October 31, 2013

Today we celebrate:

Girl Scout Founder's Day – On this day in 1860, Juliette Gordon Low was born. She began the Girl Scout organization in 1912. Happy Birthday Juliette.

Halloween or All Hallows Eve – Celebrated on this day every year, it is a time to dress up in a clever disguise and go around your neighborhood extorting candy from your neighbors by threatening them with “tricks” if they don't give you “treats”. Let's all go out and encourage the delinquency of our children.

National Magic Day – This is a day that honors the most famous of magicians, Harry Houdini. He died on this day in 1926 and I would venture a guess that everyone in the country has heard of him. Try some magic tricks in his memory.

National Caramel Apple Day – I have never been tempted to make caramel apples or even eat caramel apples, even though I love apples and caramel. It's probably because it looks so darn messy and getting sticky caramel all over my face just doesn't appeal to me. But kids don't mind that kind of mess so watching them eat one of these sweet treats is just funny.

National Knock-Knock Jokes Day – This is a silly day to tell silly jokes and they don't come any sillier than knock-knock jokes. Drag out your best jokes today.

National UNICEF Day – In 1949, Mary Emma Allison from Bridesburg, Pennsylvania, had the idea that children could collect money for UNICEF instead of candy at Halloween. Her husband, Rev. Clyde Allison, shared her idea with local Presbyterian churches and on this day in 1950, their children and many others in the community collected $17 in nickels and dimes in their decorated milk cartons to help European children after World War II. Three years later UNICEF took that concept and ran with it and by 1960 it became very popular all over the country. My children still do it today. The money now goes to a wide variety of programs that UNICEF supports such as aiding victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Samhain – This is a Gaelic festival that celebrates the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the winter season. It may date back to before Christianity began and is believed (by some) to be a time when spirits and fairies are very active in our world.

To celebrate today, dress up as a fairy, hand out caramel apples to the little ones coming to your door along with some coins for UNICEF, a good knock-knock joke and a magic trick. If you see any girl scouts, wish them a Happy Birthday on Juliette's behalf.