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Post by pennmom on Apr 1, 2021 17:19:12 GMT
Thu Apr 1st, 2021
Fun Day
Everyone needs a little unstructured fun in their day, and Fun Day is perfect for having time dedicated to exactly that. It gives everybody the chance to unwind, relax, and get a little silly, released from the confines of orderly school and work routine to remember what life is supposed to be all about.
In today’s high-speed world, with its constant pressure to go farther, get more done, be more productive, and climb in our career, having a little fun often goes by the wayside. The stress of this lifestyle has been shown to have a constant and growing negative effect on the overall health of people. Fun Day is a reminder to break the stressful line of day to day living, and to go out and have some Fun!
History of Fun Day
Shaking off this stress allows everyone to slow down and take a break. Whether it’s for a few minutes or a few hours on Fun Day, people will feel refreshed and relaxed, with more energy to carry on with the rest of their day, whether they want to engage in more Fun, or need to get back to the dull humdrum of day-to-day existence.
By seeking out Fun, and improving your health, you’ll soon be able to take part in more exciting activities. Even if, right now, you’re only ready to tip your toes in the energy of Fun Day, the more you get involved, the more it will help people feel, and it could be that even those with the most extensive resistance to Fun Day will be running things next time around. This is what makes having fun so addictive. It’s enchanting, enamoring, and even if it feels elusive at first, it doesn’t take long to get dragged into the celebrations and feeling a little, or even a lot, better about yourself, each other, and the world around us all.
Having Fun is a proven way to make sure you have the opportunity to have more fun later, more often. Stress has negative effects on your immune system, making it easier to get sick and making you stay sick longer. By going out and having Fun, you can reduce your stress level and help bolster your immune system. For you workaholics out there, this means by slowing down and having fun, you’ll also have more days to work in by making sure you have less sick days, and who couldn’t use that?
Getting rid of stress will also help make a more effective, positive, and memorable first impression (for all the right reasons), especially for anyone who is starting a new job or given more responsibility.
Knowing those first impressions can’t be redone, Fun Day also reminds us that stress has a dramatic effect on our appearance. Skin becomes more sallow, acne outbreaks more frequently, and it becomes harder and harder to get rid of those bags under your eyes if you’re stressed all the time. After all, high-stress levels lead to not sleeping as deeply or as long, with insomnia being a major side-effect of having stress, and nothing makes someone look and feel better than a  ’s rest!
Fun also gives you a significant boost to your mood; every time you smile or laugh, you get a boost of endorphins. Endorphins are one of those chemicals the body releases that make you feel confident and satisfied with life in general. While you can get a similar effect by eating chocolate, just getting out and having a good time will boost your emotional state without increasing your waistline with it!
Fun also helps create bonds between people in a social environment. Nothing brings people and loved ones together like having a good time. There is little in our lives that isn’t improved by having fun with a group, whether as part of a BBQ, a night out at the movies, or just getting together and kicking around a ball. If you find your life lacking in Fun, make it a priority to go out and participate in things you enjoy that aren’t all centered on work.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 1, 2021 17:21:02 GMT
Thu Apr 1st, 2021
One Cent Day
One Cent Day is a day dedicated to the history and origins of the one cent coin, colloquially known as the penny. The one cent coin has been in circulation in the United States since 1793, but the modern image of the coin, bearing the face of American President Abraham Lincoln didn’t come into circulation until 1909. Previous to this date the coins bore the mark of a Native American in traditional head-dress. The name “penny” is a colloquialism derived from the English penny, though it is pluralized to “pennies” in the US, rather than the British “Pence”.
The image of Lincoln on the coins came to pass as part of a decision made by President Roosevelt to increase the artistic merit of the American currency system. To accomplish this goal he brought on a sculptor by the name of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to redesign the existing American coinage. His first projects were to change the designs of the one cent piece, as well as the four gold pieces in circulation at the time.
This was an auspicious day for the currency system of the USA, as prior to this no currency had ever borne the face of an actual person. This has created a long legacy of the appearance of people, primarily past presidents, on all sorts of American coinage. While the coins have undergone multiple changes throughout the years, one thing has remained consistent, Lincolns face has always maintained its place of honor on the American penny or “cent”.
The day of the coins release to the public, August 22nd 1909, was one of much speculation and interest among the public. The new coins design had not been released to the public, and so there was much conversation and debate about the appearance of the currency about to be released. Such was the level of interest that the Treasury facilities throughout the US had long lines form on that morning. Not anticipating the sheer amount of interest in the coin, those who were first in line were able to receive as many of them as they like, but as the day wore on, they had to be rationed out to the eager populace, each able to receive a mere 100 of the newly minted coins.
There was a bit of mayhem around these coins in the day to follow, with a penny going for as much as .25c among collectors and those who were eager to possess this fresh new coinage. Eventually this price came down to five cents, until finally the desire to obtain them waned and the coins settled into circulation.
For a short time, in 1943, the composition of the coin was changed to a zinc coated steel. There was a major call for copper during the war effort, and this resulted in the change from copper to steel. On the heels of the war, these coins were largely reclaimed and smelted back down, but some rare few still exist in circulation.
One Cent Day is a great day to recall the history of this coin! You can celebrate by making small purchases only in pennies, putting coins in the ‘need a penny, take a penny, have a penny, leave a penny’ trays at stores, or if you’re feeling especially adventurous, pave an entire floor with pennies! If you’ve got a local casino, you could go and play penny slots! Whatever the case, One Cent Day is the day to celebrate this coin and its long history.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 1, 2021 17:22:55 GMT
Thu Apr 1st, 2021
Reading Is Funny Day
If you have ever tried and failed at getting your child to put down the video games and pick up a book, this might be the day for you! Reading is Funny Day aims to show children that reading can be just as fun as more modern entertainment, whether it be with jokes, riddles, or funny stories.
Learn about Reading Is Funny Day
Reading Is Funny Day has been created for the purpose of showing young readers that reading a book can be just as enjoyable and entertaining as other forms of entertainment, for instance, playing a video game or watching the television. In order to ensure that books are as appealing as possible to younger children, this day focuses on books that are funny. Good examples include books of riddles, comedy books, and joke books.
A lot of parents experience the struggle to trying to get their children away from the computer screen. This is only becoming more and more difficult, as computers become more popular and ingrained in everyday life. However, you want your child to have varied forms of entertainment, and that’s why Reading is Funny Day is important. It gives you the perfect opportunity to pry your child away from the computer and to get them to embrace another form of enjoyment. By making them laugh and showing them how fun books can be, you can encourage your child to read books throughout the year.
History of Reading Is Funny Day
In order to understand the history of Reading Is Funny Day, we need to understand the history of a joke. We are sure you have heard plenty of jokes throughout your life, some good and some bad! From riddles to knock-knock jokes, there are certain formats that stick with us and give us the basis for a good joke. We’re sure you have heard plenty of jokes that ask why a chicken (or any other type of animal) crossed the road!
The oldest joke that has been saved is an ancient Sumerian proverb, which comes from 1900 BC. The second oldest can be dated to 1600 BC and it comes from the ancient Egyptians. This shows that throughout the ages, and no matter the differences in our cultures and way of life, one thing that we have enjoyed doing for as long as time is having a good laugh! You may be wondering what sort of jokes the ancient Egyptians found funny. Well, the joke from 1600 BC is as follows:
“How do you entertain a bored pharaoh? You sail a boatload of young women dressed only in fishing nets down the Nile and urge the pharaoh to go catch a fish”.
This joke was found scrolled onto papyrus and it is thought to be a dig at the Pharoah that was in charge at the time!
It was not until the 4th or 5th century AD that we started to see collections of jokes. What is so fascinating is that we still use a lot of these jokes today, such as those referring to people with bad breath and the absent-minded professor. At the time, the book was intended so that you could read it and then repeat the joke whenever the opportunity came about.
When the printing press was invented in the 15th century, you probably already know that one of the first books to be printed was the Bible. But did you know that one of the other first books to be printed was the collection of jokes we’ve just referred to?
It did not take long for joke books to take off either. Their popularity has been unquestioned ever since. In fact, one joke book that was released in 1470 was so popular that there were roughly 20 editions of the book generated in the 15th century alone! There are many books today that don’t get anywhere close to having 20 editions published!
Joke books today are still as popular as they ever have been. The way that they are consumed may be different, as a lot of people read online content and e-books, yet it’s unlikely we will ever see the day whereby jokes aren’t popular. Who would want to live in such a dull world?
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Post by pennmom on Apr 1, 2021 17:24:56 GMT
Thu Apr 1st, 2021
Sourdough Bread Day
If there’s one thing any sandwich connoisseur knows, it’s that most sandwiches are made better by the addition of sourdough bread.
Bacon Lettuce Tomato sandwiches? They’re always better with the bite and tang of sourdough. Burgers? Oh, yes, replacing a humdrum old hamburger bun with a butter-grilled sourdough bread pushes them to the next level. Tuna salad sandwiches? If there is anything that can make this already delicious sandwich better, it’s putting it on a couple of slices of toasted sourdough bread.
So is it any wonder that Sourdough Bread has its own day of celebration dedicated to it? It shouldn’t be a surprise!
History of Sourdough Bread Day
The History of Sourdough Bread is actually rather long. Sourdough bread is made from dough that has a mixture of the normal yeasts in symbiosis with a Lactobacillus culture. This is a really big word for the culture that gives the bread a slightly sour tang. And that is what makes it far superior to all other breads (well… depending on who is asked, of course). Plus, this culture also provides the bread with a longer shelf-life.
What is surprising isn’t that sourdough bread isn’t a standard in everyone’s pantry, but that it was actually one of (if not the first) forms for leavening bread in human history!
In fact, in some forms of bread, it is necessary to use sourdough cultures for the bread to even work at all. Rye bread has a remarkably low gluten count, making the typical baker’s yeast simply impractical for helping it to rise. Sourdough, on the other hand, happens to work perfectly in this type of bread. (See, we told you tuna went perfect with sourdough bread, that’s why tuna on rye is so amazing.)
In America, one of the most famous places where Sourdough is made is San Francisco, California. This is because French bakers brought the leavening to northern California to feed those hunting down that precious gold during the Gold Rush of the 1850’s.
So how did Sourdough go from being the favorite leavening agent for bread in so many places? Well, wheat-based breads don’t need the special properties of sourdough leavening, and it was gradually replaced by barm, a result of beer making. Eventually, when purpose grown yeasts came into play, they were easier to use and they began to take over the industry.
Sourdough Bread Day reminds us of the origins of one of the most important staples of our diet, and to remember that it still makes one of the most delicious breads available out there!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 2, 2021 23:53:23 GMT
Fri Apr 2nd, 2021
Ferret Day
The ferret is a much maligned and misunderstood animal, widely believed to be a smelly, quarrelsome, amoral, biting beast. All you have to do is take a quick look at some of the most popular children’s stories like Wind in the Willows to observe this phenomenon.
However, this stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth. Ferrets are often kept as working animals due to their agility and intelligence but are also increasingly known to make loyal and rewarding companions. Ferret Day promotes the true virtues of this cute, cuddly critter and furthers the welfare of ferrets everywhere.
History of Ferret Day
The word ‘ferret’ comes from the Latin for ‘little thief’, which perfectly captures these creatures’ nature of ‘ferreting’ things out. Humans are thought to have domesticated ferrets from the European polecat about 2,500 years ago, and historians believe this was most likely for hunting purposes, for example by the Romans. When Europeans traveled to America, they soon decided to bring ferrets to their colonies as a way of getting any rodent problems under control. And they’re still used to manage so-called plague species, such as rabbits, to this day.
Nowadays ferrets are of course relatively common household pets, but that’s not their only role in the modern era. These animals have also been used in many areas of research, such as the pathogenesis and treatment of various diseases, with fields such as virology, endocrinology and neuroscience using ferrets as experimental subjects. They’ve even been used in studies of Covid-19 and the development of a vaccine.
Ferrets also play a role in the construction industry due to their adeptness at running through pipes and cables. Thanks to their slender build, they’ve run wire for some of the most important events in recent UK history, such as the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Buckingham Palace and the London Millennium Concert in Greenwich Park.
Ferret Day was officially recognized in 2014, although it had in fact been created several years before that by Carol Roche, a New Yorker enchanted by her new pet, which she said was “as affectionate and social as a puppy and independent and playful as a kitten”.
Ferret Day seeks to celebrate these remarkable and resilient creatures as well as raise awareness about the best standards of welfare, nutrition and care. Ferret Day provides a focus for ferret lovers to work together and share their passion, as well as educate the wider public about this fine, upstanding member of the weasel  .
Ferrets in popular culture
In the UK, rural fairs and festivals organize ferret racing competitions in which the ferrets run through pipes while their owners bet on which animal will make it through first. There’s also a rather niche and unusual sport called ferret-legging – not for the faint-hearted, it involves putting a couple of ferrets down your trousers and seeing how long you can stand it, with the world record holder lasting five and a half hours!
Ferrets have even featured in well-known artworks. The most famous artistic portrayal of a ferret is undoubtedly Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine painting, dating back to 1490, which many scholars believe in fact features a ferret. There’s also a portrait of Queen Elizabeth the First with a pet ferret that’s wearing a tiny crown as a collar!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 2, 2021 23:55:40 GMT
Fri Apr 2nd, 2021
Walk to Work Day
Walking to work, who does that any more? We know with all the rushing around you have to do and hitting the snooze button 5 times before crawling out of bed and barely getting there on time in the car… who has time to WALK to work?
Well Walk to Work Day is a chance to change up your routine, add a little more time to it, and see how a slower start to your day can lead to a more efficient life overall. In this age of growing awareness about how being sedentary affects our health, walking to work can make a huge difference in our lives, and our lifespans.
History of Walk To Work Day
Of course, the heart of Walk to Work Day isn’t just based on our physical and emotional health but actually concerns itself with the health of the planet as a whole.
Prevention magazine promoted this holiday in 2004 and it was quickly picked up by the US Department of Health and Human Services. It was a strong mutual push for this holiday in the years to follow and continues to be celebrated and supported unofficially my people everywhere.
Walking to work provides amazing health benefits to the otherwise sedentary person. The extra time necessary to walk to work helps wake you up and spend time clearing your head and greeting the day in something less than a rush.
In a world where we so often forget that there’s more to life than working and sleeping, this extra time can help us take time to appreciate the things we usually miss. Whether it’s just the feel of the wind on our skin, the sun overhead, the rain falling down, the sound of birds or just the activity and life of the city around us, Walk to Work Day helps to reconnect us with our environment in some very important ways.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 2, 2021 23:57:40 GMT
Fri Apr 2nd, 2021
Poet in a Cupcake Day
If you are a literature nerd, then you’d know a little bit about poets and their history. They can be moody, sarcastic, and quite truthful at times. If you love the art of poetry and are looking for a way to express that love, then check out Poet in a Cupcake Day!
Poet in a Cupcake Day is a day all about celebrating your favorite poets while making your favorite cupcakes. If you’re interested, then read more below about the history of Poet in a Cupcake Day and see how you can take part in this sweet day.
History of Poet in a Cupcake Day
Poet in a Cupcake Day is a fun capstone day for Take Your Poet to School Week, a week-long event that began through the efforts of Tweetspeak. Tweetspeak is a poetry party collective that regularly hosts poetry parties where people can come, write poetry and submit them on Twitter or to their blog website.
Tweetspeak originally started as a small group of friends on Twitter who loved writing poetry online and in 2009 officially launched Tweetspeak to keep up with their poetry archives and help others express themselves in the world of poetics.
Since then, in 2015 Tweetspeak was acquired by T. S. Poetry Press, a publishing company that publishes poetry and other forms of literature.
Tweetspeak offers various ideas for literature fans to run with, but their most famous idea is the Take Your Poet to School Week, where each day is themed with a certain activity to help you express your love for your favorite poets.
One of those holidays is the Poet in a Cupcake day, where people can make their favorite cupcake flavors in line with their favorite poets. It’s a day of cupcakes and poetry, so why not have a little fun and celebrate Poet in a Cupcake Day!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 2, 2021 23:59:20 GMT
Fri Apr 2nd, 2021
World Autism Day
World Autism Awareness Day was established on December 18, 2007 by the United Nations. The General Assembly put together resolution 62/139, which consisted of four major elements. The participation of all UN organization and its member states, a dedication to raising awareness of Autism in the general community, and a standing request to the UN Secretary-General to move forth this message to all it the UN member states.
Autism affects approximately 1 out of every 150 children around the world. It is a neural development disorder that affects their ability to socialize normally by impacting their abilities to utilize verbal and non-verbal communication. Since 2012, there has been a 30% increase in the amount of children being affected with autism, and World Autism Awareness Day helps to bring awareness to this growing health concern.
Autism first appears very early on, sometimes manifesting as early as infancy, in other times waiting until later in childhood. The disease progresses steadily without remission, its first symptoms generally appearing around six-months, and being firmly in place by age two or three. Rather than having one distinguishing characteristic, Autism is indicated by the coming together of three separate symptoms. The triad includes difficulty socializing, problems in communication, and a limited number of interests combined with repetitive behavior such as can-stacking.
Autism is no longer classified as a single disorder, but rather an entire spectrum ranging in severity. Autism is the core of all of these syndromes, with its features being prevalent to varying degrees throughout, and includes such disorders such as Rett Syndrome and Childhood disintegrative disorder. One of the most commonly known disorders on the list, outside of Autism itself, is Asperger’s. Asperger Syndrome is signified by the presence of Autism symptoms with no impairment of language development.
Asperger Syndrome often leads to problems with social interaction with their peers. Common body language queues that are picked up on by those not on the Autistic Spectrum are often lost on those who suffer from AS. It is not uncommon among the Asperger community to hear them speak of their frustrations with non-Asperger people, as huge chunks of the conversation just seem utterly lost on them. Things such as tone, context, and sarcasm have to be considered very carefully, as they are not often native to those with AS, and their frustration with communication often stems from this and other social queues.
However, much like anyone on the Autistic spectrum, they will present with areas of intelligence that are much stronger than that of others. These areas tend to be in the reading, language, music, or spatial skills, occasionally manifesting to such a degree that they may fall into the “gifted” range in those areas. This seems to be counterbalanced by significant delays in other areas of development.
On WAAD, you can help raise awareness by hosting an event with local families with Autistic members, bringing them all together to be among others sharing their difficulties, challenges, and joys. You could contact local businesses and encourage them to light up their building blue to signal their support for those suffering from Autism, or you could even light up your own home. Spend WAAD reading about Autism and discussing it with others, and perhaps trying to gain a little understanding about this special group of people and the syndrome they live with.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 0:01:12 GMT
Fri Apr 2nd, 2021
Love Your Produce Manager Day
Love Your Produce Manager Day was initiated in 2012 to celebrate all the hard work that Produce managers put in to bringing us the best and brightest of the world’s produce straight to your storefront. Produce managers are members of a rarely seen group within a grocery stores administrative staff. They are responsible for choosing what produce their store is going to carry, and where it is going to be obtained from. The next time you are in the produce section of your grocery store, take a moment to look around and appreciate all the choices you have, and realize that someone has to keep those orders flowing, the shelves stocked, and new selections coming to you every day.
It is because of produce managers that we get such selections as ‘Chinese Gooseberries’, better known throughout the world as ‘Kiwifruit’. Interestingly, Kiwifruit is known as that due to a massive marketing campaign done by inhabitants of New Zealand. New fruit selections such as this generally only find their way into new markets by the request of patrons, or a specialty produce manager who decides to take a chance on a new offering.
Key industry representatives such as Frieda Caplan (who was a produce distribution company owner back in 1962 when she received the inquiry from a produce manager in Salt Lake City about the “Chinese Gooseberries”) respond to the feedback of their customers and other produce managers to bring such new fruits into the marketplace.
In addition to placing orders, they also have to set up the display and how everything is going to look to customers coming into the store. Just take a look around at the beautiful palette of colors, sizes, flavors, and options presented to you every time you go to the store. Your produce manager is the one who sat down and figured out where everything was going to go, and made sure it all got there. That handwriting you see in grease-pen on the signs? Almost certainly the painstaking work of a produce manager preparing her store to be ready to bring you delicious and fresh new produce.
Speaking of fresh new produce, one of the ways you can celebrate “Love your Produce Manager Day” is by going in and asking your produce manager what’s new and exciting today. They’ll be able to lead you to the freshest fruits, their new suppliers, and maybe even suggest some ways to serve the new delights they’ve brought out to your storefront. They generally love questions about their newest selections, and are always to hear back if you don’t care for a new provider of produce they’ve started using!
So go in to your local store and bring in a little something for your produce manager, be it a card or just a  note for making sure you have such a wonderful selection each year. Bring in your suggestions and requests of things you’d like to see in the store, you’d be surprised how rarely they have reason to order something new! If there’s something you’ve been wanting and it’s not there, just let them know! Love Your Produce Manager Day may only come once a year, but they’re at work the entire year round!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 0:03:19 GMT
Fri Apr 2nd, 2021
Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
Peanut Butter and Jelly Day celebrates the most popular sandwich in America! It doesn’t matter whether you like grape, strawberry, orange marmalade, blackberry, or any other form of jelly, the best compliment to them is the amazing and delectable peanut butter! Peanut Butter and Jelly has become such a popular taste sensation that it can be found in hundreds of different derivations.
Learn about Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
Is there any combination that is better than peanut butter and jelly? We can’t think of one! This combination has been around for many, many years. Until the early 1900s, it was only really sold in fancy tea rooms. However, the commercialization of the peanut butter industry meant that peanut butter became more affordable, and now you can find a jar of peanut butter in most homes around the world. It’s pretty crazy to think that you would have had to put your glad rags on and headed to a fancy tea room to have some peanut butter in the past, isn’t it?
Luckily, those days are gone, and we now celebrate the fact that we can enjoy this tasty treat whenever with Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. On this day, you can tuck into as many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as your heart desires, and no one can say anything about it! We will personally be having one for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Why not? Peanut Butter and Jelly Day is also a good opportunity for you to learn more about this creation, as well as some other innovative recipes that call for both peanut butter and jelly.
History of Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
Peanut Butter was first invented by the Aztecs, who ground roasted peanuts into a rich nutritious paste. Peanut paste has been used all over the world in many different derivations ever since, being an absolute foundation of many cuisines. One thing that made this protein and calorie dense food popular is it’s resistance to going off, and the ease with which it could be transported. Combine that with an amazing taste and texture, and it’s no wonder that peanut butter is a world favorite!
It comes in so many different varieties too! Chunky, smooth, natural, salted, unsalted, even premixed with jelly! Peanut Butter really is an amazing food, and has been used to feed those who haven’t been able to eat ‘solid food’ for one reason or another. It’s been used for a myriad of snacks, including ants on a log (Celery filled with peanut butter topped with raisins), peanut butter cookies, but it’s most popular derivation by far is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches were thought to be invented during the American Civil war, when the men mixed their peanut ration and jelly ration to create a delicious new treat while out on the field. When the men finally returned from the war, bedraggled and tired, they also brought with them news of this wonderful treat that brought them comfort on the field. Peanut butter and jelly sales soared at the wars end, all thanks to this delightful combination of sweet jelly and smooth peanut butter!
Jelly in this case is the North American version of the word, referring to a special kind of clear fruit preserve that is created from sugar sweetened fruit juice into a gel-like state often utilizing nothing more than the naturally occurring pectin in the fruit. Sometimes it needs a little help, such as is the case with grapes, who are notoriously low in pectin. None the less, grape is a very popular flavor when mixed with peanut butter, second only to the luscious red strawberry!
There is a veritable rainbow of flavors of jelly available that can be used to help make this snack new every time! Grape, strawberry, blackberry, boysenberry, the possibilities are only limited by the types of fruit you can find! There are even more exotic flavors, such as hot chile pepper, habanero, even wasabi, and while these aren’t as popular in the United States, there are those who prefer these spicy kicks to the sweetness every jelly brings!
Peanut Butter and Jelly aren’t just found in sandwiches either! There’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice cream for those who prefer a cold mix of this treat, it can be found in a special brand of spread called “Goobers” where the Peanut Butter and Jelly come pre-mixed! There are Peanut Butter and Jelly cookies, cakes, even the famous breakfast tart company Pop-tarts has come up with a variety of peanut-butter and jelly sandwich Pop-Tarts. No matter what your particular taste, you’re bound to find a variety of this delicious mix to suit your palette.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 0:05:28 GMT
Fri Apr 2nd, 2021
Children’s Book Day
See Dick. See Dick Run. Run Dick Run. See Jane. See Jane Run After Jack. Run Jane Run. These words comprise some of the first words we ever learned to read on our own, and are recognizable to many people of many different cultures. Along with these tales are stories of the hungry caterpillar and the stories of the strange and wonderful creatures of the world of Serendipity. Children’s Book Day celebrates these and the thousands of other books that parents have read and shared with their children to encourage literacy, and stimulate the growth of their imagination.
Learn about Children’s Book Day
Children’s Book Day has been created so that people all around the world can enjoy a good book! It is a day to inspire others to read, as well as calling attention to children’s books especially.
As you will discover in the next section, this day was created by the International Board On Books For Young People, otherwise known as IBBY. Every year, a different IBBY Section has the chance to be the international sponsor of Children’s Book Day.
The sponsor of the day is able to choose a theme, as well as a prominent author from the host country being invited to write a message to the children all across the world. A well-known illustrator will also be chosen to put together a poster, which will be used to advertise and market the event.
Because of this, we certainly recommend heading to the IBBY website in the build-up to this day. You will be able to find all of the information you need about the host country and anything specific that is going on for this Children’s Book Day.
Of course, you do not need to be associated with the IBBY in any way to celebrate Children’s Book Day. Libraries and schools also participate! If you have children yourself, simply reading a book with your child is the perfect way for you to get involved in this day.
After all, we should not underestimate how important Children’s Book Day is. There are a number of benefits that are associated with reading as a whole. This includes fostering imagination and empathy. Reading opens up children to new horizons. It helps them to think outside of the box, engaging with the outside world in manners they had not previously done.
Reading will also help your child to enhance their vocabulary. The amount of terminology used by a child will increase with frequent reading. Reading is also an important brain exercise. It engages and exercises the brain so that it can make improved neural connections.
We shouldn’t forget about the morale boost your child will get either. When your child is able to read something successfully and you applaud them for doing so, this will give them the confidence they need to keep improving.
History of Children’s Book Day
We all have our favorite books from childhood, ones that set the tone for our imaginations and that bring back memories of home when we remember them, and some small comfort when we run our fingers over the well-worn and loved spines of the stories of our youth. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) founded Children’s Book Day in 1967. As an international non-profit organization promoting the importance of literacy and reading to our children, IBBY works tirelessly to promote Children’s Book and Authors, and organize events in schools and libraries all over the world to get children reading.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 14:41:02 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
DIY Day
We spend a lot of money getting other people to do things for us—cut our hair, fix our cars and computers, mow our lawns, bake our cakes…you get the picture. And true, there are things that we would prefer to have experts with knowledge and experience doing for us, like performing surgery or filling out our tax papers.
But more and more people are starting to agree that people these days have become too dependent on others and, as a result, too helpless when left on their own. Sure, not everyone knows the construction of an engine in detail, but surely most of us could learn to change a tire on our own? Sure, you may be no Jamie Oliver or Martha Stewart, but surely you could manage to bake a birthday cake by yourself?
Not to mention it would probably be better than most of that bland store-bought cakes anyway! So why not celebrate DIY Day by learning to do something new yourself?
History of DIY Day
DIY Day was created just recently by the Craft Box Girls team, and 2016 is the first year we’re celebrating it. Craft Box Girls’ mission is to celebrate makers and inspire regular people like you and me to create things on their own.
From fruity cocktails to wreaths and vases to pillowcases to just about anything else you can imagine, Craft Box Girls can make it all by themselves, with just a few easy to come by knick-knacks.
The history of DIY itself probably goes back to the beginning of time. Italian archeologists recently unearthed the ruins of a 6th-century BC Greek temple-like structure in southern Italy that came with detailed assembly instructions and is therefore now being called an “ancient IKEA building”.
Much like the world-famous IKEA instruction booklets, various sections of the temple were inscribed with coded symbols showing how the pieces slotted together. So as it turns out, DIY has actually got quite the fascinating history!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 14:43:05 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
World Party Day
World Party Day is based on the idea that peace is not the opposite of war, merely its absence. The real opposite of war is party, and World Party Day aims to synchronise a massive, world-wide party to celebrate everything that’s good and optimistic.
Learn about World Party Day
World Party Day encourages efforts around the world for everyone to celebrate together! There are so many great reasons to gather and enjoy celebrations with one and other. Forming the perfect party will often include games, music, beverages, food, and other festivities as well. A lot of parties have a specific theme. Of course, we have birthday parties and wedding parties. However, a lot of people also attribute specific themes to their party as well, such as superheroes or a specific era! The fun is never-ending when it comes to planning a party and the possibilities are endless.
However, this day was not simply created because we all like to party. It was actually inspired by a novel. This is a novel by Vanna Borita called Flight: A Quantum Fiction. The book was published in 1995, and the ending involves a countdown that is set to the 3rd of April 2000 whereby a synchronized celebration happens all around the world. Once the book was released, the idea of World Party Day took hold very quickly, with the first taking place in 1996.
One of the best things about World Party Day is that it is not associated with any political connections or any religious links. Anyone can join in with the celebrations! After all, there should not be any restrictions on having fun, right? All you need to do is join in and have a great time! You can party with your loved ones or you can meet new people and party together. You can even get your pets in on the action. It does not matter, so long as you are partying and having a good time. No RSVPs are needed!
Not only does World Party Day bring together people from different backgrounds and parts of the world, but it also brings together extroverts and introverts. Whether you are an outgoing person who likes to be the center of attention or you’re more of a quiet person who likes to keep themselves to themselves, this day is for you! After all, we all like you enjoy some good food and listen to some great tunes, right? You get the opportunity to do that, and you will mix with people that you may not usually mix with!
History of World Party Day
Vanna Bonta almost certainly had no idea when she wrote Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel that the idea in the book of a global human celebration would really take off. It has though, and people celebrate in all sorts of ways. Since 1996, this day has been celebrated every year, and we don’t see any signs of the fun slowing down!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 14:45:07 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
World Aquatic Animal Day
Because (most) humans do not actually live underwater, it is easy to forget the vast array and variety of aquatic animals that populate the oceans, seas, lakes, and other bodies of water on our planet!
Aquatic animals may be vertebrates or invertebrates. They may breathe air or extract oxygen through gills or the skin. And they may live in either freshwater or saltwater. But no matter what their differences are, one thing is for sure–aquatic animals deserve to be noticed and appreciated!
World Aquatic Animal Day is centered around humans taking the time to learn about and acknowledge the importance of all of these creatures who make their homes in the water.
History of World Aquatic Animal Day
Created in 2020, World Aquatic Animal Day was created by folks over at Animal Law Clinic at the Lewis & Clark Law School (Portland, Oregon, USA) who wanted to bring attention to the importance of aquatic animals to our societies and ecosystems. Widely used around the world, aquatic animals are often at risk due to the interactions humans have directly with the animals, or indirectly through the corruption of their habitats.
In addition to ‘fish’, the category of aquatic animals includes a variety of other creatures, such as mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic birds, starfish, corals, aquatic insects, amphibians, marine mammals, reptiles, and more.
The idea for World Aquatic Animal Day is to raise global awareness so that humans all over the world would band together to create policies, laws, education, and outreach that will help to protect these valuable animals. The hope is to elevate the status of these creatures so that people are more likely to take an active role in learning about and acting on behalf of them. Different ideas for protecting these animals continue to be featured, from plastic pollution to climate change issues.
Many organizations throughout the world participated in the first World Aquatic Animal Day in 2020, including Canada, Chile, Australia, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Croatia, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and more.
The hope is that many more will join in for future days in the coming years. The more people who get involved, the better!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 14:59:15 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
Firewalk Day
"There are other lessons I learned; most importantly when I come up against seemingly impossible challenges, I think back to my first firewalk and draw on a strength and power of focus that I never knew existed. Life will never be the same."
David Schirmer
When you hear the phrase “They walked through the fire”, it’s usually a metaphor for a particularly tough period of their life. When you talk about Firewalking, on the other, you’re quite literally talking about people who have walked through the fire, with bare feet placed upon hot coals ever step of the way.
Firewalk Day celebrates this ancient practice and the new generation of people who have embraced it as a way to face their fears and embrace the transformation that fire can bring.
History of Firewalk Day
The history of Firewalk Day stretches back into pre-history, with the first records of it being done originating in 1200 BCE. Throughout the world, different cultures have embraced firewalking using it as a method of demonstrating religious devotion, an initiation into secret societies or adulthood, or as a way to promote healing through faith.
From the Sawau on Beqa Island in the Isles of Fiji to the Eastern Orthodox Christians of Greece, Firewalking is a practice that exists in just about every imaginable culture.
The secret of firewalking lay in confidence and science, not magic, however. When performed properly the layer of ash and certain properties of thermodynamics help to protect the feet from being burned. The steady, confident walk of the fire walker isn’t just bravado, it’s also a sure way to protect your feet by stepping flat-footed on the ash and pushing off evenly and slowly to ensure you don’t break the barrier between your feet and the searing hot coals beneath. Lose your cool and start rushing and you’ll almost certainly end up burning yourself; Confidence is definitely key!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 15:01:32 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
Tangible Karma Day
It’s referenced in a million different ways, across as many cultures and religions. “Do unto others as you’d have them do to you”, “You reap what you sow”, “What goes around comes around”, all of these statements speak of one suspected truth of the universe. That the energy you put out into the world is what will come back to you.
Tangible Karma is your opportunity to help yourself while helping others, by putting out those items around your home that you no longer need and passing the on freely to those who need them. The nice thing is, with Karma, you can expect it all to come back to you.
History of Tangible Karma Day
Tangible Karma is a company founded by Amber Nicole Dilger in 2005 and her idea was to recycle and reuse. You can visit their website to donate goods and track how they are used to help others.
Amber knew that a cluttered life can lead to a cluttered mind, which in turn leads to an instability of emotion and overall nervousness that can take away from the calming space that a home is supposed to be.
Combining this with her strong conviction of being a steward of the Earth and making the best possible use of its resources, she knew that recycling resources is a great way to tread lightly on our home.
Tangible Karma Day is set to raise awareness of these causes, and to help bring others into line with her attempts to help protect the Earth, its resources, and the future of those who live here.
It’s through efforts like Tangible Karma and another team she’s working with, New Wind Energy®, that she moves forward with her cause and spreads the benefits to everyone.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 15:03:15 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
Find A Rainbow Day
Perhaps one of the more interesting and yet lesser-known holidays is an event that is affectionately known as Find a Rainbow Day. As the reader may have already guessed, this celebration occurs during the month of April each year –after all, the early spring is known for its fair share of these beautifully stunning phenomena of refracted light!.
Of course, finding a rainbow is not as easy as it may sound but, if a person is lucky enough to find themselves outside just after a rainstorm in early April, it may just be possible to catch a quick glimpse and even take a snapshot of one of these wonderful natural events. With some extra luck, it may even be possible to spot a double rainbow!
So, in this case, it appears that there are indeed times when a bit of rain is not necessarily a bad thing!
History of Find a Rainbow Day
The science behind rainbows was recorded in 1693. This is when scientists realized that rainbows are caused by light from the sun bending in such a way from the raindrops that it causes a rainbow.
Throughout human history, rainbows have often been a sign of hope and wellness. And, of course, many people know the legend that if one is ever able to find the bottom of the rainbow, they might also find a leprechaun’s pot of gold waiting for them! This legend originates from Ireland and stories of leprechauns have been around since as far back as the 8th century.
While finding the bottom of a rainbow might not actually be possible in terms of science, it’s still a fun legend and story for kids, as well as adults who are kids-at-heart. And a great way to celebrate Find a Rainbow Day!
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 15:05:46 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
Pillow Fight Day
It’s coming fellow warriors of nap-time shenanigans, that day where you raise your fluffy pillows high and charge into the streets. Together you will carry your bolsters and duvets, dakimakura and gulls, and bed pillows of all sizes and meet in noble combat with those heretic inhabitants of the wrong side of the bed.
Feathers will fly, the stuffing will scatter like the intestines of slaughtered plushies, and everywhere will shrieks of laughter ring out. Pillow Fight Day is your chance to get out and let your favorite pillows do their worst in a battle royale!
History of Pillow Fight Day
Flash mobs were on the rise; people were gathering everywhere to engage in spontaneous acts of sanity that brought complete strangers together in fun and interactive ways. Pillow fights have probably existed for as long as there have been pillows, but modern technology and a love of the truly absurd have brought them into prominence and popularity never before conceived.
Inspired by the fantastic film Fight Club, where men came together to strip themselves of society’s identity and reclaim their raw masculinity through bare-fisted boxing, Pillow Fight Clubs started springing up all over the world.
It was small at first, but it continued to grow, with Pillow Fight Clubs starting up in London and Vancouver, San Francisco and New Manhattan, until suddenly in one grand move of solidarity, the World Pillow Fight Day took place in March of 2008. Since then, annual Pillow Fight Days continue to be celebrated by anyone and everyone all over the world. The day takes us away from the stress of the world around us and brings everyone together in a celebration of something we all knew we wanted but didn’t realize we needed.
The world’s largest pillow fight raged in places far and wide, with back-alley brawlers swinging duvets in Boston, and ponder being swung in Copenhagen, in Paris decorative pillows were locked in combat as Kissen was bashed into Kissen in Stockholm.
Such was the madness that World Pillow Fight Day wrought in every corner of the globe, and countless pounds of stuffing and feathers were spilled in the name of fun. And, when the feather’s settled, those who got involved understood that the same must happen again every year until all the pillow resources of the world had been put to rest.
But even if you’re not your town’s resident Tyler Durden (which is a good thing), there’s still the opportunity to get involved. Whether it’s friends relishing in the chance to show each other who’s boss, siblings and cousins trying to recapture some of the carefree enjoyment of the sleepovers of their youth, or even strangers hoping to blow off some steam without commitment, or even (hopefully) long-lasting injuries, Pillow Fight Day gives everyone the excuse to transform their trusty pillow into a weapon that will lead them to victory.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 15:07:35 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
Tweed Day
There is some confusion as to what exactly Tweed Day is commemorating – is it the corrupt American Democratic boss famous for running the Tammany Hall political machine, William M “Boss” Tweed, who also ran the “Tweed Ring” which stole between $30 to $200 million through political corruption in New York, or is it the unique Scottish fabric, usually fashioned into suits, jackets and trousers in patterns such as hounds tooth and herringbone?
The obvious answer would be the Scottish material, although there is no record of April 3rd having any relevance to the origins of Tweed, the mistake that had it named Tweed, or any founders’ birth or death dates as is the usual case with days such as this.
April 3rd does have a special relevance to Boss Tweed though – he was born April 3rd, 1823.
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Post by pennmom on Apr 3, 2021 15:09:04 GMT
Sat Apr 3rd, 2021
Fish Fingers and Custard Day
To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Matt Smith’s famous “Fish Fingers and Custard” scene in the Doctor Who episode ‘Eleventh Hour’, the BBC have decided to coin 3rd April 2012 as “Official Fish Fingers And Custard Day“.
You are invited to put your taste buds to the test by eating the [apparently] delicious recipe. Oh, and they’d quite like you to record it on camera and upload it to YouTube for everyone else’s amusement! So whether you’re a Doctor Who fan or just plain bonkers because you’ve always been looking for the excuse to eat them at the same time, grab some fish fingers and custard and get munching!
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’s rest! 
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note for making sure you have such a wonderful selection each year. Bring in your suggestions and requests of things you’d like to see in the store, you’d be surprised how rarely they have reason to order something new! If there’s something you’ve been wanting and it’s not there, just let them know! Love Your Produce Manager Day may only come once a year, but they’re at work the entire year round!