August 9, 2017

Today we celebrate:

National Rice Pudding Day – In the old days, rice pudding was bland and tasteless and something you only ate if you had too. Now, there are different flavors and it is really, very delicious. Try some today.

International Day of The World's Indigenous People – This is a United Nations sponsored day for the purpose of promoting and protecting the rights of the world's indigenous population. The indigenous people of the world work hard to improve the world, particularly through environmental conservation and protection. Participate today by helping to spread the message about their contributions throughout the world.

Book Lovers Day – Today is a day for bibliophiles to enjoy diving into a great book. If you don't have a book handy, visit your local library. I can pretty much guarantee that they will have a good one for you.  And the Librarians would be happy to recommend one for you if you need some advice.

National Hand Holding Day - This is a day to hold the hands of the people you care about. Touching someone skin to skin is a powerful way of sending the message that you value that person, that they are important and worthy of love and respect.

Veep Day – On this day in 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned and Vice President Gerald Ford ascended to the Presidency. But this day is not just about them. It is about recognizing the value of the succession plan devised by our Founding Fathers. There’s a whole list of people who are in line for the position if everyone above them on the list kicks the bucket or gets sick or in some other manner becomes incapacitated.

National Polka Day - This is a day to dance, but not just any dance. People have been polkaing for a couple of hundred years now. Some sources believe that it began in 1834 with a girl named Anna Slezakova. I don’t know if that is true but I do know that if you can tolerate the music that goes with it, polka is an excellent form of exercise and a whole lot of fun once you learn how to do it. The Polish claim it began in Poland, and that could also be true. I wasn’t there so I don’t know for sure. I do know that Wisconsin has claimed it as the official state dance of Wisconsin. There are some basic directions here to help you learn how to do it.

National Women's Day – Celebrated as a public holiday in South Africa, this is a day to celebrate the women who worked so hard and risked so much to fight against Apartheid. It specifically commemorates the protest, on this day in 1956, against legislation that required black South Africans to carry a pass anytime they wanted to walk on the streets of their own country. This protest was led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn. When this day falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the next day.