October 9, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Leif Erikson Day – This is a day to honor Leif Erikson, the Norseman who is believed to be the one who first brought Europeans to North America, long before Christopher Columbus was ever heard of.

World Post Day – On this day in 1874, the Universal Postal Union was established in Berne, the Swiss capital. The UPU declared this day in 1969 for the purpose of creating awareness of the contribution of the postal services in everyone's lives and in the development of countries.

International Beer & Pizza Day - Is there any beverage that goes with pizza as well as beer? And is there any food that goes with beer as well as pizza? I’m not a fan of beer, but I’m in the minority there, I think. And with all the different varieties of each to choose from, this should be an easy day to convince your families to agree to celebrate.

National Sneakers Day - I wasn’t able to find out much about this day other than that it is about sneakers. It would probably be safe to celebrate by wearing sneakers today, or you could donate a pair of sneakers to a worthwhile organization that helps poor and underprivileged in this country or another.

Curious Events Day - This is a day to be curious about any and all events. Question everything that comes to mind today no matter how far out there it might be as long as it is an event of some kind, such as what really happened in Roswell way back when? How many people were affected by the meteorite that hit in Russia a year or so ago? Was that cloud really a spaceship in disguise?

National Pro-Life Cupcake Day – This is a day to remember the lives of the children who do not get to have a birthday because of an abortion. Cupcakes are used to raise awareness, and talk about this issue in a non-confrontational way.

Submarine Hoagie Hero Grinder Day – All names for the same sandwich, and you could probably think of one or two others. The name doesn't matter, what matters is that this is a sandwich that can keep you full for an entire day, and then some probably.

Moldy Cheese Day – This is a day to be celebrated by either eating cheese that is supposed to be moldy like bleu cheese, or by examining the contents of your refrigerator and removing and disposing any cheese that is not supposed to be moldy before someone eats it by accident.

Nautilus Night – This is a day to celebrate cephalopods (an 8-10 armed sea creature) that have an external shell to protect them. They hold gas inside the shell which they hoard or expel in order to make themselves sink or float.

Fire Prevention Day - Fire prevention is highlighted on this day because of the legend surrounding the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 which killed 300 people, destroyed 17,000 structures and left a hundred thousand people homeless. The story is that Mrs. O’Leary was milking her cow, late at night on Oct. 8, 1871, in her barn when her cow knocked over the oil lamp. That was all it took.

Columbus Day – This is the Anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival at the Americas in 1492. This had a upside, which of course is our eventually being able to live in this wonderful country. However, the downside is pretty huge because it also led to the death of almost an entire civilization of people who already lived in the Americas. This day is always the official Columbus Day but when it falls on a day other than Monday, the actual celebration is on the second Monday in October.

National Day of Mourning – Celebrated on the second Monday in October, this is a day to remember Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492. The Native Americans see this as a Day of Mourning because that arrival was the beginning of the end of their way of life and of the death of millions of their people.

National Kick Butt Day – I was all excited about this day until I discovered that I don't get to kick someone else's butt, only my own. We are to kick ourselves in the butt in order to encourage ourselves to take action on the things we have been meaning to do, but haven't done yet. This can be anything from keeping promises to completing our to do lists. Skip all the excuses and just get your butt in gear and get it done. This day is always celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Native American Day – This is a state holiday in South Dakota since 1989 which honors Native American cultures and heritage. Many other states have a day just like this at different times of the year. This particular one is celebrated on the second Monday in October.

October 8, 2017

Today we celebrate:

American Touch Tag Day - Today is a day to play touch tag, which is a very popular game among children in America. But it is probably pretty well known in many other countries as well. In fact, probably everywhere there are children, you will find children who play tag.

National Pierogi Day - A pierogi is a pastry pocket stuffed with some combination of sauerkraut, cheese, mashed potatoes, cabbage, onion, and meat. They came from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s and have spread to all ethnicities in America.

Alvin C. York Day – On this day in 1918, Sergeant Alvin C. York was separated from his patrol unit in France and single-handedly killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured a hill, 132 enemy soldiers and 35 machine guns. He was awarded the US Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre. Oddly enough, he had attempted to evade the draft by way of being a conscientious objector, but the military didn't allow it.

National Fluffernutter Day – You have not lived until you have had a fluffernutter. Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff together in a sandwich. A little bit of heaven in your hand.

Cephalopod Awareness Day – Established in 2007 by the Octopus News Magazine Online form. It is a day to appreciate animals with 8 or 10 appendages or arms. This is why the 8th day of the 10th month was selected for the celebration. It is sometimes known as Octopus Day.

Clergy Appreciation Day – Celebrated on the second Sunday in October, this is a day to appreciate your Pastor. Whatever religion you are a part of, thank your clergy person for their work on your behalf.

October 7, 2017

Today we celebrate:

Bathtub Day - Bathtubs were first introduced in England in 1828, according to my sources but I couldn’t find out what day in 1828 so I don’t know for sure why this day was chosen for celebrations. In any case, it is a day to laze about in your bathtub enjoying a long, warm soak. Maybe put out some candles and wine and use some bubbles or aromatic oils in  the water as well. Relax and enjoy.

National Flower Day - On this day in 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill that named the rose as the National flower of the United States. So your task today is to do something with flowers. Not necessarily roses, any flower will do.

National Frappe Day – This is a beverage that is chilled or frozen. We usually see it in a coffee beverage but it doesn't have to be. Frappe whatever you would like to drink today.

You Matter To Me Day – This is a day to make sure that everyone knows that they matter. Make sure you tell this to the people you love. It could make a big difference in their lives. Celebrated for the last four years, we shouldn’t need a special day to remember to do this, but sadly, many of us get caught up in our day to day lives and forget to make sure our loved ones know how we feel.

Inter-American Water Day – Celebrated on the First Saturday of October, this is a day to raise awareness of how important water is for life. It was created in 1992 by the Pan American Health Organization, the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering and the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association.

World Card Making Day – This day is also celebrated on the First Saturday in October. It began in 2006 as a national day but went worldwide shortly after. It is a day for anyone involved in card making, whether you make them at home or you are part of the card making industry, to celebrate the creativity involved.

International Frugal Fun Day - Created by Shel Horowitz, the author of a book about doing things cheaply, and celebrated on the first Saturday in October, this is a day to have fun doing things that are free or very inexpensive. There are plenty of things you can do that don’t cost anything. Ride bikes with your family, go for a hike, invite some neighbors over for a potluck, play games with the kids, and that’s just to start you off.

International Newspaper Carrier Day - Newspaper carriers have a rich and very important history for newspapers. They began by standing on corners in towns and selling papers to those who approached them. They would yell out headlines to entice passersby to be interested in reading the articles. Then they began delivering the papers directly to the doorsteps of people who subscribed to the paper. For a lot of years, this was how people got their news and newspapers were read religiously. Now, it seems, that the newspaper carrier job is gradually going away. More people are getting the news from the internet and not from the newspaper, and many people don’t even buy a newspaper subscription anymore. This day is celebrated on the Saturday of the first full week in October.

October 6, 2017

Today we celebrate:

National Physician’s Assistant Day - Sponsored and possibly created by the American Academy of Physician’s Assistants, this is a day to recognize the invaluable assistance that Physician’s Assistants provide to physicians and general practitioners. They can provide many of the same services to patients and save the doctors valuable time by allowing more patients to be treated in a short period of time.

Come and Take It Day - Now let’s be clear here. Yes, this day is pretty much what the name says it is. Whatever it is that you want, come and take it today. HOWEVER, and this is a BIG however, we are not condoning stealing in any way shape or form. So make sure that whatever it is you are taking, you have permission to do so. This day commemorates the firing of the first shot of the Texas revolution on this day in 1835 near Gonzales, Texas, which has a festival which they call “Come & Take It Festival” every year.

National Noodle Day – This is a day to eat noodles in any form. My daughters will love this day. I swear they would eat nothing but noodles all day every day if I let them.

Jackie Mayer Rehab Day – This is a day to honor Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer, Miss America 1963. Ms. Mayer had a stroke in 1970, at the age of 28 years old, and worked hard for seven years to regain her speech and mobility. On this day in 1997, a rehab and nursing facility of Providence Hospital was renamed the Jackie Mayer Rehab Center.

Mad Hatter Day – This is a day to collect hats, or monetary donations that will go to purchase hats for children with cancer. Chemo robs you of much more than hair, but hair is a big visual banner, the lack of which announces to the world that you have cancer (although it could also be alopecia). Hats help children, and anyone with cancer, to not only keep their heads warm, protect them from the sun and to help take some of the self-consciousness away.  

Garlic Lovers Day - This day is pretty self explanatory and not suitable for any vampires that might be living in our midst. Load up on the garlic in your meals today, just maybe think about refraining from kissing your loved ones who did not choose to partake.

National German-American Day – This is a day to celebrate your German American heritage. This day was chosen because it was on this day in 1683 that thirteen German families landed in Philadelphia. They founded Germantown, Pennsylvania which became the first German settlement in America. This day was created in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan in order to honor the 300th anniversary of German American culture in the United States.

Lee's National Denim Day – Celebrated on the first Friday in October, this is a day for everyone to work together to fight against breast cancer by wearing jeans to work in exchange for a $5 contribution toward breast cancer research.

National Diversity Day – Also on the first Friday in October, this day was established in 2005 by Leo Parvis, and is a day to celebrate whoever you happen to be no matter what your race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age or nationality. Everyone is special and precious and should be accepted for who they are. Be as tolerant of other people’s differences as you would like them to be tolerant of yours.

Plaidurday - This is one of those interesting days that make me wonder where it came from. It is celebrated on the first Friday in October and is a worldwide celebration of plaid. It was first celebrated in 2011 and dedicated plaid wearing people eagerly look forward to this day all year. Although I'm sure they manage to find other times of the year to wear their beloved plaid patterns.

World Smile Day – This day is celebrated on the first Friday of October every year. It was created in 1999 by Harvey Ball, the artist who created the smiley face in 1963. He felt that his smiley face symbol was over-commercialized and was losing its intended significance. So he decided that the world needed a reminder that we should smile more often. So today, you should smile at absolutely everyone.