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Post by pennmom on Mar 11, 2022 11:28:56 GMT
National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day – March 11, 2022~U.S.
National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day on March 11 gives us the opportunity to honor these noble professionals that are plying their trade all across the U.S. Planning a funeral is a somber and upsetting experience for those unfortunate enough to lose a loved one, and it takes empathetic and understanding funeral directors and morticians to make the whole process a little more bearable. Without their efforts, our loved ones wouldn’t get the sendoff they deserve and their passing would be an even more distressing experience. March 11 is a day to say  .
HISTORY OF NATIONAL FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND MORTICIAN RECOGNITION DAY
Funeral rites can be traced as far back as human culture itself with early homo sapiens over 300,000 years ago known to have carried out rituals when a loved one died. The beginnings of the mortician profession goes back thousands of years. From the Ancient Egyptians and their grandiose tombs to the new methods of burial we see today, such as biodegradable urns and water graves, the end-of-life rituals have been shaped through innovation.
Religion has always been at the center of how funerals are carried out. In Ancient Rome ceremonial undertakers were employed to announce the funeral by wailing loudly. The more actors who were crying aloud at your funeral, the wealthier you were.
It was typically down to women to prepare the dead body. The gender roles began to change during the nineteenth century and for the past 100 years or so it has become a male-dominated industry, especially with the development of funeral directors.
Nowadays funeral directors and morticians dedicate their lives to helping families and communities in giving a proper sendoff to their loved ones. Both morticians and funeral directors study mortuary science attaining at least an associate degree or higher. Their degree is followed by a 1-3 year apprenticeship and obtaining all licenses needed. Their compassion and understanding during what is a difficult time is unrivalled, and that is why in 2008 March 11 was declared as National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 11, 2022 11:32:20 GMT
Middle Name Pride Day – March 11, 2022~U.S.
Middle Name Pride Day is celebrated on the first Friday of the first full week in March. This year, it takes place on March 11. When a baby is born, the parents or grandparents would usually give it a name. Naming a child is a big responsibility that adults take very seriously, debating over how their choices could affect the child’s life, and often choosing first and middle names that are meaningful both on their own and together. Middle names were born as a means to commemorate older, or often, dead  members, or godparents. However, some people don’t know much about their middle names. This is the perfect day to ask our parents about them. It is a great exercise to learn about our deeper identity, and sometimes, the stories of the relatives who lived before us.
HISTORY OF MIDDLE NAME PRIDE DAY
The origin of middle names has some interesting context. Historians do not know the exact date they first appeared in English-speaking countries, but records indicate that the practice may have first been used in the upper classes. The earliest similarity to middle names can be found in Ancient Rome where men from aristocratic families had a personal name, a name, and a sobriquet that was usually self-given or indicative of the person’s personality or branch. However, this practice was lost long before the fall of the great Roman Empire.
Europeans of royal and noble birth used middle names in their real sense in the Middle Ages, usually having a given name, a baptismal name, and a name. Immigrants to America in the 16th to 18th century took this trend to the new world, eventually losing the religious precept. It was still common by the 17th century for those of high birth to have many names — the perfect example is the pretender to the British throne James Francis Edward Stuart — and it remains the practice in modern royal families. For example, Queen Elizabeth II of England’s full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.
The great thing is Middle Name Pride Day may reveal a lot more than just our middle names. Different countries and cultures have varying traditions when it comes to naming children, so this is also the day to discover the traditions surrounding middle names that are new and unique to us. In some countries, middle names reflect the mother’s maiden name. In others, they honor a close relative or friend. Other people choose middle names because they simply like the sound, meaning, or significance behind them, or even the acronym created with the full initials.
Middle Name Pride Day is all about being proud of the name that’s usually restricted to the first letter. The holiday organizers encourage revealing our middle names to at least three people today. As part of the Celebrate Your Name Week, it was established in 1997 by American onomatologist Jerry Hill.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 11, 2022 11:35:46 GMT
311 Day – March 11, 2022~U.S.
311 Day is celebrated annually on March 11. While we do have a number for emergency services, what happens when we have a legitimate question but it does not fall under the emergency category? The 311 system is exactly for that and it helps residents report issues, find out about city services, and solve queries.
HISTORY OF 311 DAY
311 has evolved into a multi-channel service that connects citizens with the government. The proliferating technology now also provides a wealth of data that improve how cities are run. Baltimore was the first city to bring 311 into the works as a police non-emergency number in January 1999, followed by Chicago, which was quick to jump onto the bandwagon and initiate the first comprehensive 3-1-1 system providing information and tracking city services from intake to resolution.
In fact, the Chicago 3-1-1 has won numerous national awards, including the Innovations in American Government Award from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2003. Proving to be worth its mettle, it not only provided seamless delivery of city services to residents, but the call center also serves as a backup to the city’s 911 call center.
Today, the 311 system is available in most major cities and is moving to smaller towns across the United States. In 2020, seven Google.org Fellows worked with the City of San José. Google and San José along with Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, and  Clara County, founded 311 Day. This was to increase awareness of the non-emergency number and honor the ‘first’ first responders who field these calls and assist people.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 11, 2022 11:38:40 GMT
National No-Code Day – March 11, 2022~U.S.
National No-Code Day on March 11 celebrates individuals, businesses, and other networks that create and automate without using code. Started by the no-code automation leader Zapier, the day aims to promote the no-code movement and create awareness for businesses and organizations to do more without code. No-code tools allow anyone to automate workflows, connect and create apps, and build scalable systems for their entire company.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL NO-CODE DAY
Started by Zapier in 2022, National No-Code Day celebrates the no-code movement and encourages more people to build things online without code. With no-code tools, anyone can build apps, create workflows, and automate processes, regardless of their technical ability. It’s all done on a visual interface and requires no knowledge of programming.
Zapier was founded on these principles and has since become the leader in no-code automation. Since 2011, businesses all over the world have used Zapier to transform the way they work. Along with other no-code tools, Zapier has led the charge to make automation accessible to anyone, not just folks with a background in technology.
Many businesses are now embracing no-code technology, and Gartner predicts that by 2024, no-code and low-code development will account for approximately 65% of all web development. National No-Code Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the early adopters and promote no-code to every business and organization that can benefit from it.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 12, 2022 15:32:33 GMT
Alfred Hitchcock Day – March 12, 2022~U.S.
Known as the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock is a pioneering film director who brought us some of our favorite classic horror films. From The 39 Steps to Psycho, Hitchcock developed innovative filmmaking techniques that influenced generations of future filmmakers and changed the way we view horror and mystery.
Hitchcock directed over 50 films throughout his career and introduced the world to iconic characters, film shots, and directorial conventions. Drawing on his austere childhood and exacting parents as well as the work of German Expressionist artists, Hitchcock became an expert at nerve-wracking suspense, twist endings, and psychologically complex characters.
HISTORY OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK DAY
Born in London at the dawn of the 20th century, Alfred Hitchcock grew up in an austere Catholic , with a childhood he later described as lonely and sheltered. Throughout his later life, elements of his childhood, such as being forced by his mother to stand at the foot of her bed as punishment, made their way into his films.
Hitchcock first got into the British film industry as a title card designer for silent films, later becoming an assistant director. He directed his first feature in 1925, and never looked back. By 1939, he relocated to Hollywood and worked on one of his best-loved movies, “Rebecca.” He continued to churn out hits like “The Birds” and “Psycho”, scandalizing and tantalizing audiences worldwide.
Over his 60-plus-year career, Hitchcock directed more than 50 films, some of which no longer exist. From “Rebecca” onward, the director also made brief cameos in all 39 of his remaining films. Between 1955 and 1965, he hosted and produced “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, a mystery anthology series. The show’s credits open with an illustration of his famously rotund silhouette, drawn by the director himself, and presents a new thriller or mystery story each episode.
Hitchcock remained active throughout his life. In 1960, he was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame with two stars, for TV and film. He’s widely recognized as the most influential director of all time. He was knighted in 1979, shortly before his death in his sleep in his Los Angeles home.
Since Hitchcock was born in August, the origins of March 12 as National Alfred Hitchcock Day remain a mystery — a fitting tribute for the Master of Suspense himself.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 12, 2022 15:35:31 GMT
Aztec New Year – March 12, 2022~Mexico
Aztec New Year in Mexico falls on March 12 every year. It signifies the start of the New Year according to the Aztec calendar. We often imagine time as a linear concept — a straight line running from point A to B. The Aztecs took a radically different view. Time was a force. It provided energy and change. Time was often a harbinger of miracles. The Aztecs viewed it through a lens of continual creation, destruction, and regeneration. Given the ebb and flow of life itself, we think they were spot on. Aztec New Year celebrates an ancient culture whose ideas still find resonance today.
HISTORY OF AZTEC NEW YEAR
Falling on March 12 each year, the Aztec New Year celebrates the start of the year according to the Aztec Calendar. It’s a date with plenty of symbolism, traditions, and celebrations.
The holiday is special to Nahua communities in Mexico — groups of indigenous people who live in Mexico and parts of El Salvador. In the original Nahuatl, the holiday is called ‘Yancuic Xihuitl.’ Nahuatl is a fascinating language with numerous dialects and has Uto-Aztecan roots. The Nahua communities today speak a mix of both Nahuatl and Spanish.
From 1300 to 1521, the Aztecs rose to power and influence as the center of Mesoamerican culture. They followed the Mexica or Aztec calendar — a 365-day calendar cycle comprising two parts that ran simultaneously. The first was the year count or xiuhpohualli. The second was tonalpohualli, or ‘counting of the days’ — a 260-day ritual cycle.
Yancuic Xihuitl celebrations today usually take place the night before, on March 11. Expectedly, the celebrations are spectacular. Cities like Nuapan, Huauchinango, Xicotepec, Zongolica, and Mexico City organize numerous events on this day.
Celebrations commence with ceremonial dances and songs set to the beat of traditional drums. Dancers come dressed in colorful traditional finery and quetzal feather headgear. Anyone fortunate to attend can attest to how mesmerizing these performances are. People present seeds as offerings and light ‘ocote’ or pitch-pine candles that produce aromatic and extremely flammable resin.
Towards the end of the ceremony, people burn a flag representing the year gone by and perfume a replacement flag. Finally, they welcome the New Year by blowing into conch shells — the same way their ancestors used to centuries ago.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 12, 2022 15:39:00 GMT
International Fanny Pack Day – March 12, 2022~International
International Fanny Pack Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in March every year. Though the name might imply it’s a day solely to celebrate fanny packs, the heartfelt meaning behind the day goes much deeper. A trend that hit in the 1980s, fanny packs are small pouches strapped around the waist for carrying little items, such as phones, money, and other items too small to warrant large bags. Whether you call it a waist bag, a belly bag, a belt bag, a moon bag, or even a bum bag, there’s no denying the usefulness of this accessory. The true history behind the day makes International Fanny Pack Day all the more special.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL FANNY PACK DAY
International Fanny Pack Day was invented in 2007 by a man called Nick Yates from Portland, Oregon. While returning from a party, Yates came across a homeless man, and out of compassion, he gave the man the fruitcake in his fanny pack. This encounter then inspired Nick Yates to start a charitable campaign to donate food to the poor and needy of society. This is how International Fanny Pack Day came into being.
Though the first observance of the holiday took place on the first Saturday in March, subsequent celebrations after 2008 were observed on the second Saturday in March.
Fanny packs have been a trend since the 1980s and were worn around the waist by both men and women. It was safe to carry valuable items without the fear of theft, as the purse is situated at the front of a person’s body where it can be properly guarded. They became the height of fashion during the 1990s but later fell into decline during the 2000s.
However, in 2012, some designers attempted to revive the trend, offering new designs, some going for as high as $1,995. They were called belted satchels or hands-free bags. In 2018, top celebrities, such as Kim Kardashian, Jaden Smith, and Rihanna, were seen wearing fanny packs that cost over a thousand dollars. Designers like Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton were responsible for spearheading this resurgence.
Though fanny packs are traditionally worn at the front of the body, the name implies that some people wore it at the back, above their buttocks. A fanny pack is also known as a waist bag, a belt bag, a moon bag, a belly bag, or even a bum bag. They can also be worn cross-shoulder style.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 12, 2022 15:42:45 GMT
![]() National Baked Scallops Day – March 12, 2022~U.S.
National Baked Scallops Day is on March 12 every year. Deep-fried, sauteed, baked — how do you like your scallops? This delicious seafood is a crowd pleaser both at home and in restaurants everywhere. And for good reasons. They’re delicious, low in fat, and taste great with all kinds of side dishes. Scallops sauteed in butter make our hearts flutter. But you know what’s even better? Baked scallops. Crispy golden on the outside. Tender bites on the inside. Utter dinner satisfaction!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL BAKED SCALLOPS DAY
Few things can compare to the sweet, rich taste of scallops. It’s easily one of America’s favorite seafood dishes today. But you’ll be surprised to know that this wasn’t always the case.
In the 17th century, people in America didn’t like the flavor of scallop meat. Its oddly sweet taste was unappealing to the general palate back then. Fishing communities in the Northern Atlantic preferred oysters, lobster, and clams over scallops. Although people harvested wild Atlantic scallops for food, their shells were far more appealing, not the meat.
Tastes evolved with time, and scallops began receiving more appreciation in the U.S. by the 19th century. The earliest written recipe for scallops was published in “Miss Beecher’s Domestic Receipt Book” in 1846. The recipe called for lightly stewing or sauteing scallops.
In the decades that followed, scallop recipes and dishes were everywhere. Recipe experimentation called for frying, stuffing, pickling, and steaming. However, the versatile, easy-to-cook scallop lent itself well to most cooking methods. By the 1930s, scallops were an inseparable part of the U.S. diet. Expectedly, they were a favorite of the people in coastal cities and towns. Delicious fried scallops at seaside shacks became regular fare.
Scallops soon began featuring in menus of French restaurants by the mid-20th century. Around this time, the Coquille St. Jacques found a massive fan following in fine dining restaurants across America. The dish combines scallops in its shell with butter, shallots, herbs, cream, and cheese.
A fine-dining seafood restaurant without scallops seems almost inconceivable today. Every establishment has its own take — Provençal, pan-seared, or even ceviche. But baking scallops are an excellent way to elevate this shellfish at home. So if you’re in the mood for a fancy dinner with none of the hassles, baked scallops are the way to go. |
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Post by pennmom on Mar 12, 2022 15:44:50 GMT
National Girl Scout Day – March 12, 2022~U.S.
Steel your resolve. Dieters, beware! There are Girl Scouts everywhere, and they’re all trying to sell you kryptonite … aka, their most delicious cookies. Whether your favorite flavor is minty Thin Mints or gooey Tagalongs, we can all agree that Girl Scout cookies make the world go round. They’re so good, they deserve a holiday. And they have one … of sorts. Get ready to celebrate this March 12, because it’s National Girl Scout Day! Part of Girl Scout Week, National Girl Scout Day commemorates the anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting. In 1912, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low organized the meeting in Savannah, Georgia. And Girl Scouts has only grown from there! So grab a cookie (or 12) and get ready to celebrate.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 12, 2022 15:47:27 GMT
National Plant a Flower Day – March 12, 2022~U.S.
National Plant Flower Day is on March 12 every year. We don’t know about you, but flowers make us an infinitely nicer and happier bunch! We love how they’re just meant to bloom — no questions asked. The flower’s approach to life is worth emulating! Not only do they bring us joy, but there’s a flower for virtually every mood. Whether expressing grief, love, gratitude, or appreciation, flowers say it best when words fail us. So let’s spread the love and plant more flowers this National Plant a Flower Day.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY
Flowers have changed the face of the earth, quite literally, ever since they made an appearance in the Cretaceous period over 145 million years ago. Before flowers, the world was abundant in ferns and conifers – an endless expanse of green idyll.
Thanks to insects and dinosaurs plowing their way across, flowers diversified rapidly. The explosion of plant varieties and color cascaded into the birth of several plant families we know today.
Flowering plants are vital to existence. They’re food sources that provide humans and animals the sustenance we need to survive.
More than anything, flowers have an uplifting quality that captures the imagination. Many flowers bloom just for a short period, usually in spring or early summer. Although short-lived, few things compare to the beauty of flowers in full bloom. Perhaps their transient yet incomparable beauty inspired the symbolic meanings of flowers across various world cultures.
Across civilizations, flowers have retained certain myths and symbolism. Their fragility has come to represent death or new life. Sometimes they represent gods and goddesses too. But, there’s no denying how flowers in full bloom are a universal expression of joy.
During the late 1800s in Europe, a new concept around flowers became popular. These stunning blooms became a way to represent people’s feelings. Communicating through flower arrangements helped articulate the unsaid. Soon, codebooks to decipher the language of flowers would make communication easier. For example, a field clover meant, “When can I see you again?” A red rose petal meant “Yes.” Green flowers signified the receiver’s heart was made of stone!
The days of complex flower codes may be long gone, but flowers continue to bring joy and meaning to our lives. We may never know who came up with National Plant A Flower Day. The real question isn’t ”why?” but “why not?”
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:23:33 GMT
National K9 Veterans Day – March 13, 2022~U.S.
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Are you excited for National K9 Veterans Day this March 13, or are we barking up the wrong tree? Our little furry friends are already awesome as it is. But dogs who have been trained to serve our country are even more heroic. Plus, they look so cute and serious in their little uniforms. K9 dogs have been around ever since 1942, when an organization called Dogs for Defense was founded to train dogs to be sentries for supply depots. The program was approved by the U.S. Army in March 1942, the U.S. Army K9 Corps was founded on March 13, 1942, and the rest is history (literally). Get ready to celebrate America’s patriotic puppers!
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:25:36 GMT
Smart and Sexy Day – March 13, 2022~United States
Smart and Sexy Day is held annually on March 13, and we are pumped up to celebrate the skills, quick-wit, and ingenuity of magnificent women in their various career fields. Do you know that according to research, women constitute about 49% of the global workforce? And the number is set to increase as women have been actively seeking jobs and employment opportunities in recent times.
HISTORY OF SMART AND SEXY DAY
Women have been in the workplace since the beginning of time, even during the age of the prehistoric men who were all hunters and gatherers. In the agrarian societies, when men moved from hunters to farmers, women were at the forefront of processing farm produce and other tasks relating to their assigned role of a support system to the men folks at the time.
Historians have discovered and posit that many societies were once matriarchal, with women at the center of ensuring the continued survival and existence of the unit and subsequently the society. But in recent times and due to the new narratives in the global world of what women should do or not do, and which jobs are fit for which sex or not, it has been hard for a larger percentage of women to secure employment, although the gap is being steadily bridged now.
The idea of ‘Smart and Sexy’ is that women are intelligent and ingenious when it comes to career and workplace, and they also have the ability to dress with such confidence and professionalism that comes with the job. So it is a statement of feminism and competence, of beauty and brains.
Smart and Sexy Day is an initiative of the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (A.C.D.N.). It is held every year in several parts of the world to train and sensitize women to be self-confident in their lives as it relates to seeking job and career opportunities. The organization teaches women who attend the event job-seeking skills and how to maintain a professional wardrobe no matter how little funds they have.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:27:50 GMT
National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day – March 13, 2022~U.S.
National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day is celebrated every year on March 13. It’s a day to test the popular superstition that opening an umbrella inside will bring bad luck. Superstitions are baseless beliefs held by people that influence their behavior. They are irrational beliefs that performing or not performing particular acts will lead to either bad luck or good luck. National Open an Umbrella Indoors Day allows you to try your luck and see how your day goes!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS DAY
The creation of National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day is credited to Thomas Edward Knibb to encourage people to investigate if opening an umbrella indoors could bring a person bad luck.
An umbrella is also called parasol, brolly, bumbershoot, rainshade, sunshade, gamp, or canopy. It is an apparatus made of cloth on a metal frame, used to protect a person from rain, sunshine, and the elements. Umbrellas have been around since 1000 B.C. and were first designed by the Egyptians. They were mainly used by the nobility and were made from lotus leaves or feathers over a stick frame.
The invention made its way to China, also used by Chinese royalty. Servants were made to carry these leather, silk, or cloth contraptions over their masters during outings. However, the rest of the population was confined to using umbrellas made out of stout paper. Eventually, umbrellas spread to other parts of the world, such as Korea, Greece, Japan, Rome, India, and North America.
The superstition about opening umbrellas indoors can also be traced back to the ancient Egyptian era when Egypt worshipped the sun god. It was believed that the act of opening an umbrella indoors would displease their god, and so this was avoided at all costs. The superstition also has roots in the circumstances surrounding the umbrella in England during the 18th century. At the time, umbrellas were not as light and easy to operate. They were rigged with hard metal spokes and were much heavier than they are today. Thus, opening an umbrella inside, where others were likely to come to harm, was actually dangerous. The idea of opening an umbrella indoors progressed from a mere warning to a superstitious belief.
Another superstition is that merely opening an umbrella indoors can’t cause bad luck unless the umbrella is black.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:29:40 GMT
National Earmuff Day – March 13, 2022~United States
National Earmuff Day is celebrated on March 13 every year. Earmuffs are categorized as clothing accessories or personal protection equipment (P.P.E), specially designed to cup and protect the ears from either cold weather or noise. Designed by Chester Greenwood in the 19th century, earmuffs are a regular part of winter fashion and a necessity for construction workers. Their comfy fit and practical yet stylish design make earmuffs a crowd favorite. It’s a day to celebrate earmuffs by putting them on or giving them out.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL EARMUFF DAY
The creation of earmuffs is all thanks to a 15-year-old boy named Chester Greenwood. Faced with the problem of keeping his large ears warm during the winter season, he sought the help of his grandmother. After a day of ice-skating, he designed two ear-shaped loops of wire and enlisted his grandmother in sewing tufts of wool over the loops. They created a working model. This is how the first ever earmuff was made!
The earmuff became more than just an accessory to block out the cold and evolved into ear protectors, mostly used by construction workers who had to work in extremely noisy environments. On March 13, 1877, he was awarded a patent for these ear protectors, writing his name in the history books. For almost 60 years, Greenwood continued manufacturing ear protectors, providing more jobs to the community of Farmington, Maine, which is now the ‘Earmuff Capital of the World.’
Earmuffs have now become an essential accessory for those living in cold regions. Ear protectors, also known as acoustic earmuffs, are a lifesaver or perhaps an ‘ear-saver’ for construction workers. Some earmuffs have a ‘noise reduction rating’ of 33 decibels, able to almost completely block out any sounds.
Greenwood also has other inventions credited to his name, including an advertising matchbox, a variation of a steel-toothed rake, and a machine for producing wooden spools. The state of Maine honored Greenwood by declaring December 21 to be Chester Greenwood Day. Located in Farmington, the Chester Greenwood House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:31:35 GMT
National Jewel Day – March 13, 2022~U.S.
National Jewel Day on March 13 recognizes precious stones, special heirlooms, and the gems of people that make them! They have our hearts. Jewelry has the uncanny ability to make time stand still. In that moment, all we can see is its beauty. There is so much love and care that goes into crafting a single piece of jewelry. On National Jewel Day, we remember to appreciate and wear these delicate works of art.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL JEWEL DAY
The origins and founder of National Jewel Day are unknown. What we do know is that humans have always used jewelry as a form of adornment. In prehistoric times, people wore jewelry made from stone, bones, and shells to mark status.
As humans became more skilled at working with metals, jewelry-making became increasingly more sophisticated and decorative. As a result, the value of metals like gold began to grow over time. In the ancient world, people buried gold with the dead to serve their owners well in the afterlife.
Soon, jewels would come to signify a person’s status and rank. It was especially true in Medieval Europe with its intensely hierarchical society. The rich reserved the right to wear silver, gold, and other precious gems. Those belonging to lower ranks typically owned base metals like pewter and copper.
Jewelry also became flashier over the ages. Cutting techniques became more advanced during the Renaissance Age, which meant shinier stones and elaborate enamels encasing both sides of the stone. It was also during this time that people wore jewelry to signal political strength or religious affiliations.
By the 19th century, the world had grown increasingly weary with industrialization. So as a way to reclaim their souls and reject machine-led systems, jewelers of the time focused on creating beautiful, handcrafted pieces instead.
Since then, the art of jewelry making has continually pushed boundaries. It began with movements like art deco and art nouveau in the 1950s. By the 1960s, conventions would upend entirely. A radical new generation of creators redefined what we knew about jewelry. New technology and non-precious materials emerge each year. It means we can take concepts of status traditionally associated with jewelry and throw them out the window! Today we have jewelry made from textiles, paper, and even plastic. The symbolism may have evolved, but some things remain the same. Jewelry is a personal expression and brings everyone untold joy.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:33:34 GMT
National Good Samaritan Day – March 13, 2022~U.S.
National Good Samaritan Day, also known as Good Samaritan Involvement Day, is celebrated on March 13 every year. It’s a day to celebrate and encourage kindness and selflessness, despite our differences. The phrase ‘Good Samaritan’ is based on a Biblical parable. The day also commemorates the death of Catherine (Kitty) Genovese, who was killed in New York, a little distance from her own home. It is believed that Kitty would have lived if others had intervened during the attack. On this day, we’re reminded to be our brother’s keeper in all circumstances.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL GOOD SAMARITAN DAY
The term ‘Good Samaritan’ has its origins in a Biblical story, being one of the parables told by Jesus. When asked by a religious leader, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responded with this parable, which can be found in ‘Luke Chapter 10,’ from the 30th to the 37th verse. A Jewish man was traveling from the city of Jerusalem down to Jericho. On his way, robbers attacked him, stole his clothes, and left him half-dead on the side of the road.
A priest and a temple assistant came along, saw the injured man, and walked on by without offering help. Then came a Samaritan.
Samaritans were a class of people living in the northern part of the Kingdom of Israel during Biblical times. There was much animosity between the Jews and Samaritans, to the point that the two groups wouldn’t so much as speak to each other or pass through each other’s towns.
In the story, a despised Samaritan came upon the injured man and felt compassion for him. He bound up his wounds, put the man on his donkey, and took him to an inn, where he went even further by taking care of him. The next day, the Samaritan paid the inn owner and asked him to take care of the wounded man, promising to cover any extra expenses that might be incurred. Jesus concluded by asking his audience to “go and do the same.”
The celebration of this holiday is linked to the tragic death of Catherine Genovese, who was murdered in New York on March 13, 1964. Had someone intervened during the attack, Catherine might have lived. National Good Samaritan Day is a reminder to offer a helping hand to others as often as we can.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:35:29 GMT
National Coconut Torte Day – March 13, 2022~U.S.
National Coconut Torte Day is celebrated every year on March 13. It’s a day to celebrate a rich and creamy dessert that has people smacking their lips all over the world. A torte is basically a form of cake without flour. It is a dense, multi-layered cake made with breadcrumb or groundnut base and layered with a heavy helping of cream, jam, buttercream, ganache, or fruit.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL COCONUT TORTE DAY
Though the exact origins of National Coconut Torte Day are unknown, the word ‘torte’ is derived from a German word of the same spelling and pronunciation, which translates to ‘cake.’ However, it has also been linked to the Italian word ‘tort,’ which also stands for a round type of cake.
The word ‘coconut’ is derived from the Iberian word ‘El coco,’ which refers to a mythical, hairy monster, which must have been a nod to the coarse hairs outside a coconut. The name is said to have been bestowed by Spanish and Portuguese explorers. However, there has been controversy about the actual origins of the coconut fruit, as some say it originated in South Asia, in the Ganges Delta. Others believe it originated in South America.
The main ingredients required to make a tort are breadcrumbs or nuts, sugar, eggs, and flavoring. Add-ons depend on individual recipes and these may include icing sugar, buttercream, butter, or fruit toppings. There are no limits to the level of creativity used in baking a torte. To begin baking a torte, the oven should be preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Tortes are usually baked in springform pans, and the average baking time is 35 minutes to an hour.
The torte dessert is mainly a European confection. In Austria, the Sachertorte and Linzer Torte are some of the most famous kinds of torte. In Germany, the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte literally takes the cake. In Hungary, the multi-layered Dobos torte reigns supreme.
Despite their European origin, tortes are now eaten all over the world.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Mar 13, 2022 15:38:34 GMT
Sleep Awareness Week – March 13-19, 2022~U.S.
This Sleep Awareness Week® from March 13 to 19 is time to snuggle up and catch some Zs because you deserve some rest! Admit it, it’s likely you don’t let yourself get enough sleep. It’s not your fault, life is demanding. That’s why this March you owe it to yourself to get those extra hours you so desperately need. This annual event, created by the National Sleep Foundation, seeks to promote better sleep as a way to increase overall health and well-being.
HISTORY OF SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK
It’s a well-known fact that your sleep schedule is directly related to your overall mental- and physical health. Launched in 1998 by the National Sleep Foundation, Sleep Awareness Week® begins at the start of daylight saving time when most Americans lose an hour of sleep. The change to daylight saving time reminds us to make beneficial changes in our sleep routines to improve our sleep health. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 45% of Americans say that poor or insufficient sleep affected their daily activities at least once in the past seven days. The goal is to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep and to draw attention to the burden of sleep problems and promote the prevention and management of sleep disorders.
Sleep loss is a big public safety hazard every day on the road. Drowsiness has the ability to slow reaction time as much as driving drunk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that fatigue is a cause of 100,000 auto crashes and 1,550 crash-related deaths a year in the U.S.
Studies show that sleep loss and poor-quality sleep also lead to accidents and injuries on the job. In one study, workers who complained about excessive daytime sleepiness had significantly more work accidents, particularly repeated work accidents. They also had more sick days per accident. It also plays a critical role in thinking and learning. Lack of sleep impairs attention, alertness, concentration, reasoning, problem-solving, and makes it more difficult to learn.
Lastly, sleep deprivation has a serious negative effect on your chances of cardiovascular health, putting you at risk for a number of life-threatening conditions. So, for your own safety and the safety of others, make sure you allow yourself the time to rest, and if you can, no better time than the present!
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Mar 14, 2022 14:01:06 GMT
National Write Your Story Day – March 14, 2022~U.S.
National Write Your Story Day is on March 14, and this is another day to celebrate the uniqueness that we all possess, that distinguishing factor that sets us all apart; our story. Stories are beautiful and exciting to listen to or read, be it a personal story, ancient or modern. Stories serve the purpose of entertaining, educating, informing, and sometimes, innovating. We are excited about the innovation that birthed this special celebration and the essence it captures in our lives on this special day. What better way is there to know about this day than to get along with us!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL WRITE YOUR STORY DAY
Do you remember the way you felt on your first day as a student in a school environment or your experience in a new neighborhood, community, or country; making new friends, adjusting to the new life, and settling down to change; feeling the freshness, and the bubbles of freedom that ooze with excitement? You’d readily recount the experience of meeting your soulmate for the first time; that unexplainable feeling of completeness and wholesomeness. What about your first time working in a team and the feeling of clinching victory or the pains of losing? How often do you reminisce over the joy of finding your true purpose, that unforgettable date, and the graduation from college? This list is endless.
Everyone has a story to tell. Have you written yours? If not, why not? Story writing has been a part of human existence from the very first day the universe was formed. After all, the account of the creation of the world and man is documented as a story. What better ways are there to pass on our stories than to write them? Today, an elementary school pupil can relate to the story of the creation of America, the past and present leaders, heroes, and the trajectory of his dear country because written stories are at his disposal. Our story as a people is dear to us, and one of the best ways to pass on our experiences and major life events to posterity is to document them.
Mitzy, an author, artist, guide, and founder of Mitzy T.V., founded the National Write Your Story Day in September 2017. Subsequently, the celebration is held every March 14. And on this day, we encourage you to be committed to writing your story.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Mar 14, 2022 14:05:26 GMT
National Pi Day – March 14, 2022~U.S.
Pi Day is on March 14, and any day that combines fun, education, and pie is a day worth celebrating! Pi, also known by the Greek letter “π,” is a constant value used in math that represents the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter, which is just about 3.14….15…9265359… (and so on). Not only that, but the fourteenth of March is also Albert Einstein’s birthday, so all together it’s nothing short of a mathematician’s delight.
WHEN IS NATIONAL PI DAY 2022?
The beautiful constant pi (π) is celebrated by mathematicians around the world on National Pi Day on March 14.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PI DAY
To learn about pi, we need to go back a few thousand years and learn about this elusive number. The value of pi was first calculated by Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC), one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world.
However, it was first baptized with the Greek letter as its name when William Oughtred called it as such in his works dating back to 1647, later embraced by the scientific community when Leonhard Euler used the symbol in 1737.
But how did Pi Day end up in a country-wide phenomenon? For that, we need to travel to the Exploratorium in 1988 San Francisco, where it was thought up by physicist Larry Shaw.
Shaw linked March 14 with the first digits of pi (3.14) in order to organize a special day to bond the Exploratorium staff together, where he offered fruit pies and tea to everyone starting at 1:59 pm, the following three digits of the value. A few years later, after Larry’s daughter, Sara, remarked that the special date was also the birthday of Albert Einstein, they started celebrating the life of the world-famous scientist.
Pi Day became an annual Exploratorium tradition that still goes on today, and it didn’t take long for the idea to grow exponentially, hitting a peak on March 12, 2009, when the U.S Congress declared it a national holiday.
Now, celebrated by math geeks all around the circumference of the world, Pi Day became a pop culture phenomenon, with several places partaking in the activities, antics, observations and all the pie eating they can.
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members, or godparents. However, some people don’t know much about their middle names. This is the perfect day to ask our parents about them. It is a great exercise to learn about our deeper identity, and sometimes, the stories of the relatives who lived before us.
Clara County, founded 311 Day. This was to increase awareness of the non-emergency number and honor the ‘first’ first responders who field these calls and assist people.