May 4, 2016

Today we celebrate:


Renewal Day - This is a day to renew anything and everything that needs to be refreshed. Renew your marriage vows, relationships, library books and hairstyles. Renew your driver’s license, New Year’s resolutions, exercise plan and faded clothes. If you can come up with something else that needs a new lease on life, renew that too.

National Weather Observers Day - So you don’t make a living reporting, recording, or predicting the weather, but you are still obsessed with knowing what the weather is doing at all times. You check the temperature every time you go by the thermometer. You look at the clouds and can tell if it’s going to rain soon. You check the weather channel or an online weather station every hour or so. I think you can be called a weather observer. Congratulations! Here is your day.

Yom HaShoah - Beginning this evening and lasting until tomorrow evening. Also known as Holocaust Heroism and Remembrance Day, this is a national memorial day in Israel to remember the 6 million Jews and 5 million others who were victims of the Nazi occupation of much of Europe.

World Give Day - This is a day to give back to the world, your community, your family, your friends, or even total strangers. It doesn’t matter if you give something big or something small, your time or your money or whatever comes to mind. All that matters is that whatever you give will make the world a better place in some small way.

Bike to School Day - The last one of these that we had was in the winter, I think the weather should be much nicer for this one, as long as it doesn’t rain. This is a great day to teach the children to be aware of the environment and methods that reduce greenhouse gasses that are warming our planet.

Petite and Proud Day  - This is a day that is made for people who are under 5’4” tall.  Stop listening to anyone who tries to tell you that your height is a bad thing. There are some pretty good things about being on the shorter side, such as being closer to the ground so that falling is less damaging; or the fact that you will never hit your head on a door jam or ceiling; and you never have to feel like you can’t wear heels on a date.

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.

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 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.

National Orange Juice Day - This is apparently America’s most popular breakfast beverage.  And, as such, deserves it’s own day. It’s a good source of Vitamin C, although it has a little more sugar than I like to have so I generally stick to an orange or grapefruit.


Occupational Safety & Health Professionals Day – Celebrated on the Wednesday of North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (which would be this week) since 2006, this is a day to recognize the commitment of occupational safety, health, and environmental professionals to protect people, their property and the environment. These are the people who work hard to identify and remove workplace hazards in all organizations.
Greenery Day – This is a national holiday in Japan. It originally celebrated Emperor Showa's (who ruled for an incredible 88 years) birthday during the Showa era. In 1989 with a new Emperor, the name was changed from “Birthday of the Emperor” to “Greenery Day”. Now it's a day to commune with nature and be grateful for nature's blessings.

National Day To Prevent Teen Pregnancy – Celebrated on the first Wednesday of May for the last fifteen years, this has been a day for preventing teens from getting pregnant and becoming parents too early in their lives. I have a couple of teenagers myself, so I'm all for this day.  Teens don’t have a great ability to think ahead and realize the consequences of their actions so you have to explain the risks and consequences to them.

National Grump Out Day – Also celebrated on the first Wednesday of May, this day was created 14 years ago by Janice A. Hathy.  All of you grumpy people out there need to put on your happy faces today. This is a day to stop all the grumpiness, complaining, sourness, and striking out. Shake off the sour mood and smile today, you can go back to your normal grumpy self tomorrow.

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