Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Planet-Wide Moon Howl, Mule Day, Mincemeat Day, more

October 26th, 2011, is the Planet-Wide Moon Howl, Mule Day, Universal Children's Day, Lung Health Day, Diwali, Cook Islands Gospel Day, National Day (Austria), National Pumpkin Day, and National Mincemeat Day.

In years past, October 26th has been celebrated as the Planet-Wide Moon Howl, but the holiday seems to have fizzled. Do your part to reignite the spark tonight, if you're so inclined. Here's a Warren Zevon tune to get you in the mood:


Today is Mule Day, commemorating the date in 1985 when Spanish mules were first brought to the New World. Goatview Farm offers the best ever "recipe" for making a mule: "Mix one male donkey and one female horse. Put in a warm place for 11 months." If you try this recipe, let me know how things turn out.

Universal Children's Day is observed on the 4th Wednesday in October in Australia, while the United Nations observes the event in November. Everyone is encouraged to do their part so children can enjoy both a happy childhood and a quality education.

Lung Health Day falls on the last Wednesday in October, as part of National Respiratory Care Week. The AARC (American Association for Respiratory Care) sponsors the events, including fundraisers for asthma camps and educational screenings.

Diwali is celebrated by HIndus for five days. The third day, the Festival of Lights, is the most prominent. Celebrants light diyas and candles, exchange gifts, and seek the blessings of the Goddess of Wealth. This year the Festival of Lights falls on October 26th.

Cook Islanders celebrate Gospel Day on the local level several times a year, but all come together on October 26th to celebrate National Gospel Day.

Austria observes National Day on October 26th, commemorating the formation of the Second Republic after World War II.

Today is National Pumpkin Day. Whether you prefer pies or jack-o'-lanterns, enjoy the season and eat your pepitas!

Holiday traditionalists and foodies need to know that today is National Mincemeat Day. Mincemeat is made from dried fruits, meat suet, and sometimes minced meat. Alton Brown's Mincemeat Pie recipe takes 45 minutes of active prep, 30 minutes of cooking time, and - this is not a typo - 72 hours of inactive prep. Good luck with that!


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