Cinco de Mayo

While not a federal holiday, today is a culturally significant national holiday – Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated annually on May 5th in honor of the anniversary of an early victory by Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla, 1862. These days, it is an opportunity to celebrate the culture, achievements, and experiences of people with a Mexican background. Celebrations include food, drinks, and music. You can learn more about the history and current state of Cinco de Mayo here: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Did you know that every single year, over 6.5 million companion animals end up in animal shelters in the U.S.? Sadly, over 1.5 million are euthanized and only 3.2 million are adopted. National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day was created in order to bring awareness to these tragic numbers. It is the result of the annual Adopt A Dog Month that the American Humane Society founded in 1981. Observed annually on April 30th, this national observance helps bring attention to the needless suffering of animals in shelters and encourages people to make to adopt not shop.

Below are the links to some local Panhandle animal shelters and their online listings of adoptable pets!

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day 2021! Beginning in 1970, it was created to bring awareness to serious environmental concerns and to address the need for environmental reform. It grew to an international level in 1990 and is now practiced in 142 nations. Don’t forget that today is the second Earth Day Live digital event, held on the official website here. The global show begins at 12 p.m. Eastern Time and will include workshops, panel discussions, and special performances that focus on this year’s theme of Restore Our Earth™. 

National Pet Day

Today is National Pet Day! Founded in 2006 to celebrate pets and the joy they bring into our homes, it is also a day created to bring awareness to the plight of the many types of animals which are in shelters all over the planet.

Looking to celebrate? Inspiration below:

Buy your pet a new toy or treat
Take pictures of your pet
Share photos of your pets via social media using the hashtag #NationalPetDay
Adopt a pet from your local shelter
Donate money, food, toys and/or blankets to an animal welfare organization
Throw an awesome National Pet Day party for your pets
Help someone who needs it buy pet food or other items for their pets
Help organize against puppy and kitten mills
Volunteer at a local shelter

Walk in the Park

Today is National Take a Walk in the Park Day! This is a day to slow down, clear your mind, re-energize, and improve mental and physical health by visiting a local park be it community, urban, national, or state. Did you know that Greenland’s National Park is the largest in the world? It covers an area of 604,000 miles!

Considering visiting a local park such as Marianna’s Citizen Lodge Park, pictured below. 

Quilting Day

Did you know quilting may date back as far back as 3400 BCE?! It has remained a popular skill and hobby for many ever since it arrived in the United States with the first European settlers. It is a rich tradition with many interesting developments and stylistic differences. In honor of the rising popularity of the annual March 18th Quilting Day celebration, consider visiting one of the Panhandle’s wonderful quilting stores listed below: 

  • Quilting by the Bay, Panama City (website)
  • Margie’s Sew Much Fun, Crestview (website)
  • Lynn’s Sewing Center, Fort Walton Beach (850-864-4555)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, an annual event that began as a religious holiday honoring St. Patrick. Also called the Feast of St. Patrick, it is observed on the day of St. Patrick’s death. As the patron saint of Ireland, this day of observance has evolved into a fantastic celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, and drinking. Interested in learning more about the history of the holiday, the culture, or how you can participate? Visit A&E’s History page on St. Patrick’s Day HERE

 

Blueberry Popovers & Panhandle Pride

Today is National Blueberry Popover Day! Popovers are airy rolls that puff up when baked, popping over the edge of the tin. They are light and crispy on the outside while the insides are warm and hollow, perfect for filling with your choice of custards, creams, and fruits – especially blueberries! Blueberries are the perfect filling for popovers here in the Florida Panhandle. Not only do they decrease your cholesterol level and lower the chances of heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity but there are plentiful places to get blueberries fresh: Jackson Farms, Harmony Vineyard, Blue Sky Berry Farm, Blueberry Springs, and more.

Check out this website for a full listing of Florida Panhandle U-Pick Farms. 

National Dentist’s Day

National Dentist’s Day falls annually on March 6th. It was established as a way to show appreciation and thanks to dentists, dental hygienists, and nurses. It’s also a way to bring awareness to dentistry so that people will know more about how to care for their teeth. It also encourages people who may have avoided going to the dentist to come in for a checkup. Here are some tips to help keep your teeth healthy:

1. Brush teeth for two minutes, twice per day. 

2. Floss daily!

3. Visit a dentist twice per year if possible. 

4. Eat a balanced diet and limit eating and drinking between meals to reduce corrosion. 

Unplug from Technology Today

National Day of Unplugging is an awareness campaign that promotes a 24-hour respite from technology annually observed the first weekend in March. From sundown-to-sundown March 5-6, 2021, remove yourself from social media and technology, in general, to spend time on other, tech-free things. For over a decade, schools, religious institutions, and businesses have helped their communities celebrate this event to promote healthy life/tech balances. 

Consider going outside for a walk, reading that book you’ve had on your nightstand for a few weeks, spend quality time with friends/family/or pets, enjoy a hobby you haven’t practiced for awhile, and more! 

Visit the official National Day of Unplugging website HERE for more information such as things to do while unplugged, online gatherings, and more!