Thursday, January 31, 2013

Backward Day, Eat Brussels Sprouts Day, more

January 31st, 2013, is Backward Day, Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, Hell Is Freezing Over Day, Independence Day (Nauru), National Brandy Alexander Day, and Eat Brussels Sprouts Day.

.yaD drawkcaB si ts13 yraunaJ....January 31st is Backward Day.

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day is a fabulous concept. For example, music can touch your heart in a romantic way, a bluesy way, or a cardiac workout way. Find your inspiration.

Have you ever promised to do something when hell freezes over? Well, today could be a problem for you, because it's Hell Is Freezing Over Day.

Nauru, a Pacific island nation, celebrates Independence Day on January 31st. Believe it or not, Nauru is the only nation whose economy is based on fossilized bird droppings!

Please pass the brandy, Alexander. National Brandy Alexander Day celebrates a delicious drink featuring brandy, creme de cacao, cream, and coffee.

Eat Brussels Sprouts Day  honors a much-maligned veggie. Try them roasted with olive oil and garlic before you judge!


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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Yodel for your Neighbors Day, Croissant Day, more

January 30th, 2013, is Inane Answering Machine Message Day, Escape Day, Yodel for your Neighbors Day, and National Croissant Day.

In honor of Inane Answering Machine Message Day, consider your own message. Is it inane every day, or should you dumb it down a tad? It's your call. Get it? Your call. That was an inane pun!

Are you feeling too much pressure or have you simply got the blues? Today is Escape Day, an opportunity to go somewhere else, try something else, maybe even be someone else. How will you escape?

Yodel for your Neighbors Day is one of those crazy holidays with next to nothing in terms of history or documentation. And yet, it's too intriguing for The Holiday Whiz to ignore. Yodel to your heart's content! Here's a video for inspiration:



For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, enjoy a tasty French treat on National Croissant Day.


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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Puzzle Day, Curmudgeon Day, Corn Chip Day, more

January 29th, 2013, is National Puzzle Day, Up Helly Aa, National Carnation Day, Curmudgeon Day, Freethinkers Day, Thomas Paine Day, and National Corn Chip Day.

National Puzzle Day is today, so grab a sudoku, crossword, jigsaw, word search, or other puzzle of your choice.

Up Helly Aa  is Europe's largest fire festival, held each year in Lerwick, Scotland, on the last Tuesday in January.

Carnation Day is a wonderful opportunity to surprise someone you love. They'll be expecting flowers on February 14th. January 29th - not so much!

If no one gives you flowers today, feel free to be grumpy. After all, today is Curmudgeon Day.

Freethinkers Day, also known as Thomas Paine Day, celebrates the notion of reason over faith. Thomas Paine wrote Age of Reason and Rights of Man, two quintessential books about freedom, free thinking, and human rights.

Prepare your favorite salsa or guacamole, for today is National Corn Chip Day.


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Monday, January 28, 2013

Pop Art Day, Kazoo Day, Data Privacy Day, more

January 28th, 2013, is Pop Art Day, National Kazoo Day, Daisy Day, Gone-ta-Pott Day, Data Privacy Day, Thank a Plugin Developer Day, and National Blueberry Pancake Day.

No matter your opinion of  Andy Warhol's iconic soup cans, you have to admit they're eye-catching. Today is Pop Art Day, celebrated on the birth date of paint splatterer Jackson Pollock, highly influential to the Pop Art movement. Try making your own Pollock-inspired creation. Take it a step further and order a professional Warholian makeover of a favorite photograph!

Speaking of all things pop, today is also Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day! Pop a few plastic air pockets - you know you want to.

Today is National Kazoo Day, although some celebrate the holiday on other days near the end of January, especially the fourth Thursday. In any event, let your kazoo-playing self go wild. Join the movement, if you feel so moved, to make the kazoo the official musical instrument of the USA.

Speaking of seeds for the garden, how about daisies? Brighten your home with daisies today in honor of Daisy Day.

The 28th of every month is Gone-ta-Pott Day. See their holiday website for more information.

Take a moment to consider your privacy and security online. Are you monitoring your children's activity? Have you updated your passwords and antivirus software lately? Today is Data Privacy Day.

Thank a Plugin Developer Day is meant to honor those who develop plugins for WordPress, but countless others deserve praise as well, for tweaking the programs we love.

What's for breakfast? Enjoy something traditional and healthy on National Blueberry Pancake Day. Syrup and butter are optional!


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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Holocaust Memorial Day, Leprosy Day, more

January 27th, 2013, is Holocaust Memorial Day, Family Literacy Day, Thomas Crapper Day, Punch the Clock Day, World Leprosy Day, and Chocolate Cake Day.

Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember, so as not to repeat, the horrors committed against Jews during the Holocaust.The theme for 2013 is "Communities Together: Build a Bridge."

Canada celebrates Family Literacy Day on January 27th. Of course, those of us without families are encouraged to be literate as well.

Thomas Crapper Day honors a man who didn't exactly invent the toilet, but he did make improvements to and promote indoor plumbing. His company, Thomas Crapper and Co., Ltd., is still in business today, selling period-style toilets and sinks. January 27th is the anniversary of Crapper's death in 1910.

Happy Punch the Clock Day to everyone earning an hourly wage. Don't be late to work, because your time card reveals all. If you don't have to punch the clock today because it's Sunday, enjoy your day off.

World Leprosy Day, always the last Sunday in January, highlights the astonishing and sad fact that people still suffer and die from leprosy.

Have a slice of a beloved dessert classic on Chocolate Cake Day. Have two if you want. I won't tell.


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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Full moon names for January 26th or 27th, 2013

Full moon. Image: morgueFile.

The full moon for January 2013 takes place on January 26th or 27th, depending on your location. Following is a list of full moon names for January, ranging from common to surprising. Which names speak to you?

Greetings Maker Moon - Abenaki
Sun Has Not Strength to Thaw - Algonquin
Great Spirit Moon - Anishnaabe
Time of Flying Ants - Apache
When the Snow Blows Like Spirits in the Wind - Arapaho
Center Moon - Assiniboine
Duruthu Poya - Buddhist
Quiet Moon - Celtic
Cold Moon - Cherokee
Moon After Yule - Cherokee
Moon of the Strong Cold - Cheyenne
Holiday Moon - Chinese
Cooking Moon - Choctaw
Winter Moon - Colonial American
Middle Moon - Comanche
Year Moon - Comanche
Great Moon - Cree
Midwinter Moon - Cree
When the Old Fellow Spreads the Brush - Cree
Little Winter - Creek
Winter's Younger Brother - Creek
Moon of the Terrible - Dakotah Sioux
Wolf Moon - Deborean
Wolf Moon - English Medieval
Hunger Moon - European
Bear Hunting Moon - Haida
Paush Poornima - Hindu
Purnima Vrat - Hindu
Joyful Moon - Hopi
Month of Life at its Height - Hopi
Avunniviayuk - Inuit
Dark Moon - Janic
Quiet Moon - Janic
Stay Inside - Kalapuya
Nadzi-kisraiti - Keresan
Lakes Frozen - Klamath
Thumb Moon (counting on fingers, beginning in August) - Klamath
Halamrtinya - Kumeyaay
Big Cold Moon - Mohawk
Trail Squint - Mountain Maidu
Cold Meal Moon - Natchez
Full Snow Moon - Native American
Old Moon - Native AmericanSmall Eagle - Navajo
Ice Moon - Neo Pagan
Moon When Snow Drifts into Tipis - Omaha
Whirling Wind Month - Passamaquoddy
Weight Loss Month - Pima
When Animals Lose Their Fat - Pima
Buckeyes Ripe - Pomo
Snow Thaws Moon - Ponca
Month of the Bear - Potawatomi
Ice Moon - San Juan
Severe Moon - Shawnee
Freezing Moon - Shoshoni
Frost in the Teepee - Sioux
Moon of Strong Cold - Sioux
Wolves Run Together - Sioux
Man Moon - Taos
Goose Moon - Tlingit
Dusting Moon - Unknown
Storm Moon - Unknown
Ceremonial Initiate - Valley Maidu
Two Trails - Valley Maidu
Cold Moon - Wiccan
Her Cold Moon - Wishram
Kesan Meecha - Yaqui
Frozen Ground - Yuchi
Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Snow - Zuni

Sources for full moon names:

More about the moon:


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Soup Swap Day, Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement, more

January 26th, 2013, is National Soup Swap Day, Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement, National Seed Swap Day, Compass Cup, World Day for the Abolition of Meat, International Customs Day, Republic Day (India), Australia Day, and National Peanut Brittle Day.

National Soup Swap Day is a fab idea for soup-lovers! Think cookie swap, but with hot, delicious soup. Everyone brings a huge pot of soup, then everyone goes home with an array of soup samples. Count me in!

Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement is a sweet holiday with a magical name. Toad Hollow is a semi-real, semi-fantastic place in Michigan, based on the storytelling of one Ralph C. Morrison. To celebrate Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement, simply share a kind word from the heart.

The last Saturday in January is National Seed Swap Day. What a wonderful way to go green and expand your garden!

Don't miss Australia's only cow race - the Compass Cup - in Mount Compass, Australia. In addition to the race, events include a Dung Fling, Milk Loading Race, Rubberboot Marathon, and more.

World Day for the Abolition of Meat is a call to action for all who believe it is wrong to slaughter animals for food.

International Customs Day is supported by the World Customs Organization.

India celebrates Republic Day on January 26th, commemorating the date in 1950 when their constitution took effect.

Australia Day, formerly Foundation Day, marks the landing of the First Fleet, under Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788. Phillip became the first governor. Over 5,000 events are planned for today across New South Wales.

Assuming your teeth are in fairly good shape, celebrate National Peanut Brittle Day. So sweet, so salty, so crunchy, so satisfying!


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Friday, January 25, 2013

Winter-een-mas, Burns Supper, Egypt Police Day, more

January 25th, 2013, is Winter-een-mas, Burns Supper, Opposite Day, Preschool Fitness Day, A Room of One's Own Day, Macintosh Computer Day, Fun at Work Day, Egypt Police Day, and Irish Coffee Day.

Winter-een-mas, a holiday first introduced in the webcomic Ctrl+Alt+Del, is meant to "celebrate the joy of video gaming." I guess that means gamers spend their Winter, Halloween, and Christmas staring at a screen. Winter-een-mas runs from January 25th to January 31st.

Burns Supper celebrates the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Traditional dinner components include cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, clootie dumpling, and whiskey.

Today is Opposite Day. No, it isn't.

The last Friday in January is Preschool Fitness Day. Drop and give me fifty, kiddos!

A Room of One's Own Day celebrates the beautiful serenity of being alone. Alone in one's room, with no interruptions or prying eyes. Enjoy!

January 25th is Macintosh Computer Day, marking the date in 1985 when the first Macintosh computer was introduced. It featured a gooey, er, GUI, interface.

Even the people at funatworkday.com have trouble deciding on a date for Fun at Work Day. They're having too much fun, I guess. Choices include today, January 28th, January 29th, or April 1st.  Mark your choice on your calendar or celebrate them all.

January 25th is Egypt Police Day.

Warm up and relax with a soothing beverage in honor of Irish Coffee Day.


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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Change a Pet's Life Day, Global Belly Laugh Day, more

January 24th, 2013, is Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day, Beer Can Appreciation Day, Change a Pet's Life Day, Compliment Day, Global Belly Laugh Day, , Women's Healthy Weight Day, Eskimo Pie Day, and National Peanut Butter Day.

Dad-gummit! Ain't got no more time to fret. Figger out what ta yammer about, cuz today is Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day.

Beer snobs may insist their beverage be on tap or at least from a bottle, but today is Beer Can Appreciation Day. Some collectors are real fanatics!

Shimmer, Official Blog Dog of The Trend Police.
On Change a Pet's Life Day, consider adding a new member to your family. Our Shimmer came into our lives via adoption from a shelter. Be sure you understand the commitment involved, though - impulsive adoptions land animals in shelters or on the streets all too often.

You look nice today - have you done something different with your hair? Okay, you know I can't really see you, so that compliment can't be genuine. But please make an effort to share some genuine compliments today, Compliment Day. Oh, and may I say that you are a blog reader of discerning taste!

Today, January 24th, is Global Belly Laugh Day. At 1:24 p.m., your local time, let loose with a huge belly laugh!

After you laugh (see above) and after you have an eskimo pie (see below), it's time to observe Women's Healthy Weight Day. Reduce your serving size a bit if necessary, but don't obsess! Even the models in fashion mags are airbrushed, after all.

Celebrate Eskimo Pie Day, honoring vanilla ice cream in a chocolate shell. Two classic dessert tastes in one.

National Peanut Butter Day celebrates an American lunchtime staple. Smooth or crunchy, just enjoy. The latest thing (at least, on my radar) is powdered peanut butter. Apparently it has 85% less fat! See the Amazon ad below if you're interested, and please share your opinion here!


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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day, Pie Day, more

January 23rd, 2013, is Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day, Weedless Wednesday, National Handwriting Day, Measure Your Feet Day, and National Pie Day.

Believe it or not, today is Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day. If you have access to a snowplow, please keep in mind that there are laws against that sort of thing. Oh, and if you have access to a snowplow and the inclination to play mailbox hockey, please avoid the mailboxes attached to houses. Yikes!

Weedless Wednesday has nothing to do with gardening. It's actually a crucial component of National Non-Smoking Week. Did you make a resolution to stop smoking this year?

National Handwriting Day is the centerpiece of January's National Handwriting Analysis Week.

Don't ask why, just embrace the spirit of Measure Your Feet Day, especially if your shoes are less than comfy.

National Pie Day is always observed on January 23rd, because "celebrating the wholesome goodness of pie is as easy as 1-2-3." Of course! Now, please pass me the pecan pie or the cherry. Either one will do.


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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Answer Your Cat's Questions Day, Blonde Brownie Day, more

January 22nd, 2013, is Answer Your Cat's Questions Day, Polka Dot Day, National Speak Up and Succeed Day, Come in from the Cold Day, Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day, and National Blonde Brownie Day.

Today is Answer Your Cat's Questions Day. So what does your cat want to know? Look deep into his or her eyes... deeper... deeper.... You should have some inspiration by now. If not, at least offer a nice petting session or a romp with a laser pointer.

Hey, girly-girls! Today is Polka Dot Day. Wear them with abandon (or with a coordinating solid fabric).

The fourth Tuesday in January is National Speak Up and Succeed Day. Speak up about your accomplishments to your boss, your teacher, your family, anyone in a position to appreciate your efforts and perhaps reward them.

Is it cold where you live? If so, come on inside. Today is Come in from the Cold Day.

Today is Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day.  Don't ride the latest dietary trend, just eat less and exercise more. Oh, and also skip the holiday described below.

January 22nd is National Blonde Brownie Day. What makes a brownie blonde? Lack of chocolate, of course. Some recipes compensate for this by adding chocolate chips!


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Monday, January 21, 2013

Martin Luther King Day, Blue Monday, Hugging Day, more

January 21st, 2013, is Martin Luther King Day, Civil Rights Day, Human Rights Day, Robert E. Lee Day, Blue Monday, National Hugging Day, National Squirrel Appreciation Day, Fancy Rat and Mouse Day, Junk Food News Alert Day, National Granola Bar Day, and New England Clam Chowder Day.

Martin Luther King Day, always observed on the third Monday in January, honors a fearless civil rights activist whose life ended all too soon. Some U.S. states combine the holiday with Civil Rights Day, Human Rights Day, or Robert E. Lee Day.

Blue Monday is considered to be the most depressing day of the year, factoring in weather, post-holiday blues, post-holiday debt, and failure at sticking with New Year's resolutions. A complicated formula is used to determine the exact date each year, but I'm too depressed to explain it.

National Hugging Day is an international event, according to their website, since the holiday name is translated into many languages. Everybody needs a hug sometimes. Just be sure your hug is welcome. Hug your loved ones.

Sorry, but this next holiday is one I refuse to celebrate. Squirrels once invaded our attic, disturbing our wiring and our sleep, so National Squirrel Appreciation Day will come and go without my participation.

If squirrels aren't your thing, how about Fancy Rat and Mouse Day? Again, I'll sit this one out.

Many holiday sites claim that Junk Food News Alert Day takes place today, but I can find no, uh, news alerts to that effect. Oh well. Have some potato chips and soda while reading about junk food.

National Granola Bar Day celebrates a convenient, sometimes healthy, breakfast or snack option.

Here's a holiday I'm always willing to celebrate - New England Clam Chowder Day. Delicious!


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Sunday, January 20, 2013

Aquarius the Water-Bearer, January 20 to February 18

Aquarius. Image: Salvatore Vuono, FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Everyone born between January 20th and February 18th is an Aquarius, the sign of the Water-Bearer. Some say the sun enters Aquarius on January 21st.

For more information about Aquarius:



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Bill Cosby Sweater Day, World Religion Day, more

January 20th, 2013, is Bill Cosby Sweater Day, Penguin Awareness Day, Disc Jockey Day, International Fetish Day, National Buttercrunch Day, and National Cheese Lover's Day.

Remember those crazy sweaters Bill Cosby wore when he portrayed Dr. Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show? Well, as a tribute to those fabulous sweaters, today is Bill Cosby Sweater Day.

Penguin Awareness Day celebrates those charming non-flying birds that are always dressed for a cocktail party.

Apparently today is Disc Jockey Day, but not much info is available. Have a party or go to a club, and show some appreciation for the tune-spinner!

World Religion Day, a non-denominational event observed on the third Sunday in January, promotes the notion that "So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole Earth."

Today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This event is observed on the Sunday closest to January 22nd, when the Roe v. Wade decision was announced in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the interest of full holiday disclosure, let it be known that today is International Fetish Day. Celebrants show their unity by wearing purple. Now you know.

National Buttercrunch Day is a day to fulfill your craving for both sweet and crunchy. Enjoy!

National Cheese Lover's Day has something for everyone. Whether you prefer a sophisticated brie, an assertive cheddar, a subtle Swiss, a salty feta, or a child-friendly American, enjoy some cheese today.


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Saturday, January 19, 2013

National Day of Service, Brew a Potion Day, more

January 19th, 2013, is National Day of Service, Polar Bear Jump, Whisper "I Love You" Day, Brew a Potion Day, Tin Can Day, and National Popcorn Day.

It's not too late to find a way to help - today is the National Day of Service.

Grab your favorite crazy costume and head to Seward, Alaska, for today's Polar Bear Jump. The event raises funds for the American Cancer Society.

Believe it or not, today is Whisper "I Love You" Day. Your call, whether or not you whisper loud enough for that special person to hear.

On Brew a Potion Day, what sort of potion would you like to brew? Does it involve the person to whom you just whispered, "I love you?" Promise, I won't tell.

Tin Can Day celebrates a ubiquitous item that revolutionized food preservation. These days canned food makes us think of bland, oversalted, low-brow food, but some canned foods are actually pretty okay.

Celebrate National Popcorn Day on January 19th or on Super Bowl Sunday. Or, better yet, why not both?


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Friday, January 18, 2013

Thesaurus Day, Winnie the Pooh Day, Peking Duck Day

January 18th, 2013, is Thesaurus Day, Winnie the Pooh Day, and National Peking Duck Day.

Today is a joyous occasion for those of us who love words. Thesaurus Day celebrates the famous book of synonyms that helps writers express precise shades of meaning. According to Thesaurus.com, synonyms for "thesaurus" include: "glossary, language reference book, lexicon, onomasticon, reference book, sourcebook, storehouse of words, terminology, treasury of words, vocabulary, [and] word list." Onomasticon - who knew?

Winnie the Pooh Day honors that famous bear who loves honey, along with his creator, A.A. Milne, who was born on this date in 1882.

National Peking Duck Day celebrates a famous traditional dish of Beijing, China, which features delicious crispy skin. If you're serving this tonight, please invite me to join you!


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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day, Kid Inventors Day, more

January 17th, 2013, is Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day, Cable Car Day, Kid Inventors Day, Ben Franklin Day, Customer Service Day, Get to Know Your Customers Day, and National Hot Buttered Rum Day.

Two-and-a-half weeks into the new year, it's time to evaluate the status of your new year's resolutions. If your evaluation is less than positive, consider participating in Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day. I won't tell anybody. Here's an anti-inspirational tune by Rhett and Link:



Celebrate a fun retro mode of transportation on Cable Car Day. Cruise the hills of San Francisco, for real or in your mind!

Kid Inventors Day is a day to celebrate and encourage the creativity of kids. The kids of today will be the world-changers of tomorrow!

Are you reading this post through bifocals? If so, you owe a debt to Benjamin Franklin. A true Renaissance man, Franklin was a polititian, author, inventor, and more. January 17th is Ben Franklin Day.

With drive-thru windows, automated answering systems, online ordering, and a general cutback in store staffing, great customer service is an endangered commodity. If you're in a service industry, try to offer your very best service today (and tomorrow and every day thereafter). If you're a customer, give sincere thanks to anyone who provides you with exceptional service. Let's reverse the downward spiral on Customer Service Day.

This year, Get to Know Your Customers Day falls on the same date as Customer Service Day - how nice for all customers! Get to Know Your Customers Day occurs on the third Thursday of each business quarter. Take this holiday to heart if you're in business. People notice and remember great service, especially in a tough economy.

If it's cold where you are, take the chill off with some hot buttered rum on National Hot Buttered Rum Day.


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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Appreciate a Dragon Day, Nothing Day, Fig Newton Day, more

January 16th, 2013, is Appreciate a Dragon Day, National Nothing Day, Martin Luther King Day, Civil Rights Day, Human Rights Day, Robert E. Lee Day, Religious Freedom Day, Teachers' Day (Thailand), Fig Newton Day, and International Hot and Spicy Food Day.

If you're an afficionado of things magical and mystical, be aware that today is Appreciate a Dragon Day. Watch the wonderful movie, How to Train Your Dragon, to celebrate.

National Nothing Day, created by Harold Pullman Coffin in 1973, is a day "to provide Americans with one national day when they can just sit without celebrating, observing, or honoring anything." Oops. Sorry, Mr. Coffin. You and only you are free to disregard all other holidays in this post.

Religious Freedom Day commemorates the anniversary of the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, in 1786. Teachers are encouraged to discuss religious freedom with their students in the days surrounding this holiday.


Thailand observes Teachers' Day on January 16th.

Fig Newton Day celebrates a cookie that's actually good for you, with the figs and the newtons. Ha, gotcha. "Newton" is a reference to Newton, Massachusetts, the approximate birthplace of the now-famous bar cookie.

Gather your napkins and your gallon of milk, for today is International Hot and Spicy Food Day. Here's a special "hello" to the wonderful staff at St. Louis' own Pearl Cafe, home to one of the United States' top spicy food challenges. My husband ranks among the proud finishers.


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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Hat Day, Tulpanens Dag, Fresh Squeezed Juice Day, more

January 15th, 2013, is National Hat Day, Teachers' Day (Venezuela), Tulpanens Dag, Humanitarian Day, National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, and National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day.

Some of us are hat people; some of us are not. If you're not, step out of your comfort zone and don a chapeau today, National Hat Day.

Venezuela observes Teachers' Day on January 15th.

Spring will eventually come - honest! Sweden celebrates Tulpanens Dag, otherwise known as Tulip Day, on January 15th.

Humanitarian Day, observed on the birth date of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of three Emancipation Days of Respect honoring the human rights activist.

National Strawberry Ice Cream Day, one of many ice cream-related celebrations in the year, promises satisfaction to everyone who enjoys fruity ice cream.

Fulfill your new year's resolution to be healthier by celebrating National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day. Fruit juice is delicious!


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Monday, January 14, 2013

Organize Your Home Day, Clean Off Your Desk Day, more

January 14th, 2013, is Dress Up Your Pet Day, Organize Your Home Day, Clean Off Your Desk Day, Seijin no hi, Makar Sankranti, and National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day.

National Dress Up Your Pet Day is silly or serious, depending on your point of view. Celebrate if you and your four-legged friend agree on style!

January 14th is Organize Your Home Day, which is in concord with many new year's resolutions. Kudos to you if you can finish the job in one day!

This year National Clean Off Your Desk Day falls on the same day as Organize Your Home Day, so I hope you're feeling ambitious! Most of us probably need to participate in this holiday - at home, at work, perhaps both.

The second Monday in January is Seijin no hi in Japan, the Coming of Age festival. It is a celebration of all people turning twenty in the current year.

Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated in India, Nepal, Malaysia, and Thailand.

January 14th is National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day, a very specific sandwich celebration. Mind you, don't eat your pastrami cold.


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Sunday, January 13, 2013

Rubber Duckie Day, Night of the Balloons, more

January 13th, 2013, is Make Your Dreams Come True Day, Rubber Duckie Day, Night of the Balloons, Stephen Foster Memorial Day, Lohri, Plough Sunday, and National Peach Melba Day.

On Make Your Dreams Come True Day, take at least one step toward making your dreams come true. The word "make" is an action verb, so you know that wishful thinking just won't cut it.

Rubber Duckie Day commemorates the birthday of the rubber duckie beloved by Ernie on Sesame Street.

Filzmoos, Austria, hosts Night of the Balloons. Somehow the hot air balloons glow in time to music. This might be a bucket-list-worthy event!

Stephen Foster Memorial Day honors one of the United States' most famous songwriters. Foster wrote "Oh! Susanna" - it doesn't get much more American than that.

India celebrates Lohri, a time for people from all social classes to come together, relax, and take a break from the normal routine.

Plough Sunday, always the Sunday after Epiphany, is a celebration of farming and harvest.

Try a simple yet elegant dessert, featuring peaches, ice cream, and raspberry sauce, in honor of National Peach Melba Day.


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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day, Marzipan Day, more

January 12th, 2013, is Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day, National Pharmacist Day, Curried Chicken Day, and National Marzipan Day.

Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day - a truly inspired name for a holiday nobody understands. The bloggers and the calendar-keepers are unanimously baffled about this holiday and its origins, but who cares? Just find some fabulous wild men and feast with them, okay?

National Pharmacist Day is the perfect opportunity to thank your pharmacist for their service and attention to detail. While you're at it, share your list of prescriptions and over-the-counter meds with your pharmacist to avoid harmful drug interactions.

What's for dinner? Grab a chicken, some curry, some rice, and whip up a tasty and healthy dish. Celebrate Curried Chicken Day.

Embellish a cake or enjoy delicious almond-based candy today, in honor of National Marzipan Day.


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Friday, January 11, 2013

Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day, Hot Toddy Day, more

January 11th, 2013, is National #1 Priority Day, Secret Pal Day, Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day, Cigarettes Are Hazardous to your Health Day, Independence Day (Chad), Milk Day, and National Hot Toddy Day.

UPDATE: According to Audri and Jim Lanford at Famous Quotes and Quotations, today is National #1 Priority Day. It's all about first priorities and anything that should come first in your life, because today's date contains triple ones.

Add some intrigue to your day by sending a letter to someone as their secret pal. Even better, send a letter to your secret crush! Happy Secret Pal Day.

Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day could get you in some real trouble. You might end up sending more letters - letters of apology.

Cigarettes Are Hazardous to your Health Day belabors a point everyone already knows. Cigarettes are smelly, expensive, and potentially deadly. The world would be a better place if everyone stopped smoking. However, people who wanna smoke are gonna smoke.

Even though Chad gained independence on August 11th, 1960, the country observes Independence Day on January 11th to avoid the rainy season.

Milk Day commemorates the first day milk was delivered to homes in bottles, back in 1878.

A hot toddy can soothe your spirits or your flu symptoms. Ingredients vary widely, but brew your own special concoction in honor of National Hot Toddy Day.


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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Peculiar People Day, Voodoo Festival, Bittersweet Chocolate Day, more

January 10th, 2013, is Peculiar People Day, Voodoo Festival, Houseplant Appreciation Day, National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, and National Bittersweet Chocolate Day.

Peculiar People Day is so easy to celebrate - just look around. Surely you have some peculiar friends or family to observe. Websites are dedicated to peculiar people, including those who frequent Walmart. Today's a great day to flaunt the peculiar within yourself.

Quidah, Benin, hosts the Voodoo Festival on January 10th. Celebrate carefully - don't leave stray hairs lying around.

Take time to water, pamper, and talk to your houseplants today, Houseplant Appreciation Day. After all, plants contribute beauty and clean air to your home.

Turn off your lights when you leave the room, unplug chargers when not in use, check your windows for drafts. Every little effort contributes to energy conservation and dollars in your pocket on National Cut Your Energy Costs Day.

National Bittersweet Chocolate Day is the perfect time to whip up a batch of old-fashioned Toll-House Cookies. Nothing bitter about 'em.


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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Word Nerd Day, Play God Day, Apricot Day, more

January 9th, 2013, is Word Nerd Day, Balloon Ascension Day, Aviation in America Day, National Static Electricity Day, Dance Day, Play God Day, Martyr's Day (Panama), and National Apricot Day. 

Word Nerd Day is a glorious twenty-four-hour event for those of us who love words for words' sake. Fabulous! Marvelous! Spectacular! Stupendous! Superb! Splendiferous!

On Balloon Ascension Day, let your sense of wonder take flight. Balloons are magical things, from the small ones you blow up and let loose to sputter about the room, to the huge ones that offer a bird's-eye view of the world.

Continuing with the topic of balloons, Aviation in America Day marks the date in 1793 when Jean Pierre Blanchard and a dog experienced the first manned balloon flight in the United States.

Don't be shocked, but today is National Static Electricity Day. Just for today, let your hair stand on end. Let your skirt stick to your pantyhose. Shake hands and embrace the spark. No worries.

No matter the quality of your moves, celebrate Dance Day. Turn up your favorite tunes and groove. Great fun and great exercise.

At the risk of sounding blasphemous, I'll report that today is Play God Day. An innocent way of playing God is to immerse yourself in The Sims 3, a time-sucking computer simulation in which the player creates and controls characters and their world.

Martyr's Day is a day of remembrance in Panama, mourning the loss of twenty students who were killed in 1964 while trying to fly the Panamanian flag in the Canal Zone. The area was under U.S. control at the time.

Have an apricot today, as part of your healthy diet, in honor of National Apricot Day.


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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Women's Day, Bubble Bath Day, Man Watcher's Day, more

January 8th, 2013, is Midwife's Day, Women's Day, Show and Tell at Work Day, Bubble Bath Day, Joy Germ Day, Man Watcher's Day, and National English Toffee Day.

Attention ladies - Greece celebrates Midwife's Day or Women's Day on January 8th, and it's not what you think! Women are asked to relax and perhaps have a girls' day out, while men do the housework and look after the kidlets. Nice! Even better, in some parts of Greece, men caught outside are stripped and drenched with water!

Today is Show and Tell at Work Day. Remember that grand tradition from elementary school? What could you show and/or tell at work - a rock collection, a favorite recipe, or a craft project? Don't show or tell anything foolish!

In the mood to luxuriate, to lounge, to live the lazy life? You're in luck, for today is Bubble Bath Day. Nice when it falls on a weekend.

Today is a day to hold those cold germs in check and spread the joy germ instead. So get out there - hug, kiss, smile, celebrate Joy Germ Day!

Man Watcher's Day offers the perfect day to check out the men around us. Am I right, ladies? Men do the same to us the other 364 (or 365) days of the year.

National English Toffee Day is the perfect time to enjoy a grown-up sweet treat.


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Monday, January 7, 2013

Old Rock Day, Programmers' Day, Tempura Day, more

January 7th, 2013, is I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore Day, Old Rock Day, International Programmers' Day, Egyptian Coptic Christmas, Russian Orthodox Christmas, Lidet, Genna, Nanakusa, and National Tempura Day.
 
I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore Day is a time to stand up for yourself and your feelings.

You might say the song above is old rock, but that's not the focus of Old Rock Day. Amateur and professional geologists, unite!

International Programmers' Day celebrates the smart people who program all of our gadgets. Where would we be without our gadgets?

Egyptian Coptic Christmas and Russian Orthodox Christmas take place on January 7th, in accordance with the Julian Calendar.

The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday.

Lidet, also called Genna, is the Ethiopian Christmas, celebrated on January 7th.

Nanakusa, observed in Japan, features kayu cooked with seven different vegetables - the seven herbs of spring. Kayu is a porridge, prepared by cooking rice with twice as much water as normal. Nanakusa is meant to replenish the body, promote good health, and increase longevity.

Continuing with the Japanese theme, today is National Tempura Day. I was surprised to learn, via cdkitchen, that tempura was originally introduced to Japan by the Portugese.


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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Epiphany, Cuddle Up Day, Smith Day, more

January 6th, 2013, is Epiphany, Twelfth Day, Three Kings Day, El Dia de los Tres Reyes, La Fiesta de Reyes, El de los Reyes Magos, Dreikonigendag, Race of the Three Kings, Cuddle Up Day, National Smith Day, World Day for War Orphans, Army Day (Iraq), National Bean Day, and National Shortbread Day.

Epiphany celebrates the three wise men and their visit with baby Jesus; the day also marks the end of the Christmas season. Some choose to celebrate the holiday on the Sunday following, when it falls on some other day. Epiphany goes by many other names, including Twelfth Day,Three Kings Day, El Dia de los Tres Reyes, La Fiesta de Reyes, El de los Reyes Magos, and Dreikonigendag.

The Race of the Three Kings in San Pablo, Peru, determines the fate of the village for the coming year. Depending on which king wins, the village will win a year of good harvests, a good year for animals and pasture, or simply money.

Cuddle Up Day is a time to, well, cuddle up. What more is there to say?

National Smith Day honors everyone named Smith. January 6th is the birth date of Captain John Smith, who helped settle the colony at Jamestown, Virginia.

On World Day for War Orphans, consider the horrible price paid by children around the world in times of war, when parents become casualties and children face a sad and uncertain future.

Iraq observes Army Day on January 6th.

National Bean Day is the perfect opportunity to prepare a huge pot of chili or bean soup.

On National Shortbread Day, enjoy a delicious, sweet, crumbly, classic cookie.


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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Great Fruitcake Toss, Twelfth Night, Whipped Cream Day, more

January 5th, 2013, is National Bird Day, Twelfth Night, George Washington Carver Day, Guru Govind Singh Jayanti, and National Whipped Cream Day. 

It's funally here- this year's Great Fruitcake Toss in Manitou Springs, Colorado, USA. They use catapults and slingshots! But even if you are miles and miles away from there, feel free to toss any extra fruitcakes you might have sitting around your house. You could play catch or football or whatever.

National Bird Day is a time to appreciate birds, whether in the wild or as valued members of your family.

Twelfth Night marks the final night of the Christmas season. It is the night before Twelfth Day, known as  Epiphany. Some say now is the time to put away the holiday decorations.

George Washington Carver Day, the anniversary of Carver's death in 1943, honors the "Wizard of Tuskegee" who found many new uses for peanuts and other everyday items.

Guru Govind Singh Jayanti is a celebration of the birth of the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Govind Singh.

National Whipped Cream Day commemorates the birth date of Reddi-wip founder, Aaron "Bunny" Lapin. Some activists criticize this holiday for promoting opulence when many in the world are malnourished, but the same could be said of any extravagance, from fancy restaurants to luxury cars to designer gowns. Whipped cream shouldn't be singled out.


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Friday, January 4, 2013

Gift Card Weekend, Trivia Day, Dimpled Chad Day, more

January 4th, 2013, is the first day of Gift Card Weekend, as well as Flower Basket Day, Trivia Day, Short People Day, Dimpled Chad Day, World Hypnotism Day, World Braille Day, Independence Day (Myanmar), Independence Day (Burma), and National Spaghetti Day.

Today brings the first day of Gift Card Weekend. If you received gift cards for Christmas, check to see if they might be extra valuable between January 4th and January 6th. What a sweet deal! 

Flower Basket Day is a nice notion. Perhaps it's time to switch out the poinsettias for something a bit less Christmassy.

Is trivia trivial? That's a matter for debate. All I know is, Trivia Night at my daughter's school is always a good time, sometimes a way to win prizes! Happy Trivia Day to you, if you know the maiden name of Marge Simpson of "The Simpsons" TV show! (Scroll down for the answer.)

Short People Day commemorates the birth date of Charles Sherwood Stratton, better known as General Tom Thumb, a dwarf made famous through the efforts of P.T. Barnum. General Tom Thumb died of a stroke in 1883, at the age of 45, having attained a height of three feet.

Dimpled Chad Day is a nod to the botched U.S. Presidential Election of 2000. Floridians were embroiled in controversy as to whether Al Gore or George W. Bush carried the state, due to dimpled chad, the bits of paper that bulge or dangle from a voting ballot when it's not punched with enough conviction.

You are getting sleepy. Very sleepy. Perfect. Now, in a moment you will wake, remembering nothing of this paragraph, but you will cluck like a chicken every time you read the word "celebrate." Okay, wake up! Celebrate World Hypnotism Day! (Cluck cluck cluck....)

World Braille Day marks the birth date of Louis Braille, inventor of the raised-dot code that allows blind people to read.

Myanmar and Burma observe Independence Day on January 4th.

National Spaghetti Day honors what is, probably, the most popular pasta shape in the United States. So much fun to twirl, so delicious to eat, so perfect for a topping of sauce or meatballs. If you're adventurous and a bit crazy, try spaghetti tacos. Mangia bene!

TRIVIA ANSWER: Bouvier (just like Jackie O!)


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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Festival of Sleep Day, Write to Congress Day, more

January 3rd, 2013, is Festival of Sleep Day, Humiliation Day, J.R.R. Tolkein Day, Memento Mori Day, Write to Congress Day, Drinking Straw Day, and Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.

Festival of Sleep Day is a time to hit the "sleep" button and grab an extra few minutes of shut-eye. Take a nap if you can! Revel in the relaxation.... ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz..........

Humiliation Day could be a time to bestow humiliation, or a time to reduce humiliation to those around you. I prefer the latter. Humiliation is next to bullying.

J.R.R. Tolkein Day honors the author of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and many other well-known works. Celebrate, My Precious!

Memento Mori Day comes from the Latin, "Remember Your Mortality." This holiday has its roots in ancient Rome. Work on that bucket list, okay?

U.S. citizens, today is the day to stand up and be heard! Or, rather, to sit down at your keyboard. Bottom line, today is Write to Congress Day. Let your elected officials know how you feel about the issues of the day - the Fiscal Cliff, for example.

The first drinking straw patent was received on this date in 1888, by Martin C. Stone. What self-respecting fast-food place or family restaurant doesn't offer straws? And therefore, we shall celebrate Drinking Straw Day with one giant slurp!

Two of my favorite flavors, together in one fabulous delight! Today is Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.


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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2013

Stargazing bench. Image: suphakit73; FreeDigitalPhotos.

The 2013 Quadrantid Meteor Shower is active from December 28th, 2012, until January 12th, 2013. However, peak activity will occur on January 3rd, around 1300 UTC, and last for only a few hours in total. The shower is visible only in the Northern Hemisphere.

City lights, called light pollution, can interfere with viewing. So can reflected moonlight. This year, all but the brightest meteors will be obstructed by moonlight.

Meteor showers are named for the constellation they appear to be near. The Quadrantid Meteor Shower is named for the no-longer-recognized constellation Quadrans Muralis.

Check out these sites for more information about the Quadrantid Meteor Shower, including recommended viewing times for your corner of the globe.



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Happy Mew Year for Cats Day, Science Fiction Day, more

January 2nd, 2013, is Happy Mew Year for Cats Day, Run It Up the Flagpole and See If Anyone Salutes Day, National Pet Travel Safety Day, National Science Fiction Day, Motivation and Inspiration Day, National Personal Trainer Awareness Day, Kakizome, Berchtold Day, National Cream Puff Day, Swiss Cheese Day, and National Buffet Day.

Okay, the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve, but that ball wasn't made of yarn. Today is the day to pamper your cat, to help him or her welcome the new year in true feline style. Today is Happy Mew Year for Cats Day.

Run It Up the Flagpole and See If Anyone Salutes Day is simply a day to float new ideas. Take an opinion poll!

On National Pet Travel Safety Day, think about the safety of your pets when you travel, especially on the road. Animals should not be allowed to move about freely in a car. They can potentially distract the driver or, even worse, suffer preventable injuries in a collision.

National Science Fiction Day celebrates all things science fiction, from books to movies to lifestyle. The date was chosen because sci-fi author Isaac Asimov claimed it as his birthday.

Motivation and Inspiration Day, created by motivational speaker Kevin McCrudden, is a day to "take action to make things happen."

If you have a personal trainer, do something special for him or her today, National Personal Trainer Awareness Day.

Japan observes Kakizome, when children create special new year calligraphy.

Switzerland celebrates Berchtold Day in honor of Duke Berchtold V of Zahringen, founder of the city of Bern. The duke went on a hunt, promising to name his new city after the first animal he killed. The animal who received that dubious honor was a bear, "Bern" in German.

National Cream Puff Day reminds me of my mother. She used to make these delicious treats - puffed hollow balls filled with custard.

Celebrate Swiss Cheese Day, honoring one of the few food items where holes are desirable.

National Buffet Day can be enjoyable, but remember - take all you want, eat all you take!


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