Chinese New Year, Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, more

January 31st, 2014, is Chinese New Year, Backward Day, Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, Hell Is Freezing Over Day, Preschool Fitness Day, Independence Day (Nauru), National Brandy Alexander Day, and Eat Brussels Sprouts Day.

Year of the Horse. Image: gubgib, FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

This year, the main celebration of Chinese New Year takes place on January 31st. Welcome to the year 4712, the Year of the Horse 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.

.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.

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

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, more

January 30th, 2014, 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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Puzzle Day, Curmudgeon Day, more

January 29th, 2014, is National Puzzle Day, 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.

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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Pop Art Day, Up Helly Aa, Data Privacy Day, more

January 28th, 2014, is Pop Art Day, Up Helly Aa, 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!

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

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 changed your passwords and updated your 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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Holocaust Memorial Day, Punch the Clock Day, more

January 27th, 2014, is Holocaust Memorial Day, Family Literacy Day, Thomas Crapper Day, Punch the Clock Day, Bubble Wrap Appreciation 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 2014 is "Journeys."

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.

While you're at work, why not celebrate Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day? Check the supply closet for packing material. Pop a few plastic air pockets - you know you want to.

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, 2014, is Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement, International Customs Day, World Leprosy 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.

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

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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Soup Swap Day, Winter-een-mas, Fun at Work Day, more

January 25th, 2014, is National Soup Swap Day, National Seed Swap Day, Compass Cup, 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.

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!

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.

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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Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day, Eskimo Pie Day, more

January 24th, 2014, is Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day, Beer Can Appreciation Day, Change a Pet's Life Day, Compliment Day, Global Belly Laugh 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!

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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Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day, Pie Day, more

January 23rd, 2014, is Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day, Women's Healthy Weight Day, 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!

Thursday of January's third full week brings 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.

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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Weedless Wednesday, Answer Your Cat's Questions Day, more

January 22nd, 2014, is Weedless Wednesday, Answer Your Cat's Questions Day, Polka Dot Day, Come in from the Cold Day, and National Blonde Brownie Day.

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?

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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Hugging Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, more

January 21st, 2014, is Naional Speak Up and Succeed Day, Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day, National Hugging Day, National Squirrel Appreciation Day, Fancy Rat and Mouse Day, National Granola Bar Day, and New England Clam Chowder Day.

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.
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Today is Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day.  Don't ride the latest dietary trend, just eat less and exercise more.
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National Hugging Day is actually an international event. 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.

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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Martin Luther King Day, Bill Cosby Sweater Day, Buttercrunch Day, more

January 20th, 2014, is Martin Luther King Day, Civil Rights Day, Human Rights Day, Robert E. Lee Day, National Day of Service, Bill Cosby Sweater Day, Penguin Awareness Day, Disc Jockey Day, International Fetish Day, National Buttercrunch Day, Junk Food News Alert Day, and National Cheese Lover's 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. In the humanitarian spirit, many people honor Dr. King with a National Day of Service.

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.

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!

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 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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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:

• 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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Whisper "I Love You" Day, Religion Day, more

January 19th, 2014, is Whisper "I Love You" Day, Brew a Potion Day, Tin Can Day, World Religion Day, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, 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.

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.

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

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Tulip Day, Peking Duck Day, more

January 18th, 2014, is Polar Bear Jump, Tulip Day, Thesaurus Day, Winnie the Pooh Day, and National Peking Duck Day.

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.

Holland celebrates Tulip Day, honoring the flower for which they are famous.

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

January 17th, 2014, 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. 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.

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, Hot and Spicy Food Day, more

January 16th, 2014, is Appreciate a Dragon Day, Get to Know Your Customers Day, National Nothing Day, Martin Luther King Day, Civil Rights Day, Human Rights Day, Robert E. Lee Day, Religious Freedom Day, Tu B'Shevat, 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.

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.

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.

Tu B'Shevat is a Jewish holiday, known as New Year for Trees. The holiday occurs on the fifteenth day of Shevat. Many Jews eat fruit to celebrate; some try to eat a new fruit.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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Hat Day, Fresh Squeezed Juice Day, more

January 15th, 2014, is National Hat Day, Teachers' Day (Venezuela), 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.

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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Full moon names for January 15th or 16th, 2014

Full moon. Image: morgueFile.

The full moon for January 2014 takes place on January 15th or 16th, 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:

• Farmers' Almanac - Full Moon Names and Their Meanings
• Moon Names
• Indian Moons, Days & Other Calendar Stuff
• Hindu Blog - Purnima 2014-2015 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
• The full moon calendar 2014
• Calendars through the Ages - A month of moons

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Dress Up Your Pet Day, Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day, more

January 14th, 2014, is Dress Up Your Pet Day, Organize Your Home Day, 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!

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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Clean Off Your Desk Day, Ruibber Duckie Day, more

January 13th, 2014, is National Clean Off Your Desk Day, Seijin no hi, Plough Monday, Mawlid al-Nabi, Make Your Dreams Come True Day, Rubber Duckie Day, Stephen Foster Memorial Day, Lohri, and National Peach Melba Day.

The second Monday in January is National Clean Off Your Desk 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.

Plough Monday is always observed on the Monday following Epiphany.

Muslims celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.

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.

Stephen Foster Memorial Day honors one of the United States' most famous songwriters. Foster wrote "Oh! Susanna" - you can'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. The day marks the culmination of winter.

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

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Night of the Balloons, Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day, more

January 12th, 2014, is Night of the Balloons, Plough Sunday, Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day, National Pharmacist Day, Curried Chicken Day, and National Marzipan 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!

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

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 powder, 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, more

January 11th, 2014, 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, Houseplant Appreciation Day, more

January 10th, 2014, 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 laying 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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Word Nerd Day, Play God Day, more

January 9th, 2014, 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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Show and Tell at Work Day, Bubble Bath Day, more

January 8th, 2014, 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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Programmers' Day, Tempura Day, more

January 7th, 2014, 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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Thank God It's Monday Day, Epiphany, Shortbread Day, more

January 6th, 2014, is Thank God It's Monday Day, Epiphany, Twelfth Day, Three Kings Day, El Dia de los Tres Reyes, La Fiesta de Reyes, El de los Reyes Magos, Dreikonigendag, Cuddle Up Day, National Smith Day, World Day for War Orphans, Army Day (Iraq), National Bean Day, and National Shortbread Day.

The first Monday of the new year is Thank God It's Monday Day, celebrating the best of what Mondays have to offer. True, it's usually the beginning of the work week, but it's also the day when many businesses close for holiday celebrations!

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.

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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Twelfth Night, George Washington Carver Day, more

January 5th, 2014, is National Bird Day, Twelfth Night, George Washington Carver Day, Guru Govind Singh Jayanti, and National Whipped Cream Day. 

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.

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Trivia Day, Spaghetti Day, more

January 4th, 2014, 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 you, if you know which famous actor is the real-life brother of Downton Abbey's Shirley MacLaine! (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: Warren Beatty.

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Festival of Sleep Day, Write to Congress Day, more

January 3rd, 2014, 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 U.S. healthcare reform, known as ObamaCare, 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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Science Fiction Day, Cream Puff Day, more

January 2nd, 2014, 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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Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2014

Stargazing bench.
Image: suphakit73; FreeDigitalPhotos.

The 2014 Quadrantid Meteor Shower is active from December 28th, 2013, until January 12th, 2014. However, peak activity will occur in the morning of January 3rd or 4th, depending on your location.

City lights, called light pollution, can interfere with viewing. So can reflected moonlight. This year, the nearly-new moon will allow for optimal viewing.

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.

• Obsolete Constellations: Quadrans Muralis, the mural quadrant
• Spacedex: Quadrantids Meteor Shower
• EarthSky's meteor shower guide for 2014
• Spacedex
• American Meteor Society
• Stardate: 2014 Meteor Showers

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New Year's Day, Z Day, Bloody Mary Day, more

January 1st, 2014, is New Year's Day, Bad Hangover Day, First Foot Day, New Year's Dishonor List Day, Saint Basil's Day, Z Day, Bonza Bottler Day, Global Family Day, Independence Day (Camaroon, Haiti, and Western Samoa), Liberation Day (Cuba), and Bloody Mary Day.

New Year's Day brings a fresh start, new opportunities, and predictions for the future. May you start the year off feeling great, with few ill effects from New Year's Eve.

If you are suffering today, you're not alone. January 1st is known as Bad Hangover Day. Have some orange juice or tomato juice, along with a couple of aspirin.

On First Foot Day, tradition holds that a man must be the first to enter your home in the new year. Otherwise, the household is in for a year of bad luck. You've been warned!

New Year's Dishonor List Day brings the latest list of words and phrases banned by the Unicorn Hunters. Their 2014 list includes the word "twerking" - I hope I never see or hear that word again.

Greeks celebrate Saint Basil's Day, sharing a cake with one coin baked inside. Slices are given to each family member, each family pet, one for Saint Basil, and one for the poor. Whoever finds the coin will have luck in the coming year.

For some reason I don't understand, New Year's Day is also Z Day, when we are asked to honor everyone whose name begins with the last letter of the alphabet. Happy Z Day, Zooey Deschanel!

The year's first Bonza Bottler Day occurs today - 1/1 - because the number is the same for the month and the date.

On Global Family Day, Berkshire Hathaway's Howard Buffett asks us to focus on the problem of world hunger.

Intependence Day is celebrated today in Camaroon, Haiti, and Western Samoa.

Cuba observes Liberation Day on January 1st.

Finally, today is Bloody Mary Day. Some say the drink is a good day-after cure, if you over-imbibed the night before.

Happy New Year!

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