pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277 
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 10:36:14 GMT
National Write to Congress Day – January 3, 2022~U.S.
The U.S. observes National Write to Congress Day on January 3 every year, a day for the citizens to exercise their democratic rights. It is crucial to write to the State and Federal level representatives, relaying all concerns to them. Small business owners can also write to their elected representatives about any recent bills that might affect them. Very few people do this or even realize they can, which makes this day that much more significant. It is our duty as the citizens who elected them to hold our representatives accountable.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL WRITE TO CONGRESS DAY
The Congress is the United States of America legislature, first established under the Constitution in New York in 1789 before moving to Philadelphia. It is bicameral, meaning it has two houses — the Senate present in each state and the House of Representatives elected based on population. The First U.S. Congress laid the foundation, forming government departments, passing the Bill of Rights, and announcing the President. In 1800, the national capital was moved to Washington D.C.
The war against Great Britain in 1812 brought significant loss and damage to the country. In 1814, British forces invaded Washington D.C. and set public Congress buildings, including the Capitol, on fire. By 1912, America had become a union of 48 states and was the most influential country in the world. The members of Congress moved into their first permanent office buildings, their congressional service becoming a full-time occupation compared to the very seldom meetings that were held in the 19th century.
Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution states that the House Members have two years in office. A House ends after each two-year Congress, and the new Representatives must constitute a new House for the next Congress, choose its Speaker and officers, and adopt the chamber’s rules of procedure. The Constitution also provides a set time for the new Congress to convene, which is noon on January 3, except when the previous Congress designated a different day by law. National Write to Congress Day is set on this day to coincide with the constitutional opening day of each new Congress.
On December 30, 2005, Congressman Higgins recognized National Write to Congress Day, deciding that the day would be annually observed on January 3, 2006, to encourage the general public to contact their representatives through email, letter, or phone calls. The U.S. Congress receives an estimated 86.9 million mails every year.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 10:39:59 GMT
National Thank God Its Monday Day – January 3, 2022~U.S.
Thank God It’s Monday Day, celebrated every first Monday in January, is all about rewiring our minds to have a positive attitude about the most hated day of the week. A Monday can represent new opportunities, new beginnings, or simply a brand new chance, because you don’t just like your job, but you also intend to gun for that promotion and live your full potential. On National Thank God It’s Monday Day, seize the day with all your personal energy. It’s not just the first day of the week, it’s the first day of the rest of our lives.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL THANK GOD ITS MONDAY DAY
Monday, to most of us, is considered the first day of the week according to the international standard ISO 8601. In countries that adopt the “Sunday-first” convention, it is the second day of the week. The name of Monday is derived from Old English “Mōnandæg” and Middle English “Monenday”, originally a translation of Latin “dies lunae” or “day of the Moon.”
In modern times, it has become more common to consider Monday the first day of the week. Although, historically, the Greco-Roman week began with Sunday and Monday was the second day of the week. In Abrahamic religions, Monday is considered a special day. The Eastern Orthodox Church, for example, commemorates the angels on Monday.
In Islam, Mondays are one of the days in a week in which Muslims are encouraged to do voluntary fasting, the other being Thursdays. There are a number of Hadith which narrates of Prophet Muhammad fasting on these days. Similarly, in Judaism, Mondays are considered auspicious days for fasting.
Religion aside, research shows Thank God It’s Mondays celebrations as only going back a few years. It takes a special mindset to really appreciate the first day of the work or school week and to view it as a dynamically positive thing. It’s like forcing ourselves to learn to be “good with names,” simply because we know it’s the right thing to do.
We can also think of our employment situation in real terms. Who’s more likely to be promoted, the employee who shows up Monday morning looking like something the cat dragged in, or the one who’s there a half hour early, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? Perhaps it is truly in our best interests to start seeing Mondays as the best day of the week. We can see Mondays as a brand new slate. Self-actualization is the key, and it can begin with a positive attitude about the otherwise-infamous Monday morning.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 10:43:55 GMT
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day – January 3, 2022~U.S.
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day on January 3 is for celebrating that combo that just naturally seems to go together, cherries and chocolate. Just as the holiday festivities are behind us and a new year begins, we look forward to the luscious confection that puts a smile on everyone’s face and brightens our outlook for whatever waits for us in the new year ahead.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY DAY
Chocolate covered cherries, also known as cherry cordials, have been enjoyed by Americans and indeed the world for generations. Early settlers from Europe were so fond of cherries they made sure that some were stashed among the cargo when they sailed the Atlantic Ocean to reach America in the 1600s.
Although there are a variety of cherries now considered to be native to North America, the common belief is that cherries originated in Turkey. Cherries are known to be one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world and it seems as though our love of cherries is deeply ingrained in human culture.
The English began soaking sweet cherries in kirsch, a cherry brandy, and covering them with chocolate in the 1700s. These cordials, as they were known, were savored for their intoxicating effects, and reserved for holidays. The French created a similar confection called Griottes around the same time using a sour cherry called a griotte, which they also soaked in kirsch and smothered in chocolate. Both English cordials and French Griottes made their way to America in the 1700s and immediately became in demand to no one’s surprise.
Americans began making cordials using a strong, sugary syrup liqueur by crushing whole cherries, cooking them in sugar and brandy, then covering with chocolate. These became known as cherry cordials, but other fruits were also made into cordials using the same brandy and sugar method. Cherry cordials were the most popular and usually reserved for holidays and special festivities. Eventually, the alcohol was removed from the recipe during prohibition, and cherry cordials were instead made with cherry flavored sugar syrup. By 1929 the first chocolate covered–cherries made with sugar syrup and no alcohol began to be mass–produced in America to meet the increased demand.
Today we celebrate–chocolate covered cherries of all persuasions – dark, milk, even white chocolate varieties. We love to savor a cherry cordial after dinner made with sweet liqueurs and the nip of kirsch brandy but are always eager to indulge in a sweet sugar syrup centered chocolate–covered cherry as a late afternoon delight. Whichever you prefer, make sure you treat yourself for National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 10:47:03 GMT
Humiliation Day – January 3, 2022~U.S.
We observe Humiliation Day on January 3 every year. Unlike its literal meaning, it is not a day to humiliate one another or spread hatred, but to relinquish our pride and become humble before a higher power or other people. In this context, the idea of humiliation has its origins in Protestant Christianity, where it means to leave one’s pride behind and come as equal human beings before God. It is important to humble ourselves to stop judging others based on their differences. Humiliation Day should be observed by all, regardless of religion.
HISTORY OF HUMILIATION DAY
On July 20, 1775, Congress issued a proclamation recommending the observance of a day of fasting, public humiliation, and prayer for the English Colonies under the blessing of King George the Third. The declaration was distributed to all the towns in the colonies. The goal was to pray for the civil and religious rights and privileges of the colonies. It became a big success with broad participation, and ever since then, Congress has issued a day of humiliation and prayer every year.
General George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, also called for a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer for his soldiers on May 6, 1779. The soldiers ceased all activities and labor for one day. Some Presidents didn’t make the proclamation during their term. Still, on March 23, 1798, U.S. President John Adams revived the tradition. He recommended the observance of a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer where the citizens would halt their worldly preoccupations and show their humble selves to a higher power.
In the year 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln wrote to the Senate stating that the country had to observe a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer to please God. It was a plea to help the country and its citizens find inner peace and become more spiritual and devoted to God. Humiliation Day has become more secular recently, and acts of kindness and humility are done more for charitable causes than to appease God.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 10:50:51 GMT
International Mind-Body Wellness Day – January 3, 2022~World
January 3 is International Mind-Body Wellness Day, an opportunity to celebrate how a healthy mind and healthy emotions means a healthy body! The mind, body and soul connection plays an integral role in our overall health and well-being. Our emotions, purpose, spirituality, experiences, goals, beliefs, habits and actions all have an important impact on mind-body harmony and overall health. That is why we celebrate International Mind-Body Wellness Day at the start of each year, because nothing is more important than creating the best you possible, and what better time than the new year for a new you?
Bestselling author, TEDx speaker and mind body wellness expert, Jaya Jaya Myra knows the full power of harmonizing mind, body and soul, and its impact on physical health. Using only holistic strategies including purpose and mindfulness, she healed herself of fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression when allopathic medicine failed to help her. This led her to create The WELL Method and write The Soul of Purpose, looking at the direct connections between spirituality, purpose and health.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL MIND-BODY WELLNESS DAY
The concept of mind body wellness has been around for literally thousands of years, and there are plenty of ways that we can elevate our mind-body wellness and promote overall well-being. Everything from mindfulness, meditation, diet changes, spirituality, gratitude, mindset, purpose and even decor and colors can impact your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing!
Personalization isn’t new – in fact, it’s ancient
We are all unique in terms of our purpose, goals, desires, beliefs and even physical body type. Our most ancient healing systems including ayurveda and traditional chinese medicine recognized this, and paved the way for other personalized approaches to bring the mind, emotions and soul into a state of harmony.
Mind-body wellness expert and best-selling author, Jaya Jaya Myra, has a few tips on how we can celebrate International Mind-Body Wellness Day today and every day:
Use The WELL Method to create a personalized plan for a healthy mindset
Jaya Jaya Myra created The WELL Method to help people create a positive, healthy mindset. The beauty is, each person can customize it to their own unique needs, beliefs, lifestyle and personal ethos. Here’s the framework:
W – Work-Life Harmony
E – Expect/Enable Excellence
L – Live Your Purpose
L – Love, Not Fear
No matter what your goals, The WELL Method can help you succeed and keep the important things in life in focus, while reminding you that you are strong, worthy and capable of anything! You can learn more about The WELL Method in The Soul of Purpose.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 10:55:07 GMT
Festival of Sleep Day – January 3, 2022~U.S.
No need to stifle those yawns this Festival of Sleep Day on January 3! Created to help you catch up on your Zs after a busy festive season, this day of rest and relaxation means you can snuggle up and doze off. So cancel those plans and plump your best pillow, because we’ve got the dreamiest ideas for getting a bit of shut-eye, along with some fun facts to make sleep your new favorite hobby.
HISTORY OF FESTIVAL OF SLEEP DAY
We’ve been enjoying forty winks ever since the human race came into existence, but we haven’t always understood it. Early speculation by the Ancient Greeks about the reason for sleep was that it is due to lack of circulation, causing the body to become unconscious for a period of time while it rebalanced. Theorists were divided at first on whether this was due to the brain or the heart, which were known to be the two most important organs.
Back then, sleep was separated into a first and second sleep of the day, instead of the single long stretch we enjoy today. In the interlude between sleep, people would socialize and relax. This routine stayed the same for centuries but was disrupted by the Industrial Revolution and the invention of artificial light, which allowed for a longer working day and therefore pushed together the periods of sleep. The socializing section of the day was moved to before bed instead.
The desire for success in the newly industrialized world would eat into the sleeping time of many workers and businesspeople, as it continues to do today. A new regulation was introduced by Ford in 1926, when it became the first American company to provide employees with a fixed schedule of an eight-hour working day and a 40-hour working week, allowing those on the payroll to get to bed on time.
Festival of Sleep Day is a modern-day celebration, supposedly invented to help us recharge our batteries from all the lost sleep around the festive season at the end of the year. It reminds us to practice self-care for the coming year and take advantage of the numerous benefits of a  ’s sleep.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 10:58:31 GMT
Drinking Straw Day – January 3, 2022~U.S.
Drinking Straw Day is celebrated on January 3 every year, the day Marvin Chester was awarded a patent for his innovation, i.e., the paper drinking straw. Imagine a world without straws. Sounds horrible, right? We often don’t realize this, but drinking straws have made our lives a lot easier, allowing us access to the bottom of the juice jar first, where all the good stuff lies. Drinking with a straw is much less messy, and we can take our time sipping leisurely.
HISTORY OF DRINKING STRAW DAY
The earliest form of straws was used by Ancient Sumerians almost 5,000 years ago. They submerged long and thin metallic tubes into big jars for brewing beer. The tube passed through the fermentation layers and went down to access the liquor at the bottom. These tubes brought the liquid upwards and into the mouth of the Sumerians.
In 1888, Marvin Stone, originally a paper cigarette holder manufacturer, became the first person to file for a drinking straw patent. Before the paper straw, there was the rye straw, and one day, while drinking a mint julep during a summer day, Stone didn’t like the aftertaste of the rye. He also noticed that the straw was beginning to disintegrate because of the liquid. This led him to think of designing a better straw. Stone started by wrapping strips of paper around a pencil and stuck them to it. He realized that these makeshift straws didn’t leave a grassy aftertaste and didn’t disintegrate easily, unlike the rye. Once the design was patented by 1890, his factory Stone Industrial began the commercial production of paper straws.
In the 1930s, bendable straws were invented by Joseph Friedman. Friedman used to watch his daughter struggle to drink her milkshake using the paper straw, so he came up with the bendable straw, in 1937, by adding a screw in the middle to make the straw easy to turn and adjust without breaking. By the 1960s, with the rise of fast food industries, plastic replaced paper because the cost of mass-producing plastic drinking straws was much lower.
The history, origin, and founder of Drinking Straw Day are widely unknown.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 11:03:11 GMT
Fruitcake Toss Day – January 3, 2022~U.S.
Fruitcake Toss Day is on January 3. On this day, take that fruitcake you never got around to eating and send it spiraling hundreds or thousands of feet into the air, depending on the power of your throwing arm. Every year, a few hundred people gather in downtown Manitou Springs, Colorado, to hurl hundreds of fruitcakes into the air by hand, cannon, or slingshot. Fruitcakes last for ages, so don’t throw out that fruitcake we both know no one in your home will eat; throw it into the air!
HISTORY OF FRUITCAKE TOSS DAY
A fruitcake is a delicious cake made with candied or dried fruits and nuts often soaked in rum. In the United States, fruitcakes have become a ridiculed dessert, with many jokes about their longevity and age. From 20th century cartoons to TV programs like “Father Knows Best,” “The Donna Reed Show,” and “The Tonight Show,” there is an American subculture that involves good-natured jabs at fruitcakes, which led to the first Great Fruitcake Toss in 1996.
Fruitcake Toss Day started when a group of locals in Manitou Springs, Colorado, decided to make some fun out of tossing their old fruitcakes in the air. They went to a public park and made a competition out of it. The day was so fun that it has been celebrated every year since then, save for a few canceled editions. Every year, hundreds of spectators and participants gather for the quirky tradition of tossing fruitcakes. Traditionally, people participate in various competitions that test strength, accuracy, and balance, all revolving around launching fruitcakes into the air. The leftovers are then fed to a local pig named ‘Jezebel.’ Over the years, the celebration has included a slew of advancements on the classic hand toss, such as robotic or mechanical devices and a pneumatic weapon launch. In January 2007, 8 Boeing engineers set the record for the highest Great Fruitcake Toss when their mock artillery piece, the “Omega 8,” flung a fruitcake 1,430 feet into the air.
Did you know that the fruitcake from U.S. President Grover Cleveland’s wedding in 1886 is still intact in his hometown of Caldwell, New Jersey? Love or hate them, fruitcakes are probably one of the most regifted items in the U.S.A. Why not put them to good use by flinging them into glory in a grand gesture of hearty fun?
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 11:07:57 GMT
Handsel Monday – January 3, 2022~Scotland
Handsel Monday, the first Monday after New Year’s Day, is a unique celebration in Scotland where the master or mistress gives small gifts to their servants. In many households, fathers or mothers also give gifts to children on this day. Did you know that the word ‘Handsel’ means ‘to deliver into the hand’? But this day is not just about handing gifts to servants and children — each gift given holds a significant meaning. Gifting money on this day is said to bring monetary luck for the rest of the year. However, if the gift isn’t money, the object should not be sharp. Let’s learn more.
HISTORY OF HANDSEL MONDAY
The nation of Scotland has been celebrating Handsel Monday for more than 500 years as the great winter holiday of the year. In Scotland, this tradition is mostly followed by the rural population of the country where they give gifts to servants or their children as a token of good luck. You can also give gifts to beggars or someone you owe a debt of gratitude to or someone you’re thankful for. The gift could be anything from money to a bottle of booze. Gifting someone a piece of silver like a silver coin or silver ornaments and items is said to bring guaranteed good luck for the rest of the year.
However, according to tradition, gifting sharp objects or something sharp will cut apart your relationship with the person and bring you bad luck. There isn’t much information on the history or origin of Handsel Monday. The word ‘Handsel’ comes from the old Saxon word which means ‘to deliver into the hand.’ During the olden days, servants would collect half a crown or a shilling along with a piece of cake and a glass of toddy from their masters and rejoice the day.
Auld Handsel Monday was traditionally celebrated on the first Monday after the old New Year — the Monday that comes after January 12. But as years passed, it shifted to the first Monday of the New Year. Technically, Handsel Monday, or Hansel Monday, is a custom that reflects the switch from the old Julian calendar to the new Gregorian calendar. But over time the tradition of Handsel Monday has faded and not many people celebrate it now. So, this Handsel Monday, why not give a gift to someone you’re thankful for and make your own luck!
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 3, 2022 11:12:19 GMT
Folic Acid Awareness Week – January 3-9, 2022~U.S.
National Folic Acid Awareness Week, observed during the first full week of January every year (January 3 – 10 this year), brings much-needed attention to this crucial vitamin that is especially important to women who are either pregnant or may become pregnant. This is because folic acid in one’s diet is a key weapon in the fight against folate deficiency anemia in infants. In fact, if taken before conception and during early pregnancy, folic acid can also prevent up to 70% of some neural tube defects (serious birth defects of the brain and spine).
The powerful B vitamin has been and continues to be added to staples such as flour and pasta, and it is also found in high proportions in unaltered foods like leafy greens, bread and legumes. It supports cardiovascular, brain, and neural health. Our bodies use folic acid to produce new cells, thus making it important in the development of a strong, healthy fetus.
So get in tune with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN), eat your broccoli and get that folic acid in your system!
HISTORY OF FOLIC ACID AWARENESS WEEK
Folic Acid Awareness Week has been recognized as a part of the CDC-backed National Birth Defects Prevention Month since January of 1997. The CDC and NBDPN hold an annual joint convention to review the information gathered on birth defects during the year prior and to share new scientific discoveries, successful medical practices, and natal wellness in general. The yearly report may use words like “surveillance,” but that only refers to data collection in general, not surreptitious observation of unknowing mothers-to-be. The idea is that the more information is collated and analyzed, the more medical professionals will be able to help families give birth to healthy, alert, and button-cute babies.
The quick-reference number for the amount of folic acid or vitamin B9 (and we like how that sounds like, ‘benign,’ don’t you?) that women should consume each day is 400 micrograms. But that can be intimidating to measure and keep track of on your own. An expecting mother should routinely check with her doctor, who can fine-tune those levels for the optimal health of mother and fetus. And just as with every other regimen, like fitness, studying, or learning a new skill at work, your folic acid intake and monitoring will become second nature. If there’s a partner who’s pregnant with you, you may find that cooking vitamin-rich natural meals is enjoyable in its own right, so that you barely have to think about folic acid. There’s lots of other stuff to be aware of, without a doubt.
But this week, we urge you to pay strict attention to this one preventative measure. Not only that, but spread the word to friends and  who may not have the current information. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when certain defects have no cure at all!
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:04:08 GMT
Dimpled Chad Day – January 4, 2022~U.S.
Dimpled Chad Day is observed on January 4 of every year in memory of the infamous punched card voting ballot. A chad is a small piece of paper that’s punched and removed when a hole is made in cardboard via a machine or with the force of hand. When the chad is not removed completely, though, it is called a dimpled chad. These unremoved chads brought the entire country to its knees on the eve of the 2000 presidential election. Revisit this great national spectacle as we remember the chad and the havoc it wreaked.
HISTORY OF DIMPLED CHAD DAY
The dimpled chads have an undeniable foothold in American politics. Brought into practice in the 1960s, the punched card voting system was one of the most prevalent methods of voting in the 20th century. But its fate had certainly run its course in the year 2000.
The 2000 presidential election was fought between George W. Bush (R-FL) and Al Gore (D-TN). As the day came to an end on November 7, 2000, all leading news channels called the election in favor of Gore. But the state of Florida was yet to declare a winner, with Bush leading the count by a few hundred votes.
More than 30 Florida counties used the Votomatic-style punched card ballots to register the votes. But as expected, many ballots weren’t properly punched. Thousands of voter rolls were discarded because of the dimpled chads, i.e. when a fragment of paper gets stuck to the cardboard even after being punched out. Because of the close count, Gore demanded an automatic machine recount, which was appealed by Bush in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, of course, stopped the recount and declared Bush the winner, a month and six days after the election.
Being one of the oldest functioning democracies in the world, the U.S. has certainly seen its fair share of election mishaps. We grew up listening to stories about John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon’s hotly contested tally, and about how the “Chicago Tribune” incorrectly listed “Dewey Defeats Truman” — it’s almost a meme at this point.
The congress assembled on January 6, 2001, to declare Bush the official winner of the 2000 presidential election, which might be the reason why January 4 is reserved for the national condemnation of the notorious punched card ballots.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:06:10 GMT
Free Flower Basket Day – January 4, 2022~U.S.
Free Flower Basket Day on January 4 encourages you to surprise someone with beautiful flowers. Everyone loves flowers — they’re gorgeous, they smell nice, they look good, and they don’t need much maintenance. Whether you pick a few from your garden or buy a lovely bouquet, give a friend or  member a free basket of flowers to brighten their day.
HISTORY OF FREE FLOWER BASKET DAY
Flowers presumably originated between 140 to 200 million years ago. They are the bloom or blossom of a plant. The flower is the part that produces seeds, which eventually become other flowers. This happens through a process known as pollination, which is carried out either by insects or the wind. Flowers are highly modified to attract their special pollinators such as bees, flies, moths, hummingbirds, bats, and more. It’s for this reason that flowers are brightly colored and beautifully scented.
Did you know that without some flowers, we would not have some foods, medicines, dyes, textiles, and tons of other essentials for daily use? They are essential and every type of flower is unique in color, scent, shape and size. They need food and sunlight to survive, as they make their own food and derive energy through photosynthesis. To perform photosynthesis, plants require; carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. Carbon dioxide penetrates through little holes in a plant’s leaves, flowers, branches, stems, and roots. The roots absorb the water, the sun breaks down the molecules of carbon dioxide and water, and reorganizes them to make sugar (glucose) and oxygen.
It is not certain who created Free Flower Basket Day, but it is likely that the holiday was started by the greeting card industry because there are always references to it on greeting card sites. We do know, however, that it’s a day to give or receive a basket of flowers and it is celebrated annually on January 4.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:07:43 GMT
National Spaghetti Day – January 4, 2022~U.S.
Though the origins of spaghetti are disputed—whether it was Marco Polo bringing back culinary invention from the East, and Arab trade-route delicacy, or a home-grown Sicilian treat dating back to the 12th Century—we can all agree that a cold night with a big bowl of noodle-y, saucy goodness is balm for the soul. So join us on January 4th as we celebrate National Spaghetti Day with this amazing dish!
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:11:31 GMT
National Trivia Day – January 4, 2022~U.S.
Q. What holiday celebrates little known factoids?
A. National Trivia Day, January 4.
Our obsession for trivia has been part of popular culture for many decades and it’s easy to understand why. Most of us are naturally competitive and social beings and trivia blends the two perfectly. If you enjoy wowing your friends with interesting stats and frivolous facts, today is your day to shine!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL TRIVIA DAY
One of the first forms of what we know today as a trivia game debuted on the 1940s radio program “Take It or Leave It”. Not too long after this in 1964, “Jeopardy!” entered millions of Americans’ homes through television and remains arguably America’s most iconic quiz show.
At the same time during the 60s, trivia night swept across college campuses all over the US (think competitive and social plus beer). Then, in the 70s, pub quizzes emerged in the United Kingdom to entice people to head to their local pubs on traditionally slower evenings.
As trivia continued to gain momentum, Trivial Pursuit emerged in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1979 thanks to Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, becoming one of the world’s most famous board games. Since then, our love for obscure facts continues to take the world by storm through online gaming and other technology-driven formats.
While some people may find trivia “trivial,” it can be pretty serious business for others. Leagues and competitions are common across the globe and the competitive nature of some has led to drastic measures including cheating. Mobile phones are often banned from competitions to deter secret searches for answers.
At the end of the day, it’s the silly facts and camaraderie that endear trivia to so many competitively social people.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:14:13 GMT
Perihelion Day – January 4, 2022~International
Perihelion Day is on January 4 this year. It occurs about two weeks after every December Solstice, and on this day, Earth’s center is approximately 91,402,500 miles from the sun’s center. Numerical integration is required to make precise predictions of perihelion passage. It is quite interesting to see what goes on in the universe and the planet on which we live. Perihelion is one of those many interesting occurrences. On this day, we can keep a lookout for the big ball of fire being at its largest.
HISTORY OF PERIHELION DAY
Perihelion is an astronomical occurrence that happens around two weeks from the December Solstice. Even though it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere during this period, Earth reaches the closest point of over 91 million miles to the sun on this day. Perihelion does not directly affect Earth’s temperature; it does not make us feel any warmer, nor does it provide respite from the chilling temperature. However, it does indirectly affect seasons because Earth’s orbital speed is at its maximum at perihelion. On this day, the sun appears the largest in the sky for the entire year, gradually growing smaller through the remainder of the year.
In 1246, Perihelion Day was on the December Solstice. Every 58 years since then, the date has changed by a day. Perihelion Day varies each year due to precession and orbital factors that follow specific cyclical patterns known as the Milankovitch cycles. Another cause is the moon’s presence, which can make the date vary by up to two days from one year to another. While the Earth-Moon barycenter moves on a stable orbit around the sun, Earth’s center, which is around 2,900 mi from the barycenter, can shift in any direction from it, thus affecting the actual time of the perihelion.
In 2000, the longitude of the perihelion was about 282.895°, and by 2010, it had become around 283.067°. According to astronomers, in the year 6430, the perihelion will happen simultaneously as the March Equinox.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:17:20 GMT
Pop Music Chart Day – January 4, 2022~U.S.
Pop Music Chart Day is on January 4 and isn’t music an amazing way to tune up the new year? Pop music is catchy and difficult to resist. Even if it’s not your typical jam, you’ve probably bobbed your head to a pop song or two, and you may even know a few. Pop music is currently the most popular type of music and there’s a chart every week. While some songs stay on the charts for a week, others that are more popular can stay on the charts for months.
HISTORY OF POP MUSIC CHART DAY
The origin of Pop Music Chart Day is unknown. However, pop is a genre of popular music that emerged in its recent form during the 1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. During the 1950s and 1960s, pop music incorporated rock and roll and the youth-focused behaviors it influenced. Pop music was somewhat similar to rock, until the late 1960s, then pop became associated with music that was more commercial, convenient, and short.
Popular music and pop music are often used to mean the same type of music, but popular music equally relates to all music that is popular and comprises many different styles. Although a significant percentage of the music that features on record charts is seen as pop music, the genre is different from chart music.
Factors that are common in pop music include the repeated choruses and hooks, short and medium-length songs, which are often about two to three minutes in length, and the lyrics in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure). Pop music features rhythms or tempos that can be easily danced to, making it more commercial. Much of pop music also borrows elements from other styles such as dance, rock, indie, urban, Latin, and country.
On Pop Music Chart Day, the countdown of the top 10 or five songs on the chart is played. These top songs are usually popular hit songs loved by most. Many pubs and restaurants will blast these pop songs on Pop Music Chart Day and pop music events and festivities will be organized to celebrate.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:21:03 GMT
Tom Thumb Day – January 4, 2022~U.S.
Tom Thumb Day is celebrated on January 4 to commemorate the legacy of Charles Sherwood Stratton, the greatest actor of his time. Born on January 4, 1838, in the silent streets of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Charles went on to achieve global acclaim under the patronage of his mentor and adoptee, circus pioneer P. T. Barnum. Stratton, a dwarf, evaded the stigma that comes with the disability and took his talent all the way to the courtyard of Queen Victoria. On his birth anniversary, we come together to acknowledge his lasting legacy in the entertainment industry, and the many paths he paved for the little people of his time.
HISTORY OF TOM THUMB DAY
Charles Sherwood Stratton was born on January 4, 1838, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Although he had a normal appearance at the time of his birth, he stopped showing signs of physical development after six months due to a growth hormone deficiency. He remained 25 inches tall until the age of nine when he started growing very slowly again. His final height measured at three-foot four inches.
At the age of four, circus maestro P.T. Barnum, a distant relative of Stratton’s, recognized his talent and decided to mentor him. He informally adopted the boy and taught him how to sing, dance, mime, and impersonate. Soon enough, Barnum’s dedicated tutelage came to fruition, as Stratton became one of the main acts of his New York City Museum.
As the duo started their American tour, Barnum gave Stratton a new stage name, Tom Thumb, based on English folklore. He billed him as an 11-year-old dwarf from England when Stratton was just five years old. On the stage, Stratton impersonated characters such as Napoleon and Cupid.
At the age of six, Charles was invited to Buckingham Palace. His performance for Queen Victoria and the subsequent tour earned him star status in London. As the years passed, Stratton added many titles to this name, “the greatest actor of his time” being one of them. From his very first performance in New York, he breathed fresh air into the freak show entertainment world and rehabilitated the presentation of ‘human curiosities’.
America’s love for carnival shows can be partially credited to the lively performances of General Tom Thumb and his decades-long dedication to the craft. Burnam didn’t just capitalize on Stratton’s small stature, but he also highlighted his true artistry. Stratton’s ability to sing and act, coupled with his clever comedic timing made him a true professional entertainer, one of the greatest to ever exist.
After four decades in the entertainment industry, which included an invitation from the Lincoln White House, Stratton died of a heart stroke at the age of 45. On the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate General Tom Thumb and his towering contribution to the entertainment industry.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:23:42 GMT
Weigh-In Day – January 4, 2022~U.S.
Weigh-In Day is an annual celebration on January 4, right after all the big festivities like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s are over. It is the ideal time to see what the holiday season did to our bodies, to check in on ourselves at the beginning of the new year. By weighing ourselves, we encourage ourselves to get started on our fitness goals and healthy diet routines. Although it’s not clear who came up with this day, it is a necessary reminder to get our bodies back on track.
HISTORY OF WEIGH-IN DAY
The oldest version of the weighing scale dates back to 2400 B.C. in the Indus River valley. These were balance scales used for banking and exchange, with uniform polished stone cubes as measuring stones on one side of the scale. They had a varying range of masses used for calculation. In 1878 B.C., Egyptian merchants used scales to measure gold. Marks on stones with the hieroglyphic symbol for gold act as evidence of this gold measuring system, with scales depicted through signs or murals on ancient walls. In the 4th Century B.C., weighing scales whose balance was made of wood with bronze masses were discovered in a tomb in China.
By the 19th century, European soldiers were being weighed on simple balance scales to deem them fit or unfit. One soldier would stand on one side of the scale while standard weights were put on the other side. This criterion of fitness was later popularly known as BMI or Body-Mass-Index. Around the 1900s, this fitness criterion started being applied to people outside the military. People began to become conscious of their weight, and until the 1970s, weighing scales could be seen at train stations and public places where people could weigh themselves using a coin. By the 20th century, this self-measuring tendency became restricted to more private spaces, and weighing scales became compact and digital.
Informally, Weigh-In Day has existed for as long as weighing scales and overeating during the holidays have. The Christmas feast of stuffed roast turkey, mashed potatoes, pudding, and fruit cake, has been a tradition since medieval England when King Henry VIII was the first British monarch to have a Christmas dinner that included them. Thomas Tusser, an English farmer who was also a poet, wrote that by 1573, roast turkey was a Christmas feast staple. Holiday meals have gotten richer and more calorie-filled since those times, and Weigh-In Day pushes people to take a step back after the holidays and be aware of the effects of all those calories on the body. This holiday is all about fighting the urge to just let go of yourself and finding the courage to stand on a scale.
The scale can be a double-edged sword when trying to lose weight. Sometimes your diet and exercise are going great, so you’re happy to step on a scale; other times, you’ve hit a slump and might have overindulged once or twice, and you would rather smash it than get on it. Either way, the weighing scale is handy in your fitness journey. All that’s needed is the proper knowledge of the time and ways to use it. Checking the scales regularly helps you stay on track with your weight management and fitness goals so that you can make changes before any weight gain gets out of hand. However, people with eating disorders or anxiety related to weight or even going on the scale should take breaks from weighing and regularly speak with a psychologist or mental health professional to avoid a breakdown.
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:26:07 GMT
World Braille Day – January 4, 2022~International
World Braille Day on January 4 is celebrated to honor the birth of Braille’s inventor, Louis Braille. Braille’s gift to the world has brightened the lives of millions of people around the world who are blind or visually impaired, and they benefit from his work every day. The day also acknowledges that those with visual impairments deserve the same standard of human rights as everyone else.
HISTORY OF WORLD BRAILLE DAY
The term ‘Braille’ was dubbed after its creator. Louis Braille was a Frenchman who lost his eyesight as a child when he accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with his father’s awl. From the age of 10, he spent time at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in France, where he formulated and perfected the system of raised dots that eventually became known as Braille.
Braille completed his work, developing a code based on cells with six dots, making it possible for a fingertip to feel the entire cell unit with one touch and moving quickly from one cell to the next. Eventually, Braille slowly came to be accepted throughout the world as the main form of written information for blind people. Unfortunately, Braille didn’t have the opportunity to see how useful his invention had become. He passed away in 1952, two years before the Royal Institute began teaching Braille.
Braille’s marvelous aid that opened up a world of accessibility to the blind and visually impaired was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In November 2018, January 4 was declared World Braille Day. The first-ever World Braille Day was commemorated the following year and it was celebrated as an international holiday.
The date for the event, as chosen by UNGA via a proclamation, marks Louis Braille’s birthday. We love to see people coming together to celebrate events and good causes, and World Braille Day on January 4 is one such event!
|
|
pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
Posts: 19,277
|
Post by pennmom on Jan 4, 2022 17:28:25 GMT
World Hypnotism Day – January 4, 2022~International
World Hypnotism Day is celebrated on January 4. While it may be a complex subject, there’s no denying that hypnosis by a certified hypnotist can be beneficial in many ways. This day serves to dispel the common misconceptions and fears surrounding hypnosis.
HISTORY OF WORLD HYPNOTISM DAY
The origin of hypnosis in Western science can be traced back to 1770. Franz Mesmer, born in 1734, was a German physician who used hypnosis as a form of therapy to treat his patients in Vienna and Paris. Mesmer’s method interested other medical practitioners and they called it mesmerism after his name. Unfortunately, hypnosis was mistaken for an occultist practice, and it was suppressed. Later on, Scottish surgeon James Braid came up with the terms ‘hypnotism’ and ‘hypnosis’.
In 2004, Board Certified Hypnotist Tom Nicoli and the World Hypnotism Day Committee began the observance to motivate hypnotism experts to educate people and promote the real benefits of and truth about hypnosis. The initial observance kicked off myth-busting events that provided proof, free consultations and an awareness of the part hypnosis can play in our health. World Hypnotism Day on January 4 emphasizes the fact that hypnosis is beneficial. On this day, we are encouraged to eliminate the misconceptions and misunderstandings about hypnotism and to truly embrace it as the useful aid that it is.
When under hypnosis, a person will see, feel, smell, and perceive in harmony with the hypnotist’s guidance, even if these guides are in obvious contradiction to the actual stimuli existing in the environment. Apparent outcomes of hypnosis are sensory changes, the subject’s memory and self-awareness are altered by guidance, and the effects of this guidance may be felt (post-hypnotically) even after the subject wakes up. Hypnosis is a life-changing opportunity. It is a way for someone to write new chapters in their life, so to speak.
|
|
’s sleep.
who may not have the current information. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when certain defects have no cure at all!
member a free basket of flowers to brighten their day.