24 March

NATIONAL COCKTAIL DAY  

 

Celebrate all your favorite cocktails on March 24th. National Cocktail Day ushers in all the best ways to savor a beverage at the end of a long workday. Whether you like a fruity drink, blended or on the rocks, this day is for you. Mocktail, virgin, or the real thing, celebrate the lemon, lime, bitters, liquors, and liqueurs that make your favorite beverages the best in your bartender book.

National Cocktail Day

It's probably no surprise that nearly every month on the calendar celebrates a cocktail. The only exception is April, and since it's National Alcohol Awareness Month, it makes sense to take that month off. 

A cocktail contains a spirit or a mix of spirits. While a beer is not considered a cocktail, there are beer cocktails where beer is added to a distilled ingredient. The same applies to wine.

The other months pay homage to histories, ingredients, and the makers of some legendary cocktails. January begins the year dedicating a day to the Bloody Mary, and there's also a day for her Canadian counterpart, the Bloody Caesar, in May. January also devotes an entire week to Mocktails. In February, you can celebrate the Margarita and Kahlua. March brings us International Whisk(e)y Day, among others. Skipping back to May, you can imbibe in both Palomas and Mimosas for your celebrations.

June & July

June and July compete for the most cocktail-related days. From Martinis and Bourbon in June to Pina Coladas and Daiquiris in July, the two months cover the spectrum. There are even a few bottles of wine in between. Not only do they celebrate specific cocktails but they also celebrate the places we enjoy them. National Dive Bar Day in July invites us to celebrate the places that serve our favorite cocktails, even if it's an ice-cold beer.

The rest of the year covers all our chilled and heated cocktails. By December, we readily reminisce National Repeal Day and the Bartenders who keep that era and the skills alive.

We have only skimmed the surface of the cocktails celebrated on the calendar, so National Cocktail Day allows you to celebrate whichever one you like!

How to Observe National Cocktail Day

• Create your favorite cocktail to celebrate.
• Explore cocktail ingredients or read a bartender's manual.
• Learn the finer elements of mixing cocktails and expand your home bar.
• Visit a speakeasy or take a tour of your favorite distillery.
• Host a cocktail tasting session. Create a classic menu with a professional bartender who provides history and describes the nuances behind the ingredients.
• Attend a cocktail tasting party. You will learn more about how and why ingredients are combined the way they are.
• Visit your local bookstore and pick up a cocktail or bar book. Follow the recipes and read about the histories these bartenders share. We recommend The Essential Bar Book by Jennifer Fielder, The Art and Science of The Perfect Cocktail by Janice Dreese, and Craft Cocktails at Home: Offbeat Techniques, Contemporary Crowd-Pleasers, and Classics Hacked with Science by Kevin Liu.
• Visit your local bar and pick your bartender's brain. Some like to share their techniques. Ask them what their favorite cocktail is. And, be sure to tip them well for their advice and service.
• Try making a mocktail. Especially on those weeknights when work is busy, and you need to keep up. Many of them infuse nutrients many of us are lacking. Keep these recipes on hand for your friends who are designated drivers, sober for life, supporting a friend, or for any reason.
• As always, ANY TIME we are indulging in spirits and alcohol, DON'T drink and drive. Designate a sober driver. Call a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or friend.

National Cocktail Day History

Jace Shoemaker Galloway founded National Cocktail Day in 2013

Cocktail FAQ

Q. What is the most popular spirit used in cocktails?
A. Vodka is most commonly used as a base spirit for cocktails. It's a versatile alcohol, and makers infuse it with many different flavors adding to its appeal. It also pairs well with simple or complex ingredients.

Q. What kinds of tools do I need to make great cocktails?
A. The ingredients are the most important tool in your bar collection. However, some of the most essential tools for making cocktails include a shaker, strainer, corkscrew, and muddler. Other tools that make your mixing easier include ice tongs, spoons, pourers, and straws.

Also

Cheesesteak Day

Chocolate Covered Raisin Day

 

Today's Thought

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill.  Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.  ~ Samuel Johnson

 

 27 Days until Easter

 

 

 

 

23 March

NATIONAL PUPPY DAY  

 

Observed each year on March 23rd, National Puppy Day celebrates the unconditional love and affection puppies bring to our lives. Their cuddles and wiggles make us smile and without a doubt, there are squeals of delight when there are puppies around!

National Puppy Day

The day also brings awareness to the need for care of and homes for orphaned pups as well as to educate people about the horrors of puppy mills across the country. Puppies are a big responsibility. Be sure to consider everything involved and adopt from a shelter. The puppies there need love and a home just as much as any other and they grow into loyal pets, too!

According to the ASPCA, approximately 3.3 million dogs enter shelters every year. Some of these dogs come with litters of puppies. If you're seeking a puppy to start your furry family, check the shelters first. When these abandoned and abused animals find their way to a shelter, each one needs a forever home and their potential is limitless.

How to Observe National Puppy Day

• Go to the dog park and let your puppy play.
• Pick up a special treat for your puppy.
• Go for a walk with your young friend.

National Puppy Day History

National Puppy Day was founded in 2006 by Pet Lifestyle Expert, Animal Behaviorist and Author, Colleen Paige.  Paige is also the founder of National Dog Day and National Cat Day.

Puppy FAQ

Q. When do puppies become adults?
A. Puppies attain adulthood at various ages depending on the breed and size of the animal. However, they typically become adult dogs between their first and second birthday.

Q. Which is easier to train, puppies or adult dogs?
A. Both puppies and adult dogs can be successfully trained. However, puppies haven't developed any bad habits yet, so training a puppy is often easier than training an adult animal.

Q. Do I have to have a puppy to celebrate National Puppy Day?
A. No. Anyone who is a dog lover can celebrate the day.

 

Also

Chia Day

Chip & Dip Day

Melba Toast Day

Near Miss Day

Tamale Day

 

Today's Thought

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. ~ Steve Jobs

 

 28 Days until Easter

 

 

22 March

NATIONAL GOOF OFF DAY 

National Goof Off Day on March 22nd each year gives everyone the opportunity to have a little extra fun. The day is also known as International Goof Off Day.

National Goof Off Day

It is a day to relax, enjoy and goof off. Do something fun and leave the work until tomorrow. Everybody needs to take a break from time to time. It is often so easy to get so involved in the work and pressures in our lives. So stop, take a break, find something different! 

Let any goofy idea pop into your head. Make paper airplanes from seed packets. Doodle pictures of poodles in puddles in Peru. Play a game of Jenga with randomly stacked spice jars. Or do the obvious and spend the day in your pajamas doing nothing.

How to Observe National Goof Off Day

• Catch up on some sleep or read a good book.
• You might also watch a good movie or even play a board game.
• Maybe even get caught goofing off with some of your friends.
• Strictly speaking, goofing off is the avoidance of work. So whatever you do, try not to look like you are working.

National Goof Off Day History

Monica (Moeller) Dufour of Davidson, MI founded National Goof Off Day. According to official records, the first celebration took place in 1976. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press in 1983, Moeller suggests the first event may have been a few years later. Whenever the inaugural day took place, it was no surprise National Goof Off Day was created by a kid who likes to do things out of the ordinary.

Goof Off FAQ

Q. Is it okay to goof off at work?
A. Everybody needs to have a little fun. Don't ignore a deadline or waste your employer's time. However, there are ways to make work fun and a little goofing can help.

Q. Can anyone celebrate the day?
A. Yes. Everyone can benefit from a little goofiness.

Q. What's the opposite of being goofy?
A. Being serious is the opposite of goofy.

 

Also

 

Bavarian Crepes Day

 

World Water Day

 

West Virginia Day

 

Today's Thought

 

Today's Thought

 

Your problems isn't the problem.  Your reaction is the problem.

 

 29 Days until Easter

21 March

NATIONAL COMMON COURTESY DAY   

Common Courtesy does not grow there either.             

National Common Courtesy Day on March 21st serves as a reminder of the behavior that keeps society from melting into a sea of madness. In addition, the day brings awareness to how crucial common courtesy is in our lives and provides examples to help us improve.

Common Courtesy Day

In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, courtesy is  described as a: behavior marked by polished manners or respect for others: courteous behavior b: a courteous and respectful act or expression.

Common courtesy can be as simple as saying "please" and "thank you" when asking for and receiving a service, gift, or assistance. Kindness and courtesy go a long way and are noticed by others even if you do not realize it. Letting someone in front of you in traffic is easy. Hold open a door for someone or give a person a hand with his groceries. Give up your seat on the bus to someone who might need it. Introduce yourself to the new employee or kid at school and take the time to introduce them to the rest of the crew. 

A polite enemy is just as difficult to discredit, as a rude friend is to protect. - Bryant H. McGill

These examples provide a glimpse into how you can infuse courtesy into your life. Momentary deeds of courtesy may be incremental, but they might make a huge difference in someone's life.

How to Observe Common Courtesy Day

• If common courtesy is not a part of your daily routine, make Common Courtesy Day your opportunity for change.
• Start implementing courtesy into your life.
• Try it; not only will others appreciate it, but you will feel good about it, too.
• Show your appreciation for the common courtesy you experience.

National Common Courtesy Day History

National Day Calendar continues to seek the day's origin but identified it began around 2003.

Common Courtesy FAQ

Q. Is there such a thing as uncommon courtesy?
A. In a sense, yes. Common courtesy is disappearing, so it's more uncommon now than it once was. However, when common courtesy thrived, some people practiced uncommon courtesy. It could be described as going above and beyond the ordinary customs of the day. For example, standing when someone entered or left a room used to be common courtesy. However, the practice has fallen out of fashion. Some people still stand when someone enters an office, meeting, or social occasion, though it's more uncommon than common.

Q. What is one way to teach common courtesy?
A. One of the best ways to teach common courtesy is to practice it yourself. When others see common courtesy in action, they learn to adopt the behavior themselves.

 Also

Memory Day

California Strawberry Day

Fragrance Day

French Bread Day

Single Parent Day

World Down Syndrome Day

Ag Day

 

Today's Thought

What you do has a far greater impact than what you say. ~ Stephen Covey 

 30 Days until Easter

 

20 March

 

Spring begins on the March or vernal equinox, which is when the amount of sunshine is approximately 12 hours long. The amount of sunlight will incrementally increase until the first day of Summer.

 Spring Begins 

The vernal equinox marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator. This is the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth's equator, from south to north. The vernal equinox happens on March 19, 20, or 21 every year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, this same event marks the beginning of fall.  Meteorologists mark the spring from March 1 through May 31st.

In 2020, spring arrived a little earlier due to it being a leap year. On Leap Day, there's a short math lesson regarding the Gregorian calendar. To keep our calendar following the seasons so that spring happens when flowers grow and winter arrives when snow falls, an additional day was figured into years divisible by the number four. This caused the 2020 spring to occur earlier than any living human being alive had ever seen. Before 2020, the earliest spring on record took place in 1896.

HOW TO OBSERVE SPRING BEGINS

• Get ready for longer days and increased sunshine.
• Tune up the lawnmower. More sunshine means the grass will be growing.
• Spend some time outside.
• Plan your garden or start planting. 
• Host a spring party with lots of bright, fresh foods.

SPRING BEGINS HISTORY

Human beings have been following the sun and creating a calendar based on seasons since the beginning of time.  

Spring FAQ

Q. When it's spring in the Northern Hemisphere what season is happening in the Southern Hemisphere?
A. When spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere, fall is beginning in the Southern Hemisphere.

Q. What does vernal equinox mean?
A. Vernal is Latin for spring, and equinox means equal night. During the vernal equinox, we experience equal amounts of daylight and night. Following the vernal equinox, the days become longer.

 

Also

Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Proposal day

Ravioli Day

Spring Training Day

Absolutely Incredible Kids Day

Farm Rescuer Day

Spring Equinox

World Flour Day

 

Today's Thought

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. ~ J.K. Rowling

 

 

19 March

 Let's Laugh Day!  

I've been playing with this link for a couple of days.  It refuses to play nice, so you will probably have to copy and paste it into your browser line.  Sorry! 

https://youtu.be/X_-q9xeOgG4 

 

  

 

Also

3-D Day

Backyard Day

Certified Nurses Day

Poultry Day

World Social Work Day

Today's Thought

Only I can change my life.  No one else can do it for me. ~ Carol Burnett

 

 01 days until Spring

 

18 March

 NATIONAL AWKWARD MOMENTS DAY  

On March 18th, we recognize National Awkward Moments Day. This is an annual day that every person can relate to. We have all had our awkward moments from time to time. They are a part of life; they just happen.

 Awkward Moments Day

Awkwardness or embarrassment is defined as an emotional state of intense discomfort with oneself.

Have you ever called someone by the wrong name, tripped over nothing, walked into a door, had the completely wrong words come out of your mouth, or just forgotten what you were doing?  The list could go on and on. Sometimes, things just do not seem to go right and something happens that may make you feel like you want to run and hide. No matter the day, today, or any other day, everyone has them.  

How to Observe Awkward Moments Day

• Find the ability to laugh at yourself, see the humor in awkward moments and have fun with them.
• Relive old awkward moments by telling stories about them. Laugh over them and enjoy the memory.
• Help someone else recover from an awkward moment. They may be embarrassing at first. However, the humor in these moments shows just how human we can be. 
• Keep in mind that no one is perfect, ever.
• Wear humility like a cloak and laugh at yourself. 

National Awkward Moments Day History

While it may be awkward to admit it, we have been unable to identify the origin of this awkward holiday. 

Awkward Moments FAQ

Q. What does "socially awkward" mean?
A. First, keep in mind that anyone can experience social awkwardness. Social awkwardness describes a feeling of being out of place, an inability to understand social cues or body language. Someone who is socially awkward may not even realize there is a disconnect. For some, it can lead to anxiety.

Q. How do I get over an awkward situation fast?
A. There are several ways to recover from an awkward situation fast:

• Change the subject. This approach works well during conversations where someone misspoke, blurted out a secret, or brought up a touchy subject.
• Make an apology. We all make mistakes. Own up to it. Whether it's a broken glass or inadvertently bringing up someone's ex, just apologize and move on.
• Laugh it off. This approach works for quite a few situations, and it's especially effective if you're laughing at yourself and not someone else.
• Breathe. Sometimes one awkward moment leads to another and another creating one large awkward event. So, stop for a moment and breathe. Excuse yourself if you must and recover in private. Then get back out there.

Also

Biodiesal Day

Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day

Sloppy Joe Day

Supreme Sacrifice Day

 

Today's Thought

The moment you want to quit is the moment need to keep pushing.

 

 02 days until Spring