World Buckfast Day - Celebrated on the second Saturday of May, this is a day to honor the drink that was originally brewed by English monks but has since become an iconic Scottish beverage.
Limerick Day – Edward Lear was born on this day in 1812. While he didn't create limericks, which are an Irish form of poetry, he was very well known for writing great limericks like this one:
There was an Old Man with a beard
Who said, “It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen, four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard.”
You should try your hand at writing some amazing limericks today as well.
National Nutty Fudge Day – I'm not a real big fudge lover and I don't care for nuts with my chocolate, but I know that I’m in the minority here so if you feel differently, today is the day for you.
International Nurses Day – This day is celebrated every year on Florence Nightingale's birthday and it is a day to honor nurses all over the world. It takes a caring and dedicated person to be a nurse and we depend on them every time we go to any doctor's office or hospital.
World Migratory Bird Day - Created by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and celebrated on the second Saturday in May, this is a day to work toward the conservation of the nearly 350 species of migratory birds. It is a World day because migratory birds do not recognize national boundaries and their migrations can span many different countries.
Odometer Day – Today is a day to reminisce with your vehicle. Think back to where you have been with your vehicle for however many miles are on it. Where have you gone and what have you done? I hope it was something fun and memorable and worth reminiscing about and not just innumerable trips to the grocery store.
International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological And Neurological Diseases (CIND) – This day has been used for spreading awareness of CIND since 1992. These diseases include Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia (ME/CFS), Gulf War Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. This day was chosen as it is Florence Nightingale's birthday and you may be surprised to find out that it is believed that she suffered from ME/CFS.
One Day Without Shoes Day – This is a day to raise awareness of children's health and education issues by going barefoot. Children in the world with poor health and an inadequate or non-existent education are generally located in areas with great poverty so they won’t have access to shoes either. Shoes are only one way to help these children but they are a start. At least shoes can help them with foot hygiene issues which is a step in the right direction.
Martin Z. Mollusk Day – Martin Z. Mollusk is a hermit crab who lives on Moorlyn Terrace Beach in Ocean City, NJ. Martin must be distantly related to Punxsutawney Phil because he can also predict the arrival of a new season. If he sees his shadow today, usually on the first Thursday in May but for the last few years it’s on a Saturday for reasons I couldn’t figure out, summer is going to come a week early in Ocean City. No shadow? Summer will begin on time. Be at 9th Street Beach at 11am to catch the festivities.
Sun Awareness Day - Celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of May, this is a day to…...do something sun related? I’m not sure because I couldn’t find out much about it. I saw someplace that speculated it was a day to wear sunscreen and be aware of the dangers of skin cancer. I saw another place that was about having fun in the sun.
Mother Ocean Day – Celebrated every year on the day before Mother's Day, this is a day to celebrate the beauty and wonder of the ocean. A common way to celebrate is to cast rose petals into the ocean from the beach and watch them flow out.
National Babysitters Day – Also celebrated on the Saturday before Mother's Day, this is a day to appreciate the love and care the babysitters of the country give to our children. They free us up to get a break from child care and enjoy conversations that can be shared with other adults now and then. Those of you who don’t have kids yet may not understand just how important that is for a parent, but if you have kids someday, you will.
Birth Mother's Day – Yet another day that lands on Saturday before Mother's Day is a day to recognize birth mothers, without whom, many of us wouldn't have children. It can be a very difficult decision to put your child up for adoption, but if that is the best thing for your child, it's an act of great love to recognize it and be willing to do it. This day was created by a group of birth mothers in Seattle in 1990.
Brunch for Lunch Day - Today is a day that is celebrated the day before Mother’s Day and is a day to practice creating a perfect brunch meal for your mother for tomorrow. In other words, it’s a practice day. Find a wonderful brunch recipe and make it today so you can be sure you will be able to make it for Mom tomorrow and that it will taste good because Mom deserves the very best.
American Indian Day - This is a day that was declared by the Governor of New York in 1916 after Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Native, lobbied for the day by riding his horse from state to state. The Governor set the day to be celebrated on the second Saturday of May every year. However, not every state makes the same decision and some of the others that proclaimed a special day for the Native Americans set it for the 4th Friday in September.
Letter Carrier's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day – Every year on the second Saturday in May, mail carriers collect non-perishable food items for local food pantries. So fill a bag and hang it on your mailbox because they will be there soon.
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day – Celebrated is probably not the right word for this day so I’ll say that it is observed on the second Saturday in May. This syndrome is a genetic disorder that is present at birth although it is not always diagnosed that early. There are physical characteristics associated with it like some other syndromes and there are common medical issues that most people with the disorder suffer such as heart defects, seizures and vision problems among others. This is a day to spread awareness of the disease that 1 in 10,000 children are born with.
World Fair Trade Day – Celebrated on the second Saturday in May, this is a day to promote fair trade and work toward trade justice for everyone. The theme that began last year and lasts until 2017 is, “Be an Agent for Change.”
World Belly Dance Day – This is yet another second Saturday of May celebration. Boy there sure are a lot of things to celebrate today. This day celebrates the art of belly dancing. It is an art form as well as an excellent exercise program, in my opinion. Frankly, I don't know how they move like that. I have a friend who takes belly dancing lessons and loves it, so if you’re interested in learning how, this is a great day to find a class and give it a try.
National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day - We have all been hearing about how important it is to be prepared for a disaster, whether that comes in the form of a hurricane, tornado, flood, snowpocolypse, or whatever. But you might not have thought about your pets. While you are creating a plan for the survival of the humans in your household, make a plan for your pets as well. They are depending on you. We work on this important day on the second Saturday of May.
National Archery Day - Celebrated on the 2nd Saturday in May, this is a day to practice your archery skills. I’m sure you remember how. Didn’t you learn in high school gym class like I did? Well, maybe if you are my age you did. If you are any younger maybe not, they tend to steer kids away from sharp pointy objects that fly through the air and strike targets. That’s too bad because archery is is increasing in popularity for hunters and for competitive sports.
National Miniature Golf Day - Celebrated on the second Saturday in May, this is a day to celebrate an enjoyable and entertaining game that has been around since somewhere in the 1800s. I have seen a claim that it began in Scotland as a game for women since women were not allowed to play golf.
Stay Up All Night Night – Do you remember how exciting it was to stay up all night when you were a child? Well, today...or rather, tonight....you get to relive that thrill. The second Saturday in May is a night to stay up all night doing things that you don't usually have time to do. What will you do with all this extra time? Chores, visiting with friends who are celebrating with you, and watching movies are all good ideas. Do you have others? I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it. I recall the last time I stayed up all night. It was about eight or so years ago when I had dueling sick children who took turns throwing up all night long. One was upstairs and one was down. I spent the night running back and forth up and down those stairs from one child to the other. At 7 am they finally finished and I crawled into bed feeling half dead. Not a circumstance I would care to repeat...ever. I just don’t think I’m cut out for staying up all night.
National Train Day – On May 1st, 1971, Amtrak first went into service. They began this holiday in 2008 to promote the advantages of rail travel and the history of trains in this country. This will be the 8th year of celebration for trains. This has been such a big event for Amtrak that they have decided to make it Amtrak Train Days this year to celebrate why trains matter and why people ride trains as often as they do. There will be several events over the course of the year celebrating this idea and they will begin today at Chicago Union Station and will travel to 20 locations between now and October. This day is celebrated on the Saturday closest to May 10th which is the anniversary of the day that the Golden Spike was pounded in Promontory, Utah signifying the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.
National Windmill Day – The United States gets in on the spirit of windmill love. In the very old days, before electricity, windmills were one of the few ways that energy could be gathered. With the invention of electricity, windmill power went by the wayside for a long time. But today, there is a movement afoot to get more windmills working in more areas as it is a pollution free, natural and renewable energy source. We celebrate this day on the second Saturday in May.
National Mill Day - In Holland, the second weekend in May is a day to celebrate their windmills and watermills, of which they have quite a few. In fact, 950 of them will be opening their doors to visitors this weekend so that people can see what they do. Many of them will have planned activities for children and their families.
O. Henry Pun-Off Day – This is a yearly competition inspired by the writings of William Sydney Porter who lived in Austin, TX in the late 1800s and used the pen name O. Henry. He had a gift for wordplay that is loved to this day so in 1978, pun-offs began to be celebrated. In 1990, Gary Hallock, began organizing and running the competition which takes place at the O. Henry Museum in Austin, TX.
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