02 April

Big storms this morning, with 2 tornadoes thrown in for good measure.  No damage here.  A town 8 miles to the south took the brunt of the damage.  The weather goes from snow and ice, to pounding rain and wind.  Ugh!!!

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DAY 

On April 2nd each year, National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day celebrates a classic food favorite. The average American will have eaten over 2000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time they graduate from high school.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

Peanut butter was considered a delicacy in the early 1900s and was only served in New York City’s finest tea rooms. In a May 1896 article published in the Good Housekeeping magazine, a recipe “urged homemakers to use a meat grinder to make peanut butter and spread the result on bread.”  That same year, in June, the culinary magazine Table Talk, published a “peanut butter sandwich recipe.”

It is thought that Julia Davis Chandler issued the first reference to peanut butter (or paste) paired with jelly on bread in the United States in 1901. Her article is found in the Boston Cooking School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics. In the late 1920s, the price of peanut butter declined, and the sandwich became very popular with children.

According to the Peanut Board, during World War II, both peanut butter and jelly were part of the United States soldiers' military ration list.

In 1968, The J.M. Smucker Co. introduced Goober, a jarred product that combined alternating vertical stripes of peanut butter and jelly.

How to Observe Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

• Eat something with peanut butter and jelly.
• It may be a good day to try something different. The following are a few peanut butter and jelly ideas to help you out!

• Cupcakes French Toast Pie Sushi Cookies Donuts Pancakes Fudge
• We've also created a hidden picture puzzle. Find the hidden peanuts in the picture. We've included the key if you think you've found them all.
• Also, we turned the image into a coloring page. Download and print it off. 

• National Day Calendar continues to research the origins of this nutty and sweet holiday. 
  

  Peanut Butter and Jelly FAQ

  Q. Does peanut butter and jelly have to be on bread?
  A. No. Peanut butter and jelly go well on crackers, in ice cream, and many other foods. Give it a try!

  Q. Does it matter what kind of jelly I use?
  A. No. Though many people like grape jelly, strawberry, raspberry, or peach. Apple butter even tastes delicious with peanut butter. However, a 2022 poll by National Day Calendar reveals that 43% of respondents prefer strawberry over grape.

   Q. Which is better, crunchy or creamy peanut butter?
  A. When it comes to making the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich it is important to make it with the peanut butter you prefer! However, a recent National Day Calendar poll showed creamy peanut butter being the clear choice by respondents.

  Also 

  Ferret Day

  Reconciliation Day

  Childhelp National Day of Help

  World Autism Awareness Day

  Walking Day

  Library Outreach Day 

   

  Today's Though 

  There is no substitute for hard work. ~ Thomas Edison

   

   

  
  
  

  
  

   18 Days until Easter

   

  
  

 

01 April

NATIONAL TOM FOOLERY'S DAY   

 

April 1 is National Tom Foolery's Day on the National Day Calendar, and we are celebrating with harmless pranks, silly tricks, shenanigans, and, of course, tomfoolery. April 1 also happens to be the birthday of Tom Foolery, a character developed by Kalahari Resorts, home to America’s largest indoor water parks. This is no April Fool’s joke! We are dedicating an entire day to celebrating the spirit of adventure, play, and a little bit of trickery, in all of us.

Tom Foolery's Day

Tom Foolery is a real 14-year-old person, at least at Kalahari Resorts. Tom’s character was introduced through a series of comic books that tell the stories and adventures of the Foolery family as they travel across the universe. After the success of the comic books, the vision for Tom Foolery expanded. Kalahari’s entertainment team, world-class animators, and creatives collaborated to achieve one goal--bring the adventures of the Foolery family to life by creating Tom Foolery's Adventure Parks.

Kalahari Resorts was determined to bring the Tom Foolery stories and adventures to life at their anticipated Tom Foolery's Adventure Parks. In fact, they insisted each location represents the epic adventures the Foolery family had in the comic books. Today, you will find a Tom Foolery's Adventure Park within Kalahari Resort locations as a complete universe where the Foolery family lives, thrives, and shares adventures with guests.

The word “tomfoolery” is defined as “silly behavior.” National Tom Foolery's Day is a day that allows us to laugh, have fun, and enjoy the silliness in day-to-day moments.

A healthy sense of humor is good for the soul. Laughing is scientifically proven to relieve stress and improve mental health. On National Tom Foolery's Day, find your spirit of adventure and tap into your playfulness. Maybe even participate in a little bit of harmless trickery.

7 Benefits of Foolery

Humor entices others to share and interact with one another because laughing together creates lasting bonds. Any time we can make someone smile or laugh, we add to increasing happiness and well-being. In fact, joking around, laughing, and doing silly things is known to be beneficial to overall health. Seven benefits of tomfoolery include: 

1. Increases heart health.
2. Reduces physical pain.
3. Improved sleep.
4. Boosting immunity.
5. Reduced stress.
6. Improved memory.
7. Bringing people together.

Tom Foolery's Day of Celebration

Today is about having fun together, playing harmless pranks, finding adventure, and maybe moving a little outside your comfort zone. Here are a few ideas on how you can celebrate National Tom Foolery's Day:

1. Plan a family vacation to visit Kalahari Resorts and Conventions so you and your family can experience the full Tom Foolery adventure. 
2. Gather your family and friends and celebrate National Tom Foolery's Day by creating silly memories.

National Tom Foolery's Day History

National Day Calendar® and Kalahari Resorts and Conventions formed a collaboration in 2024 to create National Tom Foolery's Day. Each year on April 1, we celebrate the spirit of adventure, play, and a little bit of trickery, in all of us.

Kalahari Resorts massive Tom Foolery’s Adventure Parks are indoor family entertainment centers that feature thrilling rides, escape rooms, virtual reality experiences, ropes courses, bowling, 7D Motion Theaters, and dozens of arcade games.

Founder

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, home to America’s Largest Indoor Water parks, is a full-service vacation destination with resorts nationwide offering family entertainment and meeting and convention facilities. Kalahari’s massive Tom Foolery's Adventure Parks are indoor family entertainment centers that feature thrilling rides, escape rooms, virtual reality experiences, ropes courses, bowling, 7D Motion Theaters, and dozens of arcade games. 

Also

SAAM Day of Action

One Cent Day

Sourdough Bread Day

Take Down Tobacco Day of Action

Library Workers Day

 

Today Thought

Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn - and most fools do.  But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving. ~ Dale Carnegie

 

 19 Days until Easter

 

31 March

NATIONAL CRAYON DAY  

 

Each year, on March 31st children and adults alike, pick up their favorite colors for National Crayon Day. Opening up a box of crayons opens up a world of imagination and hours of fun. 

National Crayon Day

Wax and chalk-based crayons have been used by artists around the world for centuries. Edwin Binney created the brightly colored crayons we are familiar with today.  He was part owner of Binney & Smith, a company that produced products such as paint, pigments, and slate pencils for schools.

In 1903, Binney & Smith created the Crayola Division and produced colored wax crayons for children for the first time. Then in 1904, they presented their An-Du-Septic chalk at the Colombian Exposition in St. Louis winning a gold medal. The chalk was designed to be dustless at many teachers' requests and was an immediate success.

How to Observe National Crayon Day

• Get out your crayons and color away! We've provided three color pages for all age levels for you to download and print. We would love to see your final creations!
• Post them to our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages, and we'll definitely respond. 
• Celebrate Every Day (Easy)
• National Crayon Day (Medium)
• Yin and Yang (Hard)
• Gather your crayons and create some original art.
• Show off your crayon collections!
• Share your favorite colors.

NATIONAL CRAYON DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues to research the founder of this colorful and fun holiday. 

Crayon FAQ

Q. Are crayons only used for coloring?
A. No. In fact, crayons (especially broken and short crayons) can be used in a variety of art projects. They are melted, glued, molded, and shredded for all sorts of artwork.

Q. Where is the world's largest crayon?
A. According to Guinness World Records, Ashrita Furman of Jamaica, New York created the world's largest crayon in October of 2017. The crayon measured 17 feet 1.1 inches (5.21 meters) long and was 1 foot 5.7 inches (.45 meters) in diameter. Furman created the crayon in honor of Sri Chinmoy's 86th birthday. What color was the crayon? Blue!

 

Also

Bunsen Burner Day

Clams on the Half Shell

Prom Day

Tater Day

 

Today's Thought

Thee are two ways to be happy: change the situation or change your mindset towards it.

 

 20 Days until Easter

 

 

30 March

NATIONAL PENCIL DAY  

Each year, March 30th National Pencil Day honors the writing utensil that has done more than just teach millions the alphabet and draw straight lines. It's also helped win wars and enabled amazing art.

National Pencil Day

Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil on this day in 1858. Before that time, pencils and erasers existed separately. Lipman combined the two making two tools much more convenient to use. The intuitive businessman also manufactured envelopes for his stationery shop and was the first to add adhesive to the flap of envelopes.

World War II Pencils

During World War II, Cumberland Pencil Company out of Kenswick, England produced pencils that were designed to function. However, the pencils were hollow with graphite on either end. Between the graphite, the makers had stowed maps to aid captured military personnel in their escape to freedom. Charles Fraser Smith designed them in 1942 and at night, when the factory closed, workers would assemble them under secrecy. The miniature maps detailed escape routes from prisoner of war camps and also included a miniature compass. Throughout the war, these small tools were issued to members of the Royal Airforce and sent to POW camps.

Pencil Art

Pencils have always been a necessary tool for creative people. Artists often pick up a pencil to scratch out a rough outline of an idea. However, those who live for the pencil know the feel for graphite. The black and white medium brings out beautiful works of art that achieve phenomenal depth. It's also one of the first art classes many of us take. However, the carpenter requires a pencil for marking a piece, too. Whether working on a carving or building a piece of furniture, the masterpiece will require a pencil. And then, the overachievers of the world see the pencil as art. They get right to point and place the art on the very tip of the pencil's tip. Miniature art carvings fascinate and amaze us. 

Pencil Facts

In the United States, most pencils are painted yellow. It is believed this tradition began in 1890 when the L & C Hardtmuth Company of Austria-Hungary introduced their Koh-I-Noor brand, named after the famous diamond. They intended the pencil to be the world’s best and most expensive pencil. However, other companies began to copy the yellow color so that their pencils would be associated with the high-quality brand.

Notable pencil users (Wikipedia)

• Thomas Edison had pencils specially made by Eagle Pencil. His pencils were three inches long, thicker than standard pencils, and had softer graphite than typically available.
• Vladimir Nabokov rewrote everything he ever published, usually several times, by pencil.
  
• John Steinbeck was an obsessive pencil user and is said to have used as many as 60 a day. His novel East of Eden took more than 300 pencils to write.
  
• Vincent van Gogh used only Faber pencils as they were “superior to Carpenters pencils, a capital black and most agreeable.”
  
• Johnny Carson regularly played with pencils at his Tonight Show desk. These pencils were specially made with erasers at both ends to avoid on-set accidents.
  
• Roald Dahl used only pencils with yellow casings to write his books. He began each day with six sharpened pencils and only when all six became unusable did he resharpen them.

How to Observe National Pencil Day

• Pick up some new pencils.
• Give some pencils to a writer, student, or someone who prefers pencils over pens.
• Write something with a pencil. Then erase it and write something else.

National Pencil Day History

National Pencil Day commemorates the day Hymen Lipman received his patent for a pencil with an eraser attached. The day has been observed since the 1970s but who first launched the celebration, we've not been able to identify. 

Pencil FAQ

Q. Are pencils only made in yellow?
A. Pencil makers offer pencils in a variety of colors - including the color of the graphite!

Q. Who made the world's largest pencil?
A. In 2017, BIC (maker of disposable consumer products including pens and pencils) created the world's longest pencil. The pencil measured 3582 feet, 7.73 inches (1091.99 meters) and was made from recycled polystyrene with a graphite center.

Also

 

Doctors Day

 

I Am in Control Day

 

Take a Walk in the Park Day

 

Turkey Neck Soup Day

 

Virtual Vacation Day 

Today's Thought

The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and ...Do it. ~ Susan Jeffers

 

 21 Days until Easter

 

 

29 March

NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY  

 

National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29 honors the men and women who served and sacrificed during the longest conflict in United States history.

Vietnam War Veterans Day

On March 29, 1973, combat and combat support units withdrew from South Vietnam. Generations later, Veterans of this time period are gaining the respect that was not so freely given upon their return. Involving five U.S. presidents, crossing nearly two decades and 500,000 U.S.military personnel, it left an indelible mark on the American psyche.

Returning veterans did not always receive respectful welcomes upon their arrival on American soil. Over 58,000 killed, never to return. The observance recognizes the military service of these men and women who answered the call to serve their country when she needed them. They didn't make the decision to go to war.

Throughout National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we recognize the service and duty rendered by all servicemen and women of this era.

How to Observe Vietnam War Veterans Day

• Organizations across the country host events honoring National Vietnam War Veterans Day. These events include memorials, speeches, and luncheons honoring Vietnam veterans and their families.
• Invite a veteran you know to join you or help organize an event. 
• Thank a Vietnam Veteran.
• Buy them a drink or lunch.
• Visit a local memorial. Volunteer to help organize events. 
• Support a veteran's organization in your community. Volunteer and offer your skills.
• Watch a Vietnam War documentary. Some films we found are The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick or Last Days in Vietnam directed by Rory Kennedy or Vietnam Nurses by Timeline.
• Read about the Vietnam War. We recommend: Vietnam - A History by Stanley Karnow or They Marched into Sunlight: War and Peace, Vietnam and America, October 1967 by David Maraniss or The Quiet American by Graham Green and Robert Stone.

National Vietnam War Veterans Day History

U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., introduced legislation in 2017 to honor Vietnam Veterans with a day. They chose the anniversary of the withdrawal of military units from South Vietnam. President Donald Trump signed the National Vietnam War Veterans Day Act on March 28, 2017, calling for U.S. flags to be flown on March 29 for those who served.

Vietnam War Veterans FAQ

Q. Does every U.S. state have a Vietnam Veterans' memorial?
A. No. Currently, 13 states have war memorials specific to Vietnam veterans. However, war memorials in every state honor all veterans regardless of when they served.

Q. How many Medals of Honor were awarded to Vietnam Veterans?
A. The U.S. Congress named 240 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War.

 Also 

Lemon Chiffon Cake Day

Mom 7 Pop Business Owners Day

Nevada Day

Day of Silence

Pita Day

 Today's Thought

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. ~ Wayne Gretzky

 

 22 Days until Easter

 

28 March

NATIONAL SOMETHING ON A STICK DAY 

 

Observed each year on March 28th, National Something on a Stick Day is a food holiday that lets you use your creative talents. Once you get started, the possibilities are endless. Foods that come on a stick are fun and easy to eat.

Something On A Stick Day

There isn't much that can't be put on a stick when talking about food. Soup might be that one exception, though if it were flavorful frozen, we might make an exception.

From cool summer treats like the Popsicle to frozen food staples like the corn dog, food on a stick is one of the world's great inventions. Fresh fruit kabobs and skewers of grilled veggies and meat are both summer favorites.

Street fairs and food trucks have created a variety of recipes made to go on a stick that takes us from breakfast to after-party hunger with flavor combinations that sometimes make us wonder why we haven't tried that before!  Whether it is fresh and healthy or breaded and deep-fried, menu choices are broad and plentiful for National Something on a Stick Day.

How to Observe Something On A Stick Day

• Get inventive and create your own combination. How about grilled pear on a stick? Or perhaps meat and cheese squares or brownie and marshmallows bites? Have a creative breakfast, lunch or dinner and have fun with the day!!
• Master eating with chopsticks.
• Serve each meal on a stick. French toast for breakfast? Serve it cut up on toothpicks. Salad for lunch? Slide all the fixings on a skewer. The same goes for supper. Be creative and involve the whole family in the planning. Just don't serve soup.
• Challenge the family to create or name as many foods on a stick as possible. 
• Have you ever put family photos on a stick or created something similar to a Flat Stanley?
• Take a group photo using a selfie stick. That's right, put your phone on a stick. 
• Create a photo booth. Use fun props, many of which are on a stick.

National Something On A Stick Day History

Our research was unable to find the origin and the creator of National Something On A Stick Day.

Something on a Stick FAQ

Q. Who can celebrate this day?
A. Anyone can celebrate National Something on a Stick Day. All you need is a skewer or chopsticks and your favorite foods. Some foods already come on a stick! Corn dogs and popsicles come to mind.

Q. Does this day require cooking?
A. No. Or at least it doesn't have to. Make fruit kabobs or have an ice cream bar. Slice up some pb&j sandwiches and put them on a skewer.

 Also

Black Forest Cake Day

Triglycerides Day

Weed Appreciation Day 

Today's Thought

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  ~ William Arthur Ward

 

 23 Days until Easter

27 March

NATIONAL JOE DAY  

National Joe Day on March 27th encourages everyone to enjoy a cup of joe with all your friends named Joe, Jo, Joey, Joseph, and Josephine. While you're at it, don't forget Joette, Jody, Johanna, Jodie, or any other variant of the name Joe. If you didn't know it, you could create quite a few nicknames from this one name. 

National Joe Day

According to the Social Security Administration, Joseph ranked No. 6 from 1893 to 1899 behind John, William, James, George, and Charles. In 1910, it moved to No. 5. From 1911 to 2005, it ranked No. 12 or lower. Famous Joes, Jos, and Jo Anns, populate the world. They fill many roles, too. So their name does not define them. Just check out the variety of hats they wear!

Famous Joes:

• American football player and coach - Joe Montana 
• Politician - Jo Ann Emerson
• Comedian, musician, and actor - Joe Pesci 
• Politician and lawyer - Joe Biden 
• Musician, singer, dancer -Josephine Baker
• Theatrical producer, entrepreneur, film producer - Joseph Gordon
• American football player - Joe Namath 
• Opera singer - Dame Josephine Barstow
• Formula one endurance driver - Jo Gartner
• Politician, soldier - Joseph Stalin 
• Songwriter, musician, singer - Joey Ramone 
• Journalist - Jo Coburn
• Baseball player - Shoeless Joe Jackson
• Olympic medalist, swimmer - Josephine McKim
• American football player - Joe Green
• Actress - Jodie Foster
• Musician - Joe Jonas
• Businesswoman, politician - Jo Ann Davis
• Baseball player, actor - Joe DiMaggio
• Author - Josephine Cox
• Musician - Joe Cocker
• Boxer - Joe Frazier
• Athlete, sprinter - Joanne Cuddihy
• Baseball player - Joe Mauer
• Journalist, author - Josephine Lawrence
• Press Secretary - Jody Powell
• Musician - Joe Walsh

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL JOE DAY

• Honor all people with the name "Joe."
• For the day, change your name to a name of your choice.
• Everyone changes their name to a version of "Joe" or "Jo" of your choice.
• Read the science fiction novella Call Me Joe by Poul Anderson.
• Another way to celebrate the day is by telling stories about friends and family named Joe.

NATIONAL JOE DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues to research the origins of this day. In the meantime, you can call us Joe, and we'll call you Joe, too. It's a great way to create confusion while avoiding it. 

Joe FAQ

Q. What is "Joe" short for?
A. Well, "Joe" or "Jo" can be short for Joseph, Josephine, Jo-Ellen, Josy, Jonah, Josiah, Johannes, and Joel, just to name a few.

Q. Why is coffee called Joe?
A. No one is really sure, but there are several theories. The first one came about in a way similar to the 80s-era economic policy that came to be known as Reaganomics, and the word gerrymander came from Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry. In 1914, Joseph Daniels was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson. Secretary Joe prohibited the use of alcohol aboard ship, and the strongest brew the sailors could drink became coffee. However, since it didn't become common usage for another decade and a half, linguists point to other reasons for calling coffee "joe." For example, the island of Java was known for planting coffee. We return to the Navy for further explanation. When combining coffee and chocolate (mocha), the sailors would call the combination a jamoke and then later shortened it to joe.

Also

 

International Medical Science Liaison Day

 

Scribble Day

 

Spanish Paella Day 

 

Today's Thought

 

Do I really need to think more, or is it simply a matter of doing the work?

 

 

 24 Days until Easter