National Fruitcake Day ~December 27th
National Fruitcake Day celebrates the rock hard, fruit filled holiday cake. While fruitcake was popular in the 40's and 50's, we are not sure if anyone has ever eaten this weighty, gooey, sugar laden cake.
It is very appropriate for National Fruitcake Day to be celebrated shortly after Christmas. Once the holidays are over, it's time to get rid of your fruitcake. Giving a fruitcake is a Christmas tradition for many. It is also believed that recipients will re-wrap the fruitcake and give it to someone else. Who knows how many years, or decades, a fruitcake has been passed along? Ultimately, the trick is to make sure you give away the fruitcake before the holiday season is through. Otherwise, you get the joy of storing it, until the next fruitcake-giving season.
The earliest recipe from ancient Rome lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into barley mash.
In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added and the name fruitcake was first used, from a combination of the Latin fructus, and French frui or frug.
Starting in the 16th century, inexpensive sugar from the American Colonies, and the discovery that high concentrations of sugar could preserve fruits, created an excess of candied fruit, thus making fruitcakes more affordable and popular
In the 18th century, Europeans were baking fruitcakes using nuts from the harvest for good luck in the following year. The cake was saved and eaten before the harvest of the next year, so it was about a year old when eaten.
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i thought i'd do a season greeting a bit different this year:
your season greeting <- click
hugs
lil me
Go Caroling Day~December 20 ~
is a wonderful, rewarding, and memory filled day. By far more popular decades ago, Christmas caroling is a great opportunity to enjoy the celebrations and appreciate its meaning.
Christmas caroling remains popular in many area and among many groups. Scouts and youth groups often partake in this special musical event. Even family parties and business parties sometimes produce an impromptu caroling event.
It may take a little planning to make your Christmas Caroling happen. For example, scout groups frequently go caroling to nursing homes and senior citizen centers. A phone call to the facility management to arrange a date and time is a must. Transportation to/from the facility also must be arranged. And, afterwards, a caroling event is often topped off with hot chocolate and cookies.
We hope you enjoy Go Caroling Day to its fullest today!
Universal Children's Day- Observed on November 20th each year.
In 1954, the UN General Assembly recommended that all countries should establish a Universal Children's Day on an "appropriate" day. We are not sure, but perhaps each country did.....at various different dates during the year. The resolution was adopted on November 20, 1954.
Links to UN and UN System sites: UNICEF
Monitoring the Situation of Children and Women
United Nations
Children and Armed Conflict (Special Representative for the Secretary-General)
Children and War (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
Children (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)
Secretary-General's study on violence against children
International Labour Organization
International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Unesco Education - Early Childhood and Family
Programme for the Education of Children in Difficult Circumstances
World Health Organization
Child and Adolescent Health and Development
World Bank Children and Youth
November 14~World Diabetes Day
November 14 will be the first United Nations-observed World Diabetes Day. (International Diabetes Federation) will lead the campaign along with the ADA (American Diabetes Association), the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and many other organizations in the USA. Diabetes, which affects nearly 246 million people globally including 21 million children and adults in the US, has now been recognized by the United Nations as a health risk to families and countries around the world.
On November 14 2007, millions of people across the world will join hands to increase awareness on diabetes. A human blue circle will be formed on the UN grounds - the blue circle being the symbol for diabetes. There will be a 246-step march from the UN down First Avenue in honor of diabetics across the world. A diabetes education rally will be conducted that will have musical performances and celebrities will also participate.
Check to view more:
November 3rd~Sandwich Day
John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
(1718 – 1792)
The origin of the name "sandwich"
"If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you eat?"
The answer: "The sand which is there."
Although the sandwich has nothing to do with sand, it still has a vague connection with island life, because the Hawai'ian Islands were once called "The Sandwich Islands." They were named for the very same person for whom the sandwich that we eat was named John Montagu (1718-1792), the Fourth Earl of Sandwich.
Duke of Earl~Song
In India, Children's Day is celebrated on November 14, birthdate of first Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
All Saints' Day, a Christian holiday. Observance is on November 1, the day after Halloween. In Sweden the All Saints' official holiday takes place on the first Saturday of November.
In Ireland November 1 is regarded as the first day of Winter.
November 1 is called November Day (Lá Samhna) in Celtic tradition and is thus named in the Irish Calendar, where the month is called Mí na Samhna.
Veterans' Day is celebrated in the United States on November 11.
Remembrance Day is also celebrated on November 11 in the Commonwealth of Nations and various European countries (including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War I and other wars.
Discovery of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493.
Día de la Revolución, or Revolution Day, is celebrated in Mexico on November 20.
Aviation History Month
Child Safety Protection Month
International Drum Month
National Adoption Awareness Month
National Epilepsy Month
National Model Railroad Month
Native American Heritage Month
Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Sleep Comfort Month
October 25th
World Pasta Day is today. It should come as no surprise to discover that this special day promotes the consumption of pasta around the world. It seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of pasta.
Each year on World Pasta Day, events are held to help spread the world about pasta and it's nutritional value. The National Pasta Association and pasta manufacturers sponsor these events and activities.
On World Pasta Day, pile up your plate, with a big dish of pasta and your favorite sauce!
Origin of World Pasta Day:
World Pasta Day was established as an annual event at the first World Pasta Congress held on October 25, 1995 in Rome, Italy. It is promoted by pasta manufacturers around the world.
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October 10th
National Angel Food Cake Day is a great day to bake a cake with your little angels. Watch the smiles on their angelic faces, as you hand them the mixing spoon to lick off the batter!
Angel food cake is a sponge cake. It can be simple, or fancy. A suggestion~ a jello angel food cake, for a real treat.
Its really easy to enjoy National Angel Food Cake Day. Make or buy an angel food cake. Making an angel food cake is the best way to celebrate this day. A homemade cake beats a store bought one. Then, enjoy it with family, friends, and at work.
Here's wishing you a very Happy National Angel Food Cake Day.
In the UK Angel Cake (also known as Angel Layer Cake) is usually sold as a rectangle shape and has three layers separated by vanilla buttercream. The layers are coloured pink, yellow and white.
Angel cake is a type of cake that became popular in the U.S. in the 19th century. Because of its airy lightness it was said to be the "food of the angels". The chocolate, butter layer cake appeared at the same general time period, as one of the many new American cakes made possible by the invention of baking powder. Angel food cake requires that the egg whites be whipped until they are stiff, and gently folded into the other ingredients. For this method of leavening to work well, it is useful to have flour that has been made of softer wheat. This - and the lack of fat - causes angel food cake to have a very light texture and taste. It has led some detractors to liken the taste of the cake as well as its appearance to cotton. Angel cake cannot be cut easily with a knife, as a solid blade tends to compress the cake rather than slice it. Forks, serrated knives, special tined cutters or a strong thread should be used instead.
The characteristics of high-quality angel cake are as follows:
Appearance: Top crust is slightly rounded; top crust is golden brown to medium brown; surface may be rough and slightly cracked.
Texture: Air cells may vary in size from small to medium; cell walls should be fairly thin.
Tenderness: Crumb is tender; the crumb "melts" in the mouth --very little resistance to eat
Flavor: slight sweet; vanilla and/or almond flavor may be detected. Small cakes baked and eaten within a 2-hour period may have a distinct eggy flavor. This eggy flavor is lost as the cake stands for several hours.
Wells Fargo World Food Festival October 5-7
To celebrate Iowa's cultural heritage through diverse culinary traditions
The mission of the Wells Fargo World Food Festival is to celebrate Iowa's cultural heritage through diverse culinary traditions. Serving as a gathering place for the community, the Wells Fargo World Food Festival will feature ethnic cafes, folk artisans, a variety of entertainers displaying authentic dress and choreography, and a global market where attendees will be able to purchase items from around the world. The Wells Fargo World Food Festival will offer the community a chance to get involved in the event through vendor, volunteer and participatory opportunities.
As an all-inclusive event, the Wells Fargo World Food Festival will partner with leaders of cultural celebrations from across the state. The Wells Fargo World Food Festival is expected to draw a varied group of thousands from both Central Iowa and the Midwest. This project will help meet the needs of Des Moines' diverse community by bringing together new and native Iowans for the educational, three-day celebration. As a collaborative partnership between diverse cultures, the Wells Fargo World Festival will provide a valuable occasion for people to share their cultural history and traditions, and to foster community appreciation and understanding. With no admission charge, this event will give the entire community the opportunity to take part in an educational cultural celebration showcasing Iowa's diversity.
The Wells Fargo World Food Festival is partnering with the World Food Prize to create a truly unique event. The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.
More to view:
http://www.wfwff.org/
~Celebrating~
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
American Pharmacist Month
Apple Jack Month
Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Clergy Appreciation Month
Computer Learning Month
Cookie Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
International Drum Month
Lupus Awareness Month
National Diabetes Month
National Pizza Month
National Vegetarian Month
National Popcorn Popping Month
Seafood Month
Gustav Holst ( 1874 - 1934) was an English composer and was a music teacher for over 20 years. Holst is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets. Having studied at the Royal College of Music in London, his early work was influenced by Ravel,Grieg, Richard Strauss, and Ralph Vaughan Williams, but most of his music is highly original, with influences from Hindu spiritualism and English folk tunes. Holst's music is well known for unconventional use of metre and haunting melodies.
The Planets Op. 32 is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Notable for its elaborate score for large orchestra with some unusual instruments, The Planets is the most-performed composition by an English composer. Its first complete public performance was on October 10, 1920 in Birmingham, with Appleby Matthews conducting. However, an earlier invitation-only premiere occurred during World War I on September 29, 1918, in London's Royal Albert Hall, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult.
The elaborate score of The Planets produces unusual, complex sounds by using some unusual instruments and multiples of instruments in the large orchestra (like Mahler's Sixth of 1906), such as three oboes, three bassoons, two piccolos, two harps, bass oboe, two timpani players, glockenspiel, celesta, xylophone, tubular bells, and organ.
More to view:
September 28
Ah, Good Neighbor Day. It's definitely a good thing. Being good neighbors is an important part of the social fiber that makes this country so great. Therefore, it seems only fitting that one day a year honors good neighbors.
This day of recognition is not to be confused with other forms of "Good Neighbor Days". Stores proclaim "Good Neighbor Days" to promote sales, a wide range of organizations announce "Good Neighbor Days" to promote their cause, and local municipalities and governments proclaim "Good Neighbor Days" for a variety of reasons.
Rather, this day is to truly recognize and appreciate your good neighbor. Hopefully, one of those good neighbors is you!
Neighbours next door or to South of the border...that is you~
In the early 1970's, Mrs. Becky Mattson from Lakeside, Montana recognized the importance of good neighbors, and started the effort to make this a National day. With the help of congressman Mike Mansfield, she succeed in getting three presidents (Nixon, Ford, and Carter) to issue proclamations, along with numerous governors.
In 2003, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution, sponsored by Montana Senator Max Baucus, making September 28, National Good Neighbor Day.
Well i would like to send special hugs and grats to Ron and his missus for 25 years of marriage! WOW! I wish you all the best for the next 25.
I just got past the first 7 and yes its is a very hilly billy road. For me its rather that I made a promise to stay with someone through all them times. And if i make a promise I stick to it... even if its hard sometimes. So whoohoo 12 more years to go, till we got to 25...
So I raise my glas - um actually its a cuppa tea right now - to Ron and his wife and wish all the best!!!
Celebrating Horizon Day
September 25
Vasco Núñez De Balboa (1475– 1519) was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. He traveled to the New World in 1500 and, after some exploration, settled on the island of Hispaniola. He founded the settlement of Santa María la Antigua del Darién in present-day Panama in 1510, the first permanent European settlement on the mainland of the Americas(a settlement by Alonso de Ojeda at San Sebastián de Urabá the previous year had already been abandoned). He crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the first European to lead an expedition known to have seen or reached the Pacific from the New World.
Celebrating International Icecream Cone Day
September 22
In its purest form an ice cream cone should be of conical shape. The first true edible conical shaped cone for serving ice cream was created at the St. Louis Worlds Fair by Ernest Hamwi in 1904. His waffle booth was next to an ice cream vendor who ran short of dishes. Hamwi rolled a waffle to contain ice cream and the cone was born.
However you eat it~you'll enjoy it
National Butterscotch Pudding Day
September 19th
National Butterscotch Pudding Day gives us good reason to enjoy a tasty dessert.
Okay, so Butterscotch may not be as popular as vanilla or chocolate. But, it sure is good. If you like butterscotch, just the thought of butterscotch pudding has already got your mouth watering in eager anticipation.
Like all food related special days, its easy to participate and enjoy. In this case, just eat some Butterscotch pudding.
Tip: Its an even more special day, if you make pudding yourself.
Have a Happy National Butterscotch Pudding Day!
Butterscotch is a type of confectionery made by boiling sugar syrup, butter, cream, and vanilla. In many ways the ingredients for butterscotch are similar to toffee; the major difference is that the sugar is boiled to the soft crack stage for butterscotch and the hard crack stage for toffee.
Butterscotch Pudding
This recipe is from The Chef at World Wide Recipes e-zine
Issue of November 17, 2000
"Once you have made and tasted homemade pudding, you may never go back to the "instant" stuff in the little cardboard box. It doesn't take much longer than the packaged product, and the results are far superior."
The Chef
"I couldn't agree more." -- France
Looking for a Butterscotch Pudding recipe "from scratch" . This recipe is simple and delicious.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3 tbsp ( cornstarch) (cornflour)
A pinch of salt
3 eggs
2+1/2 cups milk or half-and-half
2 tbsp ( unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a small saucepan. Mix together the eggs and milk, and stir this into the sugar mixture, whisking to dissolve the sugar and eliminate lumps. Heat over moderate heat, stirring almost constantly, until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the butter and vanilla extract.
Pour the mixture into a bowl, or 4 to 6 small individual bowls. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent the formation of a "skin" and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours.
Serves 4 to 6.
Bon appetit from the Chef and staff at World Wide Recipes
NOTE from France:
When you pour the mixture into your bowl(s) do it through a strainer as it gets rid of any egg particles that didn't blend in as smoothly as expected.
use regular butter (not unsalted) and light brown sugar (instead of dark)
Watch A Video:
http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/butterscotch_pudding
~Enjoy~ Your Butterscotch
September 17th
Be a member of the Apple Dumpling Gang. National Apple Dumpling Day is today.
Celebrating a tasty fall treat. Its easy to make (and, even easier to buy!). Apple lovers can't resist this pastry, filled with sweet, delicious apples.
With the arrival of fall and cool weather, two things happen: the apple harvest begins, and people turn indoors to cooking and baking again. It's only natural that apples are a big part of the cooking scene. Among the most popular of fall treats is apple dumplings. For those of you who enjoy ice cream, some apple dumpling recipes include a scoop of ice cream atop a generous piece of Apple Dumpling.
Enjoy some Apple dumpling today. Chances are, you haven't had it since last Fall!
Happy National Apple Dumpling Day!
The Apple Dumpling Gang is a 1975 Disney film about slick gambler Russel Donavan (played by Bill Bixby) who is duped into taking care of a group of orphan children who eventually strike gold during the California Gold Rush.
The film is based on the novel of the same name by Jack Bickham.
The eponymous gang is named after the dessert, the apple dumpling. Buddy Baker composed the music for it and its sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. The song "The Apple Dumpling Gang", as heard in the opening and closing credits, was composed by Shane Tatum and was sung by Randy Sparks and The Black Porch Majority.
Video:
National Cream Filled Donut Day
September 14th
National Cream Filled Donut Day is a sugary, sweet day. Dontcha just love special days like today!? Sure, you were watching your weight. Then, along comes a special day that is just packed with calorie and carbs. And, that special day encourages you to eat one of your favorite breakfast treats.... cream filled donuts.
There is not shortage of food related "special days". We are certainly glad that someone chose to create a day just for cream filled donuts. It truely is a special treat.
The most popular cream filled donuts are chocolate cream and vanilla cream. This author's favorite is banana cream. But, they are hard to find. Whatever flavor is your favorite, just make sure the day does not go by, without having one or more cream filled donuts.
Chocolate MilkShake Day
September 12th
Chocolate Milkshake Day is an opportunity for chocoholoics to savor. The weather may have cooled off. But, our appetite for chocolate, specifically chocolate milkshakes.
What a great day this will be! Simply combine a little milk with some chocolate ice cream, add some extra chocolate syrup, and mix it well in a blender. That's the fixins for mixin up a big, tall glass of chocolate milkshake.
A milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and sweet flavorings such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce in Canada, most regions of the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Milkshakes are usually served in a tall glass with a straw, and whipped cream may be added as a topping.
Full-service restaurants, soda fountains, and diners usually prepare and mix the shake "by hand" in a blender or drink mixer using a stainless steel cup. Fast food outlets use milkshake machines which freeze and serve a premade milkshake mixture.
Sewing Machine Day~September 10th
Sewing Machine Day celebrates a very important invention ----- the sewing machine. The first sewing machines were made in France in the 1830s. It wasn't until 1846, that they were patented in the U.S. What a great invention. Prior to it's creation, clothes items were sewn together by hand...stitch by stitch.
People who know how to use a sewing machine are dwindling in number. Our mothers and grandmothers had a sewing machine in the house. They used it, too. But, look around your house. Do you have a sewing machine?
If you have a sewing machine, enjoy today making things with it.
Today's Thought Provoking Saying:
"A stitch in time saves nine."
...Saves nine "what"?
National Grandparents Day
September 9
National Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. The official song of National Grandparents Day is "A Song For Grandma And Grandpa" by Johnny Prill. The official flower is the forget-me-not.
http://www.grandparents-day.com/y2004/jprill.html
"A SONG FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA"
by Johnny Prill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfp0zFYdJHc
Chorus:
Oh Grandma, Grandpa, you know that I love you
I love all those little things that you say and do
A walk through the park, a trip to the zoo
Oh Grandma, Grandpa I love you
Verse One:
Going to a ball game, fishing on the lake
Eating Grandma’s cookies, boy they sure taste great
Going to the circus when it comes to town
Eating cotton candy and laughing at the clowns
Chorus:
Oh Grandma, Grandpa, you know that I love you
I love all those little things that you say and do
A hug and a kiss, a ride home from school
Oh Grandma, Grandpa I love you
Verse Two:
Spending time together, talking on the phone
Happy birthday presents, chocolate ice cream cones
Photographs and memories, picnics and parades
Saying that you love me in so many ways
Chorus:
Oh Grandma, Grandpa, you know that I love you
I love all those little things that you say and do
The stories you tell, things I never knew
Oh Grandma, Grandpa I love you
Oh Grandma, Grandpa I love you – I love you – I love you
Words and Music by Johnny Prill
Johnny Prill Music, BMI
© 1982, © 2004
September 5th
Cheese Pizza Day is a day to chow down with one of favorite meals. Pizza is a favorite of young and old. Originating from Italian cuisine, it's a staple in the diet. For many families "Pizza night" is a Friday or Saturday routine. It's also popular at parties.
You can have Cheese Pizza anyway you want. There's thin or thick crust. Extra cheese is the "norm" for many cheese pizza lovers.
To celebrate Cheese Pizza Day, just order a cheese pizza. Or, make a homemade cheese pizza.
If you decide you just have to add other toppings, its okay. We won't tell.
Have a happy Cheese Pizza Day!
Back To School Month
Classical Music Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
Fall Hat Month
International Square Dancing Month
National Blueberry Popsicle Month
National Courtesy Month
National Piano Month
Chicken Month
Baby Safety Month
Little League Month
Honey Month
Self Improvement Month
Better Breakfast Month
August 31~National Trail Mix Day
National Trail Mix Day features a high energy, tasty treat for the trail or snacks. You can buy packages of trail mix at a store. Or, you can make up your own, using the ingredients you like best.
When you head out to a campout, a hike or to go biking, take the Trail Mix along with you. It provides the extra energy boost to keep you from tiring along the way, and allows you to reach your destination full of pep. Don't limit trail mix to the trail. It is also good at campouts.
Trail mix or gorp is a snack food commonly used in outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, backpacking, mountaineering and camping. This food mixture is termed scroggin in New Zealand and Australia, and Studentenfutter in German-speaking countries.
Trail mix usually consists of a mixture of nuts and dried fruits such as raisins or cranberries. Other ingredients such as chocolate chips may also be included.
Two backronyms for the word "gorp," an alternate name for trail mix, are Good Old Raisins and Peanuts and Granola Oats Raisins and Peanuts. Some assume that "gorp" is an actual acronym for one of those phrases, but that is probably a folk etymology.
The Oxford English Dictionary cites a 1913 reference to the verb "gorp", meaning "to eat greedily".
Trail mix is an ideal snack food on the trail. It is lightweight and easy to store, because all of its ingredients are desiccated. It is also energy-rich, and has a high content of vitamins and minerals.
While prepackaged commercial variants of Trail Mix are readily available many outdoor enthusiasts prefer to mix up a homemade batch.
Common ingredients include:
Nuts, such as peanuts or cashews
Dried fruits such as cranberries or raisins
Chocolate chips or M&M's
Breakfast cereals
National Senior Citizens Day
National Senior Citizens Day honors our elderly population. On this day, we are encouraged to recognize and show appreciation for the value and contribution of elderly people to home, family and society.
In his Presidential Proclamation (August 19, 1988), President Ronald Reagan said "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."
On National Senior Citizens Day, we should:
Spend some time with senior citizens
Show our appreciation for senior citizens
Do volunteer work in support of the elderly
If you are a senior citizen, enjoy your day any way you desire. After all, this is your day! Make sure to take advantage of senior citizens specials and discounts. There's bound to be plenty offers today.
August 19~
Chinese Valentine's Day/Daughter's Day -
7th day of 7th Lunar Month
The Stars
The star Vega (Weaving Maid) is the 5th brightest star in the sky. Therefore, it's very easy to find in the summer night. The size of Vega is 16 times bigger than the Sun. The temperature on its surface is more than 10,000 degrees. The brightness of Vega is 25 times brighter than the Sun. It's 25 light years away from the Earth.
The star Altair (Cowherd) is the 11th brightest star in the sky. Therefore, it's not difficult to find in the summer night. The size of Altair is 4 times bigger than the Sun. The temperature on its surface is about 8,000 degrees. The brightness of Altair is 11 times brighter than the Sun. It's 17 light years away from the Earth.
The Festival
On the Chinese Valentine's Day, people in love like to go to the temple of Matchmaker and pray for their love and the possible marriage in China. People still single will do the same thing to ask their luck of love in the Matchmaker temple.
The Chinese Valentine's Day is also called The Daughter's Festival. Long ago, Chinese girls always wanted to train themselves having a good handcrafting skill like the Weaving Maid. The skill is essential for their future family. On that night, the unmarried girls may pray for the Weaving Maid star to let them become smarter. When the star Vega is high up in the sky, girls do a test, which is to put a needle on the water surface. If the needle doesn't sink, then girl is already smart enough and ready to find a husband. Girls may ask for any wish, but only one per year.
In some Chinese provinces, people believe that decorating the flowers on the ox's horn on the Chinese Valentine's Day enables to prevent from the disaster. On the night of Valentine's Day, women wash their hair to give it a fresh and shiny outlook. Children wash their face in the next morning of the Valentine's Day using the overnight water in their backyards to have a much more naturally beautiful appearance. Girls throw the five-color ropes, made at Chinese Dragon Boat festival, on the roof for magpies. Magpies will carry ropes to build the bridge.
August is:
Harvest Month
National Catfish Month
National Water Quality Month
Peach Month
Variable Date Events:
Air Conditioning Appreciation Week
Apple Festivals
Australia: Picnic Day
Blueberry Festivals
Braham Pie Day
Bratwurst Days
California Dry Bean Festival
Corn Festivals
International Kitchen Garden Day
International Zucchini Festival
Kool-Aid Days
Lobster Festivals
Mint Festival
National Apple Week
National Mustard Day
Nut Monday
Oyster Festivals
Peach Festivals
Spain: 'La Tomatina' Tomato Fight - The last Wednesday of August in Bunol, Valencia, Spain. 30,000 people throw 240,000 pounds of tomatoes at each other
Sweden: Crayfish Premiere
Sweden: Sour Herring Premiere
UK: National Hot Dog Day
Watermelon Festivals
Wine Tastings and Festivals
National Lemon Meringue Pie Day~August 15
1879 - Composer John Ireland was born.
1924 - "The Prisoner's Song" by Vernon Dalhart became the first country music record to sell one million copies.
1930 - Guy Lombardo and his orchestra recorded "Go Home and Tell Your Mother".
1952 - The original version of "Hound Dog" was recorded by Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton.
1965 - The Jefferson Airplane made its stage debut at the Matrix Club in San Francisco, CA.
1965 - The Beatles single "Help!" was released.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ibX3TejlZE
1966 - The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" was released.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EZ9h9gZ0wA
1999 - The movie "Detroit Rock City" opened.
Aloha Day~August 12
More to view~
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/stonemancabins/hawaiiday.html?mtbrand=AOL_US
S'mores are a favorite campsite treat for young and old kids.
If you're at a campfire, chances are, there's S'mores. Sticky and gooey, and loaded with sugar and carbs, S'mores are nothing short of delicious.
National S'mores Day celebrates this tasty summer treat. It's appropriately placed in August...campfire prime time. But, don't limit your consumption of S'ores to the campfire. They are popular with kids year round, and can be baked in the oven or microwave.
The origin of S'mores dates back to the 1920's. It's believed the recipe was first discovered by Girl Scouts. S'more folklore suggests that S'mores got its name right by the campfire. After eating one, young kids chanted "gimme some more!"
How to make S'mores:
Ingredients:
Chocolate candy bar
Honey Graham Crackers
Marshmallows
Instructions:
Break off a square of Graham cracker
Add a piece of Chocolate.
Toast a big marshmallow over the campfire.
Add the hot marshmallow.
Top it with another graham Cracker.
Eat , savor and enjoy!
Note: You can make S'mores in the microwave. Just put them together and pop them into the microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds.
Where did the idea come from?
Victorian-era cookbooks contain recipes for "sandwich cookies," soft sponge-cakes filled with jam or cream fillings. American cookbooks published in the early decades of the 20th century contain recipes for chocolate sandwiches (cool) and marshmallow sandwiches (warm).
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American food companies were combining marhsmallows, graham crackers and chocolate in the 1910s. These were wildly popular.
Moon Pies (1913)
National Lighthouse Day~August 7th
Happy National Lighthouse Day!
National Lighthouse Day honors and commemorates a beacon of light that symbolizes safety and security for boats at sea.
On August 7, 1789, through an Act of Congress, the Federal Government took over responsibility for building and operating our nation's lighthouses. The government recognized the importance to ships at sea to find safe harbor during fog and storms. Over the years, lighthouses have saved many ships, and an untold number of lives.
Throughout maritime history, Lighthouses have shined their powerful, sweeping lights through the fog and storms, allowing ships of all kinds to find their way back to port during inclement weather. With the advent of radar and GPS technology, lighthouses have taken a back seat in guiding ships to port. However, they remain the universal symbol of safe harbor to ships and communities that rely upon the sea for their livelihood.
There are numerous local and national lighthouse preservation societies and lighthouse organizations. They serve to preserve and promote lighthouses, and their historical significance to communities, and to the nation.
Enjoy National Lighthouse Day by visiting a lighthouse, or learning more about your local lighthouse preservation society. Or, read a book about lighthouses.
View more: hear the ocean....
http://www.bluemountain.com/display.pd?prodnum=3027847&path=76754&bfrom=1
Halfway Day
First Sunday in August
Sister's Day celebrates being or having a sister.
Sisters are truly special and unique. Sure, we may argue and fight. But, when it comes right down to it, sisters are the best, the very best.
Celebrate Sister's Day by spending time with your sister. Make it a special day in some way for you, and for her.
National Watermelon Day - August 3rd
This big fruit deserves it's own big day. And, give pause to celebrate watermelons on National Watermelon Day.
Sweet and tasty, watermelons are one of summer's favorite fruit. It's standard fare at picnics. While watermelon is over 90% water, it sure tastes good. And, what picnic would be complete without a seed spitting contest?
More About Watermelons
August 2nd
Ice Cream Sandwich Day on 2nd August, it is a great fun day ~ so chill out by stuffing yourself silly with ice cream sandwich and while you're having your fill, share the delicious taste of the day with your friends or loved ones on this beautiful day.
Background of Icecream Sandwiches
Ice cream sandwiches are handheld desserts consisting of a slice of ice cream (usually vanilla), with a small layer of a soft cake-like pastry (usually chocolate) on the top and bottom.
July 5, 1900 Washington Post contains this story from the New York Tribune: "The ice cream sandwich man, who sells quarter-inch layers of alleged ice cream between tiny slabs of water wafers, did a big business during the hot spell and his field of operation was within the district inhabited by the Russians, and his pushcart was elaborately decorated with signs in Hebrew characters. He made the sandwiches quickly in a tin mold, and was kept so busy that he could not make change, but insisted on receiving the actual price for each ice cream sandwich -1 cent."
Congrats~
~Vibraceous~
August 1st
HEY EVERYBODY! GUESS WHAT?!?!?
MY BABY'S HAVING A BABY!!!
<---SCOTT Scott Massie
Turtle Creek, PA, USA
marriedKimee Cat
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
married
GrandMommy, ND
Be sure to visit this thread for some great natural tips! Pregnancy & Childbirth
July 25~ Merry-Go-Round Day
The word carousel originates from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella ("little war").
In 1871, the first U.S. patent for a carousel was issued to Willhelm Schneider of Davenport, Iowa . It was described as a two-story "'carousel' or rotary pavillion used in public parks or other places of amusement." A staircase within the central supporting frame enabled access to the upper story.
Radial partitions could provide separate "apartments" with a sofa, imitation horse or other seats. It could be turned by a person or other apparatus.
July 24
There certainly are many uses. It's an vegetable. It's an herb. It is used in recipes around the world. Garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years.
As a medicinal herb:
Phytochemicals in garlic are believed to provide protection against heart disease and cancer. Specifically, stomach and colorectal cancers.
Helps to fight off colds and flu.
Lowers blood cholesterol levels.
Reduces the buildup of plaque in arteries.
Used as a treatment for acne and warts.
Used for toothaches
More To View:
http://www.garlic.mistral.co.uk/
July 23rd
National Vanilla Ice Cream Day celebrates the favorite ice cream flavors.
Its easy to celebrate Vanilla Ice Cream Day on a hot summer day like today.
Enjoy it in a cone, a dish, a float, a shake, or in a cake.
If you get it in a cone today, ask for extra scoops, and worry about the calories later. Just make sure to eat it quickly, before it melts.
If you go out for ice cream today, watch for discounts and special promotions on vanilla ice cream.
National Lollipop day is celebrated on July 20th
In 1908, George Smith claimed to be the first to invent the modern lollipop. Smith applied an idea of putting hard candies on a stick to make them easier to eat.
He decided to name the treat after his favorite racing horse, Lolly Pop, and later trademarked the name.
The word lollipop is used in many different songs including “Lollipop Guild” featured in the movie “The Wizard of Oz,”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_CAs3q7G48&mode=related&search=
the Chordettes “Lollipop” and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRTaSykC4C4
“The Good Ship Lollipop” from a 1934 Shirley Temple movie called “Bright Eyes”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_RZTusUzM8&mode=related&search=
National Raspberry Cake Day
~ July 19th
National Raspberry Cake Day makes today as sweet as a summer day can be. Tender raspberries are among the best of fruits that nature has to offer.
Put them into a cake......Then, you can "have your fruit and eat it, too!"
Raspberries are one of summers sweet, fruity treats. And, the harvest is going on right now. So, it's only appropriate that we enjoy a piece of raspberry cake in celebration of the harvest.
Here is our three step recipe for a perfect National Raspberry Cake Day:
Go out to a "pick your own" farm and pick them fresh. Bring the kids along.
Bake fresh raspberries into a cake (or two).
Eat some raspberry cake with family and friends.
Here is a Great Recipe:
Raspberry Coffee Cake
1 cup unbleached flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup yogurt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup unsweetened raspberries, fresh or frozen (if using frozen do not thaw)
sliced almonds
In a bowl, combine the flour sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine the egg, yogurt, butter, and vanilla: add to dry ingredients just until moistened.
Spoon two-thirds of the batter into an 8-in round baking pan, (A pie or cake pan work great for this) coated with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine the brown sugar and raspberries; sprinkle over batter.
Peach Ice Cream Day ~July 17th
July 17th is Peach Ice Cream Day. Its a cool, peachy keen day.
Peaches are one of the best flavors of the summer season.
People wait for about 48 weeks for the peach harvest to ripen. And, when it does, for a few short weeks, its "peach everything"! In celebration of the harvest, the ice cream companies make peach ice cream. Its hard to find other times of the year. Most major ice cream makers only produce it during the summer. 
Peach Ice cream is the way to go today. Enjoy it on an ice cream cone, in an ice cream soda, in a sundae, or simply in a dish.
You'll find Peach Ice Cream Day is the real scoop!
