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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Soup Swap Day, Fancy Rat and Mouse Day, more

January 21st, 2012, is National Soup Swap Day, National Hugging Day, National Squirrel Appreciation Day, Fancy Rat and Mouse Day, Polar Bear Jumpoff and Ugly Fish Toss, Compass Cup, National Granola Bar Day, and New England Clam Chowder 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!

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.

Seward, Alaska, hosts the Polar Bear Jumpoff and Ugly Fish Toss today. Sounds like a great time! After tossing the ugly fish, I'll have some fresh Alaskan salmon for dinner.

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.

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

In conjunction with (or instead of) National Soup Swap Day, celebrate New England Clam Chowder Day. Delicious!

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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.

For more information about Aquarius:

• Homepagers Daily Horoscopes: Aquarius
• What's-Your-Sign for Aquarius
• Astrology.com: Aquarius Sun Sign
• Astrology on the Web: Aquarius the Water-Bearer
• Astrology Online: Aquarius
• Farmers' Almanac: Zodiac Signs, Astrology and Astronomy Explained

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Bill Cosby Sweater Day, Penguin Awareness Day, more

January 20th, 2012, 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!

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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Brew a Potion Day, Tin Can Day, Popcorn Day, more

January 19th, 2012, is Whisper "I Love You" Day, Brew a Potion Day, Tin Can Day, Get to Know Your Customers Day, and National Popcorn Day.

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.

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.

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

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Weedless Wednesday, Thesaurus Day, Peking Duck Day, more

Out of respect for the SOPA protest on January 18th, 2012, The Holiday Whiz was on hiatus. Holidays for this date included Weedless Wednesday, Thesaurus Day, Winnie the Pooh Day, and National Peking Duck Day.

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Holiday Whiz goes dark to protest SOPA bill

Greetings, loyal Holiday Whiz fans....

The Holiday Whiz post for January 18th, 2012, is being withheld in a show of unity with countless other sites. We have great concern about the proposal in Congress known as SOPA. Although well-intentioned, the Stop Online Piracy Act could seriously damage online commerce and the flow of information we all enjoy.

Have a wonderful January 18th. Please come back tomorrow for more holiday fun.

--Carolyn Brooks Fleming

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Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day, Cable Car Day, more

January 17th, 2012, is Ditch New Year's Resolutions Day, Cable Car Day, Kid Inventors Day, Ben Franklin Day, Customer Service 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.

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. 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.

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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Appreciate a Dragon Day, Martin Luther King Day, more

January 16th, 2012, 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.

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.

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 country's top spicy food challenges. My husband ranks among the proud finishers.

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Hat Day, Night of Balloons, Golden Globe Awards, more

January 15th, 2012, is National Hat Day, Night of the Balloons, Golden Globe Awards, Teachers' Day (Venezuela), Tulpanens Dag, World Religion Day, 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.

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!

Tonight's Golden Globe Awards could spark controversy, as the unpredictable Ricky Gervais returns as host. (Can't resist adding a plug for one of the best television shows ever, created by Gervais - An Idiot Abroad.)

Venezuela observes Teachers' Day on January 15th.

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

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."

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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Dress Up Your Pet Day, Straw Bear Day, more

January 14th, 2012, is Dress Up Your Pet Day, Great Fruitcake Toss, Organize Your Home Day, Schlitteda Engiadinaisa, Miss America Pageant, 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!

Fruitcakes get no respect. Manitau Springs, Colorado, hosts the Great Fruitcake Toss, featuring a Hand Toss, Kids' Toss, Pneumatic Gun or Cannon, Team Catch, and more.

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!

Schlitteda Engiadinaisa in St. Moritz, Switzerland, is a race featuring old sleighs and traditional costumes. Each racer selects a woman to cling to his back during the race.

The 2012 Miss America Pageant takes place tonight in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pageant promotes "style, service, scholarship and success."

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. Don't eat it cold, mind you.

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Friday the 13th, Blame Someone Else Day, more

January 13th, 2012, is Friday the 13th, Make Your Dreams Come True Day, Blame Someone Else Day, Rubber Duckie Day, Stephen Foster Memorial Day, Scalloway Fire Festival, Lohri, Old New Year's Eve (Russia), and National Peach Melba Day.

Friday the 13th. Image: DazzleJunction.

Paraskevidekatriaphobics, beware! Today is Friday the 13th. Stay off of the the thirteenth floor, avoid breaking mirrors, stay away from black cats. Pull the blankets over your head and spend the day in bed, if you feel totally unlucky and vulnerable.

Make Your Dreams Come True Day counteracts the negative vibe of Friday the 13th this year. This holiday is always observed on the 13th, whether a Friday or some other day. In honor of this day, take at least one step toward achieving your ultimate dream.

Blame Someone Else Day, celebrated on the first Friday the 13th of the year, is a golden opportunity! Whatever's going on in your life, especially those nagging little issues that might be your fault, blame those things on someone else. Poof! You're innocent.

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

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.

Scalloway, Scotland, celebrates the Scalloway Fire Festival. The event features a Viking vessel set fire at sea.

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

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

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Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day, Marzipan Day, more

January 12th, 2012, 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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Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day, Hot Toddy Day, more

January 11th, 2012, is 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.

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

January 10th, 2012, 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, they 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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Full moon names for January 9th, 2012

Full moon. Image: morgueFile.

The full moon for January 2012 takes place tonight, January 9th. 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 - UnknownStorm 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:

• 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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Word Nerd Day, Balloon Ascension Day, Seijin no hi, more

January 9th, 2012, is Word Nerd Day, National Clean Off Your Desk Day, Balloon Ascension Day, Aviation in America Day, National Static Electricity Day, Dance Day, Play God Day, Seijin no hi, Plough Monday, 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!

Most of us probably need to participate in this holiday - National Clean Off Your Desk Day - at home, at work, perhaps both.

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 hose. 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.

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.

Plough Monday is always observed on the Monday following Epiphany.

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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Bubble Bath Day, Joy Germ Day, Man Watcher's Day, more

January 8th, 2012, is Show and Tell at Work Day, Bubble Bath Day, Joy Germ Day, Tower Run, Man Watcher's Day, Midwife's Day, Women's Day, Plough Sunday, Epiphany (celebrated), and National English Toffee Day.

Today is Show and Tell at Work Day. Remember that grand tradition from elementary school? Too bad the adult version is on Sunday this year, when many of us have the day off. What would 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!

Racers who are really really fit will race up 39 flights of stairs today in Berlin, Germany, hoping to win the Tower Run.

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.

Greece celebrates Midwife's Day or Women's Day on January 8th. 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!

Plough Sunday, always the Sunday after Epiphany, is a celebration of farming and harvest. Some churches celebrate Epiphany today, the first Sunday following the true holiday.

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

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Old Rock Day, Programmers' Day, Russian Orthodox Christmas, more

January 7th, 2012, 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.

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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January 2012 weeks to celebrate

The new year brings many week-long events, whether you're looking for help with New Year's resolutions, a cause to support, a festival to experience, or a new hobby to consider. These events for January 2012 are listed in chronological order.

Diet Resolution Week - January 1st to January 7th
New Year's Resolution Week - January 1st to January 7th
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week - January 1st to January 7th
Celebration of Life Week - January 1st to January 7th
Silent Record Week - January 1st to January 7th
Festa Nazionale Della Befana (Urbania, Italy) - January 2nd to January 6th
Women's Self-Empowerment Week - January 2nd to January 8th
Hanneshof Balloon Week (Austria) - January 7th to January 14th
Bikaner Camel Festival (Bikaner, India) - January 8th to January 9th
Folic Acid Awareness Week - January 8th to January 14th
Home Office Safety and Security Week - January 8th to January 14th
Law Enforcement Training Week - January 8th to January 14th
National Letter-Writing Week - January 8th to January 14th
National Pizza Week - second week in January
Cuckoo Dancing Week - second week in January
National Vocation Awareness Week - January 9th to January 14th
Ati-Atihan Festival (Boracay, Philippines) - January 9th to January 15th
International Consumer Electronics Show (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) - January 10th to January 13th

Parkes Elvis Festival (Parkes, Australia) - January 11th to January 15th
Winterskol (Aspen, Colorado, USA) - January 12th to January 15th
Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival (Whittelsey, Peterborough, England) - January 13th to January 15th
Alaska Beer Week - January 13th to January 21st
Winter Youth Olympic Games (Innsbruck, Austria) - January 13th to January 22nd
Kalamazoo Beer Week (Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA) - January 14th to January 21st

Hot Air Balloon Week (Filzmoos, Austria) - January 14th to January 21st
National Non-Smoking Week - January 15th to January 21st

Snowmobile Safety Week - January 15th to January 21st
Healthy Weight Week - January 15th to January 21st
Hunt for Happiness Week - January 15th to January 21st
National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week - January 17th to January 23rd
Icebox Days (International Falls, Minnesota, USA) - January 18th to January 22nd
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18th to January 25th
Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah, USA) - January 19th to January 29th
Slamdance Film Festival (Park City, Utah, USA) - January 20th to January 26th
Bald Eagle Appreciation Days (Keokuk, Iowa, USA) - January 21st to January 22nd
Royal Pigeon Racing - January 21st to January 22nd
National Activity Professionals Week - January 22nd to January 28th
Nurse Anesthetists Week - January 22nd to January 28th

National Handwriting Analysis Week - January 22nd to January 28th
National Irish Coffee Week - fourth week in January
Kiss a Shark Week - fourth week in January
Clean Out Your Inbox Week - January 23rd to January 27th
No-Name-Calling Week - January 23rd to January 27th
National Nuclear Science Week - January 23rd to January 27th

National Medical Group Practice Week - January 23rd to January 27th
International Printing Week - January 24th to January 27th
World Championship Snow Sculpture Contest (Breckenridge, Colorado, USA) - January 24th to January 28th

Tunarama (Port Lincoln, Australia) - January 26th to January 29th
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

If you know of more week-long January celebrations, please post information in the Comments section below.

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Epiphany, Cuddle Up Day, Shortbread Day, more

January 6th, 2012, 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, Hornschlittenrennen, Haxey Hood, Svyat Vechir, 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, which is January 8th in 2012. 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?

Hornschlittenrennen, or "horn runners race," is a German race involving four-person teams careening over ice on ancient peasant sleighs.

Haxey Hood, an old tradition in England, involves teams racing to push a leather tube to a local pub.

Svyat Vechir is Christmas Eve in Ukraine. The holiday table is set with two tablecloths - one for family ancestors, one for the living.

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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Perihelion, Bird Day, Twelfth Night, Whipped Cream Day, more

January 5th, 2012, is Perihelion, National Bird Day, Twelfth Night, George Washington Carver Day, Asarah B'Tevet, Guru Govind Singh Jayanti, and National Whipped Cream Day. 

At 0100 UT on January 5th, our planet is at Perihelion. the moment when Earth is closest to the sun.

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.

Asarah B'Tevet is a minor fast day in the Hebrew Calendar, observed on the tenth day of the month of Tevet. This feast day occurs twice in 2012 - January 5th and December 23rd.

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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Flower Basket Day, Dimpled Chad Day, Spaghetti Day, more

January 4th, 2012, is 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.

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 everyone who knows that Elizabeth Taylor's first husband was Conrad "Nicky" Hilton, Jr.

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. Mangia bene!

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