May 29, 2018

Today we celebrate:

Paper Clip Day - Ok, I’m not a fan of this day. Yeah, paper clips are useful. I use them every day at work. You could even say I’m a fan of paper clips because they work so great. But really, does that mean that they deserve a holiday? I think not. But as I’ve said before, I don’t make the days, I just tell you about them. It may be that paper clips were invented by Johan Vaaler from Norway in 1899, but I’m not 100 percent sure of that.

National Biscuit Day - This is a day to celebrate biscuits. I love biscuits, they taste great warmed up with melted butter and maybe a little dab of jelly. Yum. Now, ‘biscuit’ means different things depending on what country you come from, for example, in the United Kingdom, what we call ‘cookies’, they call ‘biscuits’. But since I don’t know what country this holiday comes from, eat some biscuits today, no matter what that means to you.

World Digestive Health Day - Created by the World Gastroenterology Organization, this is a day to increase public awareness of what we eat and how it affects us gastrointestinally. For example, coeliac disease can be devastating for the intestinal health of sufferers when they eat even small amounts of gluten. So the theme this year is, “Your Diet and Gut Health.” Every year they focus on a different digestive disorder. Last year was about “Heartburn: A Global Perspective.”

Put A Pillow On Your Fridge Day – Back in the day before there were refrigerators, it was fairly common practice, or so I understand not being old enough to have experienced it, to put cloth in your larder as it was believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the family. Well, no one has a larder any more and not too many of us have piles of cloth lying around so we are encouraged to put a pillow on or in (if you have room) your refrigerator. If you do this, let me know if it works and if you end up having good luck and great wealth. And make sure you have a camera handy to capture the looks on the faces of your loved ones as they attempt to raid the fridge and find a pillow among the food.

Ascension Of Baha'u'Llah – On this day in 1892, Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith, died and ascended into Heaven. He left his followers teachings which he believed would lead all of humanity to a “true and abiding peace.”

Learn About Composting Day – This is a day to learn about composting. The basic idea is to reuse our food scraps by collecting them in a compost bin and, over time, turning them into compost which would make good, natural fertilizer.

International Day Of United Nations Peacekeepers - Keeping the peace is a difficult and dangerous job. This is a day, declared by the United Nations, to remember and honor the United Nations Peacekeepers who have lost their lives to this cause. The first UN peacekeeping mission was performed in 1948 and more than 3,200 Peacekeepers have died in the years since then as a result of their pursuit of world peace.

End of Middle Ages Day – According to historians, this day in 1453 was the last day of the Middle Ages. I don't know about you but my first question was: How do they know that? Well, I'll tell you. May 29, 1453 was the day that Constantinople fell, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. Goodbye, Middle Ages: Hello, Renaissance.

National Coq Au Vin Day – Chicken and wine. Really, that is all this is. Have some chicken and wine for dinner tonight. Oh, you can follow a traditional recipe and make it all fancy if you want and have time. If not, any old chicken and wine will do.