Safer Internet Day, Fettuccine Alfredo Day, more

February 7th, 2012, is Wave All Your Fingers at your Neighbors Day, Safer Internet Day, Send a Card to a Friend Day, Ballet Day, Travel Light Tuesday, African-American Coaches Day, Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Independence Day (Grenada), and National Fettuccine Alfredo Day.

Wave All Your Fingers at your Neighbors Day is a catchy way of promoting harmony among neighbors. Nice idea.

The theme of Safer Internet Day in 2012 is, "Connecting generations and educating each other." We work hard at this concept every day in our household. Open communication is key to helping younger, older, and/or gullible family members understand the potential pitfalls and dangers that exist online, in the midst of the fun and serious content.

On Send a Card to a Friend Day, send a traditional paper-and-envelope card or an e-greeting. The sentiment is what's important!

Ballet Day celebrates all things ballet, from dancing to watching a performance to collecting figurines. If you're really brave, wear a tutu too.

Travel Light Tuesday takes place on Tuesday of Go Green Week. Consider ways to reduce your fuel consumption - carpooling, combining errands, catching a bus, riding a bike, or walking.

African-American Coaches Day is observed on the first Tuesday in February. Coaches are valuable sources of inspiration in sports, business, and personal development.

Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is meant to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community, via "education, testing, involvement, and treatment."

Grenada observes Independence Day on February 7th.

Celebrate National Fettuccine Alfredo Day with a big bowl of ribbony pasta coated with creamy, cheesy goodness. Deliziosissima!

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Full moon names for February 7th, 2012

Full moon. Image: morgueFile.

The full moon for February 2012 takes place on February 7th. Following is a list of full moon names for February, ranging from common to surprising. Which names speak to you?

Makes Branches Fall in Pieces Moon - Abenaki
Full Hunger Moon - Algonquin
Full Snow Moon - Algonquin
Ice in River Is Gone - Algonquin
Trapper's Moon - Algonquin
Sucker Moon - Anishnaabe
Frost Sparkling in the Sun - Arapaho
Long Dry Moon - Assiniboine
Navam Poya - Buddhist
Moon of Ice - Celtic
Bony Moon - Cherokee
Budding Moon - Chinese
Little Famine Moon - Choctaw
Trapper's Moon - Colonial American
Sleet Moon - Comanche
Eagle Moon - Cree
Old Moon - Cree
Wind Moon - Creek
Moon of the Raccoon - Dakotah Sioux
Moon When Trees Pop - Dakotah Sioux
Snow Moon - Deborean
Storm Moon - English Medieval
Goose Moon - Haida
Magh Poornima - Hindu
Purnima Vrat - Hindu
Purification and Renewal - Hopi
Avunnivik - Inuit
Dark Moon - Janic
Hunger Moon - Janic
Storm Moon - Janic
Out of Food - Kalapuya
y'amuuni daawaatra - Keresan
Little Bud Moon - Kiowa
Index-Finger (counting on fingers, beginning with thumb in August) - Klamath
Rain and Dancing Moon - Klamath
Halanitca - Kumeyaay
Pattering Showers Moon - Maidu
Squint Rock Moon - Maidu
Trail Breaks Open Moon - Maidu
Lateness Moon - Mohawk
Nuts Moon - Natchez
Full Hunger Moon - Native American
Full Snow Moon - Native American
Squeeky Voice Moon - Navajo
Snow Moon - Neo Pagan
Moon When Geese Come Home - Omaha
When the Spruce Tips Fall - Passamaquoddy
Gray Moon (When Trees Are Bare and Vegetation Is Scarce) - Pima
Cold Winds Moon - Pomo
Month of Rabbit Conception - Potawatomi
Coyote Frighten Moon - San Juan
Crow Moon - Shawnee
Coyote Moon - Shoshoni
Dark Red Calves Moon - Sioux
Raccoon Moon - Sioux
Trees Pop Moon - Sioux
Winter Moon - Taos
Moon of the Cedar Dust Wind - Tewa Pueblo
Black Bear Moon - Tlingit
Big Winter Moon - Unknown
Candles Moon - Unknown
Chaste Moon - Unknown
Cleansing Moon - Unknown
Horning Moon - Unknown
Ice Moon - Unknown
Red and Cleansing Moon - Unknown
Wild Moon - Unknown
Quickening Moon - Wiccan
Fish-Running Moon - Winnebago
Shoulder to Shoulder around the Fire Moon - Wishram
Heka Meecha - Yaqui
Wind Moon - Yuchi
No Snow in Trails Moon - Zuni

Sources for full moon names:

• Farmers' Almanac - Full Moon Names and Their Meanings
• Moon Names
• Indian Moons, Days & Other Calendar Stuff 
• Hindu Blog - Purnima 2012 dates and time
• Spring Wolf's Pagan's Path - Full Moon Names
• About.com: Paganism/Wicca - Moon Phase Names in the Southern Hemisphere
• Willow Grove - Esbats & Full Moon Names
• Moon Names for a Full Year
• Wikipedia - Full Moon

More about the moon:

• Keith's Moon Page
• USNO Data Services
• Google Moon
• National Geographic - Moon Facts
• Calendars through the Ages - A month of moons

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Time for a Cuppa Day, Chinese Lantern Festival, more

February 6th, 2012, is Time for a Cuppa Day, Meat-Free Monday, Hurling the Silver Ball, Lame Duck Day, Chinese Lantern Festival, Waitangi Day, International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation, and Frozen Yogurt Day.

Time for a Cuppa Day is about relaxing over a cuppa tea, but only partly so. In the UK groups organize charity events, featuring tea and baked goods, to raise funds for Dementia UK.

The first day of Go Greeen Week in the UK is Meat-Free Monday. Some of us Super Bowl fans in the US could stand to go meatless for a day, following too many chicken wings, burgers, and nachos.

Hurling the Silver Ball is an annual event in Cornwall, England, always held on the Monday following February 3rd. Participants hurl a silver ball around town, and whoever hands the silver ball to the mayor at the stroke of midday wins a silver coin.

Lame Duck Day commemorates the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. A lame duck president is one spending his final days in office, after someone else has been elected. Before the Twentieth Amendment was adopted, four months lapsed between the presidential election and the inauguration. Today a lame duck serves for only two months.

The Chinese Lantern Festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year. Celebrations take place under the full moon, including dragons, fireworks, and games.

Waitangi Day is observed on February 6th in New Zealand, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Representatives of the British Crown and Maori chiefs signed the treaty, founding the country of New Zealand. Today the holiday prompts both celebration and controversy.

The United Nations supports International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation. This traditional practice in parts of Africa and the Middle East is meant to ensure chastity, but this practice also "severely violates the human rights of women and girls."

Frozen Yogurt Day celebrates an alternative to ice cream - not as sweet, perhaps, but healthier.

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February 2012 weeks to celebrate

February brings thoughts of Valentine's Day. Predictably, many February celebrations revolve around matters of the heart - medical and romantic. Events for February 2012 are listed in chronological order.

Meat Week - January 29th to February 5th
Catholic Schools Week - January 29th to February 5th
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering (Elko, Nevada, USA) - January 30th to February 4th
Solo Diners Eat Out Week - February 1st to February 7th
Children's Authors and Illustrators Week - February 1st to February 7th
Women's Heart Week - February 1st to February 7th
National Patient Recognition Week - February 1st to February 7th
Cincinnati Beer Week (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) - February 2nd to February 9th

Winterlude (Canada's Capital Region) - February 3rd to February 20th
Freelance Writers Appreciation Week - February 5th to February 11th
Dump Your Significant Jerk Week - February 5th to February 11th
International Coaching Week - February 5th to February 11th
Boy Scout Anniversary Week - February 5th to February 11th
National Bramley Apple Week (UK) - February 5th to February 12th
Shape Up with Pickles Week - first week in February
Just Say No to PowerPoint Week - February 6th to February 10th
International Friendship Week - February 6th to February 10th
International Networking Week - February 6th to February 10th
National School Counseling Week - February 6th to February 10th
Go Green Week - February 6th to February 12th
Publicity for Profit Week - February 6th to February 12th
World Orphan Week - February 6th to February 12th
Risk Awareness Week - February 6th to February 12th
Marriage Week - February 7th to February 14th
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week - February 7th to February 14th
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week - February 7th to February 14th

Love May Make the World Go 'Round, but Laughter Keeps Us from Getting Dizzy Week - February 8th to February 14th
Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony (Trang, Thailand) - February 10th to February 12th
SF Beer Week (San Francisco, California, USA) - February 10th to February 19th
International Flirting Week - February 12th to February 18th
National Condom Week - February 12th to February 18th
PTA Take Your Family to School Week - February 12th to February 18th
National Heart Failure Awareness Week - February 12th to February 18th
Duchenne Awareness Week - February 12th to February 18th
Children of Alcoholics Week - February 12th to February 18th
Celebration of Love Week - second week in February
Kraut and Frankfurter Week - second week in February
Jell-O Week (Utah) - second full week in February
National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week - second week in February
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (New York, New York, USA) - February 13th to February 14th
Random Acts of Kindness Week - February 13th to February 19th
World AG Expo - February 14th to February 16th
Love a Mensch Week - February 14th to February 20th
National Nest Box Week - February 14th to February 21st
Arizona Beer Week - February 18th to February 25th
National Future Farmers of America Week - February 18th to February 25th
National Entrepreneurship Week - February 18th to February 25th

International Friendship Week - February 19th to February 25th
National Pancake Week - February 19th to February 25th
National Engineers Week - February 19th to February 25th
National Justice for Animals Week - February 19th to February 25th
National Pay Your Bills Week - third week in February
International Friendship Week - last full week in February
Build a Better Trade Show Image Week - third full week in February
Shrovetide - February 20th to February 21st
Eating Disorders Awareness Week - February 20th to February 26th
National Chip Week (UK) - February 20th to February 26th
Breakfast2Live Week (UK) - February 20th to February 26th
Sacramento Beer Week (Sacramento, California, USA) - February 24th to March 4th
Ayyam-i-ha/Intercalary Days - February 26th to March 1st
Secondhand Wardrobe Week - February 26th to March 3rd
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week - February 26th to March 3rd

Telecommuter Appreciation Week - February 26th to March 3rd
Read Me Week - February 27th to March 2nd
Peace Corps Week - February 27th to March 2nd
Fairtrade Fortnight - February 27th to March 11th

If you know of more week-long February celebrations, please post information in the Comments section below. Thanks in advance!

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Super Bowl, Puppy Bowl, Popcorn Day, Nutella Day, more

February 5th, 2012, is Super Bowl XLVI, Puppy Bowl, National Popcorn Day, Move Hollywood and Broadway to Lebanon, PA Day, National Weatherman's Day, California Western Monarch Day, Kashmir Solidarity Day, Constitution Day (Mexico), British Yorkshire Pudding Day, World Nutella Day, and National Chocolate Fondue Day.

Super Bowl prep. Image: morgueFile.

The big question surrounding today's Super Bowl XLVI isn't "Which team will win?" The big question is "Do you watch the game or the commercials?" I'm a commercial-watching kind of gal.

The Super Bowl brings a compaanion event on Animal Planet - Puppy Bowl VIII. Puppies playing football! Alert your friends who love cute stuff.

National Popcorn Day is celebrated on Super Bowl Sunday or January 19th. Why not live on the edge and celebrate both?

One holiday that has yet to build much momentum is Move Hollywood and Broadway to Lebanon, PA Day. Lebanon is more famous for Amish farms, bologna, and candy than for celebrities, spotlights, or paparazzi. Be careful what you wish for!

National Weatherman's Day honors all weathermen and weatherwomen, including meteorologists. But most partcularly, the day honors John Jeffries, one of the first serious weather observers in the United States.

California Western Monarch Day is not a day to honor the King of California. Sorry, Your Majesty! It is a day to appreciate butterflies, especially monarchs, who are expert navigators.

Pakistan observes Kashmir Solidarity Day, showing support for Kasmir, occupied by India.

Mexico observes Constitution Day, commemorating the ratification of their constitution on this date in 1917.

The first Sunday in February is British Yorkshire Pudding Day. Yorkshire pudding isn't a pudding in the American sense of the word. It's a baked item, traditionally served as a first course to dull the appetite, so less meat could be served.

World Nutella Day honors a hazelnut spread beloved by many around the world.

When the beer, popcorn, nachos, and wings run low at your Super Bowl gathering, break out the chocolate fondue! Today is National Chocolate Fondue Day.

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Create a Vacuum Day, Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, more

February 4th, 2012, is Create a Vacuum Day, Thank a Mailman Day, Liberace Day, Quacker Day, Day for Change, World Cancer Day, Mawlid al-Nabi, Kounomiya Hadaka Matsuri, Independence Day (Sri Lanka), National Homemade Soup Day, National Stuffed Mushroom Day, and Ice Cream for Breakfast Day.

Create a Vacuum Day isn't the time to cobble together a device to suck dirt out of your carpet. Create a Vacuum Day is a celebration of science, and perhaps the as-of-yet unattainable perfect vacuum, a space devoid of particles.

Thank a Mailman Day is here. It's your second chance, if you failed to show appreciation during the holiday season, to thank the person who delivers your bills and junk mail. Sadly, the mailman may soon go the way of the buggy maker, as hand-delivered mail gives way to electronic communication.

Liberace Day celebrates the life and times of Liberace, a brilliant and flamboyant pianist who passed away on this date in 1987. He was the quintessential Vegas showman.

Quacker Day celebrates the Quacker Factory, a manufacturer of whimsical charms.

Day for Change is sponsored by UNICEF. Each year a different theme and country are highlighted. In 2012, the theme is "Education through Sport" and the country is Uganda.

On World Cancer Day, each of us is encouraged to "Stand Up and Do Something." Start by doing something to brighten the day of someone facing cancer in your community.

On February 4th, Muslims celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.

In Inazawa City, Japan, during Kounomiya Hadaka Matsuri, one man is given the honor of being Shin-otokoa. The chosen man must shave off all of his body hair, then wander the streets naked. Other men dressed in loincloths touch him to gain good luck; the naked man absorbs the ills of the community and prays to a Shinto deity. The naked man is then run out of town, taking bad luck away with him.

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, observes Independence Day on February 4th.

National Homemade Soup Day inspires thoughts of steaming pots loaded with veggies, noodles, and other good things. Homemade soup sparks childhood memories.

National Stuffed Mushroom Day begs the question - stuffed with what? Cheese and breadcrumbs make a nice stuffing, but a little bit of spicy sausage adds zing.

If you're keen on feeding your kids a healthy breakfast every morning, don't tell them today is Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Ignore the carton of pistachio ice cream in the freezer!

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Wear Red Day, Bean Throwing Festival, more

February 3rd, 2012, is National Wear Red Day, Bean Throwing Festival, Bubble Gum Day, The Day the Music Died, Halfway Point of Winter, Give Kids a Smile Day, National Patient Recognition Day, Heroes' Day (Mozambique), Saint Blaise Day, Four Chaplains Memorial Day, and National Carrot Cake Day.

On National Wear Red Day, Americans are asked to wear red in a show of support for women's heart health.

Japan celebrates the Bean Throwing Festival on February 3rd. People who were born in the corresponding year - the Year of the Dragon in 2012 - throw beans to the crowd to ward off evil spirits. Afterward, everyone eats the same number of beans as their age, to promote good health in the coming year. I sure hope the older folks like beans!

Bubble Gum Day is a fun and creative way to raise funds for charity. Simply offer the privilege of chewing gum in class or at the office, in exchange for fifty cents. All money is donated to a worthy cause. Everybody wins - gum lovers, people in need, and gum producers.

On The Day the Music Died, in 1959, the world lost Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, three respected musicians of their time. Don McLean wrote and performed what would become his biggest hit in tribute:

Never mind the groundhog, the hedgehog, or whatever other critters people watched yesterday for prognostications about spring. Today is the true Halfway Point of Winter.

The American Dental Association sponsors Give Kids a Smile Day. Their goal is the elimination of cavities in children's teeth by the year 2020.

As part of National Patient Recognition Week, February 3rd is National Patient Recognition Day. A great reward for many of us patients would be less time spent in waiting rooms. Am I right, fellow patients?

Mozambique observes Heroes' Day, remembering those who lost their lives fighting for their country's freedom in 1975.

Saint Blaise Day honors the patron saint of throat ailments.

Four Chaplains Memorial Day is a time to remember four brave chaplains - George Fox, Alexander Goode, Clark Poling, and John Washington - who gave their lives to save others after the S.S. Dorchester was torpedoed during World War II.

Is it a vegetable or a cake? Well, it's a sneaky way to smuggle some veggies into the reluctant eater's dessert. Happy smuggling on National Carrot Cake Day.

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Groundhog Day, Hedgehog Day, Marmot Day, more

February 2nd, 2012, is Groundhog Day, Hedgehog Day, Marmot Day, Groundhog Job Shadow Day, Bonza Bottler Day, Candlemas, la Chandeleur, Candelaria, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, World Wetlands Day, California Kiwifruit Day, and Heavenly Hash Day.

Groundhog Day is the event of the year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, as Punxsutawney Phil pops out of his hole to see his shadow or not. If Phil sees his shadow, prepare for six more weeks of winter. If no shadow, get ready to wear shorts and flip flops sometime soon. Canadians have their own counterpart to Punxsutawney Phil - Wiarton Willie. Groundhog Day inspired one of my favorite lightweight movies, Groundhog Day, with Bill Murray.

Hedgehog Day is the precursor of Groundhog Day, celebrated in Rome thousands of years ago. Interestingly, the Romans looked for a shadow or absence of a shadow in the moonlight, not sunlight.

Our friends in Alaska celebrate Marmot Day, courtesy of Sarah Palin and friends, since groundhogs don't live there.

Last but not least in the list of groundhog-related celebrations is Groundhog Job Shadow Day. The AH&LA, American Hotel & Lodging Association, sponsors this job shadowing and mentoring program every February 2nd.

Bonza Bottler Day occurs once every month, when the numbers for the month and date coincide. Today, for example, is 2/2.

Candlemas, also known as Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, la Chandeleur, or Candelaria, celebrates three important Christian events: the presentation of baby Jesus; Jesus' first entry into the temple; and the purification of the Virgin Mary. Many burn candles, especially beeswax candles.

The theme for this year's World Wetlands Day is "Wetlands and Tourism." The Convention on Wetlands was first adopted on this date in 1971, in Ramsar, Iran, on the Caspian Sea.

To celebrate California Kiwifruit Day, try a Kiwi Klimax, a drink specially created in honor of this holiday.

Everyone has their own opinion as to what makes heavenly hash so heavenly. Whip up a batch of your favorite concoction today, Heavenly Hash Day.

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Working Naked Day, Hoola in the Coola Day, more

February 1st, 2012, is Working Naked Day, Hoola in the Coola Day, Serpent Day, National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Robinson Crusoe Day, Spunky Old Broads Day, National Freedom Day, Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius, Imbolc, St. Brigid's Day, and National Baked Alaska Day.

People who work from home, setting their own rules (and dress code), celebrate the 3rd annual Working Naked Day today. People who work outside the home should probably skip this holiday.

Hoola in the Coola Day is a time to ignore winter and embrace summer, to shed the sweater and don a grass skirt, to replace winter comfort foods with a Hawaiian luau feast.

Are you afraid of snakes? If so, keep your guard up today, Serpent Day.

The theme for the 26th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day is "Title IX at 40: In it for the Long Run." Title IX requires equal treatment for boys and girls in federally funded educational programs and activities, including athletics.

Robinson Crusoe Day is the anniversary of the rescue of Alexander Selkirk, a sailor whose adventures inspired Daniel Defoe's book, Robinson Crusoe. Embark upon an adventure of your own!

Have a blast on Spunky Old Broads Day, if you happen to be a spunky old broad. In fact, go wild the whole month of February, because it's Spunky Old Broads Month!

National Freedom Day commemorates the signing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution on February 1st, 1865. With his signature, President Abraham Lincoln ended slavery in the United States. Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation one month prior.

The island of Mauritius celebrates Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius, the anniversary of the 1835 event.

Imbolc, also known as  St. Brigid's Day, is the Celtic celebration of the beginning of spring.

Have you ever baked ice cream in your oven? If that sounds just plain crazy to you, then you've never had the glorious dessert known as Baked Alaska. Top a cake with a mound of ice cream, then insulate the ice cream in a layer of meringue. Bake until the meringue is golden, then enjoy. The ice cream will still be cold, a small miracle for National Baked Alaska Day!

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February 2012 month-long celebrations

February is a funny month, sometimes with twenty-eight days, sometimes with twenty-nine. In 2012, a leap year, February has twenty-nine. Use those days to their best advantage by focusing on one or more month-long celebrations. Events are listed alphabetically, with descriptive words such as "National" and "World" omitted.

Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
African American History Month
AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
American Heart Month
Archive Your Files Month
Bake for Family Fun Month

Bird Feeding Month
Black Awareness Month
Black History Month
Blah Buster Month
Boost Your Self-Esteem Month
Canned Food Month
Care about your Indoor Air Month
Cat Health Month
CDC Fruit of the Month - Star Fruit
CDC Vegetable of the Month - Exotic Vegetables (Calabaza Squash, Chayote Squash, Bitter Melon)
Cherry Month
Chocolate Lover's Month
Condom Month
Creative Romance Month
Dog Training Education Month
Embroidery Month
Expect Success Month
Fabulous Florida Strawberry Month
Friendship Month
From Africa to Virginia Month
Get to Know an Independent Broker Month
Grapefruit Month
Great American Pie Month
Great Lent (Orthodox) - February 27th to April 15th
Hot Breakfast Month
Human Relations Month
Indoor Gardening Month
Jobs in Golf Month
Laugh-Friendly Month
Lent - February 22nd to April 5th
Library Lovers Month
Macadamia Nut Month
Marfan Awareness Month
Marijuana Awareness Month
Mend a Broken Heart Month
Parent Leadership Month
Pet Dental Health Month

Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month
Potato Lovers Month
Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
Prevent a Litter Month
Pull Your Sofa off the Wall Month
Relationship Wellness Month
Renaissance of the Heart Month
Responsible Pet Owner Month
Return Your Shoppng Carts to the Supermarket Month
Scouting Anniversary Month
Snack Food Month
Spay/Neuter Awareness Month
Spunky Old Broad Month
Sweet Potato Month
Take a New Year's Resolution to Stop Smoking (TANYRSS) - December 17th to Superbowl Sunday, February 5th
Time Management Month
Twit Award Month
Wise Health Care Consumer Month
Women's Heart Health Month
World Understanding Month
Youth Leadership Month 

If you know of other month-long celebrations that should be included in this list, please  provide info in the Comments section below. Happy February!

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Backward Day, Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, more

January 31st, 2012, 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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Inane Answering Machine Message Day, Croissant Day, more

January 30th, 2012, is Inane Answering Machine Message Day, Bubble Wrap Appreciation 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!

Celebrate Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day on the last Monday in January. Pop it in a variety of colors and sizes. This year, "The Bubble Wrap Song" is featured on a Grammy-nominated children's album by PapaHugs!

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!

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

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Puzzle Day, Curmudgeon Day, Corn Chip Day, more

January 29th, 2012, is National Puzzle Day, National Carnation Day, Curmudgeon Day, Freethinkers Day, Thomas Paine Day, World Leprosy 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.

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.

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

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

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Welcome Home the Heroes from Iraq Day, more

January 28th, 2012, is Welcome Home the Heroes from Iraq Day, Pop Art Day, National Kazoo Day, Vasant Panchami, National Seed Swap Day, Daisy Day, World Day for the Abolition of Meat, Gone-ta-Pott Day, Thank a Plugin Developer Day, and National Blueberry Pancake Day.

I'm proud to announce that my own city, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is hosting the Welcome Home the Heroes from Iraq Day and parade. The parade begins at noon, Central Time. After the parade, a Veterans' Resource Village will be held at St. Louis Union Station, to help returning soldiers make the transition to civilian life. Follow the action on Facebook. If you (or a family member) are a veteran of the Iraq War, thank you, thank you, thank you.

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. [UPDATE: Turns out that Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day is always celebrated on the last Monday in January. That's January 30th this year. Sorry if you used up your bubble wrap a few days early!]

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.

India celebrates Vasant Panchami, a festival heralding the coming of spring. Vasant Panchami takes place in January or February each year.

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

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

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

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

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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Holocaust Memorial Day, Literacy Day, Thomas Crapper Day, more

January 27th, 2012, is Holocaust Memorial Day, Family Literacy Day, Thomas Crapper Day, Punch the Clock Day, Preschool Fitness 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.

Canada celebrates Family Literacy Day on January 27th. Of course, the rest of us 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 & 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.

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

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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Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement, Peanut Brittle Day, more

January 26th, 2012, is Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement, International Customs Day, Republic Day (India), Australia Day, and National Peanut Brittle Day.

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.

International Customs Day is supported by the World Customs Organization. Their focus for 2012 is "connectivity among the members of the global Customs community."

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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Winter-een-mas, Burns Supper, Opposite Day, nore

January 25th, 2012, is Winter-een-mas, Burns Supper, Opposite 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.

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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Belly Laugh Day, Peanut Butter Day, more

January 24th, 2012, is Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day, Beer Can Appreciation Day, Change a Pet's Life Day, Compliment Day, Global Belly Laugh Day, National Speak Up and Succeed Day, Eskimo Pie Day, and National Peanut Butter Day.

Dad-gummit! Ain't got no more time to fret. Figger out what ta jammer 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, the Official Bolg Dog of The Trend Police, 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.

Whoops! Save your compliments for a better blogger. I accidentally wrote about Compliment Day yesterday, even though the holiday is actually today. Aren't you just the kindest reader for cutting me some slack!

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

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

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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Chinese New Year, Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day, more

January 23rd, 2012, is Chinese New Year, Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day, National Handwriting Day, Compliment Day, Measure Your Feet Day, and National Pie Day.

Chinese New Year 2012. Image: Naypong; FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Welcome to the Year of the Dragon! Today brings the Chinese New Year, year 4709 in the Chinese Calendar. Festivities include fireworks, dragon dancing, and lion dancing (not line dancing). People clean their houses thoroughly, to drive away bad fortune.

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!

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

Thank you for reading so far along in this blog post. Just goes to show your good taste and loyalty to The Holiday Whiz. May I wish you the best-ever Compliment Day? (Oops, sorry - this holiday is actually celebrated on January 24th!)

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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Answer Your Cat's Questions Day, Polka Dot Day, more

January 22nd, 2012, is Answer Your Cat's Questions Day, Polka Dot Day, Come in from the Cold 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).

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

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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