Bacon Day, Eat Outside Day, more

August 31st, 2013, is International Bacon Day, Speak Kind Words Saturday, I Love Litigating Lawyers Day, Limbra Noastra, Independence Day (Malaysia), Independence Day (Kyrgzstan), Independence Day (Trinidad and Tobago), and National Eat Outside Day.

The Saturday before the first Monday in September is International Bacon Day. With apologies to everyone not allowed to eat this porky delight, bacon is possibly nature's most delectable food. Check out this tribute to bacon from The Trend Police.

The last Saturday in August is Speak Kind Words Saturday. Surprise someone with a compliment - even a stranger.

You might have trouble drumming up enthusiasm for this holiday, unless you've won a big lawsuit or you're married to an attorney, but today is I Love Litigating Lawyers Day. Lawyers are a necessary component of the judicial system.

Moldova celebrates Limbra Noastra, honoring their national language, traditons, and freedoms. "Limbra Noastra" means "our tongue" or "our language."

Malaysia celebrates Independence Day, marking independence from Britain since 1957.

Kyrgyzstan observes Independence Day today, celebrating independence since 1991.

Trinidad and Tobago celebrates fifty years of independence today, Independence Day.

National Eat Outside Day is a great idea if it's not 100-plus degrees where you are. Enjoy!

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Forgive Your Foe Friday, Holistic Pet Day, more

August 30th, 2013, is Forgive Your Foe Friday, Daffodil Day (Southern Hemisphere), National Frankenstein Day, National Holistic Pet Day, Victory Day (Turkey), Constitution Day (Kazakhstan), Feast Day of Santa Rosa of Lima, and Toasted Marshmallow Day.

Maybe lawyers or litigants have been your foes lately. If not, surely someone else has held you back or put you down. Wipe the slate clean, if you can, for today is Forgive Your Foe Friday.

Daffodil Day is the premiere fundraising and awareness event sponsored by the Cancer Society, observed in the Southern Hemisphere in August while daffodils are in bloom. "The daffodil is one of the first flowers of spring, whose bright yellow blooms remind us of the joys the new season will bring. It represents the hope there is for the 1 in 3 New Zealanders affected by cancer."

National Frankenstein Day commemorates the birth date of Mary Shelly, who wrote Frankenstein at the tender age of eighteen.

National Holistic Pet Day is a time to think about the health of your pets from a prevention point of view. Pets, like people, benefit from proper diet and adequate exercise.

Turkey observes Victory Day on this date, remembering their victory over Greek invaders in 1922.

Kazakhstan celebrates Constitution Day on August 30th. Their current constitution was ratified in 1995.

Peru rmembers Santa Rosa of Lima today as a feast day. Some celebrants drop good will letters into a hollow where St. Rose tossed the key of her belt in penance.

Toasted Marshmallow Day is here, encouraging us to spend time together, whether around a campfire or a kitchen stove. The only matter to debate is golden vs. blackened.

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Thoughtful Thursday, According to Hoyle Day, more

August 29th, 2013, is Thoughtful Thursday; According to Hoyle Day; International Day Against Nuclear Tests; National More Herbs, Less Salt Day; and National Lemon Juice Day.

The last Thursday of August is Thoughtful Thursday. You know what to do, right? Give it some thought.

Wanna play cards? Edmund Hoyle invented the 52-card deck and wrote rules of play. Check your bookstore for rules according to Hoyle, then have a fun According to Hoyle Day.

August 29th is International Day Against Nuclear Tests, sponsored by the United Nations. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes: "On this Day, I pledge to personally continue promoting the cause of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and to intensify my efforts to encourage all remaining States to ratify the CTBT."

National More Herbs, Less Salt Day is an inspirational holiday for all. Salt adds flavor, but too much salt has negative  health consequences. Herbs add flavor and offer health benefits. You do the math.

Along with herbs, citrus adds flavor, nutritional benefits, and an acidic zing to food Experiment with flavor on National Lemon Juice Day.

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Willing to Lend a Hand Wednesday, Crackers over the Keyboard Day, more

August 28th, 2013, is Willing to Lend a Hand Wednesday, Crackers over the Keyboard Day, Race Your Mouse around the Icons Day, Dream Day Quest and Jubilee, National Bow Tie Day, Gone-ta-Pott Day, Mariamoba, and National Cherry Turnover Day.

The last Wednesday in August is Willing to Lend a Hand Wednesday. Look around - surely someone nearby needs help toting groceries, meeting a deadline, tending their garden, or surviving until payday. Be there to lend a hand!

If you love your computer or simply want to keep your office job, you should skip this holiday. Otherwise, go crazy and celebrate Crackers over the Keyboard Day.

If you haven't ruined your computer by celebrating the holiday above, feel free to participate in Race Your Mouse around the Icons Day.

Dream Day Quest and Jubilee is one of three Emancipation Days of Respect, honoring the memory of  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. August 28th is the anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

If you're a fashion maverick or something of a geek, you'll be glad to know today is National Bow Tie Day.

The fun people at Gone-ta-Pott have declared the 28th of every month as Gone-ta-Pott Day.

The Democratic Republic of Georgia observes Mariamoba on August 28th. Pilgrims from all over the country climb a mountain to Sameba Church in Kasbegi. One tradition involves leading a lamb to the church, circling the church three times, then slaughtering, boiling, and eating the lamb.

Enjoy a tasty treat, suitable for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, in honor of National Cherry Turnover Day.

Touch-a-Heart Tuesday, Pots de Creme Day, more

August 27th, 2013, is Touch-a-Heart Tuesday, Just Because Day, The Duchess Who Wasn't Day, Feast of St. Monica, Independence Day (Moldova), Banana Lover's Day, and National Pots de Creme Day.

The last Tuesday in August is Touch-a-Heart Tuesday. You can touch a heart in many ways, from helping someone in need to offering a sincere compliment, from forgiving someone who cares about you to planning a romantic interlude.

Just Because Day is a holiday to celebrate any way you choose, just because! Enjoy your freedom, just because.

The Duchess Who Wasn't Day is a tribute to novelist Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, who sometimes wrote under the pseudonym "The Duchess." To celebrate, say aloud this famous quote from The Duchess' novel, Molly Bawn: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

The Feast of St. Monica celebrates the patron saint of abuse victims, alcoholics, alcoholism, difficult marriages, dissappointing children, homemakers, housewives, married women, mothers, victims of adultery, victims of unfaithfulness, victims of verbal abuse, widows, and wives.

Moldova observes Independence Day, celebrating independence from the Soviet Union, on August 27th.

Celebrate the banana, the world's most popular fruit, on Banana Lover's Day. You'll love the flavor; your body will love the fiber and potassium.

National Pots de Creme Day celebrates a fabulous French custard. Interestingly, pots de creme also refers to the lidded pots in which the custard is often served.

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Motorist Consideration Monday, Cherry Popsicle Day, more

August 26th, 2013, is Motorist Consideration Monday, Toilet Paper Day, National Dog Day, Women's Equality Day, Heroes' Day (Namibia), and National Cherry Popsicle Day.

Just for today, let someone merge into your lane rather than speeding up. Use your turn signals. Maintain a proper following distance. Keep your horn and your gestures to yourself. You've successfully followed the spirit of Motorist Consideration Monday! Was that so hard? How about doing the same again tomorrow?

For some mysterious reason, today is Toilet Paper Day. Be grateful we've progressed beyond Corn Cob Day.

National Dog Day is the perfect time to show love for man's best friend, as the saying goes. Shimmer, the Official Blog Dog of the Trend Police, will have a nice chunk of burger at dinner time.

Women's Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote in the United States, in 1920. Representative Bella Abzug of New York inspired Congress to designate this holiday in 1971.

Namibia observes Heroes' Day on August 26th, remembering when the first bullet was fired in their fight for liberty in 1966.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere we're still enjoying the dog days of summer. Make the most of today with a cold treat in honor of National Cherry Popsicle Day.

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Kiss and Make Up Day, Banana Split Day, more

August 25th, 2013, is Sacrifice Our Wants for Others' Needs Sunday, Kiss and Make Up Day, Second-Hand Wardrobe Day, National Heroes' Day (Philippines), National Whiskey Sour Day, and National Banana Split Day.

The last Sunday in August is Sacrifice Our Wants for Others' Needs Sunday. How will you participate?

If you sometimes lose patience with the ones you love, here's the holiday for you. Embrace the true spirit of Kiss and Make Up Day.

I try to teach my tween daughter the value of shopping for that million-dollar outfit on a bargain budget. It's a game, a challenge, a valuable skill. Hit the consignment shops, for today is Second-Hand Wardrobe Day.

The fourth Sunday in August is National Heroes' Day in the Philippines.

The whiskey sour is a classic cocktail, around since the 1860s, but often overlooked these days. Did you know that a truly authentic whiskey sour includes egg white for frothiness? Cheers, for today is National Whiskey Sour Day.

If you're under twenty-one or simply prefer not to drink, National Banana Split Day is a great alternative. Banana splits feature enough fruit and nuts to seem sorta healthy, but they also include enough ice cream, chocolate, and whipped topping to satisfy every dessert fanatic.

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Strange Music Day, Peach Pie Day, more

August 24th, 2013, is International Strange Music Day, Vesuvius Day, Can Opener Day, National Knife Day, Flag Day (Liberia), Independence Day (Ukraine), National Waffle Day, and National Peach Pie Day.

What's your concept of strange music? I think of Richard Cheese, Frank Zappa, and some contemporary jazz. Happy International Strange Music Day!

Vesuvius Day commemorates the date in 79 A.D. when Mount Vesuvius erupted, killing many, preserving some in the midst of their daily activities in Pompeii, Italy.

Do you buy canned goods anymore? Some of us have cut back, preferring to reduce sodium intake and appreciate the goodness of fresh food. Nonetheless, sometimes it's irresistably convenient to zip open a can of veggies or soup. August 24th is Can-Opener Day.

Let's focus on cooking, not stabbing, in honor of National Knife Day.

Liberia celebrates Flag Day on August 24th.

Ukraine celebrates Independence Day on August 24th.

Today, the anniversary of the first U.S. patent on a waffle iron, is National Waffle Day. 

As summer winds down, enjoy a sweet, juicy summer fruit. Celebrate nature's bounty on National Peach Pie Day.

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Virgo, Sign of the Virgin, August 23 to September 22

Virgo. Image: Salvatore Vuono, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Everyone born between August 23rd and September 22nd is a Virgo, the sign of the Virgin.

For more information about Virgo:

• Virgo Daily Horoscope
• What's-Your-Sign for Virgo
• Astrology.com Virgo Sun Sign
• Farmers' Almanac: Zodiac Signs, Astrology and Astronomy Explained

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Ride the Wind Day, Valentino Day, more

August 23rd, 2013, is Ride the Wind Day, Valentino Day, Hug Your Sweetheart Day, Daffodil Day (Southern Hemisphere), International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, Black Ribbon Day, Buttered Corn Day, and National Sponge Cake Day.

Today is Ride the Wind Day, commemorating this date in 1977 when the Gossamer Condor was flown by Bryan Allen. This achievement marked the first human-powered flight, because Allen had to pedal the plane as if it were a bicycle!

Valentino Day is a time to remember silent film star Rudolph Valentino, born on this date in 1895 as Rudolfo Alfonzo Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla.

If circumstance prevents you from actually hugging your sweetheart on Hug Your Sweetheart Day, at least send an e-card.

Daffodil Day is the premiere fundraising and awareness event sponsored by the Cancer Society, observed in the Southern Hemisphere in August while daffodils are in bloom. "The daffodil is one of the first flowers of spring, whose bright yellow blooms remind us of the joys the new season will bring. It represents the hope there is for the 1 in 3 New Zealanders affected by cancer."

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, sponsored by the United Nations, is a day to "pay tribute to the tireless struggle of the slaves for their freedom."

In 2008 the European Parliament proclaimed August 23rd as European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism.

Canada observes Black Ribbon Day on this date, remembering the victims of Europe's totalitarian regimes.

As summer turns to fall, what better food to enjoy than buttered corn? Corn conjures up notions of summer BBQ and fall harvest decor. Happy Buttered Corn Day.

National Sponge Cake Day makes me think of my mother, who is no longer with us. Sponge cake is a delicious retro dessert, best served with fresh fruit and childhood memories.

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Be an Angel Day, Eat a Peach Day, more

August 22nd, 2013, is Be an Angel Day, National Tooth Fairy Day, Punctuation Day, Hoodie Hoo Day (Southern Hemisphere), National Pecan Torte Day, and Eat a Peach Day.

On Be an Angel Day, celebrated every year since 1993, everyone is asked to "do one small act of service for someone." What will you do?

Moving from angel to fairy, today is also National Tooth Fairy Day. She works hard every night!

Attention! Are...you...paying...attention? Are, you, sure??? Shall I continue; abusing -- these: punctuation marks? Of course not, because today is "*-National Punctuation Day. -*"

The Southern Hemisphere celebrates Hoodie Hoo Day on August 22nd. Step outside at noon, wave your arms in the air, then shout, "Hoodie-hoo!" If you're lucky, your efforts will help usher in spring.

National Pecan Torte Day celebrates a special layered concoction. A torte is a cake made from eggs, sugar, and ground nuts instead of flour.

If you crave something simpler, more natural than pecan torte, take heart. Today is also Eat a Peach Day. Nothing tastes better than a sweet, juicy peach.

Senior Citizens' Day, Spumoni Day, more

August 21st, 2013, is Senior Citizens' Day, National Medical Dosimetrist Day, and National Spumoni Day.

In 1988 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed August 21st as Senior Citizens' Day. The proclamation states: "For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older - places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity."

Today is National Medical Dosimetrist Day. You may ask, what is a disimetrist? A dosimetrist helps cancer patients who need radiation therapy. That's a most worthy occupation.

Spumoni is a fabulous Italian concoction featuring stripes of cherry, vanilla, and pistachio ice cream, laced with dried fruit and nuts. Today is National Spumoni Day. Buon appetito!

World Mosquito Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, more

August 20th, 2013, is World Mosquito Day, Virtual Worlds Day, National Radio Day, Constitution Day (Hungary), and National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day.

World Mosquito Day isn't a time to celebrate those pesky little critters who bite. It is a time to think about prevention. Use repellant, avoid being outdoors at dusk, and remove any standing water from your property. Here's a great tip to help your little ones who want to scratch: Circle the bites with a blue ink pen! I can't say why, but the circles stop the itch.

What is your favorite virtual world? I'm partial to The Sims, especially The Sims 3, a most satisfying time-sucker. Happy Virtual Worlds Day!

On National Radio Day, take a moment to appreciate a medium that's free to all and reliable, offering news, music, and entertainment. Radio has survived in spite of television, the Internet, and so many other options.

Hungary celebrates Constitution Day on August 20th, honoring the adoption of their constitution in 1949.

Pecan pie is one of the world's most perfect desserts. Adding a bit of chocolate couldn't hurt, I suppose. Enjoy National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day.

Full moon names for August 2013

Full moon. Image: morgueFile.

The full moon for August 2013 takes place on August 20th or 21st, depending on your location.  Some call this full moon a blue moon - the third of four full moons occurring within one season.

 Following is a list of full moon names for August, ranging from common to surprising:

Cutter Moon - Abenaki
Dog Days Moon - Algonquin
Green Corn Moon - Algonquin
Red Moon - Algonquin
Sturgeon Moon - Algonquin
When Indian Corn Is Edible - Algonquin
Wood Cutter's Moon - Algonquin
Berry Moon - Anishnaabe
Geese Shedding Their Feathers - Arapaho
When the Chokeberries Begin to Ripen - Arapaho
Black Cherries Moon - Assiniboine
Nikini Poya - Buddhist
Dispute Moon - Celtic
Drying Up Moon - Cherokee
End of the Fruit Moon - Cherokee
Fruit Moon - Cherokee
Grain Moon - Cherokee
Harvest Moon - Chinese
Big Harvest Moon - Choctaw
Women's Moon - Choctaw
Dog Day's Moon - Colonial American
New Fall Moon - Comanche
Summer Moon - Comanche
Young Ducks Begin to Fly Moon - Cree
Big Harvest Moon - Creek
Big Ripening Moon - Creek
Much Heat Moon - Creek
Moon When All things Ripen - Dakotah Sioux
Fish Moon - Deborean
Corn Moon - English Medieval
Cedar Bark for Hats and Baskets - Haida
Shravan Purnima - Hindu
Raksha Bandhan - Hindu
Narali Poornima - Hindu
Moon of Joyful - Hopi
Moon of Life at its Height - Hopi
Krugyuat tingiviat - Inuit
Dispute Moon - Janic
Harvest Moon - Janic
End of Summer Moon - Kalapuya
Mid Summer Moon - Kalapuya
y'aamuni daawaatra - Keresan
Yellow Leaves Moon - Kiowa
Thumb (counting on fingers, beginning with thumb in August) - Klamath
Halanitca - Kumeyaay
Moon of the Ripening - Lakota
Acorns Ripen - Maidu
Eslakum Middle - Maidu
Corn Moon - Medieval English
Wort Moon - Medieval English
Time of Freshness - Mohawk
Big Harvest Moon - Muscokee
Mulberries Moon - Natchez
Full Red Moon - Native American
Green Corn Moon - Native American
Grain Moon - Native American
Full Sturgeon Moon - Native American (fishing tribes)
Big Harvest - Navajo
Lightening Moon - Neo Pagan
Yellow Flower Moon - Osage
Feather Shedding Moon - Passamaquoddy
First Acorns - Pomo
Corn Is in the Silk Moon - Ponca
Moon of the Middle - Potawatomi
Wheat Cut Moon - San Juan
Plum Moon - Shawnee
Hot Moon - Shoshone
Moon When the Cherries Turn Black - Sioux
Moon When the Geese Shed Their Feathers - Sioux
Autumn Moon - Taos
Berries Ripe on Mountain Moon - Tlingit
Wyrt Moon - Unknown
Corn Moon - Wiccan
Blackberry Patches Moon - Wishram
Dog Days Moon - Yuchi

Sources for full moon names:

• Farmers' Almanac - Full Moon Names and Their Meanings
• Moon Names
• Indian Moons, Days and Other Calendar Stuff
• A Witchy Life - August: Fruit Moon
• Hindu Blog - Purnima 2013 - 2014
• Spring Wolf's Pagan's Path - Full Moon Names
• About.com: Paganism/Wicca - Moon Phase Names in the Southern Hemisphere
• Willow Grove - Esbats and Full Moon Names
• Moon Names for a Full Year
• Wikipedia - Full Moon

More about the moon:

• Once in a Blue Moon
• Keith's Moon Page
• USNO Data Services
• Google Moon
• National Geographic - Moon Facts

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Sandcastle and Sculpture Day, Aviation Day, more

August 19th, 2013, is National Sandcastle and Sculpture Day, World Photography Day, World Humanitarian Day, National Aviation Day, Independence Day (Afghanistan), Cupcake Day for the RSPCA, and National Potato Day, 

If you're lucky enough to be near a beach, today is the holiday for you. Create a masterpiece in honor of National Sandcastle and Sculpture Day.

To celebrate World Photography Day, capture and submit a special image of your world.

The United Nations supports World Humanitarian Day on August 19th. The theme for 2013 is "The World Needs More..."UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon writes: "Every year on August 19th we mark World Humanitarian Day in honour of aid workers, who have lost their lives in the line of duty. We commemorate their sacrifice and reaffirm our commitment to the lifesaving work that humanitarians carry out around the world every day, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances, where others cannot or do not want to go. This year our World Humanitarian Day campaign is calling on people to answer a question: ‘What do you think the world needs more of?’"

August 19th, the birth date of Orville Wright, is celebrated as National Aviation Day.

Afghanistan observes Independence Day on August 19th.

Today is Cupcake Day for the RSPCA, benefiting Australia's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. People purchase cupcakes for the benefit of the organization. Cupcake competitions are also featured.

In honor of National Potato Day, enjoy the tasty, nutritious potato in some form other than french fry or potato chip.

Bad Poetry Day, Ice Cream Pie Day, more

August 18th, 2013, is Bad Poetry Day, Mail Order Catalog Day, National Ice Cream Pie Day, and National Soft Ice Cream Day.

In honor of Bad Poetry Day, try your hand at some truly bad verse. I'll start....

Roses are red,
Cactus is spiky.
Poetry ain't easy,
But I'll try, by crikey!

Mail Order Catalog Day commemorates the publication of the first mail order catalog on this date in 1872 - a single sheet produced by Montgomery Ward.

Today National Ice Cream Pie Day! Grab a pie shell and let your creativity run wild. How about pistachio cherry, or butter pecan chocolate chip? Delish.

National Soft Ice Cream Day celebrates the softer side of ice cream, sometimes known as soft serve or custard. This is easier to find than an ice cream pie, since it's available at many restaurants and drive-thrus.

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Thrift Shop Day, Vanilla Custard Day, more

August 17th, 2013, is International Homeless Animals Day, National Meaning of "Is" Day, Tell the Truth Day, #2 Pencil Day, National Thrift Shop Day, Independence Day (Gabon), Independence Day (Indonesia), and National Vanilla Custard Day.

The 3rd Saturday in August is International Homeless Animals Day. Candlelight vigils will be held around the world.

On this day in 1998, then-President Bill Clinton uttered his famous words to a grand jury: "It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is." The grand jury was seeking to determine the nature of Clinton's involvement with intern Monica Lewinsky. Not a high point in our political history. Anyway, today "is" the National Meaning of "Is" Day.

Tell the Truth Day is an interesting companion holiday to the one already mentioned. Does telling the truth require brutal honesty, deft avoidance of details, or a balance in which people's feelings and intentions matter more than cold, hard fact?

On #2 Pencil Day, take a moment to consider how extraordinary the ordinary pencil is. How do they get the round lead (which isn't really lead) inside that piece of wood?

National Thrift Shop Day celebrates stores where bargains can be found, sometimes on new items, sometimes on items gently used. Who can't use a bargain in these times? Here's Macklemore, to give you some inspiration:

Gabon celebrates Independence Day on August 17th.

Indonesia observes Independence Day on August 17th.

A world of dessert options is available for you today, National Vanilla Custard Day. Serve your vanilla custard plain, in a pie, or in creme brulee. Just enjoy!

Roller Coaster Day, True Love Forever Day, more

August 16th, 2013, is National Men's Grooming Day, Roller Coaster Day, True Love Forever Day, National Tell a Joke Day, Restoration Day (Dominican Republic), National Rum Day, and Bratwurst Day.

National Men's Grooming Day, sponsored by American Crew, is observed on the 3rd Friday in August. Some salons and barber shops offer special deals.

Roller Coaster Day commemorates the day in 1898 when the first roller coaster was patented. Did you know the world's fastest roller coaster - 149.1 miles per hour - is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates? Learn more at the Roller Coaster Database.

Today is True Love Forever Day. How romantic! If you have found your one true love, show them how you feel. If you haven't found your true love yet, stay hopeful - he or she is out there somewhere! (I know that from personal experience.)

In honor of National Tell a Joke Day, dust off your favorite old joke or learn some new ones. Keep your humor appropriate for your audience and have fun!

The Dominican Republic celebrates Restoration Day on August 16th with elaborate costumes and folk dancing.

If you're over twenty-one, cheers! Today is National Rum Day.

Are you hungry? Grill up some delicious sausage links and top them with mustard. Celebrate Bratwurst Day!

Relaxation Day, Failure Day, Hello Day, more

August 15th, 2013, is National Relaxation Day, National Failure Day, Hello Day, Chauvin Day, Flooding the Nile, Feast of the Assumption, Assumption Day, Independence Day (India), Independence Day (South Korea), Constitution Day (Equatorial Guinea), and National Lemon Meringue Pie Day.

Today is National Relaxation Day. Does that mean I should take the day off and not finish this blog post? Nah. But I will find a few moments to sit back, chill, and simply... be. So should you. De-stressing is healthy.

Take a chance on something outside of your comfort zone today, perhaps something you've never tried before. Even if your attempt is a complete bust you'll be successful, because today is National Failure Day.

On this date in 1877, Thomas Edison suggested the word "hello" as the standard telephone greeting, rather than Alexander Graham Bell's suggestion, "ahoy." Happy Hello Day.

Chauvin Day honors (or dishonors) Nicholas Chauvin, a French soldier who idolized Napoleon and anything French. He became an object of ridicule because of his blind devotion, inspiring the word chauvinism. According to Merriam-Webster, chauvinism means:

1. excessive or blind patriotism
2. undue partiality or attachment to a group or place to which one belongs or has belonged
3. an attitude of superiority toward members of the opposite sex; behavior expressive of such an attitude

Before researching this, I only knew about the third definition. There's always something new to learn.

Egypt observes Flooding the Nile or Wafaa El-Nil on August 15th. The three stages of Egypt's flood cycle are Akhet, Peret, and Shemu.

The Feast of the Assumption celebrates the happy departure of the Virgin Mary from this life and the assumption of her body into heaven.

Vanuatu observes Assumption Day on August 15th.

India observes Independence Day on August 15th, the date in 1947 when India gained independence from Britain.

South Korea observes Independence Day on August 15th, even though the country gained independence on August 13th, 1948.

Equatorial Guinea observes Constitution Day today, commemorating the revision of their constitution in 1968.

Today is National Lemon Meringue Pie Day. What's better than a cool, sweet-and-sour treat on a hot summer day?

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Navajo Code Talkers Day, Wiffle Ball Day, more

August 14th, 2013, is Navajo Code Talkers Day, V-J Day, Wiffle Ball Day, National Financial Awareness Day, Independence Day (Pakistan), and National Creamsicle Day.

Navajo Code Talkers Day honors patriotic Navajo soldiers who, despite lacking the right to vote in the United States, played a pivotal role in helping the U.S. during World War II. They assigned Navajo words to military words, creating a code their enemies could not crack.

August 14th, the day in 1945 when Japan surrendered during World War II, is observed as V-J Day or Victory over Japan Day. Some observe V-J Day on August 15th. Others choose September 2nd, when the formal surrender took place on the U.S.S. Missouri.

Today is Wiffle Ball Day, commemorating the date in 1953 when the game was first introduced.

National Financial Awareness Day is a time to honestly assess your financial situation, your attitude toward money, and your best plan of action for a secure retirement. If only our government would do the same.

Pakistan observes Independence Day on August 14th.

If it's hot and sticky where you are, here's some relief - today is National Creamsicle Day.