November 17, 2015

Today we celebrate:

National Baklava Day - Baklava is a delectable dessert cake that originated in the region of Turkey, Greece and the Middle East.  It uses layers of phyllo dough and finely chopped nuts such as pistachios, walnuts or almonds with a syrup mixture poured over the top.  

International Students Day - On this day in 1939, the German Nazi’s stormed the University of Prague, executed eight students and one professor, and took 1,200 off to concentration camps.  Then they closed all the universities and colleges in Czechoslovakia. So this is a day to remember that tragedy.  Many universities and colleges also use the opportunity to celebrate the multiculturalism of their international students today.

National Farm Joke Day - Do you know any good jokes centered around farming? No? Well, allow me to start you off: How did the farmer find his lost cow? He tractor down. Now it’s your turn. No? Need another one? OK, what do you call a crate full of ducks? A box of quackers.

National Take A Hike Day - I’m not sure if this is a day to get some exercise or  a day to tell someone to get lost.  So you’ll have to feel free to put your own spin on things today.  Just make sure that the one you tell to take a hike is not your spouse or your boss.

The Little Mermaid Day - This famous animated movie was first released in theaters on this day in 1989.  It made millions of dollars for the Walt Disney company and is still popular among young children, particularly girls, today.

Homemade Bread Day – This is a day to make some homemade bread. If you are baking challenged, don't worry. It doesn't say anything about making homemade bread from scratch so feel free to make something from a mix. You also don't need to use yeast if you don't want to, quick breads count, don't use yeast and are very easy to make.

National Unfriend Day – Declared by Jimmy Kimmel in 2012, this is a day to clean out your Facebook friends list by weeding out or “unfriending” anyone you would really rather get rid of or maybe those that you just don't have anything in common with.

World Prematurity Awareness Day – This a day to spread awareness of prematurity and the challenges that preemies and their families can face as they grow. Sometimes premature babies have significant health difficulties so more work is needed to spread the use of intervention strategies that decrease the risk of premature births.

World Peace Day – Created by Don Morris in the 1990's, this is a day that reminds us to be kind to everyone around us and to pray for peace. One thing you can do is drive with your headlights on so everyone will know that you are demonstrating for peace. Yes, I know that many cars have their headlights on all the time, let's not burst Mr. Morris' bubble, after all, he created this day back when that wasn't an automotive reality.

To celebrate today, while your bread is baking, get onto Facebook and start unfriending people you don’t really know.  Next, while your bread is cooling, call up all of your friends who are pregnant and make sure they are getting the proper prenatal care. Then, go out hiking and give slices of your bread and a farming joke to everyone you meet, wishing them a peaceful day. Finally, watch the Little Mermaid with your children and any international students you know while you eat baklava.

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