Weird August Holidays

Every month has its collection of strange, weird, and obscure holidays, sometimes more than one per day, many of which are unknown to the general public. And, needless to say, holidays that are not government recognized—days where the schools, banks, government offices, and post office are not closed. But still holidays to be celebrated and enjoyed in their own quirky fashion.

Let's start with month long celebrations.  For August you have:  Admit You're Happy Month, Family Fun Month, National Catfish Month, National Eye Exam Month, National Golf Month [I'd better make sure my brother knows about this one], Peach Month, Romance Awareness Month, Water Quality Month, and National Picnic Month.

And then there are the week long celebrations. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week. The second week of the month is National Smile Week. The third week is Friendship Week. And the fourth week is Be Kind To Humankind Week.

And the daily celebrations:  I found it interesting that 10 of the 31 days in August had holidays connected to food [are we seeing an ongoing theme here?]. Some of the dates had more than one holiday attached to them.

August 1)  National Mustard Day (the first Saturday in August)

August 1)  National Raspberry Cream Pie Day

August 2)  Friendship Day (the first Sunday in August)

August 2)  International Forgiveness Day (first Sunday in August)

August 2)  Sisters Day (first Sunday in August)

August 2)  National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 3)  National Watermelon Day

August 4)  U.S. Coast Guard Day

August 5)  Work Like A Dog Day

August 6)  Wiggle Your Toes Day

August 7)  National Lighthouse Day

August 8)  Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day

            Apparently zucchini is one of the most prolific plants with a single plant producing what seems to be an endless supply of zucchini. By the time August arrives, home gardeners have far more zucchini than they can possibly use. After giving away as much as they can to family and friends, desperate growers seek desperate measures to rid themselves of the overflow. And that gives us the name of the holiday…sneak some zucchini onto your neighbor's porch day.

August 9)  Book Lover's Day

            Book Lover's Day encourages you to find a comfortable place, relax, and enjoy a good book. If you happen to fall asleep in that gently swaying hammock while reading, that's perfectly okay. There is some disagreement about when this holiday is celebrated. August 9^th is the most widely accepted date. Some celebrate it on the first Saturday in November. My suggestion? Celebrate both days.

August 10)  Lazy Day

August 10)  National S'mores Day

August 11)  Presidential Joke Day

August 12)  Middle Child's Day

August 13)  Left Hander's Day

August 14)  National Creamsicle Day

August 14/15)  V-J Day (end of World War II)

August 15)  Relaxation Day

            For people with a hectic lifestyle, this is the day to kick back and do nothing…just relax. Take a break from your busy work and personal schedule. If something stresses you out, this is the day to ignore it.

August 16)  National Tell A Joke Day

August 17)  National Thrift Shop Day

August 18)  Bad Poetry Day

August 19)  Aviation Day

August 20)  National Radio Day

August 21)  Senior Citizen's Day

August 22)  Be An Angel Day

August 22)  National Tooth Fairy Day (and/or February 28)

August 23)  Ride The Wind Day

            This is a carefree day, a time to soar above the earth. Catch a ride on the breeze or float like a cloud. Summer will soon be over. Take advantage of this day to relax and leave your worries behind. Fly a kite. Enjoy the final days of summer.

August 24)  Vesuvius Day

August 25)  Kiss And Make Up Day

August 26)  National Dog Day

August 26)  Women's Equality Day

August 27)  Global Forgiveness Day

August 27)  Just Because Day

August 28)  Race Your Mouse Day [but in today's world are we talking rodent or computer?]

August 29)  More Herbs, Less Salt Day

August 30)  Frankenstein Day

            There are 3 versions of this day. This one is in honor of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, who was born August 30, 1797. There is also Frankenstein Friday and National Frankenstein Day, both celebrated in October. Confused? Celebrate all 3 days.

August 30)  Toasted Marshmallow Day

August 31)  National Trail Mix Day

Bizarre and Unique February Holidays

February may be a short month, but it certainly is not short on the bizarre, unique, and weird when it comes to holidays—celebrations above and beyond the legal holidays where government offices, banks, and schools are closed for the day.

There are several month long designations in February:  American Heart Month, An Affair To Remember Month, Black History Month, Canned Food Month, Creative Romance Month, Great American Pie Month, National Cherry Month, National Children's Dental Health Month, National Grapefruit Month, and National Wedding Month.

February also has a week long celebration: the third week is International Flirting Week.

And this year (every four years), February is the time of the Winter Olympics.

Hmmm…American Heart Month, An Affair To Remember Month, Creative Romance Month, National Wedding Month, and International Flirting Week.  How appropriate that they should all be in the month that gives us Valentine's Day.

Feb. 1         National Freedom Day

Feb. 2         Ground Hog Day

Always celebrated on February 2.  On this day, the groundhog awakens from a long winter's nap and goes outside of his den.  If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.  If he does not see his shadow, Spring is rapidly approaching.  The tradition comes from the German roots of Candlemas which is the mid point between Winter and Spring.

Feb. 2         Candlemas

Feb. 3         The Day The Music Died

Always celebrated on February 3. On this date in 1959 singers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash.  The event was immortalized in the popular song, Apple Pie, written and recorded by Don McLean.

Feb. 4         Create A Vacuum Day

Feb. 4         Thank A Mailman Day

Feb. 5         National Weatherman's Day

Always celebrated on February 5.  According to the Air Force News, this holiday "commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, one of America's first weathermen."  He was born on February 5, 1744, and kept weather records from 1774 to 1816.  This holiday honors the men and women who work hard to accurately predict the often fickle weather.  Even with the major technological advances including super computers and satellites, forecasting weather is still a tricky and ever changing task.

Feb. 6         Lame Duck Day

Feb. 7         Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbor Day

Feb. 7         Send A Card To A Friend Day (a holiday created by Hallmark?)

Feb. 8         Boy Scout Day

Feb. 8         Kite Flying Day

Always celebrated on February 8 (but why in the middle of winter?).  People have enjoyed flying kites for thousands of years, both children and adults.  The most well known kite flyer is undoubtedly Benjamin Franklin with his key and lightning experiment.  Kites were first used by the military in ancient China over 3,000 years ago.

Feb. 9         Toothache Day

Feb. 10       Umbrella Day

Feb. 10       Clean Out Your Computer Day (the 2nd Monday of the month)

Feb. 11       Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

Feb. 11       Make A Friend Day

Feb. 11       White T-Shirt Day

Feb. 12       Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (combined with George Washington's birthday to be legally celebrated as President's Day the third Monday of February, on the 17th this year)

Feb. 12       Plum Pudding Day

Feb. 13       Get A Different Name Day

Always celebrated on February 13.  This day is for those who are not fond of their given name.  It's the day to take steps to change your name (and don't forget to notify those who need to know about your new name).

Feb. 14       Ferris Wheel Day

Feb. 14       National Organ Donor Day

Feb. 14       Valentine's Day

Feb. 15       Candlemas (on the old Julian Calendar)

Feb. 15       National Gum Drop Day

Feb. 15       Singles Awareness Day

Feb. 16       Do A Grouch A Favor Day

Feb. 17       Random Acts of Kindness Day

Always celebrated on February 17.  You know what to do…perform a few random acts of kindness.  Almost any kind deed will do.  And remember—Random Acts of Kindness is highly contagious.

Feb. 18       National Battery Day

Feb. 19       National Chocolate Mint Day

Feb. 20       Cherry Pie Day

Feb. 20       Hoodie Hoo Day

Always celebrated on February 20.  On this winter day, people go out at noon, wave their hands over their heads and chant "Hoodie-Hoo."  This is the day to chase away the winter blahs (in the Northern Hemisphere).

Feb. 20       Love Your Pet Day

Feb. 21       Card Reader Day (another Hallmark creation?)

Feb. 22       George Washington's Birthday (combined with Abraham Lincoln's Birthday and celebrated as the legal holiday of President's Day on the third Monday of February, on the 17th this year).

Feb. 22       Be Humble Day

Feb. 22       Walking The Dog Day

Feb. 22       International World Thinking Day

Feb. 23       International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

Feb. 23       Tennis Day

Feb. 24       National Tortilla Chip Day

Always celebrated on February 24.  The corn chip recipe was brought to the U.S. from Mexico by a Texas businessman.  Just a few decades ago, Americans seldom ate corn chips and salsa.  Today it's wildly popular.

Feb. 25       Pistol Patent Day

Feb. 26       National Pistachio Day

Feb. 26       Tell A Fairy Tale Day

Feb. 27       Polar Bear Day

Feb. 27       No Brainer Day

Always celebrated on February 27th.  By definition, a no brainer is doing something simple, easy, obvious, and/or totally logical.  If a project requires thinking, study, or analysis of any kind, then this is not the day for it.

Feb. 28       Floral Design Day

Feb. 28       Public Sleeping Day

Feb. 28       National Tooth Fairy Day (sometimes celebrated on August 22)

So…enjoy your favorite bizarre, weird, and unique celebration/holiday.

Bizarre And Strange October Holidays

In last week's blog, I shared some historical events with you that occurred during the month of October.

This week I'd like to present you with some weird and bizarre October holidays.  While not necessarily celebrated, they are at least acknowledged. And many may leave you shaking your head and wondering how in the world it actually became a holiday. :)

Let's start out with causes (some serious, others frivolous) dedicated to month-long events.

October is Apple Jack month, Awareness month, Breast Cancer Awareness month, National Sarcastic's month, National Kitchen and Bath month, Computer Learning month, Cookie month, National Pizza month, National Vegetarian month, National Popcorn Popping month, and American Pharmacist month.  Hmmm…apple jack, cookie, pizza, vegetarian, popcorn and even kitchen.  Do we see a pattern here that seems to relate to food?

Oct 1           World Vegetarian Day, Chinese Moon Festival, Fire Pup Day, and Magic Circles Day

Oct 2           Name Your Car Day, National Custodial Worker Day, World Farm Animals Day, World Habitat Day

Oct 3           Virus Appreciation Day (this one confuses me, to appreciate something indicates we are in favor of it), Oktoberfest in Germany ends (date varies)

Oct 4           National Golf Day, National Frugal Fun Day

Oct 5           National Storytelling Festival, World Teacher's Day, Do Something Nice Day

Oct 6           German-American Day, Come and Take It Day, Physician Assistant Day, Mad Hatter Day, National Diversity Day

Oct 7           Bald and Free Day, National Frappe Day, World Smile Day.

Oct 8           American Tag Day, Cosmopolite's Day

Oct 9           Moldy Cheese Day, Fire Prevention Day, World Post Day

Oct 10         National Angel Food Cake Day

Oct 11         It's My Party Day, Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day

Oct 12         International Moment of Frustration Scream Day, Cookbook Launch Day, Farmer's Day, Emergency Nurses Day

Oct 13         National Peanut Festival, International Skeptics Day, World Egg Day

Oct 14         Be Bald and Free Day, National Dessert Day

Oct 15         White Cane Day

Oct 16         Dictionary Day, Bosses Day

Oct 17         Gaudy Day

Oct 18         No Beard Day

Oct 19         Evaluate Your Life Day

Oct 20         National Brandied Fruit Day

Oct 21         Babbling Day, Count Your Buttons Day, Sweetest Day

Oct 22         National Nut Day, Mother-In-Law Day (fourth Sunday in October), National Color Day

Oct 23         National Mole Day, TV Talk Show Host Day

Oct 24         National Bologna Day

Oct 25         Punk-For-A-Day Day

Oct 26         Mule Day

Oct 27         Sylvia Plath Day, Navy Day

Oct 28         Plush Animal Lover's Day, National Chocolate Day (just in time for Halloween)

Oct 29         Hermit Day, National Frankenstein Day (also just in time for Halloween)

Oct 30         National Candy Corn Day (and another one just in time for Halloween)

Oct 31         Halloween, Carve A Pumpkin Day, National Magic Day, Increase Your Psychic Powers Day.

And one last item:  As usual, Turner Classic Movies cable television channel is running classic horror movies every Wednesday through Halloween.  Check out the TCM schedule at their website.  Always fun fare for the season.