May 4, 2014

Today we celebrate:


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. http://joonbug.com/national/firstcourse/Today-is-National-Candied-Orange-Peel-Day/yBRTu5401PT

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 Babylost Mother's Day, or International Bereaved Mother's Day – Celebrated on the first Sunday of May, this day was created by Carly Marie because the traditional Mother’s Day (which was created by Anna Jarvis to honor her mother, Ann, who had to live through the death of 7 of her children) has become very commercialized and mothers of children who have died have been forgotten or ignored. This is a movement to bring back the true meaning of Mother's Day. http://internationalbabylostmothersday.blogspot.com/

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. http://www.upc-online.org/respect/

Motorcycle Mass & Blessing Of The Bikes Day – Celebrated on the first Sunday in May, this is a day for motorcyclists everywhere to gather at a special mass to have their bikes blessed.

National Infertility Survival Day – While some people seem to get pregnant if you just sneeze on them, others have a great deal of trouble achieving what becomes the unattainable dream. Having a child can be the most stressful, frustrating and heartbreaking goal of a couple's life.

Lemonade Day - This is a day to teach children about being an entrepreneur.  Begun by Michael & Lisa Holthouse in 2005 as an after school program.  It has grown to cities all over the country, teaching life and business skills to more than 200,000 children last year. http://lemonadeday.org/learn-more


World Laughter Day – Created in 1998 by Dr. Madan Kataria, also the creator of an exercise routine called Laughter Yoga, this day is about spreading the message of the best medicine not created by doctors. Celebrated in more than 70 countries worldwide, the mission of this day is to spread world peace, joy and good health by laughing together.  If you do this at 12noon local time, you can join the wave of laughter going around the world. This day is celebrated on the first Sunday in May every year. http://www.laughternetwork.co.uk/world-laughter-2013.html

Yom HaZikaron – This is a day of remembrance for Israeli fallen soldiers since 1860 and victims of terrorism and is also known as Israel's official Memorial Day.  It begins at sundown today.

To celebrate today, dress as a character from Star Wars and head to the nearest fire house to volunteer as a firefighter while you laugh like a loon at noon.  When they send you away, console yourself with some lemonade and candied orange peels and go to a farm to check on the lifestyles of the chickens.  Next, take your motorcycle to church for a blessing. While you’re there, offer a prayer for infertile couples to find a way to have a child, fallen Israeli soldiers, and mothers who have lost their children.

No comments:

Post a Comment