November 11, 2015

Today we celebrate:

National Sundae Day - This is a day that I can really get into.  Get a whole bunch of your favorite ice cream and toppings and have an ice cream sundae party for your friends.  There isn’t a problem in the world that can’t be fixed with a delicious sundae.  Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but not by much.

Singles Day - According to the Pew Research Center and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50.2% of the adult population in the United States is single.  Some of them are very happy about it and some are not, but the fact is that finding a mate is not absolutely necessary for a fulfilling and happy life. So today all of the single people out there should celebrate the fact that they don’t need to answer to anyone for the choices they make in life.

Death/Duty Day – On this day in 1918, the armistice was signed that ended World War I and the good news went out to the men who were still fighting.....along with an order to stop fighting at 11am. The order went out early in the morning but Marshall Foch, who sent the order, was heard to say to his staff that it was his intention “to pursue the Feldgrauen (German soldiers) with a sword at their backs” to the last minute until the armistice went into effect. So that is what he ordered his men to do and therefore, thousands of men on both sides died after the armistice agreement was reached which is, in my opinion, very sad. Clearly the Marshall didn't care about the German soldiers, which I guess is understandable since he was fighting a war against them and if you look at a history of his life you can see where the hatred for Germans began for him. But for him to sacrifice his own men needlessly, just to try to kill a few more of the enemy soldiers of a government that had already surrendered was reprehensible, and even criminal, in my opinion. This day was created to honor the soldiers on both sides that died on that day before the fighting ended at 11am.

Armistice Day – If you just read about Death/Duty Day, you understand why it is also Armistice Day, celebrating the end of World War I.

Origami Day – Origami, as you probably know, is the art of folding paper in such a way that it resembles birds or animals or anything else. It is an art form that was begun in Japan hundreds of years ago. A paper crane is a symbol of hope, peace and longevity in Japan, but you can make anything you want. Most people start their origami with a square of brightly colored or patterned paper, but feel free to branch out from that, maybe you can make something wonderful from a triangle or rectangle or circle of paper.

Veterans Day – This is a day to celebrate the service of all U.S. Military veterans, living or dead. The sacrifices that these dedicated people have made to keep our country as safe as possible are sometimes indescribable.

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.

Air Day - Begun in 1929, by the Governor of Hawaii, Lawrence Judd, in 1929 on the occasion of the beginning of air travel for the regular person when commercial air service at John Rodgers Airport was opened for business.  Traveling to Hawaii was suddenly so much faster and easier.

To celebrate today, clean your house and turn on your lights.  The gather your single friends and have ice cream sundaes while you make some origami animals and deliver them to the Veteran's hospital near you to thank the Veterans for their service. If you know any other veterans, give them a hug today. Finish up the day by reading a book about World War I to your kids before you set flight for your vacation to Hawaii.

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