04-08

NATIONAL EMPANADA DAY 

Each year on April 8th, National Empanada Day recognizes a delicious pastry that comes in several different forms. The name empanada comes from the Galician, Portuguese and Spanish verb em pandar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread.

National Empanada Day

Empanadas are made by folding the dough or bread around a seasoned stuffing. The stuffed dough is then baked or fried. Very much like hand pies, these delicious pastries offer a variety of choices. You can make your empanadas with meat, cheese, vegetables or fruit fillings. However, they may be made with other ingredients, too.

A cookbook published in 1520 in Catalan, the Libre del Coch by Ruperto de Nola, mentions empanadas filled with seafood.

If you've never had an empanada, you might be surprised just how versatile they are. Different parts of the United States make them with their own style and flavors. Starting in the Southern and Southwestern United States where an empanada is called a Creole empanada, the dish becomes a savory meal. There, they fill the half-circle flaky crust with seasoned pork, beef or chicken, and cheese.

Head to the Southeastern part of the country and empanadas transform. A little more on the sweeter side, they fill these pastries with fresh or reconstituted dry fruit. Some choices include apples, apricots, peaches or sweet potatoes. Once fried, the pies have a crispy outer shell with piping hot fruit inside. 

Further west in New Mexico, making empanadas for Christmas is a winter tradition. They make sweetmeats, similar to mincemeat, using ground pork, sugar, pinon nuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Everything is then sealed in a tortilla-like dough and deep-fried in lard.

How to Observe National Empanada Day

• Make your favorite version of empanadas. You can choose from a variety of fillings and make one for everyone in the family. Have everyone try their hand at making the dough and filling them. 
• Share your favorite empanada recipes.
• If you're doubting your dough-making skills, try frozen or canned dough. While you're cooking, be sure to share your recipes, too! Empanada recipes 

National Empanada Day History

National Day Calendar continues researching this delicious food celebration. 

Empanada FAQ

Q. Are empanadas and handpies the same thing?
A. They are similar in that they are pie-like pastries that contain fillings and fit in the hand.

Q. Can I use an egg wash on empanadas?
A. Yes. And egg wash will give the empanada a crispy crust.

 

 Also

All is Ours Day

Zoo Lovers Day

 

Today's Thought

Does my time allocation match my priorities in life?

 

 12 Days until Easter

 

 

04-07

NATIONAL BEER DAY 

National Beer Day on April 7th annually, recognizes the world's most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Following water and tea, it is the third most popular drink overall.

National Beer Day

One of the world’s oldest prepared beverages, beer possibly dates back to 9500 BC when cereal was first farmed. It is also recorded in the written history of ancient Iraq and ancient Egypt.  Perhaps there’s a porter or a Belgian in your glass. Whether yours is fermented or not, dark or pale, hoppy, bitter, smooth, raise your mug. Lift it high among friends around the world, thanking those who work brewing delicious beer in your local area. And besides, beer lovers have more selection than ever before. The craft beer industry continues to challenge the classics, providing a wide variety of choices. Thanks to these opportunities, new beer drinkers are joining the club every day. 

How to Observe National Beer Day

• Grab a beer and spend some time with friends.
• (Remember always to drink responsibly and never drink and drive.)
• Celebrate with a pint of pale ale, lager, stout, wheat beer or pale ale. 

National Beer Day History

On April 7, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt took the first step toward ending Prohibition and signed a law that allowed people to brew and sell beer, in the United States, as long as it remained below 4.0% alcohol by volume (ABV). Beer drinkers celebrated and were happy to be able to purchase beer again for the first time in thirteen years. The celebration by beer drinkers was dubbed National Beer Day.

Our research found the National Beer Day showing up in 2009 on social media after Justin Smith, a Richmond, Virginia Craft Beer Examiner, and his friend Mike Connolly from Liverpool, England created a Facebook page celebrating National Beer Day. The date corresponded with the date the Cullen-Harrison Act was signed into law and became active. On their National Beer Day Facebook page, the duo invited friends to join, and word spread to many sources.

Beer FAQ

Q. What are the different types of beers?
A. Many types and styles of beer are on the market. Two prominent styles of beer are lagers and ales. They are further broken down by pale, dark, stouts, pilsners, and other types of beer.

Q. Do light beers contain less alcohol?
A. Most light beers contain less alcohol than regular beer. 

 

Also

Coffee Cake Day

IEP Writing Day

Girl Me Too Day

No Housework Day

 

Today's Thought

Courage is very important.  Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use. ~ Ruth Gordon

 

   13 Days until Easter

 

 

 

 

04-06

NATIONAL CARAMEL POPCORN DAY 

Each year on April 6th, National Caramel Popcorn Day conjures up memories of fairs, sporting events, and fun snacking.

Caramel Popcorn Day

In January, we celebrated National Popcorn Day. Now, we add delicious caramel popcorn to the calendar, one of America's favorite snacks. For many people, this chewy or crunchy caramel popcorn treat is an all-time favorite. 

Combining popcorn and molasses began in the early 1800s. However, caramel was prevalent as well, and with the production of Cracker Jack, the popularity was ever-increasing. Invented by Frederick Rueckheim, the popcorn merchant dabbled with creating a new snack. An immigrant from Germany to Chicago, he enlisted his brother, Louis, to help. After adding molasses and nuts, their snack was ready for an introduction to the masses. 

Like many famous foods, Cracker Jack gained popularity on the stage at the 1893 World's Fair. Other foods to grab the public's attention at similar expositions include cotton candy and the ice cream cone. While they weren't invented there, nor did they make their debut, they sure did capture the imagination and make a lasting impression there.

However, in 1908, something happened to connect Cracker Jack and baseball permanently in the American psyche, while also launching the business into high gear. A young entertainer by the name of Jack Norworth penned a catchy tune referencing Cracker Jack and the American pastime. The song "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" not only caused sales of the snack food to soar but the fans of the game continue to sing the song at every game.

There are many commercial brands and forms of caramel corn available in grocery stores, cinemas, and convenience stores.  There are also specialty brands available in stores, gift catalogs, and online.

How to Observe Caramel Popcorn Day

• Enjoy your favorite kind of caramel popcorn.
• If you're making some, don't forget to make extra for others, too. The bigger the batch, the better.
• We even have a recipe for you to try. Caramel Sauce
• Stop by your favorite treat shop and pick up some caramel corn. While you're there, give them a shout-out, too. It's a great way to support small businesses.
• Another fun way to celebrate is by singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" and watching one on TV. Tune into an old game until the season starts up again.

Caramel Popcorn Day History

National Day Calendar continues to research the origins of this tasty snack food holiday. 

Caramel Popcorn FAQ

Q. Which kind of popcorn is best for making caramel popcorn?
A. There are two basic kinds of popcorn kernels. One is the butterfly and the other is a mushroom. The butterfly popcorn pops up light and fluffy with little wings. The mushroom popcorn pops into a sturdy, fluffy, and mounded top. While either type of popcorn will make delicious caramel corn, the mushroom kernels hold up better to the weight of the sweet and gooey caramel.

Q. Can anyone make caramel popcorn at home?
A. Making caramel popcorn at home doesn't require any special tools. Most people have what's required on hand, so just about anyone can make caramel popcorn at home. Adult supervision is required when children are helping. Be sure to protect them from the hot sugar as you make the caramel.

Also

Employee Benefits Day

Geologist Day

Carbonara Day

New Beer's Day

Sorry Charlie Day

Student-Athlete Day

Tartan Day

Teflon Day

Today's Thought

It is not that we have too little time to do all the things we need to do, it is that we feel the need to do too many things in the time we have. ~ Gary Keller

 

 14 Days until Easter

 

 

 

 

04-05

FIRST CONTACT DAY  

First Contact Day on April 5th commemorates a fictional date in the future when an alien species visits Earth and makes contact with Earthlings for the first time.

First Contact Day

While the fictional date of 2063 is less than half a generation away, mere humans contemplate the possibilities the further we explore space. Not only do the modern explorers keep our interests piqued, but the science fiction genre continues to pour out stories that thrill and excite us.

One of science fiction's common themes depicts the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrials. Conspiracy theories surround Area 51, but a popular one speculates that first contact was made there. UFOs often stir up theories about the first contact, too. The earliest documented sighting of a UFO took place in 1639 and was recorded by the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop.

While celebrating the first contact could mean many things, this celebration focuses on one kind - the Vulcan/humankind meeting. That's right. It's a "final frontier" kind of celebration.

How to Observe First Contact Day

• Brush up on your Star Trek history before you board the U.S.S. Enterprise. Actually, you'll need to study a little more recent history of sorts.
• In any case, here are some ideas for your celebration. Attend a first contact re-enactment party Practice your Vulcan greeting. (I can do this one.) Watch the film Star Trek: First Contact, Visit Bozeman, Montana Share your first contact stories Participate in online celebrations Play the song "A Magic Carpet Ride" Download and print the day's coloring page. 

First Contact Day History

In 1996, Star Trek: First Contact was released in theaters across the nation. Starfleet and crew travel through time and encounter the historical figure, Dr. Zefram Cochrane. His spacecraft, the Phoenix, launches and becomes the first in human history to reach warp drive. Moments after the launch, Vulcans appear at the base near Boseman, Montana.

The date is April 5, 2063, and First Contact Day honors the achievements of Dr. Cochrane and the historic first interactions between humans and Vulcans. Present-day sci-fi fans celebrate the event as well.

First Contact FAQ

Q. Who starred in Star Trek: First Contact?
A. Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Alfre Woodard, Levar Burton, Brent Spiner, and Gates McFadden are just a few of the actors who starred in Star Trek: First Contact.

Q. Are there other movies that depict a first contact scenario?
A. Hollywood has long been fertile ground for sci-fi imaginings, including travelers from another world making first contact with humans. Some of those films include:

• (1953) The War of the Worlds directed by Byron Haskin and starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson.
• (1977) Close Encounters of the Third Kind directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Francois Truffaut, and Terri Garr.
• (1982) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, and C. Thomas Howell.
• (1997) Contact directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, and James Woods

**me: Close Encounters is my favorite sci-fi movie of all time.  I've watched it so many times that I can repeat some of the script by heart.  I totally agree with Roy...I'd stand in line to discover what/who is out there.  The ultimate adventure! **

Also

Caramel Day

Deep Dish Pizza Day

Flash Drive Day

Go for Broke Day

Gold Star Spouses Day

Nebraska Day

Raisin & Spice Bar Day

Read a Road Map Day

Play Outside Day

Handmade Day

Love Our Children Day 

Today's Thought

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. ~ John F. Kennedy

 

 15 Days until Easter

 

 

 

 

04 April

 NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARIAN DAY  

On April 4th each year, National School Librarian Day recognizes the professionals who keep the school library in working order. School librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized. They are also dedicated to helping our children find the resources they need to keep learning. School librarians are the people who create an environment where students can learn every day of the year. Their work is an impressive accomplishment.

National School Librarian Day

The school librarians provide guidance and expose our youth not only to texts, print media, and literature but to digital resources and technology, too. These resources also connect them to libraries around the world. A school librarian's ability to manage scores of media and a school full of students with numerous projects and schedules astounds us.  

How to Observe National School Librarian Day

• Remember the school librarian on this day. Take a little gift or a card and tell them “Thank You!"
• We've created a postcard just for the occasion. Download and print it on cardstock. Make sure your printer settings are set to print on both sides of the paper. The cards are 5.5 x 4.25 inches. Then color and mail the postcard to your librarian and let them know how much you appreciate them.
• Share your experiences as a school librarian.
• Learn more about the history of libraries and those who work in them.

National National School Librarian Day History

National Day Calendar continues to research the origins of this school holiday. However, librarians and school librarians have been celebrated for decades. School districts or individual schools often launched celebrations recognizing their librarians. These celebrations took place at different times throughout the school year. It wasn't until more recent decades that the practice took place during Library Week or other reading-related celebrations. 

Librarian FAQ

Q. Besides school libraries, where do librarians work?
A. Librarians work in many types of libraries. Some of them include:

• Public libraries
• Government libraries
• Law libraries
• Academic libraries
• Military libraries
• Museum libraries

Q. Where is the world's largest library?
A. The world's largest library is the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Q. Who was the first Librarian of Congress?
A. John Beckley served as the first Librarian of Congress from 1802-1807. President Thomas Jefferson appointed Beckley to the position.

Also

World Corporate Health Day

Chicken Cordon Bleu Day

Hug a Newsperson Day

Jeep 4x4 Day

Vitamin C Day

World Party Day

 

Today's Thought

Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.

 

 16 Days until Easter

 

03 April

NATIONAL FIND A RAINBOW DAY 

Each year on April 3rd, National Find a Rainbow Day challenges us to look to the sky and find a colorful ray of hope cast across it. 

Find A Rainbow Day

There are people that see rainbows as an artistic masterpiece in the sky, to others it is a sign of hope and to many a sign of promise.
It can be all three; beauty, hope and promise.    (Jill Magnus) 

A spectrum of light in the form of a multicolored arc, appearing in the sky, is caused by both reflection and refraction of light in water droplets in the Earth’s atmosphere. These rainbows always appear directly opposite of the sun. The light is refracted (bent) when it enters a droplet of water, then is reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it.

Red is the color that is visible on the outer part of arainbow and violet on the inside of a primary rainbow. Children learn in science class the mnemonic ROYGBIV to help them to remember the sequence of colors in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Many forms of airborne water can causerainbows including, rain, mist, spray, and dew.  

How to Observe Find A Rainbow Day

• Find yourself a rainbow or use the garden hose or a prism to make one yourself.
• Families, students, and classrooms, create a rainbow from the colorful hearts on this printable. There's at least one for every color in the rainbow. Take out your color crayons and finish what we've started.
• Then cut them out and put them in a cheerful, sunny window to brighten the day of someone passing by. 
• Create a rainbow as part of a science project.
  

National Find A Rainbow Day History

National Day Calendar continues to research the origins of this bright and colorful holiday.

Rainbow FAQ

Q. When is the best time to look for a rainbow?
A. Rainbows often appear after it rains and the clouds have cleared. The sun casts its rays through the remaining moisture in the air. The water in the air bends the light into its colors. You can also find a rainbow near the ground where dew had formed or water from a sprinkler. Use a prism to cast a rainbow on a wall.

Q. How can I see an entire rainbow?
A. You need to get up into the sky to see the full circle of a rainbow. If you're on an airplane when it's raining, you might get to see the entire circle.

Q. Does saltwater refract light differently than freshwater?
A. Yes. Saltwater is denser than freshwater so it will form rainbows with a smaller radius.

 

Also

Burrito Day

Chocolate Mousse Day

Film Score Day

Tweed Day

World Party Day

 

Today's Thought 

It only counts as personal growth if you don't want to do it.

 

 

 17 Days until Easter

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