Month: January 2023

January 15th World Snow Day

January holidays

If you live in the northern climate there’s a reasonably good chance you will see snow soon if you haven’t already seen it this year. Today was created by the International Ski Federation and placed on the 3rd Sunday in January, I bet you can’t figure out why!?! Well, at least they got the season right, if they put it in July, they might have to call it World, Wish it Would, Snow Day. Obviously, snow is needed to go skiing, it’s hard, though not impossible, to ski on grass.

How to celebrate – Go skiing. Visit a northern state to see snow. In the south visit your freezer and pretend like it just snowed.

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January 31st National Hot Chocolate Day

January holidays

Most of us think Columbus brought back the cocoa bean to Europe and maybe he did. The fact is, the Mayans were making hot and spicy cocoa in 500BC, long before Columbus ever set sail. It was Explorer Cortez who actually took the beans back, in numbers, to Europe in the 1500’s and, of course, it was Swiss Daniel Peter who added milk to the chocolate to make it milk chocolate, the way most of us have our cocoa today. It’s nice to have a hot drink that sweetens up our day and makes our outlook on life a little better, and we owe it all to the Mayans from so long ago.

How to celebrate – Have some cocoa. Visit Mexico. Crush your own cocoa beans like you do coffee to make your own cocoa!

January 31st International Zebra Day

January holidays

Zebras are native to Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Namibia and Angola on the African continent. They are also slowly being swept off the face of the earth as those countries expand their population and eat up the land the Zebra thrives on. In fact, 54% of the zebra population has already been destroyed, Today we recognize the plight of the Zebra as we try and save what is left of them before it is too late and zoos are the only place left to view any animals, in this case, the Zebra..

How to celebrate – Care about the animals we are leaving no place to live. Give to foundations that help the animals in the wild. Visit one of those countries to see Zebras in the wild.

January 31st Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

January holidays

Art can take on many forms. Paintings, sculpture, music, gardening, you name it and it can be a work of art. Naturally most of us think about paintings though when we talk about art. Beautiful pasture scenes, mountains in the distance, even a happy little tree… however, that said, there are some paintings I find a little hard to accept. The colors are wonderful and the flare outstanding but, if it looks like something your two year old could have created then I find it hard to see a masters stroke in it. Of course, I am not art critic and all of my artwork looks like it was created by a two year old so what do I know? Anyway inspire your heart with some art today, with any art you find rewarding.

How to celebrate – Determine you favorite art form. Visit a gallery or a museum. Create your own form of art and display it for all to see.

January 30th National Draw A Dinosaur Day

January holidays

Well, if you are going to draw something today why not make it a dinosaur!?! Make believe you are a cave man and draw those creatures you fear the most, even the ones you’ve never seen before! Today was created by Todd Page back in 2007 who felt like we should all draw, and while we were drawing, we might as well all draw dinosaurs.

How to celebrate – Learn how to draw dinosaurs. Pretend you live back in the days of dinosaurs. Pretend you are a caveman!

January 30th National Inane Answering Machine Day

January holidays

So do you still use an answering machine!?! I don;t even have a regular hardwired telephone anymore! Ya, I know, this day is all about the message style you leave on your answering call answering devise, and what else can you really call it but an answering machine? A message gatherer!?! Buddy the Elf is popular and is Darth Vader. Maybe Ronald Reagan or Mickey Mouse. It’s really your choice! You pay for it and you can pretty much get anyone to answer your phone. Of course, people generally calling you just want to leave a message and not hear Buddy for the 800th time but it’s your phone so do what you want. Today was another of the extremely valuable days created by Wellcat.co.

How to celebrate – Make up your own stupid answering machine message. Get rid of your answering machine and join the rest of the world on a cell phone. Makeup a language of your own to answer your phone. (Let them figure that one out!)

January 29th National Puzzle Day

January holidays

There are many, many different kinds of puzzles. The most popular is the one that comes in like 500 pieces that you have to fit together in order to make the picture come to life on the cover of the box. However, crosswords and math problems are also considered puzzles as well as just random thoughts one might have. Today is the day to celebrate your favorite, or maybe try them all, as you make your way through the puzzle of life! Some are as easy as putting two and two together, some may take you weeks if not months to do. The general idea is to keep your mind busy and problem solving worthy… and to have a little fun along the way.

How to celebrate – Figure out your favorite type of puzzle. Get the family to put a picture puzzle together. Create your own puzzles.

January 28th National Seed Swap Day

January holidays

There is no question that different plants grow in different regions of the world. The idea of getting hold of the seeds so you can plant them in your area is the intent behind the National Seed Swap Day started by Kathy Jentz, editor and publisher of the Washington Garden Magazine, She created today on January 26th, 2006. (No word on how it ended up on the 28th) Still the idea is great for any plant, flower or even things you can eat. They might not grow in your climate, or due to the soil you have, but it is fun to try anyway.

How to celebrate – Try and swap seeds with someone from across the world. See what plants you can introduce to your area. Enjoy what you consider exotic plants that are quite normal in other locations.

January 27th Chocolate Cake Day

January holidays

If you ask most people what cake they like best the normal reply will be chocolate.now to be fair, there are many, many version of chocolate cake and people who like one generally like them all. It doesn’t even seem to matter much whether it’s milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate… if you like chocolate, you pretty much like chocolate! The first chocolate cake did not appear until somewhere between the 1890’s and the 1900’s. While Columbus took it back with him to Europe in the late 1400’s it was used in drinks as such before bakers figured out it could enhance more recipes.

How to celebrate – Have some chocolate cake. Make up your own new chocolate cake recipe. Learn about chocolate cake in all the different countries.

January 26th Dental Drill Appreciation Day

January holidays

The dental drill has been around since 7,000 BC.. It was the bow drill and while it worked, it did not work quickly. Imagine that dentist having you in a chair and drilling on your tooth, which already hurts, and taking maybe an hour to get to the source of the problem. (Or maybe longer) In 1864 British dentist George Fellows Harrington created “Erado” which was a better drill but still only operated around 15rpm. That may not mean anything to you until you realize that in 1914 that drill went from 15rpm to 3,000 rpm. Just a bit faster. The next step up was to 180,000 rpm and those used today run at some 800,000 rpm.

How to celebrate – Thank your dentist for the faster speeds of drills. Imagine, if you can, having a dentist work on you with a drill that ran 15rpm. Take care of your teeth so you don’t have to visit the dentist’s drill.