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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:44:06 GMT
National Cashew Day – November 23, 2021~U.S.
National Cashew Day is celebrated every year on November 23 all around the United States. This kidney-shaped nut isn’t just loved in the United States, it is also popular around the globe. They have innumerable uses — snack on them, cook with them, and even get drunk off of them! Cashews are indeed elite nuts that deserve a day to celebrate them. National Cashew Day is that special day dedicated to enjoying the crunchy, savory, and versatile nut in many ways.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CASHEW DAY The name ‘cashew’ comes from the Portuguese for its fruit, ‘caju’ or ‘acaju,’ derived from the Tupian word ‘acajú,’ which means ‘nut that produces itself.’ Cashews, unlike other nuts, grow like tails out of the bottom of cashew apples. Their trees are generally huge, but Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, is home to the world’s largest cashew tree, which covers more than 81,000 square feet, almost 70 times the size of a regular one! The outer covering of the cashew nut contains an anacardic acid that causes skin irritation, which is why when Europeans first discovered cashews in Brazil in 1558, they thought they were inedible.
The Tupi-Indians, a local native tribe, showed the Portuguese the value of the actual seed, which they had discovered while watching the local capuchin monkeys. They trained the Portuguese to roast the seeds to get the irritant off. Not only did they come to enjoy the taste of cashews, they even made wine out of its fruit’s pulp. The Portuguese were such fans of the nut that their missionaries brought cashews to Goa, India, in 1560. The Indian climate proved the perfect fit to plant them, and cashews took the country by storm. Indians even discovered healing properties within the nut, adding to its popularity. Cashews spread rapidly through Southeast Asia and Africa and became essential parts of their food and commerce. It wasn’t until 1905 that cashews reached the United States. They initially saw a slow spread, only becoming popular around the mid-1920s when the General Food Corporation began regularly shipping cashews to the U.S. and Europe. Once Americans got a taste of it, the demand for cashews spiked. By 1941, about 22,046.23 tons were imported from India annually.
Research has shown that these nuts are effective antidepressants. They are rich in minerals and vitamins and a perfect ingredient for soups, stews, desserts, especially in Latin American and Asian cuisine. Other parts of the main plant, including the fruit, oil, pulp, bark, are just as valuable.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:45:35 GMT
National Espresso Day – November 23, 2021~U.S.
What’s the difference between espresso and just plain coffee? According to professional baristas, it doesn’t really matter what kind of bean you use, or how it’s roasted — it’s all in the way the beans are brewed. Forcing pressurized water through finely-ground coffee beans produces a concentrated brew with its signature delicate foam. This foam, or crema, to use its proper name, contains concentrated sugars and oils from the beans, adding a light sweetness that helps balance out the bitterness. Grab an espresso on November 23 to taste the difference for yourself!
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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:47:22 GMT
Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day – November 24, 2021~U.S.
Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day is celebrated on November 24 nationwide. It is a day to accept and celebrate individual talents. Beauty lies in being different. We’re not made to all fit in one box. Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day is a day to accept these differences and to love what each of us has to offer. Can you stand on your hands, curl your tongue, do uncanny impressions? Are you a prolific whistler, graffiti artist, or double-jointed? Whatever it may be, celebrate your talent today.
HISTORY OF CELEBRATE YOUR UNIQUE TALENT DAY No actual historical timeline exists when it comes to talents. People have had their unique talents for as long as they have existed. Sure, more conventional talents may have come into existence a little later; for example, being a gifted guitarist was only possible after the invention of the guitar. But other quirky talents have been around since day one, and we don’t know where we’d be without them.
Is it too far-fetched to think that the world would be a different place without special skills and talents? We wouldn’t know light if it wasn’t for the guy whose unique talent was rubbing sticks together until they sparked. Music would sound so different if it wasn’t for the person whose unique talent was creating sounds from flat hollow surfaces, eventually leading to the invention of drums.
Talents don’t even have to be revolutionary to be celebrated. Even being able to touch your tongue to your nose is great, unique to you, and deserves to be hyped up! As PGA Master Dr. Alison Curdt is quoted to have said, “Being different is a strength, not a weakness.” Society has shut it down in the past, but we are progressively becoming more accepting and inclusive. Not everyone is born to be a singer or dancer, some people are gifted to bend their thumb all the way back, and they deserve recognition too. As a matter of fact, the true celebration doesn’t even lie in external validation. Do you think the first person to rub wooden sticks together didn’t get weird looks from his friends? What would have happened if he let that judgment get to him and stopped exploring his talent?
Accepting your inherent uniqueness is powerful in more ways than one. Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day is a reminder of just that.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:49:32 GMT
D.B. Cooper Day – November 24, 2021~U.S.
DB. Cooper Day is annually observed on November 24 and is dedicated to what remains one of the most famous mysteries of all time. In 1971, a suited man named Dan Cooper hijacked a plane going from Portland to Seattle and parachuted off it. The catch? He seems to have disappeared into thin air and was never found again, dead or alive. On D. B. Cooper Day, Ariel, Washington, the little town Cooper is thought to have landed in, hosts a festival celebrating the events surrounding the skyjacking, the investigation, and the ensuing mystery. 2021 marks the 50th anniversary, and the fierce debate continues.
HISTORY OF D.B. COOPER DAY On November 24, 1971, a man who identified himself as Dan Cooper (a.k.a. D. B. Cooper) bought a one-way $20 ticket for Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305. He was in his mid-40s, six feet tall, and dressed in a suit, trench coat, and loafers. He also carried a briefcase. Once the plane had taken off, he passed a note to a flight attendant Florence Schaffner, informing her that he was carrying a bomb and the plane was being hijacked. He opened his briefcase to show Schaffner the bomb, which appeared to be a collection of wires, red sticks, and a battery.
In a subsequent note, he demanded that once the plane landed in Seattle, he should be given $200,000 in $20 bills, two parachutes. He also wanted the aircraft to be refueled for subsequent takeoff. Upon landing in Seattle, 36 passengers were evacuated, and his demands were fulfilled. While the plane was refueled, he forced two pilots, a flight engineer, and a flight attendant, to remain on board. He ordered them to fly the aircraft to Mexico City, going under 10,000 feet at a speed slower than 200 knots. Mid-flight, over what is believed to be Ariel, Washington, he parachuted off the aircraft into the night, never to be seen again.
The case almost instantly took over the nation. There were 800 suspects brought in during the first five years of Investigation NORJAK (Northwest Hijacking), but nearly all were cleared. The FBI initially thought he could’ve had a military past but quickly eliminated that theory considering D. B. Cooper’s poorly thought out and dangerous escape plan. With little to no advancement over the years, the investigation was eventually called off to put resources to better use. This remains the FBI’s only unsolved air piracy case.
Originating in Ariel, Washington, where he is believed to have disappeared, the anniversary of the hijacking is observed as D. B. Cooper Day, in remembrance of this mystery.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:52:13 GMT
DrinksGiving – November 24, 2021~U.S.
Celebrated the night before Thanksgiving, November 24 this year, DrinksGiving is the ultimate homecoming celebration. Local bars are packed as adults returning home for Thanksgiving weekend meet up with friends and and catch up over drinks and laughter. It’s like a Springsteen song plays out in real life every year. Remember, drink responsibly and assign someone to be D.D. If you‘re driver is drinking…well...thank god for Lyft and Uber!
HISTORY OF DRINKSGIVING Drinksgiving may have an unofficial history but if you’re doing it right nothing gets recorded (or remembered for that matter). However, the history of alcohol is something we can talk about. The world’s oldest brewery was discovered in 2018 in a prehistoric burial site in a cave near Haifa in Israel. Researchers found residue of 13,000 year-old beer that they believe might have been used to honor the dead. The traces of wheat and barley based alcohol were found in stone mortars carved into the cave floor. It had originally been thought that beer making originated in Babylon 5000 years ago, however this new discovery precedes that by about 8000 years!
Evidence of alcoholic beverages has also been found dating from 5,400-5,000 BCE in Hajji, Firuz Tepe in Iran, 3000 BCE in Babylon, 2000 BCE in pre-Hispanic Mexico, and 1500 BCE in Sudan. According to Guinness, the earliest firm evidence of wine production dates back to 6000 BCE in Georgia. Wine was consumed in Classical Greece is breakfast or at symposia, and in the 1st century BCE it was part of the diet of most Roman citizens. Both the Greeks and Romans generally drank diluted wine, which varied between being one part wine and one part water to one part wine and four parts water.
The medicinal use of alcohol was mentioned in Sumerian and Egyptian texts dating back to about 2100 BCE. The Hebrew Bible recommends giving alcoholic drinks to those who are dying or depressed so that they can forget their misery.
In Europe during the Middle Ages, beer (of very low strength) was an everyday drink for all classes and ages of people. A document from the time mentions nuns having an allowance of six pints of ale each day. Cider and pomace wine were generally widely available — grape wine was the prerogative of the higher class.
This is all a long winded way of saying that grabbing some beers with your buds is about as ancient a tradition as there is. Cheers.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:54:28 GMT
National Jukebox Day – November 24, 2021~U.S.
National Jukebox Day is the day before every Thanksgiving — on November 24 this year. Music is the soundtrack of our lives, and this day celebrates the jukebox, shining some light on the device that brought and still brings music into our lives in a special way. The jukebox has a rich history; the nostalgia it carries is unparalleled. It has been around for era after era of modern music — from jazz to country and blues to rock. Celebrate this historic machine today as you visit your hometown restaurants and bars in preparation for Thanksgiving with and old friends.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL JUKEBOX DAY Jukeboxes revolutionized music in multiple ways. With the invention of the jukebox, people could enjoy music in restaurants and bars. Artists found a new way to get public exposure and were further enabled to sell vinyl. The jukebox is a historical and cultural symbol in more ways than one.
Louis Glass and William S. Arnold, managers of the Pacific Phonograph Co., created the first jukebox. Called a nickel-in-the-slot phonograph at the time, this revolutionary was displayed at the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco, California, on November 23, 1889. It saw instant success, making over $4000 (the equivalent of about $120,249.23 today) in the first year alone, and inspired innumerable people to create different versions all over the U.S. In no time, “phonograph parlors” with multiple nickel-in-the-slot phonographs spread across America and Europe.
As the machine’s expansion and popularity increased, technological advancements were made. Record manufacturers came up with methods to produce record copies more efficiently, amplifiers were developed to enable large groups to listen simultaneously, and a disc record replaced the phonograph cylinder. In 1905, John Gabel presented the Automatic Entertainer to the world, which had 24 song selections. In 1928, Justus P. Seeburg manufactured a multi-select jukebox called the audio phone, and it had eight separate turntables, allowing people to choose from eight different records.
The jukebox took a hit when radio, another form of free entertainment, emerged in the 1920s, and the Great Depression hit in the 1930s. The sale of records saw a drastic dip as people lost the ability to spend on recreation. However, after the Great Depression, jukeboxes quickly bounced back and were thrust into their Golden Age as people got ready to live it up again.
The term ‘jukebox’ is believed to have originated in southern American states and came into existence in 1937. Since then, the jukebox’s popularity has increased steadily, its form everchanging. From a wooden box with listening tubes to colorful lights, metal, art deco designs, and even bubbles! Jukeboxes gave a new meaning to entertainment and gave artists a louder voice. They have done innumerable things for humanity, inspiring TouchTunes — a digital jukebox platform — to declare the day before Thanksgiving as National Jukebox Day in 2017.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:56:28 GMT
National Sardines Day – November 24, 2021~U.S.
National Sardines Day is marked on November 24 to celebrate the super deliciousness of sardines and the wholesome health benefits they provide to us. Did you know that the word ‘sardine’ was first used in the 15th century and was derived from the Mediterranean island of Sardinia? Sardines are one of the most abundant, edible fish in the world and are employed for various purposes, including bait, human consumption, fish meal, fish oil, canning, drying, and salting. They are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids; vitamins D, B12, and B2; phosphorus; and calcium. Sardines commonly come packed in tin cans and are a major export for Morocco, Japan, and China.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SARDINES DAY Sardines have always been a major food source around coastal regions like the Mediterranean islands, from where it got its name. However, before they became a global delicacy and a significant means of export, sardines were “the fish of the poor.”
The Frenchman Nicolas Appert heralded the golden era of sardines with the invention of canning. This nifty innovation, which would forever transform the food industry, was introduced in 1810 by Nicolas Appert in his cookbook, “The Art of Preserving All Kinds of Animal and Vegetable Substances for Several Years.” Joseph-Pierre Colin, an Englishman, combined this innovation with Breton’s popular sardine storage technique and created canned sardines.
By 1836, Colin was producing around 30,000 cans a year. That increased over the years to 50 million cans because of the creation of about 30 other small factories. Before the end of the 19th century, Spain and Portugal overtook France in canned sardines exports owing to a drastic decrease in sardine population in France’s coastal waters. The French woes were further worsened by the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, halting their exports to North America, consequently creating an opportunity for American entrepreneurs to enter the market.
In 1875, the Eagle Preserved Fish Company was established in Eastport on the East Coast, ushering in the golden era of the American sardine industry. In Maine and California, small sardine factories spurted everywhere along the coast, increasing the volume of Atlantic herrings exported worldwide. In the 1940s, the sardine industry began winding down on the West Coast because of World War II. Twenty years later, the East Coast started experiencing reduced canned sardine sales, and by 2010, the last factory in Maine shut down.
While sardines are no longer a major export for the United States and are viewed as low-end foods, they are still a delicacy in Spain and Portugal. In fact, there is a culture of making canned sardines age as wine before eating them.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 24, 2021 12:59:25 GMT
National Tie One On Day – November 24, 2021~U.S.
National Tie One On Day is a day for celebrating baked love every year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, on November 24 this year. On Thanksgiving Eve, apron-wearers all over America share some love with someone around them with a loaf of bread and an apron. Here’s how it works — On National Tie One On Day, apron-clad people in their homes put a sweet little note in an apron, wrap a loaf of bread in it, and deliver it to anyone who they’d like to show a little holiday love. From neighbors to gardeners, friends, and work colleagues, National Tie One On Day is a day to put the “give” back in Thanksgiving. Tie One On Day (or TOODay as it is often called) isn’t about the apron or the apron-wearer — it’s about the love. Even though National Tie One On Day is traditionally celebrated by women who cook, it can extend to anyone who is looking to spread some TLC to someone near them. If you can’t bake a loaf of bread, you can buy one from the grocery store.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL TIE ONE ON DAY The very first Tie One On Day was held by apron expert, EllynAnne Geisel, in 2006. EllynAnne Geisel is a maverick and legend in the apron community with her website, “Apron Memories,” and her best-selling books, “The Apron Book” and “Apron Chronicles,” which chronicle the making, wearing, and sharing of the cloth that brings so much comfort and joy.
EllynAnne was preparing for Thanksgiving on its eve and thinking about how people complain about the amount of work they had to do to prepare for the holiday when she remembered a tragedy that had befallen one of her neighbors. She realized how lucky she was and decided to express that by sharing some TLC with her neighbor. She wrapped some sweet bread in an apron and wrote a sweet note that said “I hope this makes your day just a little happier.” Donning an apron, she presented her wrapped treat to her neighbor.
That singular act of kindness inspired the beautiful day we now know as National Tie One On Day. EllynAnne said she felt such joy after her act that she wanted other people to feel and share such joy and love. So, she created Tie One On Day to encourage people all over the U.S. and beyond to share some love and kindness before giving thanks on Thanksgiving.
Tie One On Day is a day to tie on an apron and show some love. Aprons are historically symbolic of warmth, hominess, and hospitality. Today, hundreds of people around the world don their aprons on National Tie One On Day to embody the true spirit of aprons – generosity, kindness, and hospitality.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 25, 2021 14:14:50 GMT
Shopping Reminder Day – November 25, 2021~U.S.
Shopping Reminder Day is held annually on November 25, and we won’t let you forget it. On your marks, get set, shop! After you’ve enjoyed the turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, it’s time to make sure you are fully prepared for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa and finish any last-minute shopping.
HISTORY OF SHOPPING REMINDER DAY We’re not 100% sure about the origins of Shopping Reminder Day, but it’s likely linked to Black Friday.
The first recorded use of the term ‘Black Friday’ was applied not to holiday shopping but the financial crisis: specifically, the crash of the U.S. gold market on September 24, 1869. Jay Gould and Jim Fisk, two notoriously unmerciful stockbrokers on Wall Street, worked together to buy up as much of the U.S.’s gold as they could, hoping to drive the price as high as possible and sell it for staggering profits. On that fateful Friday in September, the scheme was finally brought to light, causing the stock market to spiral downward and bankrupting everyone from farmers to Wall Street tycoons.
The most well-known story behind the Black Friday tradition following Thanksgiving connects it to retailers — after a whole year of operating at a loss (or being “in the red”), on the day after Thanksgiving, shoppers splurged so much on marked down products that stores actually made a profit (or went “into the black”). Though retail companies indeed used to record losses in red and profits in black when doing their accounting, this version of Black Friday’s origin is the officially sanctioned — but inaccurate — story behind the tradition.
By the late 1980s, Black Friday had stuck and became something positive.
If you have holiday shopping to complete, this day is here to remind you:
There are 30 days until Christmas. There are 31 days until the start of Kwanzaa. There are 30 days until the start of Hanukkah.
Shopping Reminder Day perfectly coincides with Black Friday, so you can get great deals on your last-minute shopping.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 25, 2021 14:17:29 GMT
White Ribbon Day – November 25, 2021~Australia~International
White Ribbon Day is observed in November each year. Most countries observe the day on November 25, although Australia’s date changes, and this year is November 19. The day is for tens of thousands of people stand up, speak up, and say no to violence against women. It’s more important than ever to participate in movements such as these since there is a significant increase in violence, harassment, and abuse towards women. The campaign is intended to raise awareness about the prevalence of male violence against women, with the ribbon symbolizing “the idea of men giving up their arms”. Active in over 60 countries, people are urgently called to work together to prevent violence and make sure communities and homes are made safe for everyone.
HISTORY OF WHITE RIBBON DAY The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is a global movement of men and boys working to end male violence against women and girls. It was formed by a group of pro-feminist men in London, Ontario in November 1991 as a response to the École Polytechnique massacre of female students by Marc Lépine in 1989. Much of their work centers around gender violence prevention which includes educating and mentoring young men about issues such as violence and gender equality.
Men and boys are encouraged to wear white ribbons as a symbol of their opposition to violence against women. The white ribbon is an awareness ribbon sometimes used by political movements to signify or spread their beliefs. It is usually worn on garments or represented in information sources such as posters or leaflets. They are particularly encouraged to wear these during White Ribbon week which starts on November the 25th which is the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The campaign was intended to raise awareness about the prevalence of male violence against women, with the ribbon symbolizing “the idea of men giving up their arms”. Active in over 60 countries — including Australia, Pakistan, Italy, and the UK — the movement seeks to promote healthy relationships, gender equity, and a compassionate vision of masculinity.
Women’s rights activists have observed 25 November as a day against gender-based violence since 1981. This date was selected to honor the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country’s ruler, Rafael Trujillo. On 20 December 1993, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women through resolution 48/104, paving the path towards eradicating violence against women and girls worldwide.
In 2018 for Australia, the day was moved from 25 November to 23 November to become a specific campaign day separate from the international day, and expanded to encompass violence against children. Businesses can attain a ‘white ribbon accredited workplace’, valid for three years.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 25, 2021 14:19:47 GMT
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – November 25, 2021~World
On November 25, 1960, the Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic were assassinated by henchmen of dictator Rafael Trujillo. The sisters, who had been active in movements against the Trujillo regime, were beaten and strangled to death, then placed in a Jeep that was driven off a mountainous road in order to make their deaths appear accidental. In December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The date marks the beginning of 16 days of remembrance and activism, culminating in International Human Rights Day.
According to a report by the United Nations, 19 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years of age have experienced physical and/or sexual violence “by an intimate partner.” In some cases, this violence ends in the women’s death.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 25, 2021 14:23:44 GMT
National Parfait Day – November 25, 2021~U.S.
National Parfait Day is on November 25 every year, and we will be celebrating it by having a tall glass of parfait dessert with cherry and butterscotch toppings. Did you know the parfait recipe first appeared in an 1890s French cookbook? Parfait, meaning “perfect” in English, is a dessert of French origin consisting of cream, egg, sugar, and syrup. These basic ingredients are boiled together to create a custard-like puree. This is different from the American parfait, which contains granola, nuts, yogurt, and liqueurs, with fruits or whipped cream toppings. Parfait is usually served in tall clear glassware, with a long spoon called a ‘parfait spoon.’
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PARFAIT DAY The history of parfait can be traced to the invention of a popular dish, dessert, which has become part of the traditional three-course meal. The word ‘dessert’ is derived from the French word ‘desservir,’ meaning ‘to clear the table’ in English. Its origin began with — you guessed it right — sugar.
In the Middle Ages, sugar was a rare product in Europe and was only enjoyed by the rich and the aristocrats on special occasions. From that period to the late 15th century, refined sugar served as a sweetener and seasoner, sprinkled on stew and roasted meat. The dessert itself was fruit, gingerbread, sugared almonds, and jelly. Sometimes cookies, marzipan, or meringues were served as dessert.
As time progressed, sweetening meals with sugar lost its appeal, and focus was placed on visual presentation. Chefs began crafting elaborate sculptures, entirely made of sugar, which served at the centerpiece of the dessert course. Examples of such sugary sculptures included the severed head of Louis XV and the rock of Gibraltar. However, this custom ended with the French Revolution in the 16th century.
The industrial revolution transformed dessert from a meal for the elite to something easily accessible to the masses. It was in this period that parfait emerged. One of the first parfait recipes dates back to the 1890s in France. As French culture spread outside its borders, European countries and the Americas adopted what was fashionable, including the parfait dessert.
The French parfait was expanded, and ingredients such as yogurt, nuts, fresh fruits, and granola were used in making it. This version of parfait, termed American parfait, spread across the country and became the most dominant. Over the years, different variations were created, and now, parfait has come to occupy a space in the American dessert culture.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 25, 2021 14:25:55 GMT
National Day of Mourning – November 25, 2021~U.S.
The National Day of Mourning takes place on the fourth Thursday of November, this year it’s on November 25. If this date sounds familiar to you, it’s because the fourth Thursday of November also coincides with Thanksgiving in the U.S. Every year on the National Day of Mourning, Native American people in New England gather together to protest. To them, Thanksgiving serves as a reminder of the unjust treatment that Native Americans have received since the 1620 Plymouth landing.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING The National Day of Mourning reminds us all that Thanksgiving is only part of the story. Native Americans, since 1970, have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving Day.
Pilgrims landed in Plymouth and established the first colony in 1620. As such, it’s the oldest municipality in New England. Many Native Americans, however, don’t celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims and other European settlers. Thanksgiving, to them, is a brutal reminder of “the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture.”
They participate as a way to honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. “It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression which Native Americans continue to experience.”
The United American Indians of New England (UAINE) sponsors this event. They maintain that the Pilgrims arrived in North America and claimed tribal land for their own, as opposed to establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with the local inhabitants. UAINE members believe that these settlers “introduced sexism, racism, anti-homosexual bigotry, jails, and the class system.”
The National Day of Mourning generally begins at noon and includes a march through the historic district of Plymouth. While the UAINE encourages people of all backgrounds to attend the protests, only Native speakers are invited to give these speeches about the past, as well as current obstacles their people have overcome. Guests are asked to bring non-alcoholic beverages, desserts, fresh fruits and vegetables, or pre-cooked items. The protest is open to anyone, and has attracted other minority activists.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 25, 2021 14:29:12 GMT
Thanksgiving – November 25, 2021~U.S.
America’s Thanksgiving holiday, born in the 1500s, mythologized in 1621, and observed even during the bleakest hours of the Civil War, now stands as one of the nation’s most anticipated and beloved days — celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday in November (November 25, 2021). Perhaps no other nonsectarian holiday has more tradition. , friends, food, and football have come to symbolize Thanksgiving — a rare celebratory holiday without an established gift-giving component. Instead, the day urges all of us to be grateful for things we do have.
HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING This story doesn’t necessarily start with Pilgrims.
Evidence shows that Spanish explorers and settlers held thanksgiving services during the late 1500s in what is now Florida and New Mexico. Thanksgivings also took place in what became the Commonwealth of Virginia as early as 1607, with the first permanent settlement of Jamestown holding a Thanksgiving in 1610.
The ‘First’ Thanksgiving It wasn’t until a decade later that the Plymouth settlers, known as Pilgrims, arrived in the New World. They celebrated at Plymouth for three days after their first harvest in 1621. The gathering included 50 people who were on the Mayflower (all who remained of the 100 who had landed) and 90 Native Americans. The feast was cooked by the four adult women who survived their first winter in the New World, along with young daughters and other servants.
Revolutionary Times During the war, the Continental Congress appointed one or more thanksgiving days each year, each time recommending to the executives of the various states the observance of these days in their states. George Washington, leader of the revolutionary forces, proclaimed a Thanksgiving in December 1777 as a victory celebration honoring the defeat of the British at Saratoga.
The Continental-Confederation Congress, the legislative body that governed the United States from 1774 to 1789, issued several “national days of prayer, humiliation, and thanksgiving.” This would eventually manifest itself in the established American observances of Thanksgiving and the National Day of Prayer today.
In 1789, New Jersey congressman Elias Boudinot proposed that the House and Senate jointly ask President Washington to proclaim a day of thanksgiving for “the many signal favors of Almighty God.” Washington then created the first U.S. government-mandated Thanksgiving Day. It read in part: “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of thee States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”
The holiday would remain inconsistent for decades.
Civil War Era President Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day in 1863, to be celebrated on November 26 — the final Thursday of the month. Secretary of State William H. Seward wrote the proclamation that read in part:
“In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict.
“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
The U.S. has observed Thanksgiving ever since.
Future presidents followed Lincoln’s example of annually declaring the final Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving. But in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared November’s fourth Thursday as Thanksgiving rather than the fifth one. FDR thought an earlier Thanksgiving would give merchants a longer period to sell goods before Christmas — and help bring the country out of the Depression. A 1942 law — making the fourth Thursday a federal holiday — has stood ever since.
THANKSGIVING 2021 In fact, in the spirit of gratitude and thanks this Thanksgiving, See’s has created shareable “” cards to help you express your gratitude to all the special people in your lives. It is clear that Thanksgiving will be a little different this year. Americans will travel less and spend less time with , making it more important than ever that they find some new and creative ways to express what they are thankful for.
These cards each contain themed messages that can be shared with your and friends this Thanksgiving. Simply choose a message and tag whomever in your life you want to share it with. You can even add a custom note to the social post to make the cards even more special.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Nov 26, 2021 18:24:51 GMT
Black Friday – November 26, 2021~U.S.
Black Friday will have cash registers ringing this November 26. It’s the day of the year when retailers finally start generating profit, thus going from “being in the red” to “being in the black.” Get out your pocketbook and prepare to shell out some cash, because the Friday after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year!
HISTORY OF BLACK FRIDAY First, there’s Thanksgiving — a day to be grateful for all life’s blessings. The next day, Black Friday, encourages you to give way to your greed by spending as much money as possible. Welcome to the official start of the holiday season! But the story of Black Friday is full of “official” and unofficial versions of its origins, starting with the name.
Black Friday originally referred to September 24,1869 when a scheme to manipulate America’s gold markets backfired resulting in numerous bankruptcies across the country. Even more troubling is the unsubstantiated story that southern slave owners allegedly got a “good deal” if they bought slaves on the Friday after Thanksgiving — “Black Friday,” indeed!
But, the story that’s most well-known about Black Friday is that retailers marked the day when filled coffers from holiday shoppers helped businesses go from being “in the red” to “in the black.” Although popular, this story is also not quite accurate. So, what is the actual story of Black Friday? We have to go to Philadelphia for that.
Philadelphia cops complained about “Black Friday” when they were stuck working off days and overtime the day after Thanksgiving. Packed downtown streets with hordes of shoppers, tourists, and fans in town for the next day’s Army-Navy game, meant that Black Friday was a haven for shoplifters as well as a crowd-controlling nightmare for the police.
Unfortunately, the idea that Black Friday was also a retailers’ headache did not entice Philly’s shoppers. By 1961, Philadelphia retailers decided “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” turning a negative into a positive by way of reinvention. In the 1980s, “Black Friday” became synonymous as a day for big deals in national retail. Today, Black Friday invites you to shop ‘til you drop for the best bargains of the year.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 26, 2021 18:27:21 GMT
Buy Nothing Day – November 26, 2021~U.S.
Originating in Canada in the early ’90s, National Buy Nothing Day occurs on the day after Thanksgiving each year in the U.S, on November 26 this year. In an effort to combat the unethical and sometimes even dangerous mob shopping behaviors of Black Friday, artist Ted Dave established this anti-consumerism holiday in 1992. The idea is to counteract the madness of holiday shopping by encouraging a mindful and environmentally friendly attitude toward post-feast purchasing. We’ve been looking for an excuse not to hit the mall so early on Thanksgiving weekend, and here it is!
HISTORY OF BUY NOTHING DAY This day is sort of an anti-holiday in that it found its legs in response to a preexisting celebration: Black Friday. Black Friday earned its name from retailers who, after spending the year ‘in the red,’ i.e. operating at a loss or breaking even, would skyrocket sales into the ‘black,’ or a state of positive income after Thanksgiving. This shopping rush traditionally occurs on the day after Thanksgiving as many stores advertise unmissable sales to draw early Christmas-gift shoppers to the market.
As Black Friday became embedded in American culture, Canadian artist Ted Dave found the drastic shift from a day meant for gratitude to a day meant for chaos and greed to be quite off-putting. As a result, he established National Buy Nothing Day in 1992 to counteract the madness of the nation’s materialistic behavior.
Today, Americans practice National Buy Nothing Day in an effort to mediate the exorbitant amounts of waste and auxiliary spending that can often occur in the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas. The idea is that, after spending on food, décor, travel, and lodging for Thanksgiving, the nation should go on a spending detox by enjoying the day at home or in nature.
This fourth Friday of November, you may spot Buy Nothing protestors walking aimlessly through your local mall with a blank facial expression, put some money into your retirement savings, or simply sitting on retailers’ floors and dressing rooms. This happens as a result of the yearly group activity called ‘zombie walk,’ during which participators engage in peculiar behavior as a means of attracting attention and raising awareness about the idea behind the day: anti-consumerism.
Whether you participate this year by relaxing at home with your television or engaging in performance art at the mall, we hope you’ll take the time to consider the merits of this national anti-shopping day.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Nov 26, 2021 18:29:24 GMT
Day of Listening – November 26, 2021~U.S.
The ability to listen is a skill we can practice on National Day of Listening, which is the day after Thanksgiving on November 26, a day to get away from the chaos of the world, just to relax, hear, and be heard. It’s an unofficial day to practice listening, encouraging us to make time to record our and local community stories. Since good listeners fight off depression and gain more familiarity with other people of different backgrounds, listening is highly recommended.
HISTORY OF DAY OF LISTENING National Day of Listening was launched by the national oral history project StoryCorps in 2008. StoryCorps is a non-profit organization whose voluntary mission is to give Americans a chance to tell, document, and save the stories of their lives. They conduct interviews then collate and archive them at the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress. Radio personality Dave Isay founded the organization in 2003. He adored his grandparents and loved spending time listening to their stories. He decided to record the stories they told, the things they had to say about life in general, and everyone who listened loved them. Unfortunately, he lost the tape after they passed. That inspired him to come up with the genius idea behind StoryCorps.
The organization duly noted that people love to be listened to because it gives them a sense of importance. When listened to, people naturally feel important to the listener, whether it is their loved ones, neighbors, or the community as a whole. The goal of the Day of Listening is to share the stories of diverse people to connect them to their society. It falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, so it is the perfect extension for friends and families to spend time together.
Dialogue takes place anywhere, at home, on social media, on the beach, on a bus, or on the train. We often engage in conversations with those around us unintentionally. It’s a naturally simple, but amazingly subtle concept. National Day of Listening helps us spread genuine insight across cultures and generations, giving us a beneficial connection and vision that we can pass on to coming generations.
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Post by pennmom on Nov 26, 2021 18:31:20 GMT
Flossing Day – November 26, 2021~U.S.
Flossing Day is celebrated on the fourth Friday in November (i.e., the Friday after Thanksgiving), which is November 26 this year. The holiday stresses the importance of flossing your teeth every day for excellent oral health. Can you believe that horsehair was used as dental floss before the invention of the modern floss we use today?
HISTORY OF FLOSSING DAY Before the beginning of written history, humans have used a wide variety of materials like dental floss. Based on anthropological evidence found in ancient humans, horsehair was used as one of the first types of dental floss. Toothpicks and chew sticks with sharpened points are also two of the tools early humans employed for interdental cleaning.
In 1815, Dr. Levi Spear Parmly, a New Orleans dentist, created the earliest iteration of the modern dental floss. It was a thin, waxen silk thread that he encouraged his patients to clean between their teeth. This thread was readily available everywhere because it was used in tailoring. Four years later, Dr. Parmly published his dental book, “A Practical Guide to the Management of Teeth.” In the book, he recommended brushing twice a day and flossing once every day.
In 1882, the Codman and Shurtleff Company began producing unwaxed silk floss, marketed as dental floss. In 1898, Johnson & Johnson patented dental floss and began producing all types of waxed and unwaxed dental floss. Johnson & Johnson’s dental floss used the same silk material as surgical stitches.
However, in the 1940s, silk became expensive because of the war, causing the price of silk dental floss to skyrocket. Dr. Charles Bass introduced the idea of replacing silk with nylon. The idea received traction and later led to the invention of dental tape.
Dental floss has since evolved and now comes in different textures, materials, and flavors. They are also made to fit different mouths’ shapes and sizes. In 2000, the National Flossing Council created Flossing Day to remind everyone of the importance of flossing.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Nov 26, 2021 18:33:32 GMT
Fur-Free Friday – November 26, 2021~International
Fur-Free Friday is held on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), on November 26 this year, to denounce our cruelty, in the name of fashion, to fur-bearing animals, and to campaign for animal rights and protection. Did you know that California was the first state to ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products in 2019? However, this law will not be implemented until 2023. Fur fashion is clothing manufactured with furry animal hides. This clothing is considered a luxury product and is worn mainly by the rich and famous to symbolize social status. Furs used in these clothes are usually sourced from foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, rabbits, seals, wolves, cats, and dogs.
HISTORY OF FUR-FREE FRIDAY Fur-Free Friday takes its roots from fur in fashion. Fur was among the first materials used for clothing by humans. Around 170,000 years ago, fur was just another piece of clothing worn by both lords and commoners. But that changed between the 14th and 17th centuries. For example, in England, the monarchy introduced sumptuary legislation that determined the type of animal fur worn by the different social classes. Higher-end animal furs such as ermine and gray squirrel were reserved for the aristocracy, while fox and beaver furs went to the middle class and goat and sheepskin for the lower class. However, furry animals were in low supply, so fur use in clothing was limited.
In the 16th century, the fur trade was established among France, England, and Canada, bringing mass fur supply to European countries. That allowed fur, especially beaver fur, to be used for military clothing and everyday accessories, such as hats, hoods, scarves, and muffs. The increasing demand for fur clothing led to the development of fur farms in the 1870s, firmly establishing the fur trade in Europe and North America. This demand was further perpetuated by movie and music stars between the 19th and 20th centuries.
In the 1980s, animal rights organizations began raising awareness on animal skins in fashion and campaigning against fur farming. In 1985, Trans Species Unlimited (T.S.U.) and the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (C.A.F.T.) launched the first non-violent civil disobedience activities in the United States. They protested against fur in fashion at Macy’s stores in New York and California. These same activities were repeated by George Cave and Cres Vellucci of T.S.U. the following year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. That led to the creation of Fur-Free Friday.
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