National Kazoo Day

People young and old love Kazoos. Kazoo Day celebrates the the joy of this musical instrument.

Alabama Vest of Macon Georgia made the first Kazoo in the 1840’s. Actually, he conceived the Kazoo, and had Thaddeus Von Clegg, a German clockmaster make it to his specifications.

Commercial production of the Kazoo didn’t occur until many years later in 1912. Manufacturing was first started by Emil Sorg in Western New York. Sorg joined up with Michael McIntyre, a Buffalo tool and die maker. Production moved to Eden, NY where the factory museum remains today.

Kazoos are easy to play. Simply hum a tune into the kazoo, and you’re an expert. Kazoos can be played solo, or in groups. It plays a great tune both ways.

What do you do on National Kazoo day? Why, play the kazoo, of course.

Bell – Let’s Talk Day

Today is Bell – Let’s Talk Day. Not a holiday, but an important day. Addressing the thousands of Canadians with mental health issues, Bell – Let’s talk day raises funds and awareness for those in need of help. Mental health issues such as depression can hit anyone at any time. Start the conversation. For every tweet using #BellLetsTalk, Bell will donate 5¢ more to the cause. Go to http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/end-the-stigma/facts/ to find out more.

Namaste

Spouse’s Day

Today’s obscure holiday is Spouse’s Day – a time to enjoy and appreciate your better half. You can use this day as a prelude or warm up to Valentine’s Day, perhaps. But, its not as much of a gift giving event. Rather, use it as a time to show your spouse that you care and appreciate all of the things that he/she does for you and for the household. Over the long years of a relationship, its easy to take for granted the many things your spouse does. He/she’s always there. They do so many big and little things as a routine event. So, take today to notice and to say thanks. As for the “enjoyment” part of the day…we will leave that up to you to enjoy your spouse however the two of your desire….

Opposite Day

Opposite Day is a topsy, turvy day when everything you say, do, see, and hear are the opposite. If you say go left, you mean go right. If you say look up, it means look down. If you see your left foot…is it really your right?

Yesiree, Bob. Opposite Day can be a whole lot of fun. It can also be very, very confusing. This special day is celebrated primarily among school children. Sponge Bob Square Pants even got into the act, with an episode containing the whimsical nature of this day.

Thought for the Day: Opposites attract.

Compliment Day

How nice of you to visit our site today. I can see by your choice of websites,  that you are an intelligent person. You are a kind and inquisitive person. I love the way you……

  Yes, it’s Compliment Day. Today is a great opportunity to say something positive about the people you come into contact with. Everyone has good attributes.  …that’s right……. everyone.

•   Its a cinch to find compliments for family and loved ones, even for your Mother-in-Law. (Tip: She’s probably a good cook.)

•   Friends are friends because you see something good about them. Here’s an easy compliment to a friend: “Wow, you’re very intelligent…you choose your friends wisely”.

•   It’s more challenging to compliment your boss, or people you don’t like.  Take up the challenge, and find a compliment for them today, too.

Remember: Mama said  “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything”.  After a long search for something good, if you just can’t find a compliment for them, then silence is golden.

      Compliment Day is celebrated by offering sincere compliments to people you know. It is important that you are sincere. People will see right through insincerity, and you will do more harm than good.

How many compliments should you give out today? The common suggestion is  five compliments. Yes, they should be to five different people.

Have fun!

National Handwriting Day

National Handwriting Day is an opportunity to reintroduce yourself to a pen or pencil and a piece of paper. In this day of computers, more and more information, notes, and letters are sent back and forth via a keyboard text and cyberspace.

According to the  Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) website “The purpose of National Handwriting Day is to alert the public to the importance of handwriting. According to WIMA, National Handwriting Day is a chance for all of us to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.”

Some of the available documentation we read, suggests concern by stationary,  paper companies, and pen and pencil manufacturers that the electronic world will shrink demand for their products. But, indeed, statistics show that pen (or pencil) and paper are alive and well, with a growing demand.

Participate in National Handwriting Day by writing a note or letter to someone.  Love letters are cool. Notes to people who are ill or incapacitated will  be well received.

National Blonde Brownie Day

National Blonde Brownie Day is a special day that is set aside to bake and  eat blonde brownies.

What’s a blonde brownie, you ask? Well, as their name implies, traditional brownies are a dark brown. To make blonde brownies, light brown sugar is used in the recipe in place of dark brown chocolate.

On National Blonde Brownie Day, its your right and responsibility to bake blonde brownies, and to eat them. If you don’t have time to bake today, buy  some and eat a few extra blonde brownies.

Note: The use of nuts and frosting on your brownies is optional.

National Hugging Day

What a great day! This is an opportunity to give and to receive. Give a hug, and you automatically receive one in return. Sure, someone might not hug back. But, how often does that happen!?!

Hugs are loving. Hugs are therapeutic. Hugs are caring. Hugs are celebratory.  Hugs make you feel good inside. Have you ever received a hug from someone who didn’t care? I didn’t think so. That’s proof positive that you’re loved and cared about.

Celebrate today by giving hugs to family, friends and loved ones. You’ll love the warm feeling you get.

Origin of National Hugging Day:

National Hugging Day was created in 1986 by Rev. Kevin Zaborney from Caro, Michigan. Strangely, this day is copyrighted. One would think that hugs should be given freely and without recourse. Regardless, we are thankful to the Reverend Zaborney for creating this day and would love to thank him with a  great, big hug.

Penguin Awareness Day

Penguin Awareness Day, and World Penguin Day are great opportunities to learn about and appreciate one of the few natives of Antarctica. On these days, spend a little time learning about them…. a pictorial book or internet site is fun. You can also watch a documentary of these cute and popular, grounded birds.

These days are also a time to wear black and white—penguin colors. However, wearing a tuxedo in their honor is optional. It is also popular today to tell a penguin joke or two.

National Popcorn Day

National Popcorn Day is Today! It’s a day to celebrate healthy (until you load it with salt and butter), and addicting popcorn.

Popcorn was first cultivated thousands of years ago by the people living in what is now Peru. It is one of the oldest forms of corn; evidence of popcorn from 3600 B.C. was found in New Mexico, while even older evidence was found in Peru. It is estimated that these remnants date from as early as 4700 B.C. Purple popcorn was found in the early 1900s.

The legend that English settlers, who came to America in the 16th and 17th centuries, learned about popcorn from American Indians has been proven to be a myth. No evidence exists from colonial times to support the claim that natives of North America’s east coast even knew of, or, for that matter, grew popcorn.

During the Great Depression, popcorn was fairly inexpensive at 5–10 cents a bag and became popular. Thus, while other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for many struggling farmers. During World War II, sugar rations diminished candy production, and Americans compensated by eating three times as much popcorn as they had before.

At least six localities (all in the Midwestern United States) claim to be the “Popcorn Capital of the World”: Ridgway, Illinois; Valparaiso, Indiana; Van Buren, Indiana; Schaller, Iowa; Marion, Ohio; and North Loup, Nebraska. According to the USDA, corn used for popcorn production is specifically planted for this purpose; most is grown in Nebraska and Indiana, with increasing area in Texas.

As the result of an elementary school project, popcorn became the official state snack food of Illinois.

Strangely, National Popcorn Day is in January, yet National Popcorn Month is October. According to tradition, it is celebrated on January 19th each year. There is some suggestion that Popcorn Day may, at one point, have been tied to the Superbowl.

On National Popcorn Day, we suggest you pop up some fresh popcorn, kick back and enjoy!