May 5, 2014

Today we celebrate:

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 – The theme for this day is “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.  http://www.internationalmidwives.org/events/idotm/

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. Now I can't imagine a Sunday newspaper without them, not to mention all those comic books that my kids loved so much when they were younger.

Melanoma Monday – Celebrated on the first Monday in May, this day highlights the deadliest form of skin cancer there is.  One American dies from melanoma every hour. However, if it is detected before it spreads, the five year survival rate is 98%. So we need to wear orange today to help spread awareness and work to teach people how to detect this devastating cancer as early as possible.

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.

To celebrate today, protect your skin with sunscreen and read the comics in the paper before you take a chocolate custard to a midwife near you as a thank you gift.  Then honor your  Mexican heritage (or the Mexican heritage of someone you know) by putting chipotle on your hoagie.