National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day –
Today is a sticky day. National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day salutes the number one sandwich spread. What kid didn’t grow up loving a PB&J sandwich?
Smooth Peanut Butter is by far the most popular. Crunchy peanut butter is also on the market, and is enjoyed by many. Peanut Butter is not limited to a Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB&J) sandwich. It’s popular on crackers, celery and other “peanut butter” holders. It is also used in recipes for cookies and snacks. And, don’t forget peanut butter cups, too!
Did you Know? Peanut Butter is 90% or more peanuts. While it has no artificial preservatives, an opened jar is stored on a shelf at room temperature.
Celebrate today with a little (or a lot) of Peanut Butter. If you can, make your own Peanut Butter. It’s a fun project that the kids will enjoy doing with you.
Note: If you don’t get enough peanut butter today, April 2nd is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. and September 13th is National Peanut Day.
Leap Day –
Leap Day is every fours years….almost. It’s every four years except years ending with “00” that are not divisible by 400. The year in which Leap Day occurs, is called a Leap Year.
Why the fancy calculation? The earth rotates around the sun once every 365 and about 1/4 days. So, by adding an extra day every four years, we get mighty close to keeping the calendar consistent with the earth’s annual trip around the sun. And to be very precise, the earth orbits the sun every 365.242190 days. So, on years ending in “00”, (except those not divisible by 400) we skip Leap Year and Leap Day. With all that fancy calculating out of the way, let’s just celebrate the day.
Did you know? There are occasional “Leap Seconds”. We will spare you the detail on those, except to say it helps to correct minor variations. On December 31, 2015, the folks who maintain the official time for the planet, added an extra second to the day!
If your birthday is on Leap Day, congratulations, you finally get to celebrate your birthday on your birth date. Just how many of us are celebrating our Birthday on Leap Day? Only about one in 1461 people. If you were born on this day, consider yourself very, very special.
Happy Leap Day!
National Tooth Fairy Day –
National Tooth Fairy Day celebrates one of childhood’s favourite visitors. The Tooth Fairy is an American tradition with European and superstitious roots.
Losing baby teeth is sometimes a traumatic experience for young children. Enter the world of the friendly, smiling and soothing Tooth Fairy. As a young child’s first baby tooth becomes loose, the child often fears losing it. The promise of a visit from the Tooth Fairy and a gift, turns the occasion into something to look forward to. When the tooth finally falls out, mom cleans it off. It is often put it into a “tooth box”. At bedtime, the child puts the tooth under his pillow. The tooth fairy comes after the child falls asleep. She takes the tooth and leaves a small gift, usually money. The tooth fairy leaves a gift every time the child loses a tooth.
Never fear: If the tooth is literally lost in some way, don’t worry. The Tooth Fairy always knows, and will still leave a gift. She magically knows each time a baby tooth falls out, and will arrive that night , even if the child is away at grandmas, or on vacation.
Male or female? There is ongoing debate whether the the Tooth Fairy is a male or a female. But, it’s pretty obvious. “She” is most definitely a female!
Polar Bear Day
Polar Bear Day celebrates the world’s largest carnivore. A polar bear can grow up to nine feet tall(when standing) and 1400 pounds. They are a favorite at zoos around the country. Polar bears live at the North Pole region, and are native to Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.
Need some ideas on how to celebrate today? Tops on my list is visiting the local zoo to see live polar bears. Teachers like to use this day to teach about polar bears and other bears, as kids are fascinated with all kinds of bears. Also, check the nature channels on cable TV. The networks often pick up on holidays like today, and run documentaries.
Did you Know? It is believed that all polar bears are left handed.
National Pistachio Day –
National Pistachio Day is a nutty day. You can celebrate National Pistachio Day by eating them, and learning more about them. We’re going to help with the learning part…….. read on.
Nutty Pistachio Facts:
Pistachios grow on trees. They are native to the Middle East.
It’s a long wait to get the first nut. A pistachio tree takes 7-10 years to mature.
California is the major producer in the U.S.
Pistachios are harvested in September by machines that shake the trees. It less than a minute.
The red dye is added to the nuts is only due to consumer demand for the color.
Its open hull is unique. The nut is ripe when the hull splits open.
People in the Middle East call it the “smiling nut” and in China its called the “happy nut”.
Pistachios are nutritious, so eat them up!
Celebrate today by eating Pistachios. They are great plain as a snack, in ice cream, and in a wide range of desserts.
Pistol Patent Day –
“Shoot! I don’t have a Pistol Patent.” If this thought is going through your mind right now, then this day is for you. You should aim to get a patent today. Why? Today is Pistol Patent Day.
In order to get a pistol patent, you must have a new design for a pistol. I’m sure you can whip one up in short order and lay down the permit application fees and such, right? If not, how can you participate in this day? …. we offer no answer to this question.
Did you Know? Samuel Colt invented the revolver, a pistol with multiple chambers for bullets. He patented it in Europe in 1835, and in the United States in 1836.
National Tortilla Chip Day –
Today is a holiday with a crunch. One might even suggest that it is a corny holiday. Well, that’s okay because today is National Tortilla Chip Day. Just a few decades ago, we seldom ate Corn Chips and Salsa. It’s popularity has grown immensely. Today is a tribute to that rising popularity of one of our favourite munchies.
Did you know? The corn chip recipe was brought to the U.S. from Mexico by texas businessman Elmer Doolin.
Celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day with a handful of crunchy, tasty corn chips and your favorite salsa or dip.
International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day –
International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day is a day for the dogs. And, that’s because there is no one else who can really appreciate the true value of a dog biscuit. They say “Every dog has his day”. And, it will definitely be his day when you give him some tasty dog biscuits.
You might appreciate their value in pleasing your dog, as a reward for behaviour, or enticing them to do a trick. But, the dog is the recipient of the treat.
Celebrate today by giving your dog a few dog biscuits.
George Washington’s Birthday –
The “Father of His Country”, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. He became commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775, and fought a long and arduous war for freedom from British rule. The war was finally over in 1781, when the Continental Army, with the help of the French, forced British General Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown.
In 1787, Washington was unanimously elected president by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He took the oath of office in 1789. He served two terms of office from 1789 until 1797.
After the presidency, Washington retired to his home in Mount Vernon, Virgina where he died on December 14, 1799 of a throat infection.
Happy 284th birthday, Mr. President!
Card Reading Day –
Card Reading Day is celebrated on February 21, 2015. The day is a chance for sentimental people to get their saved cards out for reading them. A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment.
Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Postcards, which are single-sided without the fold, can function in a manner somewhat similar to greeting cards.
Greeting cards, usually packaged with an envelope, come in a variety of styles. There are both mass-produced as well as handmade versions that are distributed by hundreds of companies large and small.
So today make sure you pull out those old cards you’ve been saving, have another read and enjoy!