraid of drones and are working to create laws to restrict their use, but according to  drone supporters, drones can be used for many positive purposes. Check out this site for more information.

Auctioneers Day – A day to reflect on one of the oldest professions in history and to celebrate its future. Today we have online and in person auctions to participate in, maybe in a hundred or so years we will be able to participate via holograph. This was observed on the third Saturday in April until 2018 when it was changed to May 5th.

Museum Lover’s Day - While most museums are somewhat torturous for children, the older you get, the more you appreciate what they have to offer….which is mainly the opportunity to see and learn things you would never normally have an opportunity to see and learn. There are museums in this world for just about any subject you can think of and even a few you would never think of. For example, there is a Devil’s Rope Barbed Wire Museum in Texas, a Hobo Museum in Iowa. a Hair Museum in Missouri (art made out of human hair), a Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts, and a Banana Museum in California.

Oyster Day - Oysters are pretty incredible creatures. There are freshwater oysters and saltwater oysters. Sometimes these oysters turn a piece of sand that gets stuck in their shells into pearls that we then turn into jewelry. You can celebrate today by eating oysters...I recommend fried oysters, raw ones are a little too slimy for me, or you can wear some pearls.

Revenge of the 5th - There’s a play on words happening here, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as you can see is very close to Revenge of the 5th. I’m not sure why it is happening in May, but I guess they had to pick one of the twelve months, maybe May just got lucky. This would be a good day to re-watch one or more of the Star Wars movies, depending on how much free time you have. UPDATE: An anonymous reader commented and offered an explanation for this day. It is celebrated today because Revenge of the Sith came after the original Star Wars, so it makes sense that Revenge of the 5th comes in the same month and right after Star Wars Day or May the 4th be with you. Thank you very much for that information!

National Hoagie Day – Hoagies are called different things in different parts of the country. But Domenic Vitiello, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who researched the matter, said that they originated in Philadelphia on Hog Island during World War I. The Professor credits Italians on this island for throwing different meats between slices of bread and discovering that it tastes great.

National Chocolate Custard Day – I have found numerous references to this particular food online. Some people said it should be celebrated today, others said it should have been on May 3rd. I chose to add it to both days because it’s chocolate custard! Yum!  

International Day Of The Midwife – For several years now the theme for this day has been “The world needs midwives now more than ever!” Midwives have, I think, been around longer than doctors and have been an important resource for women giving birth to their babies. The International Confederation of Midwives created this day in order to promote the need for midwives in your community.

Cinco de Mayo – This day commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over France in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco – Mexican War. While it is not a big holiday in Mexico, in the United States, it has become a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.

Cartoonists Day – On this day in 1895, the first color cartoon was published. I don’t get a newspaper anymore but I remember that when I was a child I lived for the comics everyday and the big Sunday comic pages every week. Then, we used to save them to use for wrapping paper when my husband and I were newly married and had no money for such luxuries.

Totally Chipotle Day – Chipotle is a flavor that is Mexican - Indian in origin, but it is rapidly becoming very popular in the United States as well. It is celebrated today to compliment Cinco de Mayo and honor its’ Mexican roots.

Beer Pong Day - Have you ever played beer pong? I’ve played a version of it with soda instead of beer because I’m not a fan of beer. It’s not easy to get that ball into those tiny cups, but some people are very good at it. I’ve even heard that there is a Beer Pong World Series. I don’t know how that works but it tells me that there are some serious fans of the game. This is celebrated on the first Saturday of May.

Pilates Day - Celebrated on the first Saturday of May, today we work to spread awareness of Pilates as an affordable fitness method. I’ve done some Pilates exercises and let me tell you, they work. If you do them right, you feel just as sore afterward as you would using expensive exercise machines. And with Pilates, you don’t need to buy anything if you don’t want to.

Herb Day - Celebrated on the first Saturday in May, this is an international day to celebrate herbs and herbal products. The goal is to learn about them, make them a part of your life and share your knowledge with others.

Free Comic Book Day – This is a great day for comic book lovers. On the first Saturday in May, participating comic books stores give away a free comic book to anyone who comes into their store. Check with your local comic book store to see if they participate.

National Scrapbooking Day – Begun in 1995 by Creative Memories and celebrated on the first Saturday in May, this is a day to work on all that scrapbooking that you've let pile up for the last few months or longer.

Childhood Stroke Awareness Day – Celebrated on the first Saturday in May, this is a day to highlight the dangers and warning signs of infant and child strokes. You don't generally think of people that age being in danger of having a stroke but it does happen and when it does, it is devastating.

Join Hands Day – Yet another day that is celebrated on the first Saturday in May, this one is a day that is about bringing together young people and adults to build trust and respect. This day was begun and is promoted by the American Fraternal Alliance.

Kentucky Derby - A famous horse race held on the first Saturday in May every year. It is a race of 2 kilometers for 3 year old Thoroughbreds and is considered to be the “Most Exciting two minutes in sports.” It has run every year since 1875. It is the first race of three needed in order to win the Triple Crown. A horse must win the Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in order to win the Triple Crown. I don’t know much about it, but I would assume that this is not something that happens too often.

World Naked Gardening Day - Celebrated on the first Saturday in May, this day is just what it appears to be. It seems to have been created by nudists, but anyone who wants to is allowed to celebrate. If you are brave enough, then do your weeding, pruning and planting while you are naked. Although I can’t promise you won’t get a visit from the police.

Bladder Cancer Awareness Day – This day is meant to spread awareness of the symptoms of bladder cancer and promote research to find a cure. There are Bladder Cancer walks scheduled for today in at least 32 states.

National Homebrew Day – I'm not sure if this is supposed to be celebrated today, the first Saturday in May, or on May 4th. I have found convincing evidence for both days. But what I am sure of is that it is a day for brewing your own beverages. Primarily beer, I am sure.

May 4, 2018

Today we celebrate:

Anti-Bullying Day - Originated in Canada and declared to be celebrated today by the United Nations this is a day to draw attention to the problem of bullying and to work toward preventing it. To support this ideal, wear a pink, blue or purple shirt to symbolize taking a stand against bullying.

National Kids Fitness Day - I’m not sure who created this day, but I have found many references to it so I’m including it here. It seems to be a day for focusing on the physical activity of our children. Many, many kids today are couch potatoes that barely go outside, let alone go out to run and play. Sometimes the only physical activity they get is gym class in school. This needs to change if we want our kids to grow up happy and healthy. So get your kids outside and get them moving, start with a family walk if you don’t know what else to do, or go to a playground with them. Find a fitness class to sign them up for, or a sport they can join. It will make a world of difference.

Renewal Day - This is a day to renew anything and everything that needs to be refreshed. Renew your marriage vows, relationships, library books and hairstyles. Renew your driver’s license, New Year’s resolutions, exercise plan and faded clothes. If you can come up with something else that needs a new lease on life, renew that too.

National Weather Observers Day - So you don’t make a living reporting, recording, or predicting the weather, but you are still obsessed with knowing what the weather is doing at all times. You check the temperature every time you go by the thermometer. You look at the clouds and can tell if it’s going to rain soon. You check the weather channel or an online weather station every hour or so. I think you can be called a weather observer. Congratulations! Here is your day.

Bird Day - Created by Charles Almanzo Babcock way back in 1894, this was the first holiday in this country that was dedicated to birds. Mr. Babcock, a school superintendent in Oil City, Pennsylvania, wanted to teach the world about birds and how important their conservation was, and still is, to the world.

Bike to School Day - The last one of these that we had was in the winter, I think the weather should be much nicer for this one, as long as it doesn’t rain. This is a great day to teach the children to be aware of the environment and methods that reduce greenhouse gases that are warming our planet.

World Give Day - This is a day to give back to the world, your community, your family, your friends, or even total strangers. It doesn’t matter if you give something big or something small, your time or your money or whatever comes to mind. All that matters is that whatever you give will make the world a better place in some small way.

Petite and Proud Day  - This is a day that is made for people who are under 5’4” tall.  Stop listening to anyone who tries to tell you that your height is a bad thing. There are some pretty good things about being on the shorter side, such as being closer to the ground so that falling is less damaging; or the fact that you will never hit your head on a door jam or ceiling; and you never have to feel like you can’t wear heels on a date.

National Orange Juice Day - This is apparently America’s most popular breakfast beverage.  And, as such, deserves it’s own day. It’s a good source of Vitamin C, although it has a little more sugar than I like to have so I generally stick to an orange or grapefruit.

Greenery Day – This is a national holiday in Japan. It originally celebrated Emperor Showa's (who ruled for an incredible 88 years) birthday during the Showa era. In 1989 with a new Emperor, the name was changed from “Birthday of the Emperor” to “Greenery Day”. Now it's a day to commune with nature and be grateful for nature's blessings.

National Candied Orange Peel Day – Honestly, I don't really consider orange peels to be food. I know that technically you can eat them, and I've used the zest from oranges in recipes, but to candy an orange peel and just eat it? I don't know. I guess I'll have to try it before I'm convinced.

Intergalactic Star Wars Day – This is a day dedicated to honoring Star Wars films and the Star Wars culture. It is celebrated today because of a pun that was first told in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister of Britain. Her party placed an ad in the newspaper that said, “May the Fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations.” Celebrations should include dressing as your favorite Star Wars character, hosting Star Wars movie marathons or playing Star Wars games.

International Firefighters Day – When a wildfire in Australia killed 5 firefighters in 1998, JJ Edmondson was inspired to send a proposal around the world to create this day. It is dedicated to firefighters all over the world who risk their lives every day to save ours, and to honor the heroic firefighters who have lost their lives. It is celebrated today because it is St. Florian’s Day.  St. Florian Day - This is a feast day honoring St. Florian, the patron saint of  Linz, Austria; firefighters; soapmakers, and chimney sweeps. According to legend, Florian once saved an entire village from being destroyed by fire by using a single bucket of water. I’m not sure if that actually happened, but I do know that Florian was a commander in the Roman army and organized the first group of firefighters, a group of army soldiers whose only responsibility was to fight fires. This would be why St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.

International Respect For Chickens Day – Begun in 2005, this is a day that celebrates chickens and protests their sad lives on chicken farms. The creators ask that you perform an action (list of possible ideas on their website) today in order to spread awareness of the problems chickens face. Chickens don’t have a great life, let’s face it. They live on a farm with a limited life expectancy and may even be kept in a cage its’ entire life. This is a day for befriending a fowl and encouraging others to treat all chickens with respect and compassion.

No Pants Day – Celebrated on the first Friday in May, this is a fun day that involves not wearing any pants. The really fun part is that you have to pretend that there is nothing unusual about what you are doing, then sitting back and watching other people’s reactions. This is probably not a good day to wear a thong, but that’s just my opinion, you do what you want. This is about not taking yourself seriously and reveling in the absurdity of the situation. Some of us more hardy folk celebrated this day back in January 10th, which is the original anniversary of the first guy who, back in 1986, left home without any pants, discovered the oversight on the subway, and bluffed his way through the day because going back home wasn’t an option.

International Space Day – Also celebrated on the first Friday in May, this is a day that is all about space and anything that you can learn about or from space. Museums that have Air and Space exhibits may have special events going on this weekend. This celebration was created by the Lockheed Martin Corp in 1997 in order to get young people all over the world excited about science and math.

International Tuba Day – And another first Friday in May day, this one is about recognizing the challenges that tubists endure in order to play their instrument. These are big and bulky instruments and are frequently disrespected among fellow band players. The day was created by Joel Day (this may or may not be his real name) in 1979 when he was one of two tuba players in his high school band. I’d be happy if my children’s high school band had even one tuba player. Mr. Day continued celebrating this day into college where he was known for popular Tuba Day activities and the celebrations have spread from there.

May 3, 2018

Today we celebrate:

Wordsmith Day - I haven’t found a great deal of information about this day, but it seems to be about words. Don’t ask me where I got that impression. It is either about using a lot of words, using big words, using new words, using words correctly, all of those options, or some mishmash of those options. And yes, mishmash is a word, look it up.

Sun Day -This day was created by President Jimmy Carter back in 1978 in order to promote the use of solar power for clean energy. If you haven’t checked out the possibility of converting your house to solar energy, maybe you should. I don’t know exactly what is involved but if you do it yourself, you can probably save a bunch of money.

Lumpy Rug Day – Nobody likes a lumpy rug, they are just no good to lay on while you watch TV or take a nap. So this is a day to celebrate good, non-lumpy rugs. If you have a lumpy one, it would be a good day to look for another one. I’m not sure who created this day, but I suspect it was someone associated with the making or selling of rugs.

World Press Freedom Day – Declared by the United Nations General Assembly, this is a day to stress the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments around the world of their responsibility to respect the freedom of expression outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

National Raspberry Popover Day – I have never made raspberry popovers but they sure look good. I’ve made other popovers and they turned out ok, but not great. If you want to make sure you enjoy this day, go to your favorite bakery today and see if they have any for you.

National Chocolate Custard Day – I have found numerous references to this particular food holiday. Some people say to celebrate today, others say to celebrate on May 5th. I say, let’s do both! You just can’t go wrong when it comes to chocolate custard.

Hug Your Cat Day – Exactly as the name says, this is a day for cat owners everywhere to hug their beloved cats. Unless you have one of those temperamental cats who will scratch you as soon as look at you. There are many differences of opinion as to when this day is celebrated. Some of the options other than today are May 12, May 30 and June 4th so if you are so inclined, celebrate on all of those days.

Garden Meditation Day – Today is a day to focus all your attention on your garden today. Clear your mind and relax your body by doing mindless things like weeding, tilling and cleaning your garden even if it's just for a few minutes.

National Special-abled Pets Day – Begun in 2006 as National Disabled Pet Day, this is a day to focus on the care of pets with special needs. Some animals are born disabled, others are injured and become disabled. Caring for them can be challenging but they deserve just as much love and attention as any other pet because they still love you just as much as any other pet.

National Two Different Colored Shoes Day – This is a day to celebrate diversity in the human race. Take a risk and wear shoes of different colors today. Just make sure they have the same size heel or you will end up in traction by the end of the day from your lopsided back.

Paranormal Day – This is a day for paranormal believers to get together and share experiences. There are related seminars and radio broadcasts happening all over the country.  

Public Radio Day – On this day in 1971, National Public Radio aired the first broadcast of “All Things Considered”, a daily news show. That show is still on the radio today and although it has changed quite a bit in that time, it is still quite popular.

National Day Of Prayer – Always the first Thursday in May, this day was designated by the U.S. Congress in 1952 and the proclamation signed by the President every year since then asking Americans to “turn to God today in prayer and meditation.” There is apparently some historical evidence that says it was really begun by President George Washington, but I haven’t seen it. It should be noted that the Freedom From Religion Foundation has been trying to get this day to be declared unconstitutional but so far they have been unsuccessful. There will be an Observance of this day that will be broadcast from Washington D.C. which you can access from this website.

National Day Of Reason – The direct opposite of National Day Of Prayer, and therefore, celebrated on the same day, this day was begun by atheists and secular groups who are opposed to prayer and do not believe it should be an official day. They oppose what they call “the intrusion of religious ideology into all spheres of our government.”

World Password Day - Celebrated on the first Thursday in May, this is a day to promote the use of stronger, better and harder to remember passwords. We are not supposed to write them down because that wouldn’t be safe from thieves and unscrupulous friends and family members. And we are not supposed to keep a list of passwords on our computer either because that wouldn’t be safe from hackers. But I’ve got to tell you...I have passwords to some 50 different things, there is just no way I will ever remember them all. So I wrote them on a piece of paper that I then password protected.

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day - Celebrated on the first Thursday of May this is a day to focus on the importance of children’s mental health. We don’t often give a lot of thought to the mental health of our children, although when we see problems we sit up and take notice. Unless we get a wake up call like that, we just tend to assume they are fine. Find out how you can make sure of that because some mental health issues are not as obvious as others.

May 2, 2018

Today we celebrate:

Lag B’omer - Beginning tonight at sundown and ending tomorrow evening at sundown, this is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the Jewish fighting spirit. They have been enslaved, oppressed, kicked out of countries, suffered genocide, discrimination, and disputes over their living space. But they don’t give up.

Baby Day - I love babies, they have the cutest chubby cheeks on their adorable little faces and they don’t even mind if you spend all day planting kisses on those cheeks. They do have a very bad habit of keeping their parents up at night, which is hard to take. But their very presence in your life is a miracle, so be thankful for that blessing, remember that they won’t be babies for very long, and for a little while at least, they generally take some pretty good naps so if you can, take your naps when they do and you’ll be in better shape to handle the night work.

Brothers And Sisters Day - Last month we had National Sibling Day, but this is different. This is a day to celebrate your brothers and sisters by appreciating them. Wait, that’s not different? Well, it must be because it has a different name. If you don’t live with them any more, give them a call and tell them how much you love them. Maybe you can even visit them if that is not asking too much from you.

National Fire Day - I couldn’t find much information about this day. So I’m not sure if we are to celebrate by working on preventing fire, or by making a fire. Maybe you could do both depending on where you live. If you live in an area that is dry, please do not try to make a fire. I think it could go badly for you and everyone around you very quickly. In your case, maybe you can take steps to prevent fire or to keep a fire from spreading to your house if one comes your way. If you are in an area that has plenty of moisture to spare, perhaps you could make a fire in a fireplace or make a campfire outside, being sure to follow all safety recommendations because even in your area, it is easy for a fire to get out of hand and be dangerous.

National Play Your Ukulele Day - Celebrated on this day or on February 2nd, depending on who you talk to, this is a day to entertain all of your friends and family and neighbors and anyone else you can corral into a room so they can’t escape, with your Ukulele skills. You do have one don’t you? Doesn’t everyone?

Take a Baby To Lunch Day - Born on this day in 1903, Dr. Benjamin Spock became the guru of baby care. He wrote books about how to take care of babies and mothers everywhere came to depend on his knowledge. So celebrate his life by taking your baby out to lunch in his honor.

World Tuna Day - This day was created by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA). It is a day to celebrate tuna and everyone who is involved in the fishing and conservation and management of the tuna population. They will announce the winners of their art and talent competition today, so hang onto your hats the excitement has only just begun! In the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, there was dancing, speeches, contests. So if you are lucky enough to be in the area...first, I’m jealous….second, check out the festivities.

International Scurvy Awareness Day - Now I know that all of you are thinking that scurvy was an illness that only sailors got way back when it took months to cross the ocean. While it was a big issue with those of the seafaring trade, it is still an issue today in many places. All you need is 30 mg of Vitamin C a  day to keep it away, but there are a great many people in this world who don’t get that.

National Truffle Day - Do you have any truffle digging pigs handy? No? Well, then I guess you will have to get them from the store like the rest of us. Except me. I see no reason why I should spend a lot of money on a fungus that I’m not going to eat anyway. My husband and son, however, would devour them before I got them out of the shopping bag.

Roberts Rules Of Order Day – Roberts Rules of Order is a book of procedural rules for any organization that wishes to adopt them. It was written by Brig. Gen. Henry Martyn Robert (born on this day in 1837) and originally published in 1876. Its’ eleventh edition was published in 2011. Brig. Gen. Robert wrote the book after experiencing great frustration when he discovered that there was no uniformity in rules and procedures within an organization. He was involved in several organizations and in each one he found that members of the same organization, located in different areas of the country, had conflicting views regarding what the proper rules and procedures were and this conflict resulted in problems with the running of the organization. When organizations adopt Roberts Rules of Order, everyone is on the same page and work can be accomplished.

National Day To Prevent Teen Pregnancy – Celebrated on the first Wednesday of May for the last sixteen years, this has been a day for preventing teens from getting pregnant and becoming parents too early in their lives. I have a couple of teenagers myself, so I'm all for this day. Teens don’t have a great ability to think ahead and realize the consequences of their actions so you have to explain the risks and consequences to them.

National Grump Out Day – Also celebrated on the first Wednesday of May, this day was created 14 years ago by Janice A. Hathy. All of you grumpy people out there need to put on your happy faces today. This is a day to stop all the grumpiness, complaining, sourness, and striking out. Shake off the sour mood and smile today, you can go back to your normal grumpy self tomorrow.

National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day -  Anxiety can be a debilitating, and simply exhausting, disorder to deal with on your own. There is help out there in the form of medication, relaxation techniques, aromatherapy and more. You do not have to fight this battle alone. Every year on the first Wednesday of May, many health organizations have free screenings that will tell you if you have this disorder, and help you find a path to getting, and keeping, it under control so you can start to live a more normal life.