Tag: gum

February 7th Bubble Gum Day

February holidays

I’m not so sure about this holiday. It was created by Ruth Spiro in 2006 as an idea for fundraisers for schools primarily, although it has been done in libraries and other locations where chewing gum is not normally allowed. My question is, are enough funds raised to cover the damage caused by allowing people to chew gum where they really shouldn’t? Bubble gum generally ends up with people making bubbles that explode or the gum flies out of the mouth in the effort to form it properly. Isn’t that sort of asking for trouble? Oh well, who am I to say.

How to celebrate – Go to your local school or library and chew some bubble gum. See how large you can get your bubble before it explodes. Remember to dispose of your gum properly.

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February 3rd Bubble Gum Day

February holidays, Unboxing the Bizarre

Yes, yes I know… the picture says Bubble Gum Day is February 7th but it is actually the first Friday in February so this year, it’s February 3rd! It was originated by Ruth Spiro, a writer, in 2006.

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Her idea was to create a day where children could enjoy one of their favorite sports, chewing bubble gum, and serve the community at the same time. Children bring 50 cents to school to buy the right to chew gum in school for the day. In theory, the idea is that the money goes to charity, or to the school for any of a hundred different things needed. Nothing is being sold so there is no expense.

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The idea caught on and is now a fund raiser for not only schools but also libraries, churches, and community events where gum is not normally allowed. It can cause issues because many children are careless with their gum or purposely use it to leave a mess behind, but it can also teach children to be respectful and responsible.

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Believe it or not, it can also be used to make children more attentive. Chewing gum takes away a lot of their nervous energy and helps them to focus on the task at hand.

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It would be great to get animals involved in this as well, the only problem is… they don’t have pockets to carry their 50 cents in (except for maybe kangaroos).

How to celebrate – See if you school participates in this fundraiser. If not, start one at your school. Check with your local library about the fundraiser. Find an organization that can benefit from today and get them to participate.

September 30th Chewing Gum Day

September Holidays, Unboxing the Bizarre

People have been chewing gum for over 5,000 years. Not gum as we know it today, but gum nonetheless. In 2007 the British found traces of gum (tree bark)  in Kierikki, Yli-Li, Finland. They found teeth marks in the bark indicating it had been chewed.

Over the years, it has been used to stave off hunger, curb nicotine cravings, and to freshen breath. It has been made from bark, plants, grass, and other resins, most probably not tasting all that good. It wasn’t until 1848 when John B. Curtis started giving it some flavor, or so far as we know. He was also the first to sell it commercially.

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It was called “The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum”. As many gums of the time, it came from the sap of trees. It must have been okay because he sold a great deal of it.

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In 1850 an upgrade came to gum, being made out of paraffin wax. Sort of like the stuff you find in those little mock soda bottles. The gum didn’t last all that long but it was better tasting as the wax could easily be mixed with different flavorings.

On Dec. 18th, 1869 Willliam Semple filed for a patent on his gum (#98,304).

Obviously gum has changed a lot since then. Wrigley, Dentine, Juicy Fruit… It has been found to improve memory, reduce stress, and increase alertness. The newer sugar free versions also improve oral hygiene, curb cravings, and improve digestion.

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Besides that, if we didn’t have gum,  what would baseball players chew? How could you blow bubbles? And the 1950’s might never have been! People rarely turn down a piece of gum if it’s offered to them. There are so many positives that maybe the only negative is…

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How to celebrate – Get a piece of your favorite gum and give it a chew. Take enough with you and share with your friends or co-workers. Try some flavors of gum you have never had. You may not like them but all you have to do is spit it out! Preferrably in a garbage can.