October 23, 2014

Today we celebrate:

Diwali – Known as the “Festival of Lights”, this is a Hindu festival and is an official holiday in India and many other surrounding nations. It is a day when families gather together, clean the house and light small clay lamps filled with oil which signify the triumph of good over evil. The lamps are kept on in the clean house in order to welcome the goddess Lakshmi and make her feel at home.

National Boston Cream Pie Day – I'm not sure why it's called pie when it is really much more like a cake with cream filling. It is one of my all time favorite cakes. Now I'm drooling...very undignified of me, sorry.

iPod Day – On this day in 2001, the first iPod was introduced to the world. A pivotal moment in the technological and musical world.

National Mole Day – This day is celebrated every year on this day between 6:02am and 6:02pm. If you are not a math or science maniac, then you might not know that a mole is a basic measuring unit in chemistry, 6.02 x 1023 , also known as Avogadro's Number. This day is an attempt to spread interest in chemistry throughout the world. If you're interested, a mole is equal to the atomic mass of a molecule. There is more to that explanation here: http://www.moleday.org/

Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day – On this day, according to the mental calendar that all swallows have in their heads, the swallows will circle the Mission San Juan Capistrano in California and fly off to wherever they go for the winter. They will return in March.

TV Talk Show Host Day – This day, which just happens to be Johnny Carson's birthday, is a day to celebrate all talk show hosts. Johnny Carson is the most beloved of them all, followed closely by Oprah Winfrey, but there have been many and will be many more since I don't think talk shows are going away anytime soon.

National Canning Day – This is a day to can all the harvest from your gardens. I don't have very much left from my garden but I did try my hand at canning pickles this past summer and I think it went very well.  So if you have the skills and the equipment and the vegetables, have at it today.

To celebrate today, watch a talk show while you set out as many lights around your house as you can and calculate how many moles are in your body.  Then can some tomatoes from your garden while listening to your iPod and eating Boston Cream Pie. Finally, say goodbye to the swallows while you turn on all the lights you set out earlier.