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Post by pennmom on Feb 14, 2022 12:23:41 GMT
National Impotence Day – February 14, 2022~U.S.
National Impotence Day is observed on February 14 every year to raise awareness about erectile dysfunction, commonly known as impotence. The day is observed not only to raise awareness among the general public but also health professionals.
As more people become aware of the condition and the causes of erectile dysfunction, the easier it becomes for those who suffer from it to deal with it. They will have an easier time discussing the issue if more people are aware of it and the stigma of the condition is removed.
Awareness of the issue among health professionals makes it easier to diagnose the underlying conditions resulting in erectile dysfunction.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL IMPOTENCE DAY
National Impotence Day is observed every year on February 14, right along with Valentine’s Day. This is to draw attention to this sexual dysfunction.
‘Impotence’ is the common term for erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is a condition where the penis either fails to become erect or stays erect during sexual activity. In the majority of cases, the causes of this dysfunction are identified as physical causes.
Diseases related to the heart, kidneys, prostate gland, testicles, and reactions to medications can all cause erectile dysfunction. In about 10% of cases, the causes of erectile dysfunction are psychological and need appropriate treatment.
In cases where the causes of erectile dysfunction are physical, treatment plans begin by addressing the underlying health concerns. This involves lifestyle changes, medication to treat cardiovascular diseases, treating diabetes, or treating other conditions that have manifested.
Other treatments that address flaccidness of the penis involve the use of drugs that help dilate blood vessels and encourage blood flow through the penile tissues.
Due to the nature of erectile dysfunction, and the stigma around sexual activities in society, men are too embarrassed to seek treatment. To get diagnosed with erectile dysfunction the condition must persist for three months.
The wide range of potential causes makes it difficult to treat erectile dysfunction. This is why National Impotence Day is important for awareness to be created about the treatment and management of erectile dysfunction. The day also creates awareness of the variety of underlying conditions that results in erectile dysfunction.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 14, 2022 12:26:34 GMT
Read to Your Child Day – February 14, 2022~U.S.
Read to Your Child Day is celebrated every year on February 14. Reading bedtime stories is a sacred tradition shared between a parent and a child. Kids are like sponges — they absorb everything from their environment. Their values are guided by their experiences, and their feelings become a part of their personality. This is why helping them navigate their emotions through stories of morality and honesty is such an important part of a child’s upbringing. We celebrate Read to Your Child Day on February 14 to honor the beautiful reading sessions between a parent and a child.
HISTORY OF READ TO YOUR CHILD DAY
Read to Your Child Day celebrates the great tradition of parents and guardians’ reading books to their children. Novels, fiction, myths, legends, the tales of good-guy-winning-bad-guy-losing, are all important parts of a person’s childhood.
Reading books to your children in a fun, engaging manner is instrumental to their overall language development. Child health experts have observed that developing a love for reading amongst toddlers is more important than focusing on any other literacy skill. When parents have regular reading sessions filled with characters that push the bounds of imagination, it instills the love for books in kids as well.
Some of the most memorable moments of our childhood are the stories we listened to — at the backseat of the car on our way back from school, on long trips with our parents, and in the seclusion of our bedrooms. If you loved reading books and sharing tales of princesses and triumph with your parents, then this day is for you.
The origin of this holiday is unclear, but it sits right with the theme of the month. Read to Your Child Day coincides with Book Giving Day and Library Lovers’ Day.
Reading to your child boosts your personal bond, and it improves their brain development. See? There is no downside to reading to your kids. Instead, the quiet moments of solitude, when your voice is the only sound filling the room, can be a therapeutic experience for you and the parent, as well.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 14, 2022 12:30:28 GMT
National Pet Theft Awareness Day – February 14, 2022~U.S.
National Pet Theft Awareness Day is on February 14, and we’re going to show you how you can observe the day in the best way possible. Do you know that it has been 34 years since National Pet Theft Awareness Day was celebrated for the first time? National Pet Theft Awareness Day as the name suggests is an awareness day dedicated to the protection of pets. Thousands of pets are reported to have been kidnapped every year, and this day is a reminder to take the necessary steps to protect our pets. This day encourages people to take safety measures to protect their pets and tell more people about its importance.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PET THEFT AWARENESS DAY
The origins of Pet Theft Awareness Day can be traced back to 1984. The actor Chris DeRose established Last Chance For Animals. This is a non-profitable organization for the welfare of animals, especially dogs. DeRose has been in a lot of trouble, including imprisonment, for attempting to break in and record videos of animal cruelty. He was jailed for trying to break into the U.C.L.A. Brain Research Institute, where dogs and animals were used for experiments. Another time, he secretly asked someone to make a video of dogs being butchered.
The mission of this organization was to oppose the use of animals for scientific and medical experiments, textile production, and also entertainment. They also released the documentary named “Dealing Dogs.”
In 1988, DeRose and his co-workers at Last Chance For Animals initiated the National Pet Theft Awareness Day to raise awareness of the rising number of pet thefts in the country. The secondary aim was to educate people to take steps to prevent the theft of their pets and animal trafficking. They suggested two methods for the protection of pets. One is a microchip put under the skin of the pet which contains all the information about the owner and their address. The other option is to get a collar with all your details for our dog.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 14, 2022 12:32:06 GMT
National Donor Day – February 14, 2022~U.S.
Valentine’s Day has a new meaning when you need an organ transplant to survive. 120,000 Americans currently waiting for precious organ transplants depend on the public to sign up with their state’s organ donor registries on National Donor Day every February 14. It’s a more concrete way to show love than giving heart-shaped candy, roses and red velvet teddy bears. By donating organs such as corneas, tissue, marrow, platelets and blood; you create a living legacy of your generosity with the ultimate gift of love.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 14, 2022 12:34:50 GMT
National Ferris Wheel Day – February 14, 2022~U.S.
National Ferris Wheel Day is celebrated on February 14 every year! If you love fun and adventures and you are not scared of heights, we’re sure you have fond childhood memories of riding on a Ferris wheel. Ferris wheels come in many sizes, they are fun to ride on and give a beautiful, bird’s eye view. Did you know that the ‘High Roller’ is the largest Ferris wheel in the world? The massive wheel is 550 feet tall and is found in Las Vegas!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL FERRIS WHEEL DAY
While February 14 is more famous for being Valentine’s Day, it also doubles as the annual observance of National Ferris Wheel Day. George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., the inventor of the Ferris wheel, was born on February 14.
Ferris, a civil engineer, born 1859, in Galesburg, Illinois, introduced the world to the concept of the Ferris wheel and designed the original Chicago Ferris Wheel. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, in 1881.
Ferris constructed his prototype as a landmark for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, as the United States’ version of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Originally called “the Chicago Wheel,” it took Ferris two years to plan and construct. Costing about $700,000 in 1893 and containing over 100,000 parts, Ferris’ massive wheel stood at an enormous 264 feet high, towering about 26 stories above Chicago. It had 36 gondolas (cars housed within glass and locked doors) and accommodated up to 60 (40 seated, 20 standing) passengers. Over 1.4 million people paid 50 cents for a 20-minute ride on the wheel through the next 19 weeks of the World’s Columbian Exposition.
After the exhibition, the Ferris wheel was moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904 for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and destroyed there on May 11, 1906, with dynamite for scrap metal. Some dismantled parts of Ferris’ original design were used to make the U.S.S. Illinois, a World War I battleship, and to construct a bridge over the Kankakee River, south of Chicago. Although Ferris lived a short life – dying at the age of 37 due to typhoid fever – his invention lives on, enjoyed by fun lovers around the world. Now, you could find Ferris wheels everywhere: in tourist parks, festivals, carnivals, and different kinds of celebrations.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 14, 2022 12:38:03 GMT
Valentine's Day – February 14, 2022~U.S.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14, and we are ready to shower our significant others with love and tokens of our affection. Unlike National Boyfriend Day, this day isn’t just for the boyfriends — anyone and everyone can be shown some love today. This day of love is celebrated in so many ways, it is always exciting to see what new traditions are included or created year after year. Whether it is elaborate engagements, intimate dinners for two, spending time with  , or the most recent variation ‘Galentine’s Day’. It is a holiday we all can enjoy!
WHEN IS VALENTINE'S DAY 2022?
Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day on February 14. Even though we believe that love should be spread and celebrated every day, we don’t always remember to do that. So on this dedicated day, go above and beyond in expressing your love for , friends, and of course, your significant other.
HISTORY OF VALENTINE'S DAY
The believed origins is that it came from the feast for the patron saints named Valentine, by the Catholic Church during the in 496 AD. This was a way to over shadow and later replace the deemed brutal Pagan festival of Lupercalia. This festival was celebrated at the beginning of spring and paid homage to the Roman God of Agriculture, Faunus, on February 15. A goat and dog would be sacrificed symbolizing fertility and purity, respectively. This would then involve the hide of the goat being torn into strips, dipped in the sacrificial blood, and painted across the women and crops.
Despite there being many Valentines associated with the patron saints day, historians believe that the romanticized element of how Valentine’s Day is celebrated today came from a priest who was martyred by emperor Claudis II Gothicus in around 270 CE. Varying stories talk about different St Valentines with some saying one was marrying couples in secret to prevent men going off to war, another healed the blind, and the next wrote a message to his daughter signed ‘your Valentine’. There is also a possibility that they could be the same person!
It was during the 1400s that the day was associated with romance. Messages, or ‘Valentines’ as they were called, began to appear. Hand written letters and poems declaring affections of love became more and more popular. In the mid-1800s, Valentine’s cards began to be commercially produced and traditional gifts were candy and flowers, especially red roses symbolizing love and beauty.
Today, Valentine’s Day has become inclusive of friends and to show how much you care and love them. Companies have seized the opportunity to fit their products and services into the Valentine’s Day period to benefit from the sales boost, as it continues to grow each year.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:40:17 GMT
National Wisconsin Day – February 15, 2022~U.S.
National Wisconsin Day on February 15 celebrates the state of Wisconsin, its history, and its hard-working people. Wisconsin was the 30th state to be accepted into the union of the U.S. With cheeses, beers, copper, and so much more, Wisconsin is a state that keeps on giving and we’re here to celebrate it.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL WISCONSIN DAY
Toward the end of the Ice Age, Paleo-Indians came to Wisconsin. It was inhabited by large animals such as mammoths, mastodons, and giant beavers, which the Paleo-Indians hunted. Eventually, these animals neared extinction and the Paleo-Indians moved to smaller animals such as deers and bison. By the early Woodland Period, plants became important in diets and small-scale agriculture, and pottery emerged in Wisconsin.
Jean Violet, the first known European inhabitant, arrived in Wisconsin in the French period and paved the way for innumerable other Europeans to follow. The British eventually gained full control of Wisconsin in 1763. The U.S. acquired Wisconsin in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. However, it didn’t exercise proper control over the state until the War of 1812. Even following this control, several wars were fought in and for Wisconsin. It was made a part of different territories before it became its own Wisconsin Territory in 1836.
Finally, on May 29, 1848, Wisconsin was officially signed into the union of the U.S., becoming the 30th state to join. Since then, it has been ethnically heterogeneous, a valuable resource, and an important player in modernizing government. It has attained many names such as the Dairy Land, Water Park Capital, Badger State, Copper State, e.t.c., in reference to the countless things that it has to offer. In 2019, Governor Tony Evers declared February 15 as National Wisconsin Day because he believed that Wisconsin, its residents, and anyone that worked hard historically to make the state what it is today deserved to be celebrated and recognized.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:42:23 GMT
World Hippo Day – February 15, 2022~International
World Hippo Day on February 15 celebrates the extraordinary hippopotamus and encourages people to take action to prevent its extinction. Did you know that before 1909, scientists placed hippos in the same group as pigs? Despite their outward similarities with pigs or wild boars, hippopotamuses are closely related to whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Hippos are semiaquatic mammals that are native to sub-Saharan Africa. They are herbivores and can weigh up to 2,000kg, making them the third-largest land mammal after elephants and rhinos. Hippos are primarily found in rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps.
HISTORY OF WORLD HIPPO DAY
Hippos are thought to have originated from a group of semiaquatic animals called Whippomorpha. This group later split into two branches around 54 million years ago. The first branch, which includes whales and dolphins, evolved to become complete aquatic cetaceans. The second branch became anthracotheres, a close ancestor of the common hippo.
During the Pliocene Epoch (over two million years ago), all branches of the anthracotheres went extinct, except those that evolved into Hipopotamidae. This group of hippo ancestors migrated to Africa around 35 million years ago and dominated the continent as one of the earliest large mammals. Between 16 and eight million years ago, the oldest known hippopotamid, Kenyapotamus, strived in the African continent. But the group that later evolved into the modern hippo was Archaeopotamus, which lived between 7.5 and 1.8 million years ago in Africa and the Middle East.
There were ancestors of the hippo in Europe and the British Isles before the last glaciation, including the European hippopotamus — Hippopotamus antiquus — Hippopotamus major, and Hippopotamus gorgops. But these species of hippos went extinct, and the exact reason is still unknown, although scientists hypothesize it might be because of man.
Ancestors of European hippos migrated to many Mediterranean islands during the Pleistocene, evolved, and later became extinct. These species of hippos include Cyprus dwarf hippopotamus, Hippopotamus pentlandi, Hippopotamus melitensis, and Hippopotamus creutzburgi. Between 50,000 and 16,000 years ago, all hippos in the supercontinent, Eurasia, went extinct.
In North America, there were anthracothere genera in the early Oligocene (over 23 million years ago), but no evidence of hippos has ever been found on the continent. Many attempts have been made to introduce the species into the U.S., but they have never been successful. That was until Pablo Escobar illegally imported four hippos to Columbia in the late 1980s. This population of hippos has since grown to about 100.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:44:21 GMT
Tourism Day – February 15, 2022~Taiwan
Tourism Day in Taiwan is observed every year on the 15th day of the first Lunar month, and takes place on February 15 this year. It is a day to generate awareness about and promote tourism on the island of Taiwan. It highlights its culture, diversity, cuisine, etc.., in an effort to draw more tourist traffic and educate the world about what it has to offer.
HISTORY OF TOURISM DAY
Taiwan has been around for tens of thousands of years. Around 3000 B.C., peasants settled here, possibly reflecting today’s Taiwanese indigenous people. The island of Taiwan has gone through its fair share of political fluctuation. It was first colonized by the Dutch, and later became part of the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and then the Empire of Japan. After the end of World War II, the Republic of China took control of Taiwan and ruled it as a single-party state for forty years. It was only in 1996 that the first direct presidential elections took place.
Taiwan developed pretty quickly. The Bank of Taiwan was created to get Japanese private sectors to invest in it, and by 1905, it became one of the most developed places in East Asia. Taiwan achieved financial independence in no time. The Taiwan rail system was put in place and irrigation systems were employed to promote better and more efficient agriculture and transportation. The economy took a hit after World War II, however, under the rule of the K.M.T. government. Backed by American aid, Taiwan was able to recover quickly.
Tourism in Taiwan is one of the major industries and contributors to the economy of Taiwan, with roughly 10 million international visitors in 2015. From museums and national parks to tree plantations and night markets, Taiwan has something for every tourist and every kind of trip. Tourism Day is celebrated annually on day 15 of the first Lunar month to promote the industry.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:46:35 GMT
Susan B Anthony Day – February 15, 2022~U.S.
Susan B. Anthony Day is celebrated on February 15 every year. This day marks the birth of Susan Brownell Anthony, who was one of the most influential women in American history. To honor this day, memorial ceremonies are held at her gravesite in Rochester, which is also the town that she was born in. Similar services are offered in other places like Washington D.C. Anthony fought a lifelong battle for suffrage for women, equal labor, and educational rights for women. She also took a stand against the practice of slavery and the consumption of alcohol. It is because of Anthony’s persistence that American women today vote freely.
HISTORY OF SUSAN B ANTHONY DAY
Anthony was born into a Quaker , and the principles of equality and integrity were part of her life from a very young age. In 1826, she was sent to study at Canajoharie Academy, a Quaker school at which she went on to become head of the girls’ department.
When her became involved in the abolitionist movement to end slavery, Anthony was introduced to the world-renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The friendship forged between the two would prove to last decades.
In later years, Anthony devoted her time to social issues such as limiting the sale and production of alcohol. While campaigning for the temperance movement, she was refused a chance to talk at a convention because she was a woman. This led her to realize that women would never be taken seriously in politics unless they had the right to vote.
In 1851, Anthony met the popular women’s rights activist, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the rest was history. Before long, they joined hands to form the National Woman Suffrage Association. In the process, Anthony traveled far and wide, campaigning on behalf of women in numerous states. She also started petitions demanding that women gain the right to vote and to own property.
Anthony fought tirelessly into her last years. She even met with President Roosevelt in 1905 and put forth her draft in support of granting voting rights to women. Unfortunately, she didn’t live to witness the historic feat of the American constitution passing the 19th Amendment in 1920, giving all adult women the right to vote.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:48:55 GMT
St. Skeletor's Day – February 15, 2022~U.S.
St. Skeletor’s Day is celebrated annually on February 15, the day after Valentine’s Day. It’s a day for those who hate love. Okay, fine: maybe not hate, but you know what we mean. Valentine’s Day can be extra annoying when you’re single. We’ve all been there — single and irritated by the sight of red and pink hearts, couples doing gushy things, or anything related to love. St. Skeletor’s Day is a day for you to vent
HISTORY OF ST. SKELETOR'S DAY
Valentine’s Day, or St. Valentine’s Day, is celebrated on February 14 every year. It was originally meant to be a day honoring two Christian martyrs named Valentine, but it eventually came to be known as a day of romance and love. Although there is no evidence of Valentine’s Day being a celebration of love, the earliest record of the same comes from Chaucer’s poem “Valentine’s Day”.
As the day made its way around the world, people began exchanging handwritten love notes. These rapidly grew in popularity, and printers began producing mechanical valentines such as a collection of doodles and love notes. This further turned into greeting cards, gifts, flowers, and before you know it, Valentine’s Day became commercialized. Companies like Cadbury and Hallmark recognized the business opportunity and established themselves as key players in this holiday.
It’s all cute and lovable if you have someone to love and be loved by; however, Valentine’s Day is anything but pleasant when you’re single. No one wants to be surrounded by overpriced teddy bears, couples indulging in heavy P.D.A., and everything dressed up in red and pink packaging. Every V-Day reference is a reminder of how single you are and nobody enjoys that. This is where St. Skeletor’s Day comes in. In 1998, comedian Richard Herring recognized the need for singles to have a day to peacefully hate love, and St. Skeletor’s Day provides the opportunity to do just that. It is named after Skeletor, an antagonist of the Masters of the Universe franchise, and is observed every year on February 15.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:51:10 GMT
Lantern Festival – February 15, 2022~China
The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival commemorated every 15th day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar. It usually falls in February, and it signifies the last day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. Even as early as the Western Han Dynasty, it was already celebrated as a festivity with great importance. During the Lantern Festival in ancient times, the lanterns were moderately simple. It was just the emperor and great noblemen who had large elegant lanterns. In modern times, lanterns have become enhanced with several complex designs. Some lanterns are now frequently made in the shape of animals.
HISTORY OF LANTERN FESTIVAL
The origin of the Lantern Festival has brought about various beliefs and conceptions. However, its roots go way back to over 2,000 years ago and are famously associated with the dynasty of Emperor Ming at the time when Buddhism was evolving in China. Emperor Ming was a supporter of Buddhism, and when he noted how Buddhist monks would often light lanterns in temples on the 15th day of the first lunar month. He decreed that all households, temples, and the imperial palace light lanterns on that evening. So from there, lighting lanterns developed into a folk custom.
But there’s another origin, most likely a legend — the observation of the declining darkness of winter and how the community can move about at night with human-made light. During the Han dynasty, the lantern festival was associated with Ti Yin, the deity of the North Star. Some other legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism. Tianguan, being the Taoist deity responsible for good fortune, has his birthday on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is believed that Tianguan likes all types of entertainment, so his followers organize various activities during which they pray and plead for good fortune.
Yet another widespread legend about the origins of the Lantern Festival talks about an elegant crane that flew down to earth from the heavens. After it landed on earth, it was hunted down and slaughtered. This annoyed the Jade Emperor in heaven, and in his anger, he formed a storm of fire to engulf the entire village. Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty gave special allure to this event. In 104 B.C., he declared it as one of the most significant celebrations and decreed that the ceremony be held throughout the night.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:54:36 GMT
Annoy Squidward Day – February 15, 2022~U.S.
SpongeBob fans celebrate Annoy Squidward Day on February 15 every year. Those who watch the famous show regularly are familiar with Squidward, the unsatisfied co-worker of SpongeBob, and how annoyed he is with the antics of his all-too-cheerful co-worker. Annoy Squidward Day is actually a reference to one of the episodes in which Squidward becomes exasperated by SpongeBob and declares it to be Annoy Squidward Day. Fans seem to have picked on this joke and turned it into an annual holiday in real life. The day gives fans an opportunity to celebrate their love for these delightful characters and come up with creative ways to mark this holiday.
HISTORY OF ANNOY SQUIDWARD DAY
Annoy Squidward Day was invented after the episode titled “Employee of the Month” aired in the late 90s. The “SpongeBob SquarePants” series revolves around the adventures of SpongeBob and his pals, who live in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. Touted to be the fifth-longest-running American animated show, SpongeBob has now become a successful media franchise.
In the series, the character of Squidward Q. Tentacles is shown constantly being irritated by the main character, SpongeBob SquarePants. In the “Employee of the Month” episode, Squidward becomes so annoyed by SpongeBob at work that he announces it is “Annoy Squidward Day!” On hearing this, SpongeBob annoys Squidward even more by pointing out to a calendar and correcting him that Annoy Squidward Day is actually on the February 15. This episode made all the SpongeBob fans celebrate Annoy Squidward Day on February 15. “Employee of the Month” appeared on the first season of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” series. Ever since the series first aired in the 90s, it became one of the longest-running shows of Nickelodeon. Apart from the T.V. show, several SpongeBob movies have successfully run in theaters.
The first SpongeBob SquarePants Movie came out in 2004. The second SpongeBob movie, “Sponge Out of Water,” was released in 2015. The third movie of the SpongeBob franchise, “Sponge on the Run,” came in 2020. The series has won numerous awards including British Academy Children’s Awards, Commie Awards, Emmy Awards, ASTRA, B.M.I., and Kids Choice Awards.
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 13:57:45 GMT
Singles Awareness Day – February 15, 2022~U.S.
Singles Awareness Day is on February 15, so if you’re single and totally despise Valentine’s Day in all of its commercial glory, this is the perfect holiday for you.
Originally, Valentine’s Day became a SAD (Singles Awareness Day) day for people without significant others, so they decided to revolt and take that acronym back. They chose empowerment and self-love instead of indulging in a self-loathing soiree.
In the words of pop sensation, Lizzo, “True love finally happens when you’re by yourself.” Singles Awareness Day is now celebrated by loving yourself!
WHEN IS SINGLES AWARENESS DAY 2022?
Singles Awareness Day is February 15th, the day after Valentine's Day.
HISTORY OF SINGLES AWARENESS DAY
Like all great movements, Singles Awareness Day was created from feelings of isolation. Around 2001, Dustin Barnes decided to create a day for his group of friends to enjoy their singleness rather than drown in their sorrows. This group of high school boys not only chose February 15 as a protest of Valentine’s Day but also realized they could score candy and love-themed items at a huge discount. What’s better than chocolates and truffles? 50% off of chocolates and truffles, of course.
Dustin carried the tradition from his high school on to Mississippi State University, where the holiday gained popularity. Singles Awareness Day was legitimately copyrighted in 2005 and continued to grow from there. Considering that almost half of the U.S. population is single, according to census results, it’s no surprise that this day became so popular. College students began celebrating the day with their single friends by exchanging gifts, throwing parties, and going on friend dates.
Now adults of all ages celebrate the day as a reminder that you don’t need a relationship to celebrate love. You can love yourself, your , and your friends. There’s no reason to feel lonely around Valentine’s Day when love is all around you. The holiday continues to evolve as people own their singleness and express self-love. The hashtag #SinglesAwarenessDay currently has over 55,000 posts on Instagram and counting.
Ultimately, Dustin found a singles church group where he met his wife. By celebrating Singles Awareness Day, you could potentially meet your future spouse. You never know!
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Post by pennmom on Feb 15, 2022 14:00:42 GMT
Liberation Day Afghanistan – February 15, 2022~Afghanistan
Liberation Day in Afghanistan is celebrated on February 15 every year to commemorate the final departure of the Soviet army from the country on the same date in 1989. The Soviet-Afghan war was fought for nearly 10 years, and close to 2 million Afghani civilians were killed in the conflict. The Soviet-Afghan war was a Cold War-era proxy war fought between the Soviet Army and the Mujahideen, backed by the U.S., the U.K., China, Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. By the end of the war in 1989, Afghanistan had lost close to 11.5% of its population. Plus, seven million Afghans had become either internally displaced persons or refugees in countries such as Pakistan.
HISTORY OF LIBERATION DAY AFGHANISTAN
The history of Liberation Day in Afghanistan is the history of the Soviet-Afghan war, which began with the 1978 Saur Revolution. The revolution was a coup that toppled President Mohammed Daoud Khan’s autocratic government and led to the coming to power of the Marxist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (P.D.P.A.). When the P.D.P.A. came to power, they formed the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, and Nur Muhammad Taraki became its first Prime Minister. Later that year, on December 5, Afghanistan signed a treaty of friendship with the Soviet Union.
Due to the radical reforms introduced by the Taraki-led government, a rebellion broke out across the country, and by 1979, the country was in full-blown civil war. In September 1979, the deputy Prime Minister, Hafizullah Amin, had Nur Mohammad Taraki assassinated and assumed the leadership of the country. But the Soviet government was unhappy about this development, and the possible plans of Afghanistan defecting to the U.S.’s side forced the Soviet Army to invade the country on December 24, 1979. Amin was killed on December 27, and Babrak Kamal was installed as Prime Minister. That effectively started the Soviet-Afghan war.
This invasion of Afghanistan shocked the world, and the U.S.S.R received condemnations from various Islamic countries, including the West. In 1980, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution by a majority of 104 to 18, protesting the Soviet intervention. With that, the Mujahideen rebels began receiving support in the form of military training, finance, and aid, prominently from Pakistan, with help from the U.S., U.K., China, and Arab nations.
After close to 9 years of war with the Mujahideen rebels, the Soviet Union began withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan on May 15, 1988. By February 15, 1989, the Soviet government had withdrawn all its troops and left the Afghanistan government alone to battle the rebels. That marked the end of the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan.
Most historians and experts saw the war as one of the significant factors that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union and caused the U.S. to start its own war in Afghanistan in 2001.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Feb 16, 2022 15:52:41 GMT
Do a Grouch a Favor Day – February 16, 2022~U.S.
For those with a grouch in their lives — which is actually most of us — there is nothing better than Do A Grouch A Favor Day, which is celebrated on February 16 each year. Help a very grumpy person turn their mood around. So how do we help them experience the sweeter side of life? Read on…
HISTORY OF DO A GROUCH A FAVOR DAY
Grouch, grump, cross, irritable. These people go by many adjectives and appear almost everywhere. Most of us have a grouch in our life, whether it is a neighbor, a friend, a colleague, or even that guy you pass at the train station each morning. Many of us are also guilty of being grumps ourselves when the going gets tough.
This persona is so common, various ancient Greek plays feature a ‘grump’, a character so grouchy that they have no more purpose than to amuse us.
History is also full of such grumpy, grouchy people, as evidenced by all the stories about great visionaries. Newton is said to have held obsessive grudges against people, Beethoven became more recalcitrant upon losing his hearing, and even our own American presidents have had their moments. It’s not just the greats, either. We can only assume regular people have been, and continue to be, grouchy. After all, they had ample circumstances to be that way — the Great Depression, the World Wars, and even the financial crash of 2008.
This day comes at a time when the world is putting much stock into being positive. Billion-dollar book sales attest to the fact that self-help is a booming industry. Happiness experts and mindfulness apps regularly coax new subscribers into seeking inner peace and satisfaction. Even the U.S. Army is training its soldiers in positive psychology. Meanwhile, countries are judged by their ‘happiness index’, which rivals their G.D.P., if not surpasses it.
While we cannot pinpoint the origins of this day, we rather think this might be the brainchild of someone who is a grouch and secretly wants to be the recipient of nice gestures from people. That or Big Bird from “Sesame Street” is trying to stop Oscar the Grouch from grumbling again.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Feb 16, 2022 15:56:02 GMT
Elizabeth Peratrovich Day – February 16, 2022~U.S.
Honor the woman who began a new era in Alaskan racial relations; honor the American activist Elizabeth Peratrovich on Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, observed on February 16. She fought for equal rights for Native Alaskans her entire life, and so, on February 16 each year, Alaskans get together to commemorate this legend. While this is not a public holiday across the U.S., some Alaskan businesses, shops, and institutions close in honor of this day.
HISTORY OF ELIZABETH PERATROVICH DAY
Born an Alaska Native of the Lukaax̱ clan of the Tlingit nation (also spelled Tlinkit), Peratrovich faced discrimination from a very young age. This is where the seeds of her activism career were sown.
She married fellow activist Roy Peratrovich in 1933, and eight years later, moved with her to Juneau, Alaska for better access to lawmakers who could help the couple affect change in their community. The couple faced the same discrimination there and were even turned away when trying to buy a house, on account of their racial identity. The same year they moved, in December, the couple spotted a ‘No Natives Allowed’ sign on the door of an inn. They were outraged at this and demanded action. They wrote a letter to Alaskan Governor Ernest H. Gruening, stating that native boys were fighting right alongside white boys in World War II, to protect the freedom the latter enjoyed.
This letter launched Peratrovich’s campaign to pass an anti-discriminatory bill. With the support of Governor Gruening, she pushed the bill to the House, where it failed in a tie vote in 1943. Peratrovich refused to be discouraged, however, and traveled with her husband around Alaska, urging Native Americans to join their fight.
By 1945, after years of work, a second anti-discrimination bill was put before the Alaska Senate. When asked by an opponent who these people, “barely out of savagery” were, who wanted to associate with people that had years of civilization behind them, Peratrovich had a clear response. She took the floor to say, “I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind the gentlemen with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind them of our Bill of Rights.” She also asserted that this bill would officially recognize the problem of racial discrimination and show intent to overcome it. Her passionate plea was met with thunderous applause and resounding favor state-wide. And perhaps best of all, the historic Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 was passed.
She continued her work until the day she passed at the age of 47. She was buried beside her husband in the shade of a Sitka spruce in Juneau’s Evergreen Cemetery. Each year on this day, a groundskeeper opens access to this gravesite for people to pay their respects.
In 1988, Alaska Governor Steve Cowper established Elizabeth Peratrovich Day on April 21 to honor her commitment to bringing racial equality to Alaska. To honor the day the Anti-Discrimination Act was approved, and the date of the celebration was later changed to February 16.
On this day each year, Alaskans honor her memory by revisiting her work and visiting her gravesite. Public monuments and parks are named after her, and she has a place of honor in everyone’s minds.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Feb 16, 2022 15:57:57 GMT
Innovation Day – February 16, 2022~U.S.
Innovation Day is commemorated on February 16 to recognize the role that new knowledge plays in making a country more advanced and powerful. This day is a great way to not only make the existing crop of scientists feel valued and appreciated, but it also inspires young people to pursue a career in technology and innovation. This special day celebrates the achievements of the scientific community and opens the doors to new technologies, inventions, and careers for the younger generation.
HISTORY OF INNOVATION DAY
Whenever an organization or an individual introduces a new service or product that can simplify a particular task for people, it is known as innovation. Innovation Day is one such event that acknowledges new ideas and discoveries.
The main idea behind this day is to appreciate the efforts of those inventors who are bringing innovation and change in the field of science and technology. The Science History Institute and the Society of Chemical Industry created this day to acknowledge those creators who have made revolutionary inventions in the past that are still as useful as they were years ago.
Innovation Day also motivates young children to be experimental and inventive in their fields of interest. The term ‘innovation’ started to gain popularity in the 19th century. It was in the same period when the Industrial Revolution for economic growth and development started in Great Britain. During this era, the main focus of inventors was on technical innovations.
Moreover, the rise of consumerism culture that began in the 1700s and spread in various parts of the world in the 1920s also encouraged different business organizations to come up with innovative goods and services. Labs for research and experimentation were also established in the U.S. and European countries that were funded by granting agencies and governments.
On Innovation Day, aspiring innovators, businesses, and scientists come together on a single platform to develop sustainable products and services for future generations.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Feb 16, 2022 15:59:59 GMT
Makha Bucha – February 16, 2022~Thailand
Makha Bucha falls on February 16, the full moon day of the third lunar month, and we are here to tell you how you can celebrate the day in the best possible way. Did you know that it has been more than 2,500 years since Siddharta attained enlightenment and became known as Buddha — The Enlightened One? Makha Bucha, also known as Magha Puja is observed to commemorate the meeting of Buddha and his first 1,200 disciples. Makha or Magha is the month, and Bucha or Puja means prayer. It is also called Saṅgha Day and Fourfold Assembly Day, and it is celebrated in parts of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
HISTORY OF MAKHA BUCHA
The exact origins of the birth of Buddha are not known. There have been conflicting theories, some suggesting that he was born around 600 B.C. while others in parts of Japan and Korea suggest that he was born in 800 B.C. Buddha was born as Siddhartha in Lumbini, present-day Nepal, in an aristocratic . When Siddharta was conceived his mother went to her father’s place in Kapilavastu. As a youth, Siddharta had the privileges of life. His father Suddhodana was the hereditary monarch of the Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty).
Later, when Siddharta stepped out of the kingdom, he faced the realities of life. He saw poverty, suffering, and death, which deeply moved him and gave him existential crisis. Siddharta decided to leave his kingdom and the pleasures of life and lead the life of an ascetic. And thus, Siddharata started meditating. It is during this time that he realized the importance of the Middle Path, that is, creating a balance between self-indulgence and severe asceticism. In Bodh Gaya, sitting under the Mahabodhi tree, Siddharta attained enlightenment and became known as Buddha — The Enlightened One.
Ten months after the enlightenment followed the events that led to Makha Bucha. The first 1,200 disciples of Buddha, who have attained enlightenment themselves, gathered to see Buddha without being summoned. It was also the full moon night of the third lunar month. This day came to be celebrated as Makha Bucha. It is said that it was also the day Buddha appointed Sāriputta and Moggallāna as his two main disciples.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Feb 16, 2022 16:01:24 GMT
National Almond Day – February 16, 2022~U.S.
You can toss them in a salad, ground them into flour, use them for a healthy alternative to milk, or just munch on a few for an afternoon snack. Almonds are among the most versatile and delicious of nuts. Filled with vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber, almonds are wonderfully healthy and may even help fight heart disease. So on February 16, National Almond Day, let’s pay tribute to these tiny powerhouses packed with goodness!
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, or the most recent variation ‘Galentine’s Day’. It is a holiday we all can enjoy!