Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and lovers. The roots of Valentine’s Day go back to ancient times, when people paid honour to the Roman God of Fertility. This was known as the Feast of Lupercalia, and was celebrated even then on February 14th.
The traditions of Valentine’s Day are broad and many. It is a time to exchange cards or small gifts. Chocolates and jewelry are the big hits of this holiday as are romantic dinners.
It is a romantic event for lovers and a fun event for kids and family. Many a couple become engaged or wed on this day. For others it is a day to fall in love.
Did you know? While 75% of chocolate purchases are made by women all year long, during the days and minutes before Valentine’s Day, 75% of the chocolate purchases are made by men. Over $1 billion of chocolate is purchased for Valentine’s Day.
Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre During the “Roaring twenties(1920’s)”, mobs, crime and gangsters were at a height in many parts of the U.S. Alcohol was banned, spawning the rise of Bootlegging and mob activity. Chicago, Illinois experienced more than its share of mobs and gangsters. On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1929, four gangsters dressed up as policemen, massacred seven members of a rival gang.
Did you Know? February 14th was formerly thought to be the first day of bird’s mating for the season. This sparked the custom of sending valentines to each other.
Flowers that say “LOVE”:
Many flowers express love in some way or other. They are popular for Valentine’s Day, but may be better for your budget than a dozen roses. Here is a partial list:
Roses: The red rose is the universal symbol of romantic love. Need we say more!?
The Valentine Flower – Sure, red roses symbolize love. But, did you know there’s a flower, and it is not a rose, that is called the Valentine Flower!?
Forget-Me-Not – These perennial flowers are a sing of love or friendship. Pretty blue flowers are irresistible.
Love-In-A-Mist – When you are in love, you’re on Cloud Nine.
Cyclamen – This popular Valentine’s Day gift has heart-shaped leaves. The most popular are varieties are those with red flowers. Gee, I wonder why…..
Mistletoe – According to tradition, you kiss your intended under the Mistletoe at Christmas. You can also do so on Valentine’s Day. Good luck finding Mistletoe in February…..
Passion Flower – ignite your passion.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Get a Different Name Day
Get a Different Name Day is is for those who are not fond of the name given to them. At birth, we are given a first name, a middle name and a last name. It wasn’t our choosing. Rather, our parents bestowed it upon us. If you like your name, good for you.
If not, then today is for you. Take advantage of today to change your name.
Ps If you change your name, don’t forget to update your stationary. And, you will need to notify family and friends about your new name.
Did you know? Get a Different Name Day is a copyrighted holiday. It was created and is provided, courtesy of the great folks at Wellcat.com
I think I will go by Optimus Prime! Autobots….Roll out!
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
February 12th is Abraham Lincoln’s actual birth date. However, in modern times, we celebrate Lincoln, and all of the U.S. Presidents, on President’s Day.
Every American knows President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. “Honest Abe”, as he was commonly known, was born in the wilderness country of Hardin County, Kentucky on February 12, 1809.
Abraham Lincoln became president in 1861. Although he hated war, he was drawn into it as he believed it was the only was to save the nation, after the southern states declared their secession from the Union.
In addition to serving as president during the civil war and saving the Union, Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery in the U.S. forever. He also wrote and gave The Gettysburg Address, memorializing the bloodiest and most important battle of the Civil War. Gettysburg proved to be the turning point of the war.
Shortly after the war ended, Abraham Lincoln became the first U.S. President to be assassinated. He was shot and mortally wounded on Good Friday, April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth in Ford’s Theatre.
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day –
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day is in recognition that everyone spills a little milk now and then. It’s a day to be optimistic, think positive, look on the bright side, and to find something good in everything that happens. As the song says: Don’t Worry, be Happy!
Today is a day to recognize that shit happens. And, when it does, Don’t worry, or fret, or cry over it. Rather, take a positive attitude and fix it, or get past it.
We all know the concept of the question: Is the glass half full or half empty? The pessimist sees it as half empty. The optimist sees it as half full. It’s all an attitude towards life.
You should participate in “Don’t Cry over Spilled Milk Day” with an optimistic attitude and a smile on your face.!
Clean Out Your Computer Day
Clean Out Your Computer Day is a day to logically review, and delete old files and programs.
Most of us add programs and files to our computer with reckless abandon. After all, computers have huge storage capacity. Many of these files and programs are forgotten over time. Eventually, they clog memory and cause confusion during retrieval and use of other files. And, some may slow down your computer… alot!
Somewhere along the way, a (most likely) computer geek or service person, created this day as an opportunity for us to remember to clean up and delete old and unused files.
So, get into the spirit of the day, and clean out the old computer.
Toothache Day –
Toothache Day is celebrated on February 09, 2015. Not so much a fun day. Can’t say I’d be celebrating this kind of pain! If you’ve ever had a toothache, you know what I mean. Use today to learn something about the reasons of toothache (like dental caries) on this day to avoid an aching pain in or around your teeth. Dental caries is an infection, bacterial in origin, that causes demineralization and destruction of the hard tissues, usually by production of acid by bacterial fermentation of the food debris accumulated on the tooth surface.
The severity of a toothache can range from a mild discomfort to excruciating pain, which can be experienced either chronically or sporadically. This pain can often be aggravated somewhat by chewing or by hot or cold temperature. An oral examination complete with X-rays can help discover the cause. Severe pain may be considered a dental emergency.
We hope you enloy this day toothache free!
Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
It’s mid winter. The snow and cold seems like it will never come to an end. Spring seems so far away.
Stuck in a mid winter funk, and suffering from cabin fever, it’s time to do something, weird, odd, quirky.
So, lets eat ice cream for breakfast!!! ….YEAHHHHH!!!!!!!!
According to legend and this day’s creator, today is a day to:
1. Spread the word about this holiday.
2. Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast.
To get the full excitement about this special day, tell the kids what s gonna happen a few days before it arrives. The eager anticipation will lift their spirits and help to make winter go by just a little quicker.
Origin of Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day:
This very special day was created out of sheer winter boredom in the 1960s. A mom in Rochester, NY. decided it was time to give her kids sometihing to look forward to, other than another day of gray skies and snowfall. So, she created this day with her two young boys. It sure did the trick, if only for a little while.
Lame Duck Day
Hey, today is everything it’s quacked up to be. Lame Duck Day is set aside to give recognition to people whose tenure in a position is running out.
Okay, so you are probably thinking that a “lame duck” is a duck with some sort of injury. If only that were the reason for toady! Rather, a “Lame Duck” by human, definition is a person who is in a position of some kind, and will soon be “shown the door”. The best example is an incumbent politician who lost in the November elections. They usually remain in office until the beginning of January. It also applies to leaders, managers, etc, who are retiring or whose term of office is up.
During the interim period, a Lame Duck is usually far less effective, and frequently ineffective. After all, loyalties will soon shift. It’s impossible to rally the troops to one more cause or project.
On Lame Duck Day…
If you are a Lame Duck: Enjoy those final days. Reflect upon you successes, and the joys and rewards the position provided to you. Kick back a little and have some fun today, and in the remaining days.
If you know a Lame Duck: Supporters should provide recognition and support. Non-supporters can cut the Lame Duck a little slack today. They will soon be gone.
If you are a duck and you are lame, seek medical attention.
Origin of Lame Duck Day:
On February 6, 1933, the 20th amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect. This amendment addressed presidential succession. Now there’s a lame duck issue.
National Weatherman’s Day
National Weatherman’s Day honors weathermen, and women who work hard to accurately predict the often fickle weather. Despite major technological advances and supercomputers, forecasting the weather is still a tricky, and ever changing business.
Knowing the weather is important in so many ways, it affects how we dress, where we go, and even if we go. Space launches are made or delayed depending upon the weather. And, knowing the weather can save lives. The most obvious example is knowing when and where hurricanes or tornados may hit.
According to the Air Force News, Weatherman’s Day “commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, one of America’s first weathermen”. Jeffries was born on Feb 5, 1744. He kept weather records from 1774 to 1816.
If you see a weatherman today, give them your appreciation for a job well done.