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Post by pennmom on Jan 7, 2022 22:28:56 GMT
Old Rock Day – January 7, 2022~International
We celebrate Old Rock Day on January 7 every year to remember the Earth’s incredible history and to pay tribute to the amazing geologists who help us understand it. We’ve been dependent on rocks since we first walked the Earth, and today it’s no different, with rocks forming the foundation of our daily lives. So if you want to revel in remarkable old rocks, or sit back and spend time with a stone, we’ve got some polished ideas for making your Old Rock Day a hard one to forget.
HISTORY OF OLD ROCK DAY
The study of rocks was first introduced by the Ancient Greek Theophrastus in his work, “Peri Lithon” (“On Stones”), and became the cornerstone of geology for other interested scientists. The study was advanced by Pliny the Elder, who recorded numerous minerals and metals in great detail, with a particular focus on their practical use. Although working without the tools we use today, Pliny was able to correctly identify the origin of amber as fossilized tree resin.
It wasn’t until 1603 when the word ‘geology’ was used for the first time by Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi. It took a further 150 years for the first geological maps to be drawn by British geologist William Smith, whose work began the process of ordering rock layers by examining the fossils contained in them.
Then, in 1785, James Hutton wrote and presented a paper to the Royal Society of Edinburgh called ‘Theory of the Earth’, which outlined his belief that the world was far older than previously thought. His breakthroughs make him widely considered the first modern geologist.
In 1809 William Maclure produced the first geological map of the USA, a task he completed thanks to two painstaking years spent personally traversing the country. With the invention of radiometric dating in the early 20th century, scientists could finally provide an accurate figure for the age of the earth by tracing the radioactive impurities found in rocks. It helped scientists to see that the Earth is one very old rock indeed!
Rocks have been essential for human development, which is why we celebrate Old Rock Day and the wonder of the geological world.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 7, 2022 22:33:01 GMT
Orthodox Christmas Day – January 7, 2022~U.S.
Orthodox Christmas Day is on January 7 every year, and isn’t it an exciting opportunity to celebrate another Christmas just as the New Year kicks off? Can you believe that Christmas was originally celebrated 13 days after December 25 (the day we all celebrate it on today)? In the Julian calendar — a much older calendar used before the current Gregorian calendar — Christmas was celebrated on January 7. The Orthodox Church still uses the same old calendar to celebrate Christmas Day. Orthodox Christians celebrate by going to church and other traditions like burning frankincense to commemorate the Wise Men’s gifts to baby Jesus.
HISTORY OF ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS DAY
The Christmas season is a much anticipated period of the year all around the world. It is an important time and means many different things to everyone. It is a time to reconnect with  and loved ones, a time of giving and receiving gifts and love, a time to relax and take a break from all the rigors of the previous months, and more importantly, a time Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Bible’s account of the birth of Jesus, it does not state explicitly on which date He was born. The celebration of Christmas on December 25 is a conception by Sextus Julius Africanus, a Christian historian in 221 A.D. The date was set using the Julian calendar, which was later updated to the Gregorian calendar.
Orthodox Christmas Day occurs every January 7 because the Orthodox Church still chooses to celebrate the birth of Jesus as per the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar that is currently in use today led to a new Christmas Day on December 25 due to the addition of new elements that changed the calendar year. Perhaps we can even say that Orthodox Christmas Day is the original Christmas Day.
Whether you celebrate on December 25 or January 7, Christmas has evolved from a pagan holiday to a Christian celebration to a time for everyone, no matter their religion, climes, or associations. It is a time for everyone to make merry and engage in traditions and customs like organizing and attending Christmas carols and concerts, putting up Christmas trees and lights, making beautiful Christmas cookies, and more.
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Post by kimtwilight69 on Jan 8, 2022 4:23:31 GMT
What an entertaining thread, pennmom. I’m really enjoying reading about these varying, unique national holidays. I never would have imagined one for taking down your Christmas tree or the Keto diet. I wonder if they have one especially for passing out on a park bench somewhere on one’s birthday. 😁 |
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 12:35:13 GMT
What an entertaining thread, pennmom . I’m really enjoying reading about these varying, unique national holidays. I never would have imagined one for taking down your Christmas tree or the Keto diet. I wonder if they have one especially for passing out on a park bench somewhere on one’s birthday. 😁 Bouncy Puppy |
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 15:51:30 GMT
National JoyGerm Day – January 8, 2022~U.S.
National JoyGerm Day is celebrated nationwide every January 8 to reawaken the need to fill ourselves to the brim with kindness and love. The day encourages us to share positivity and happiness and make special efforts to spread joy where we can. At this time of year, cold and flu germs spread like crazy, and National JoyGerm Day is the perfect opportunity to spread kindness, happiness, and love too.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL JOYGERM DAY
We celebrate National JoyGerm Day nationwide every January 8. The day encourages us to share positivity and happiness and make special efforts to spread joy where we can. During this day, we can win people over through smiles, hugs, grins, and more. It is a day to spread cheer through “germs of joy” and a time for positivity, optimism, smiles, and kindness to everyone we come into contact with.
Those who celebrate the day are usually members of Joygerms Limited, the company founder Joan White established to promote it. They go to nursing homes and hospitals to spread cheer and hold parades to celebrate the day. Although it is not a day to ignore life’s problems, it helps us rise above them.
Joan E. White founded National JoyGerm Day in 1981. A resident of Syracuse, New York, she got the idea for the day after she came across a newspaper story about a California couple who offered to worry for others in exchange for a fee. White thought this approach to facing the world’s problems was flawed and established an organization to counteract worriers. She then founded Joygerms Limited and designated January 8 as National JoyGerm Day, which also happened to be her late mother’s birthday. Although Joygerms Day was unofficially first held on January 8, 1981, when the idea for it and Joygerms Limited came about, it didn’t become a national day until 1985.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 15:53:22 GMT
War on Poverty Day – January 8, 2022~U.S.
War on Poverty Day is observed annually on January 8 to reflect on the impact of the legislation first introduced in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson that collectively expanded economic opportunity through anti-poverty, health, education, and employment policies. One definition of poverty is “not having enough resources for your basic needs,” and it has a huge impact on people’s lives and society. Poverty also doesn’t discriminate, and it can happen to anyone. Therefore, celebrating War on Poverty Day also serves to recommit us to the eradication of poverty.
HISTORY OF WAR ON POVERTY DAY
War on Poverty Day is an unofficial holiday observed annually on January 8 to reflect on the impact of the Economic Opportunity Act and several other policies first introduced in 1964 and enacted as President Lyndon B. Johnson’s response to the rising poverty level in the country at the time.
“War on Poverty” generally refers to several initiatives proposed by Johnson’s administration and passed by Congress as a way to expand economic opportunity through anti-poverty, health, education, and employment policy implementation. As stated by President Johnson during the State of the Union address, “Our aim is not only to relieve the symptoms of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to prevent it.” President Johnson’s initiative is said to have been influenced by the 1962 exposé titled “The Other America,” which demonstrated that poverty in America was far more prevalent than commonly assumed and successfully focused public debate on the issue.
President Johnson’s declaration was the precedent of the War on Poverty Day made soon after becoming president in the 1964 election, where he won in a landslide. This was after assuming the presidency on November 22, 1963, when President Kennedy was assassinated. Because of President Johnson’s declaration, congress passed the bipartisan Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and the even more important Civil Rights legislation that created the legislative framework that set the foundations for some of America’s current social welfare programs. Throughout Johnson’s administrations, the War on Poverty laid the foundation for America’s present-day safety net programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid, and many others.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 15:55:43 GMT
National Winter Skin Relief Day – January 8, 2022~U.S.
National Winter Skin Relief Day is observed annually on January 8. National Winter Skin Relief Day brings awareness to our skin needs during this time and reminds us of the importance of properly caring for our skin. The day also reminds us to relieve our skin from the winter blues and give our skin the extra attention it typically needs during winter. It’s not difficult to look after your skin, as you’ll see from this article, and it’s completely worth it. After all, we only have one skin, and there are no do-overs.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL WINTER SKIN RELIEF DAY
National Winter Skin Relief Day has been observed annually since 2017, when Valeant Consumer Healthcare designated it as a day to educate consumers about the importance of skin protection during the coldest time of the year. The winter months are a time when cosmetic products like moisturizers are particularly important. And since the 1968 Miss America protest that labeled certain cosmetics products and their manufacturers as “instruments of female torture,” there has been a significant shift towards producing modern cosmetic products and moisturizers.
As winter kicks into gear, National Winter Skin Relief Day’s goal is to remind us of all the ways we can keep our skin from withering away. Valeant Consumer Healthcare outlined several ways to do that, including the use of skin-protecting ointments that can hydrate and protect the skin by applying a moisturizer and allowing it to dry before dressing to protect your skin during the day. They also encourage consumers to look out for ingredients like petrolatum, hyaluronic acid, mineral oil, and ceramides in their choice of skin-protecting ointment.
Arguably, the best way to know if your skin needs extra time and effort is when it starts itching and getting irritated due to the dry winter air or rubbing against your clothing. It shows that you need to commit to caring for your skin a little more by moisturizing regularly and applying sunscreen daily. You can also use a humidifier and include water- and air-resistant products (occlusive products) in your skincare routine.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 15:58:58 GMT
National Vision Board Day – January 8, 2022~U.S.
National Vision Board Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday in January, on January 8 this year, to encourage us to set our goals visually. The day seeks to help us to reimagine and achieve goals in every area of life by effectively visualizing them to life. It is based on “seeing is believing” in the sense that if we can imagine — picture — something, we can move our lives towards that goal. The day was inspired by a group of friends who came together in 2010 to set goals and dream big life dreams in a fun and creative setting.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL VISION BOARD DAY
National Vision Board Day was initiated by Kellan Lutz and Ryan Daly in June 2015 to inspire people to action by helping them visually lay down their goals. The day seeks to inspire people to live the life they’ve always dreamed of by making it come to life with the aid of a vision board. This is based on the “Law of Attraction” — the principle that what you focus on, is what is drawn into your life.
It works by narrowing down on one small goal after another, and it is used for goal setting as it concerns all areas of life including relationships, business, art, travel, and career. Vision boards are also called dream boards and are often made using different forms of stationary and media so that they are interesting and creative. Magazine pictures and photographs help narrow down desires through the power of choice.
The holiday was made official in June 2015 after starting as a large goal-setting party with Kellan and Ryan and their friends and is celebrated annually on the second Saturday in January. In the origin story, the founders of the holiday noted that the day was initiated because they wanted to create a pictorial representation of the goals they wanted to achieve on a board and hang it on a wall. They believe a daily reminder of what those goals are would ensure they stay on the right track of making decisions to make them a reality.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 16:02:30 GMT
Argyle Day – January 8, 2022~Scotland
National Argyle Day is celebrated annually on January 8 to encourage us to express our love for the pattern derived from the tartan of Clan Campbell, of Argyll in western Scotland. The pattern consists of overlapping motifs of diamonds and lozenges and is quite common in sock patterns and dress designs. Did you know that the Scottish Highlanders have worn the argyle pattern design in kilts and plaids and patterned socks since the 17th century? Knitters with skill have been knitting socks with varicolored, diamond-shaped areas on a solid background since the end of WWI.
HISTORY OF ARGYLE DAY
We have celebrated National Argyle Day on January 8 since 2008 to encourage us to express our love for all things argyle. It was initiated as a day to express our love for the pattern by wearing as much argyle clothing as possible.
Argyle itself is a style pattern that originated from the tartan of Clan Campbell, a clan from Argyll, a county in western Scotland. Scottish Highlanders have worn the pattern design in kilts, plaids, and patterned socks since the 17th century.
One of the reasons they became so popular was when Prince Edward, who would later become the Duke of Windsor, started wearing it to go golfing. He wore argyle jerseys, long socks, and trousers. Following World War I, designers are continuing to see a sustained interest in it and an even newer way to express its pattern in everyday clothing accessories. It had a resurgence as a fashion favorite in 2019, featuring on runways worldwide. Argyle proves that diamonds are not just a girl’s best friend!
Although today the design is commonly associated with golf, it has also been used in the uniforms of other sports, such as cycling, curling, and soccer. Major League Soccer team, Sporting Kansas City, 2013’s third kit featured an argyle pattern.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 16:04:20 GMT
National English Toffee Day – January 8, 2022~U.S.
National English Toffee Day is on January 8 every year to celebrate the richness of America’s toffee variant and encourage us to cherish this much-loved confection. Did you know that the English toffee enjoyed by millions of people across the U.S. is slightly different from the original? The rich and delicious variant of original toffee was invented in England and is sometimes called American toffee or buttercrunch because of how it is prepared with white sugar and a variety of nuts. The original English toffee does not contain nuts, although it is equally delicious.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL ENGLISH TOFFEE DAY
January 8 is the day set aside to celebrate National English Toffee Day. Toffee is made by caramelizing sugar or molasses with butter and sometimes flour and then heated to the hard crack stage before optionally mixing it with raisins or nuts. It is then poured into a tray to cool into a slab that can be broken into pieces and eaten. The National Confectioners Association recognizes the day as a reminder of the richness of America’s toffee variant and encourages us to indulge in the much-loved confection.
Although millions of people enjoy English toffee across the U.S. for its chewy and tantalizing nature and aroma, toffee only came to be sometime during the 1800s. The Oxford English Dictionary first mentioned the word ‘toffee’ in 1825. England and other European countries had plenty of butter, and toffee was the perfect sweet to make with it.
You can celebrate National English Toffee Day by eating English toffee, cooking it with all the needed ingredients, and making some for yourself and your . If you are industrious, you can even make a business out of it. Spend the day exploring your nearest toffee shops to grab some of the wide variety of English toffee available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can enjoy it with milk or dark chocolate for a more delicious taste.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 16:22:02 GMT
Elvis Presley’s Birthday – January 8, 2022~Other
Elvis Presley’s Birthday comes around in the beginning of the year on January 8. Despite many people telling him he couldn’t hold a tune, he went on to become one of the most popular singers and performers in American history. Many Americans make the pilgrimage to Graceland, Presley’s former estate in Memphis, to celebrate the man and his life.
WHEN IS ELVIS PRESLEY’S BIRTHDAY 2022?
‘The King of Rock and Roll’ is remembered annually on Elvis Presley’s Birthday on January 8. As one of the most revolutionary cultural icons of the 20th century, his musical and theatrical legacy continues to rock the world today.
HISTORY OF ELVIS PRESLEY’S BIRTHDAY
Elvis Aron Presley was born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. His identical twin brother was delivered 35 minutes before him, stillborn. In high school, Presley received a C in music. When his music teacher told him he had no aptitude for singing, he brought in his guitar and sang recent hit, “Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me”. A classmate later recalled that the teacher agreed that Elvis was right when he said that she didn’t appreciate his kind of singing.
In August 1953, Presley paid for a few minutes of studio time to record a two-sided acetate as a gift for his mother, with slight hopes of being discovered. In 1954, Presley cut a second acetate, but nothing came of it. Not long after, he failed an audition for a local vocal quartet and professional band, both telling him he had no future in singing.
Sam Phillips, Sun Records producer who had taken an interest when Elvis recorded his first acetate, was looking for a white man who could bring black music to a broader audience. He brought Elvis in to record Jimmy Sweeney’s ballad “Without You”, but he was unable to do it justice. Phillips asked Presley to sing as many numbers as he knew and was affected enough to invite two musicians to work something up for a session. In a moment of unwinding and messing around, Presley took his guitar and started to play a blues song while jumping and dancing. Bassist, Bill Black and guitarist Winfield “Scotty” Moore, started dancing and playing with him. Phillips, who was starting to leave, stuck his head back in and asked,
“What are you doing?”
“We don’t know!”
“Well back up… and do it again.” Phillips began taping their session. This was the sound he was looking for.
ELVIS PRESLEY’S BIRTHDAY TIMELINE
1935-A Star is Born
Elvis Presley is born into a poor family in Mississippi.
1946-Love at First Sight
Elvis is gifted his first guitar by his parents on his 11th birthday.
1954-Going Live
Elvis and his group perform their first live show.
1955-Sign Here
Elvis signs his first contract with RCA Records.
1956-Debut Album
Elvis records his first music album in Nashville, including the hit single ‘Heartbreak Hotel.’
1956-Lights, Camera, Action!
Elvis stars in “Love Me Tender” by Paramount Pictures.
1971-Lifetime Achievement Award
Elvis receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
1977-End of an Era
Elvis passes away at his home in Graceland
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 16:26:11 GMT
Earth's Rotation Day – January 8, 2022~Other
Most of us probably know the Earth rotates on an almost-vertical axis every 24 hours, which gives us one Earth day. But this basic knowledge wasn’t always so undisputable. In 1851, French physicist Leon Foucault demonstrated how our planet rotates using his now-famous pendulum.
Today, Foucault’s Pendulums are a fixture in science museums around the world. The simple but brilliant contraption uses a suspended lead ball to indicate the rotation of the Earth over the course of a day. The pendulum is surrounded by small pins arranged in a circle, which the pendulum knocks down one by one, eventually completing a full rotation.
HISTORY OF EARTH'S ROTATION DAY
The rotation of the Earth and its relationship to our daylight cycles has fascinated philosophers and scientists for thousands of years. As far back as 470 BCE, ancient Greeks speculated the Earth itself moves, rather than having the rest of the sky revolving around us. In the 10th century CE, Muslim astronomers started building astrolabes and other instruments to measure the movement of the Earth relative to the stars.
The first human depictions of the cosmos date back to 1,600 BCE. A bronze disk found in Northern Europe shows the sun, a crescent moon, and the Pleiades star cluster, and written records from the Babylonians record the position of celestial bodies. Arguably the earliest scientific observations, these records make astronomy the oldest known science.
Although humans have observed the stars for thousands of years — some early theories proposed that the Earth moved — the geocentric theory remained dominant in Europe until the work of Nicolaus Copernicus in the 1500s, proving the Earth does actually revolve around the sun. Following his work, others tried to prove the rotation of the Earth through various experiments. While the theory became accepted by the mid-1800s through observation of astronomical movements, it was Foucault’s pendulum that demonstrated, visibly and spectacularly, the rotation of the Earth.
Foucault first conducted his pendulum experiment in the Paris Observatory, then the Panthéon, where it remains an impressive centerpiece today. While they vary in size, pendulums work best with long lines, typically between 40 and 100 feet. A heavy, swinging lead bob is suspended at the end of a line. As the bob swings back and forth, it slowly moves in a clockwise direction as the Earth rotates under it.
Today, Foucault’s Pendulums are a fixture in science museums, observatories, and universities all over the world.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 8, 2022 16:29:13 GMT
National Bubble Bath Day – January 8, 2022~U.S.
Dust off your rubber ducky this winter because it’s National Bubble Bath Day on January 8! A lot of us remember bubble baths from our childhoods, and if you’ve never had a bubble bath before then this is definitely a holiday you should try out. The soapy bubbles of these foaming baths are luxurious, ideal for pampering yourself after a hard day. There’s nothing quite like slipping into the hot water of a bubble bath for a nice relaxing soak in the tub. But let’s be honest —when was the last time you had a bubble bath? Most of us hop into the shower in the morning and zip off to start our day. We barely even take the time to eat breakfast, let alone spend an hour sitting in the tub getting prune fingers. Showers may be convenient, quick, and easy, but you can’t relax as well standing up, and everybody deserves a little me-time now and then. A hot bubble bath will relax your muscles, refresh your skin, and help with any congestion you might have. It will even clean your bathtub! For National Bubble Bath Day, join us in celebrating the healthful benefits and all-out luxury of these sudsy soaks.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 9, 2022 19:02:10 GMT
Balloon Ascension Day – January 9, 2022~U.S.
Balloon Ascension Day is an annual celebration observed on January 9 to commemorate the first manned balloon flight to ever take place in America. The first balloon ascension event was witnessed by President George Washington, who was a patron of aviation pioneers. He was fascinated by the tales of the Frenchman who pioneered hot air ballooning and was keen to help him do so in America. This assisted the balloonist, who did not speak English, greatly when he landed on American soil with a letter from Washington explaining his mission.
HISTORY OF BALLOON ASCENSION DAY
Balloon Ascension Day is an annual celebration established to honor the brilliant work of Jean-Paul Blanchard. He was the French aeronaut and inventor who, in 1793, made the first manned balloon trip in America. He is generally regarded as the inventor of balloon flight. Balloon Ascension Day was initiated on the same date he took to the sky in 1793, January 9.
During the first manned balloon trip in America, Blanchard stood opposite the Walnut Street Prison located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A relatively large number of people, including the President of the United States, George Washington, watched him mount and fly his hydrogen-filled gas balloon 200 fathoms or 1,200 Feet over the earth. Every year since 2011, the day has been observed to commemorate the first manned balloon flight in the United States and also encourage participation and foster interest in the field of aeronautics.
According to historical records, during his flight in a balloon in 1793, there were not a lot of ways for Blanchard to steer his balloon, so his trip only lasted 46 minutes. A gust from the breeze swept him away to land on a farm, where he had to convince local farmers to help him get back to Philadelphia.
This is not only considered America’s first aerial voyage, it is known to have also helped solidify the United States’ reputation as a country for innovative and great technological advances. On National Balloon Ascension Days, we are expected to go out and conquer our fears of traveling in a hot air balloon. We can take beautiful selfies for social media or watch other people mount and have their first experience flying in a hot air balloon.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 9, 2022 19:04:58 GMT
International Choreographers Day – January 9, 2022~International
International Choreographers Day is celebrated every year on January 9 across the globe. Choreographers are the masterminds behind all the beautiful dance choreographies and routines we see — the creative geniuses behind designing, planning, and arranging different movements together. Many prominent choreographers have emerged and started revolutionary dance companies that are still running today. Choreographers paved the way for many to come after them, they bring art to life, and International Choreographers Day is a day of celebration and appreciation for them.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHERS DAY
While it is hard to pinpoint the exact time of the origination of dance, archaeological evidence suggests it has been around for centuries. We know that before there were any languages, there was oral and performative communication. Evidence shows that dance has been used for cultural, religious, and communicative purposes since the beginning of time. Social, celebratory, and ritual dances are also some of the most important factors in the development of early human civilizations.
Since dance cannot leave historical evidence, secondary sources inform us of its existence and spread. Some of the earliest evidence of dance comes from temple carvings in ancient India and Egypt. Ritual dances were a part of ancient Greece and even performed before the opening of the Olympic Games (kind of like present-day opening ceremony performances). Dance was also done for entertainment purposes. There is even evidence of a Greek celebration that entailed drinking and dancing for weeks straight.
Dance made its way across the globe for different purposes. With time, there was an explosion of new dance forms and music, and it became structured. As people explored more, the rules and characteristics of different dance forms became evident. The interaction of dance, music, and performance became more intertwined, and artists started showcasing their choreographic vision. In the 1900s, the words ‘choreography’ and ‘choreographer’ came into use, and the world of choreography took a new form. International Choreography Day began to be celebrated every year on January 9 to celebrate these artists.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 9, 2022 19:09:20 GMT
National Apricot Day – January 9, 2022~U.S.
National Apricot Day is celebrated nationwide on January 9 every year. Apricots, often confused with their sister fruit peaches, are juicy, golden-orange fruits that emerge in the spring. They are delicious, healthy, versatile, and a fan favorite in many different forms! The apricot is a member of ‘Rosaceae,’ or the rose , along with over 4,000 other species of plants. Apricots belong to a subdivision of fruits within this , known as drupes, having a thin skin, pulpy middle, and hard center with a seed. Some other drupes related to apricots are plums, peaches, and cherries. You can find several different varieties of apricots, and they’re all delicious.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL APRICOT DAY
Apricots date back as early as 2000 B.C. They were first cultivated in China and Central Asia and then slowly made their way around the world. Chinese traders and merchants traveling along the Great Silk Road introduced apricots to the Persians. The Arabs took apricots from Central Asia to the Middle East, where they were integrated into the court’s kitchen and rapidly dispersed widely into Islamic dominions.
Alexander the Great is said to have introduced them to Greece, and English and Spanish settlers brought them to the United States. With increasing trade and travel across borders, the fruit found its way across the globe and is now grown and consumed worldwide.
Apricots mature faster than other spring fruits and become available as early as March in certain parts of the world. Not only are they delicious by themselves, but they are also important in the culinary world. Chefs have been exploring apricot’s uses for thousands of years. What makes it even better is the fact that the apricot has a myriad of health benefits too! National Apricot Day on January 9 is an annual celebration of this fruit that just keeps on giving.
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Post by pennmom on Jan 9, 2022 19:12:21 GMT
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day – January 9, 2022~U.S.
If you have a police officer as a friend or member, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9 is the perfect time to show officers we understand how difficult their job is. So it’s important to show officers how much we understand their difficult work and appreciate their sacrifice and risk.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY
For a while the United States’ idea of law enforcement was fairly loose. The Wild West was, well, wild. And most states and cities didn’t consider emergency services like firefighters and police officers to be necessary until much later than most would think. In the mid 1800s, most law enforcement was carried out in the form of posse comitatus, where the sheriff and a posse of volunteers and deputies (much like the stereotypical Westerns of the 1960s) would enforce laws rather than a centralized police force.
Once the 20th century rolled around most larger cities, counties, and states had developed a centralized police or sheriff’s department. In doing so, most of the country slowly started to see a reduction in the “Wild West” and a more tame and domesticated America, despite many of the newly formed local authorities needing to pick sides in a rise of unionizing laborers going on strike.
Whether its civil unrest, labor strikes, huge sporting events, or just helping a cat get down from a tree, law enforcement officers are a critical part of our lives, woven into the everyday fabric of living in America. They keep our neighborhoods safe and help ensure that whatever it is you need to do, you can do with peace of mind.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was created by multiple organizations in 2015 to express their gratitude for officers in the United States. In support of their services citizens are encouraged to do their part in thanking the law enforcers on this day. One of the main organizations to take the lead in this is C.O.P.S – Concerns of Police Survivors. According to them, law enforcement officers need to be shown that the difficult career path they have chosen is recognized by the people who they protect and uphold the law for.
This holiday was triggered by the chain of events in 2014, when a police officer was involved in a crossfire shooting in Missouri. The backlash and violence that followed this event led C.O.P.S to take the initiative to change this negative portrayal of police officers in the news in recent years into a positive one. With over 900,000 officers in the United States, the organization believes it is essential to support law enforcers during difficult times, and a holiday dedicated to them does just that. The day also raises awareness on the importance of understanding that the difficult decisions taken by police officers are in the best interest of citizens and the law.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Jan 9, 2022 19:14:55 GMT
National Static Electricity Day – January 9, 2022~U.S.
National Static Electricity Day is every year on January 9. It is a day dedicated to the funny (and sometimes annoying) electric charge phenomenon and learning why and how it happens. Humans are no strangers to static electricity since we can see, feel, and hear its effects in most cases. Static electricity is around us in more forms than just static shock and is quite useful and harmless.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL STATIC ELECTRICITY DAY
Static electricity refers to an increased electric charge present on the surface of an object. This charge either remains on said surface, travels to the ground, gets discharged, or transfers onto another object. When you rub two objects together, they acquire equal and opposite charges developing an attraction between them. Simply put, opposites attract and the electric force is basically an attraction between opposite charges.
Greek philosopher, Thales of Miletus, was the first to mention static electricity in his accounts. While cleaning his amber he found that smaller dust particles would start sticking to it when he rubbed it. This was followed up 300 years later when Theophrastus rubbed different stones together to observe this “power of attraction.” None of them, however, went on to research this phenomenon in depth.
Around 2,000 years later, once the term ‘electricity’ had been coined, there was room for a deeper understanding and research of the concept. German scientist Otto von Guericke started researching static electricity, French physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb researched a fixed quantity of static electricity, and American scientist Benjamin Franklin associated static electricity with storms. Another key player was scientist Michael Faraday, who proved that electricity from a magnet, voltaic electricity produced by a battery, and static electricity are the same. Once there was more understanding of the concept, static electricity started being used in magic tricks, innovations, etc. Today we are surrounded by static electricity in our daily lives. It is often mistaken to be merely a static shock, but it is so much more.
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pennmom
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[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
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Post by pennmom on Jan 9, 2022 19:17:26 GMT
National Sunday Supper Day – January 9, 2022~U.S.
National Sunday Supper Day is observed annually on the second Sunday in January, on January 9 this year, to encourage families to gather around the table to enjoy time together and bond over a meal. The founder of National Sunday Supper Day started the movement that led to registering the holiday as a way to stay close to her oldest daughter, who left home for college. She inspires people to return to the traditional value of shared meals and times. Her hope is that one shared meal a week will lead to more of them in homes.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SUNDAY SUPPER DAY
Isabel Laessig — a mother of four, entrepreneur, and blogger, founded National Sunday Supper Day and its associated movement when her oldest daughter left for college. She mentioned the thing she would miss most is cooking and enjoying meals with her and the rest of the .
National Sunday Supper Day has been observed annually since then on the second Sunday in January to encourage families to gather around the table to enjoy and bond over a meal. January happens to also be National Supper Month. Life can get really busy for it to be genuinely hard for us to sit down and share a meal with . This is why National Sunday Supper Day is important. According to Laessig, she was inspired to start her blog and celebrate the first virtual Sunday Supper in 2012 together with eight bloggers who are “passionate about bringing families together to cook and eat together.” The holiday seeks to strengthen the bond by helping us spend more time with our even when we are constrained by our work schedule and daily activities.
Laessig’s amiable and compelling personality and passion for helping to strengthen relations have been instrumental in her collaborating with top players in the food and wine industry to promote the day. Her strategic marketing campaigns promote values and bonding in a fun and practical manner. National Sunday Supper Day gained momentum a mere few years after it first launched and continues to influence culture across the country to this day.
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pennmom
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[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
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Post by pennmom on Jan 9, 2022 19:29:47 GMT
National Word Nerd Day – January 9, 2022~U.S.
We celebrate National Word Nerd Day on January 9 by enthusing about our favorite words and the importance of language in our culture. Whether you always know what to say, or you often end up with your foot in your mouth, words are essential to our success and progress. National Word Nerd Day gives us the chance to learn some new words, use some old ones, and maybe even borrow them from someone else! We’ve got some wordy ways to spend your day and verbose views on how to celebrate this National Word Nerd Day!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL WORD NERD DAY
Humans have communicated since we first walked on Earth, though our early language was nowhere near as complex as the systems of words we use today. Once, our basic vocabulary range was no different from that of great apes, but as we advanced, so did our language.
With developments in our lifestyle, we needed to be able to name things, communicate ideas, and express ourselves to aid our advancement. Words and language became increasingly important, yet it took many centuries until they were considered important enough to document.
During the medieval period, the written word was considered a luxury, with only the rich or the anointed able to read and write in a sophisticated way. As such, the majority was only able to enjoy words through oral storytelling. Shakespeare and other great wordsmiths used their love of words to delight audiences in the theatres, even inventing words for use in their work.
But by the mid-18th century, reading and writing were more widely taught and accessible to a greater range of people. As a result, it became necessary to produce a comprehensive list of words and their meanings in the English language, a task embarked upon by Dr. Samuel Johnson, who was paid the sum of 1,500 guineas (approximately $325,000 in today’s money) for its completion. After seven years of toil, his dictionary was published in 1755 and is still widely regarded as one of the most influential texts of the English language.
Today, we celebrate National Word Nerd Day to mark the importance of words in our history and civilization, giving us an excuse to geek out on our favorites!
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and loved ones, a time of giving and receiving gifts and love, a time to relax and take a break from all the rigors of the previous months, and more importantly, a time Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Bible’s account of the birth of Jesus, it does not state explicitly on which date He was born. The celebration of Christmas on December 25 is a conception by Sextus Julius Africanus, a Christian historian in 221 A.D. The date was set using the Julian calendar, which was later updated to the Gregorian calendar.
