14 February

VALENTINE'S DAY  

Valentine’s Day began as St. Valentine’s Day, a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. February 14th first became associated with romantic love during the High Middle Ages as the tradition of courtly love was then flourishing. During 18th century England, this day evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending Valentine cards. 

Ancient History

Mixed opinions prevail regarding who or what was celebrated in mid-February. Some point to martyred saints by the name of Valentine or Valentinus. The most popular story tells of the saint who defied a decree by Emperor Claudius II who outlawed marriage for young men because he believed single men made better soldiers. St. Valentine, preferring young lovers to be wed than have them sneaking around (or believing in the power of love), would marry them in secret. However, it may have been another Valentine who performed the marriages. Either way, at least two of them were beheaded for their actions.

Another possible origin for Valentine's Day takes us back to a pagan festival called Lupercalia. As a way to discourage participation in the fertility festival, the Christian church placed St. Valentine's Day in the middle of February.

Modern Celebrations

Since the Renaissance, we've been exchanging Valentine's cards. These handmade missives of romance grew into a more commercial venture by the Victorian era. Today, school children exchange Valentine's greetings, too. They prepare for the day by making unique boxes to receive their many hearts, cupids, and pun-filled rhymes. 

Chocolates and candy have also become a part of the celebration. While couples tend to be the focus of the day, singles celebrate being single, too. Friends take each other out or reject the overall notion of Valentine's Day. Dinner and a movie, candlelight, and flowers also fit the bill for couples. It's one of the busiest days of the year for florists. 

How to Observe Valentine's Day

• You can surprise your special someone with flowers, chocolate or a card.
  
• Bring a smile to their face with an original poem or homemade meal.

Valentine's Day History

Credit is traditionally given to Pope Gelasius for declaring February 14th as Saint Valentine's Day around the year 496 to separate the church from the Roman celebration of Lupercalia, an ancient pagan fertility festival that occurred on February 15th.  

Valentine's FAQ

Q. Do you have to be in a relationship to celebrate Valentine's Day?
A. No. Anyone can celebrate Valentine's Day. Shower yourself with love and attention by pampering yourself if you are single. You can also spend the day with friends and celebrate your friendship.

Q. Is Valentine's Day banned in some countries?
A. Yes. In some countries, Valentine's Day is deemed to be pagan or not a part of the country's cultural identity.

Q. Do I need to spend a lot of money on Valentine's Day?
A. No. For many, it's the thought that goes into the celebration that says, "I love you." Some inexpensive, but thoughtful gifts, include:

• Poem or hand-made card
• Scavenger hunt
• Breakfast in bed
• A picnic
• Movie night
• Scenic drive
• Dancing in the living room

Also

Cream-Filled Chocolates Day

Ferris Wheel Day

Organ Donor Day

 

Today's Thought

Love is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction. ~  Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

 

34 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain

 

 

 

 

13 February

 NATIONAL GIVING HEARTS DAY 

Big hearts give big on National Giving Hearts Day! On the second Thursday in February each year, the celebration offers one of the best opportunities to donate to your favorite charity. Not only that, this is the longest-running giving day in the United States. So many hearts and so much to give!

Giving Hearts Day

In a single 24 hour period, more funds are raised for charities throughout the upper Midwest. Organizations like soup kitchens, medical foundations, STEM programs, arts programs, and so many more raise money to advance their missions. And the money goes directly to the charities YOU love the most. Plus, you can give to as many charities as you want. Give to one, or give to several.

• In 2025, Giving Hearts Day celebrates its 18th year.
• More than 34,700 people donated in 2020.
• Since 2008, tens of thousands of generous donors have given more than $90 million.
• In 2020, more than $19 million was donated.
• The average donor gave to 2.2 charities in 2020.

Whether you're a donor or a charity, get involved. Rally your organization and provide support to your favorite charity. And it doesn't matter where you are on the planet. You can still give.

 

 Also

Cheddar Day

Galentine's Day

Tortellini Day

 

Today's Thought

If it is important to you, you will find a way.  If not, you'll find an excuse

 

 

35 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain

 

12 February

 LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY 

Lincoln's Birthday is a legal, public holiday in some U.S. states, observed on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville (Hodgensville, Hodgen's Mill), Kentucky. Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, California, Missouri, and New York observe the holiday.  

In Illinois, this was always a school holiday for us.

In many other states, Lincoln's birthday is not celebrated separately, as a stand-alone holiday. Instead, Lincoln's birthday is combined with a celebration of President George Washington's birthday (also in February) and celebrated either along with the Federal holiday of Washington's Birthday or as Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February.

The earliest known observance of Lincoln's birthday occurred in Buffalo, New York, in either 1873 or 1874. Julius Francis (d. 1881), a Buffalo druggist, made it his life's mission to honor the slain president. He repeatedly petitioned Congress to establish Lincoln's birthday as a legal holiday.

The day is marked by traditional wreath-laying ceremonies at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville, Kentucky, and at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.  The latter has been the site of a ceremony ever since the Memorial was dedicated. Since that event in 1922, observances continue to be organized by the Lincoln Birthday National Commemorative Committee and by the Military Order of  the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). A wreath is laid on behalf of the President of the United States, a custom also carried out at the grave sites of all deceased U.S. presidents on their birthdays.  Lincoln's tomb is in Springfield, Illinois.

On February 12, 2009, the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial commemorated Lincoln's 200th birthday in grand fashion. An extended ceremony, organized by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC) and with help from MOLLUS, featured musical performances from four-time Grammy-nominated singer Michael Feinstein and the U.S. Marine Corps Band. The morning celebration also featured remarks by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin; Lincoln scholar and ALBC Co-chair Harold Holzer; recently retired Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice – and ALBC Commissioner – Frank J. Williams; and author Nikki Giovanni reciting her newest work, which was written especially for the Bicentennial.

Menu from Lincoln's Birthday celebration held by the Republican Club of the City of New York in 1887. Many Republican Party organizations hold Lincoln's Birthday celebrations because Lincoln was the first Republican president.

As part of Lincoln's birthday bicentennial, the U.S. Mint released four new Lincoln cents. The commemorative coins have new designs on the reverse showing stages of his life. The first went into circulation on September 12, 2009. The standard portrait of Lincoln's head remains on the front. The new designs include a log cabin representing his birthplace, Lincoln as a young man reading while sitting on a log that he was taking a break from splitting, Lincoln as a state legislator in front of the Illinois Capitol,  and the partially built dome of the U.S. Capitol. 

New Jersey started observing the holiday on May 23, 2008, with the enactment of the Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.

Also

Plum Pudding Day

 

 Today's Thought

The best way to predict your future is to create it. ~ Abraham Lincoln -16th President 

 

36 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain

11 February

 NATIONAL MAKE A FRIEND DAY 

Always observed on February 11th, National Make A Friend Day is a fantastic opportunity to meet someone new and make a new friendship. Friends serve a vital role in everyone’s lives. They are one of life’s most valuable assets.

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light" ~ Helen Keller

New friends can broaden our horizons by helping us to see new perspectives, challenging us to try something different, or connecting us to opportunities. Meeting new people can help sharpen our social skills and keep us from becoming lonely.

"Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer" ~ Ed Cunningham

While friends often share common backgrounds or experiences, they certainly don't have to have everything in common.  One of the simplest ways to make new friends is to explore your interests by taking a class or joining a club.

How to Observe National Make a Friend Day

• Make a friend at work, school, in the community, or just about anywhere. Introduce one friend to another. Give a shout-out to a friend who makes your life better. Invite someone you'd like to know better out for coffee or tea. Share your tips on how to make friends. 

National Make a Friend Day History

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this friendly day, making new friends along the way.

Make A Friend FAQ

Q. What are some good ways to make new friends?
A. There are many different ways to make friends. Try these ideas:

• Sign up for a class. You'll meet people who have the same interests as you do.
• Volunteer. This is a great way to give back to your community and meet others who are doing the same.
• Say hello. It may be to someone new at work or school or a stranger in the store.
• Host a party. Ask your friends to bring people you've never met.
• Introduce yourself to a neighbor. Many of us don't know our neighbors well, but they sometimes turn out to be the best of friends.

Q. Do friends have to have common interests?
A. No. Friends can have many different interests. Sometimes their interests are completely different from yours. It's more about enjoying each other's company.

Also

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

Safer Internet Day U.S.

Inventors' Day

Peppermint Patty Day

Shut-In Visitation Day

White Shirt/T-Shirt Day

Today's Thought

Raise Your Standards

 

37 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain

 

 

 

10 February

 

NATIONAL UMBRELLA DAY  

National Umbrella Day casts a little shade on February 10th. The day honors one of the world's most useful inventions, the umbrella!

Not only does the umbrella help keep us dry from the rain, but it also protects us from the heat of the sun. You can also use an umbrella as a fashion accessory. While the umbrella is primarily practical, they also decorate cocktails. These brightly colored paper umbrellas make fun party favors, especially when visiting sunny locations. 

Umbrellas have also found their way into the art world. Their color and shape make sharp silhouettes. They also serve as the canvas for art. In movies, umbrellas play a role, too. For example, they played vital parts in Singing in the Rain in 1952 and Mary Poppins in 1964. 

Interesting Umbrella TidBits:

The word umbrella comes from the Latin word umbra, meaning shade or shadow. Brolly is a slang word for umbrella, often used in Britain, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Bumbershoot is a fanciful Americanism for an umbrella from the late 19th century.

The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. There is evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China.

We can credit the Chinese for being the first to protect us from the rain. Their paper parasols received a layer of wax followed by lacquer that made the umbrella withstand the elements. 

One of the first umbrella shops opened in 1830 at 53 New Oxford Street in London, England. The shop, operated by James Smith and Sons, still operates regular hours at the same location today. 

In 1928, Hans Haupt's pocket umbrellas appeared. Then, in 1969, Bradford E. Phillips, the owner of Totes Incorporated of Loveland, Ohio, obtained a patent for the first "working folding umbrella."

Umbrellas have also been fashioned into hats as early as 1880 and as recently as 1987.

Photographers use umbrellas with a reflective inside as a diffusion device when employing artificial lighting and as a glare shield and shade, most often in portrait situations.

How to Observe National Umbrella Day

• Spring for a new umbrella and prepare for rainy days ahead.
• Use an umbrella on a sunny day.
• Have an umbrella photoshoot modeling your favorite rain gear and umbrella.
• Order a drink that comes with a paper umbrella.
• Watch movies with iconic umbrella scenes such as Singing in the Rain and Mary Poppins.

National Umbrella Day History

While the origins of the utilitarian holiday remain a mystery, the world has been celebrating it since at least 2004. However, another celebration on the calendar promotes opening umbrellas indoors. The entire month of March recognizes the umbrella, too!

Umbrella FAQ

Q. Is it bad luck to open an umbrella indoors?
A. There is a superstition surrounding the act of opening an umbrella indoors. Whether it's true or not may depend on many variables. However, opening an umbrella indoors can be awkward, especially if it's a tight space or crowded.

Q. Can umbrellas be used in any weather?
A. While we use umbrellas in the rain or sunshine, the wind tends to be the umbrella's nemesis. Windy days turn umbrellas inside out and can make them ineffective at keeping out the rain.

Q. Can anyone celebrate National Umbrella Day?
A. Yes. Even if you don't need an umbrella to protect you against the elements, you can celebrate the umbrella in other ways.

 

Also

Cream Cheese Brownie Day 

Clean Out Your Computer Day

Home Warranty Day 

Football Hangover Day

 

Today's Thought

Actions is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso 

 

 

38 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain

 

09 February

 NATIONAL PIZZA DAY    (fitting for Super Bowl Sunday)

National Pizza Day on February 9th celebrates one of America's all-time favorite foods. Whether it is thin crust, Chicago-style, deep dish, or anything in between, pizza is an American favorite.

_{We love our pizzas, and they come in so many varieties, too. As we nosh on our favorite, explore a few pizza facts:}

• Pepperoni is the most popular pizza at 36% of all pies ordered.
• Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the USA each year.  Add another 1 billion on frozen pizzas
• In the United States, 17% of all restaurants are pizzerias.
•  Antica Pizzeria, the first Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.
• Gennaro Lombardi, the first Pizzeria in the United States, opened in 1895 in New York City.
• Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person each year. 

How to Observe National Pizza Day

• Eat your favorite pizza.
• Visit a local pizzeria and give them a shout-out for their fantastic pies!
• Make your own pizza at home.
• Post on social media your favorite recipes.
• Experiment with toppings, crusts and sauces.
• Watch movies like Mystic Pizza or Little Italy.
• Throw a pizza party and give this recipe a try: Peanut Butter BBQ Chicken Pizza 

National Pizza Day History

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this ever-popular food holiday. However, the mystery remains. One thing we do know is how to eat pizza. Do you?

Pizza FAQ

Q. Are all pizzas round?
A. No. Pizzas are also made into rectangles and squares.

Q. Do thing crusts have leavening agents in them?
A. Most thin crust pizza recipes call for some sort of leaving agent such as yeast or baking soda. There are recipes, however, that call for no leavening agent.

Q. Which is better, thin or thick crust?
A. It depends on a variety of factors and personal choice. Different toppings fair better on one type of crust versus another. Some sauces require a thicker, more durable crust.

Other Pizza Days:

Pepperoni Pizza Day - September 20

National Deep Dish Pizza Day - April 5 

National Pizza Party Day - Third Friday in May 

Also 

Bagel & Lox Day

Pork Rind Day

Toothache Day

Cut the Cord Day

 

Today's Thought

Take criticism seriously, but not personally.  If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it.  Otherwise, let it roll right off you. ~ Hillary Clinton 

 

39 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain

 

 

08 February

NATIONAL KITE FLYING DAY  

 

Observed annually on February 8th, National Kite Flying Day encourages exploring kite flying and making. Enthusiasts across the country mark the day by launching their kites or making plans to attend festivals.

National Kite Flying Day

Kites date back to China in 470 B.C. China is full of lore and histories of the origins of the kite. Many are related to the way wind affects the leaves on the trees, the shelters they lived in, blowing away the sails on their ships, and the hats they wore upon their heads. The stories also tell of kites invented to spy on their enemies or to send messages.

Evidence also shows the people of the South Sea Islands were using kites for fishing around the same time as the people of China.

Early kites were constructed from bamboo or sturdy reeds for framing. Leaves, silk, or paper made ideal sails. Vines or braided fibers completed the line or tether. While people initially used kites as tools, they also used them for ceremonial reasons as well. Whether they sent messages into the heavens or to lift offerings up to the gods, kites had a symbolic place in the culture.

Today kites are popular both as hobbies and for outdoor fun. They range from a simple diamond kite to more complicated box kites and giant sled kites. Stunt kites, also known as sport kites, are designed so the operator can maneuver the kite into dips, twists, and dives with dramatic effect.

Tips for Getting Your Kite Up in the Air and Keeping it There

• Be sure the kite is assembled correctly.
• Check the wind.  Some kites require more wind and others less. Picking the right day for your kite is key.  A light breeze (5-20 mph) is generally optimal.
• Be safe. Don't fly a kite near power lines, trees, or other sky-high obstacles. Wide-open spaces are best.
• Be safer. Don't fly in the rain.
• When launching the kite, be sure to have your back to the wind.  If the wind is light, have a friend hold the kite downwind and hold your line taught, reeling in slowly until the kite launches.
• Don't let the line out too quickly.  Let the line out at the same pace the kite is gaining altitude.

How to Observe National Kite Flying Day

• Fly a kite.
• Make a kite.
• Scout out kite festivals to attend in the months to come.
• Host a kite flying lesson.
• Learn about the science behind kite flying.

National Kite Flying Day History

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this high-flying holiday.

Kite FAQ

Q. What is the world's largest kite?
A. According to Guinness World Records, Abdulrahman Al Farsi and Faris Al Farsi flew the world's largest kite on February 15, 2005. Measuring 25.475 meters (83 feet 7 inches) long and 40 meters (131 feet 3 inches) wide, the kite flew at the Kuwait Hala Festival in Kuwait City.

Q. Is kite flying a sport?
A. Flying kites is quite competitive. Kite design and the altitude a kite achieves are both measures for competition. Additionally, flying kites can be a physically demanding event.

Q. What are the largest kite festivals?
A. In North America, Washington State International Kite Festival hosts the largest gathering of kites each year.

 

Also

Boy Scouts Day

Iowa Day

Global Movie Day

International Snowmobile Ride Day

 

Today's Thought 

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. ~ Henry Ford

 

40 Days Until Spring

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain