Category: National Observance Days

July is National Ice Cream Month, and you have Kentucky to thank! In 1984, Senator Walter Dee Huddleston of Kentucky introduced a resolution to proclaim the month of July 1984 National Ice Cream Month and the 15th of that month National Ice Cream Day. Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law the same year, and the rest is history! Even though the bill only specified that July 1984 was National Ice Cream Month, the tradition carries on—much to our pleasure.

The first true Ice Cream was said to be introduced by Catherine de’ Medici in the 16th century. So impressed was Charles I of England (one hundred years after this introduction) that he paid to keep the formula secret, making ice cream a royal prerogative, utterly unobtainable by the common man. The first recorded recipes didn’t exist until the 18th century.

Ice Cream Month has only one appropriate celebration, gorge yourself on Ice Cream at every opportunity! Ok, ok, moderation is necessary even during Ice Cream Month, but there are a bunch of different ways you can enjoy this delicious treat. It goes great with a warm apple pie, and nothing compliments a brownie better than vanilla ice cream. Maybe you prefer a nice scoop of strawberry doused in caramel topping, or that most amazing of all ice cream treats, the Ice Cream Taco! You can even take the time to make your own ice cream during Ice Cream Month and enjoy the fruits of your labor on a hot summer evening! And to celebrate and to provide a little pick-me-up, Blue Bell ice cream has brought back a fan favorite, Milk & Cookies Ice Cream!

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.

John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

A few things about the 4th you may not know: ~The Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, 1776. That’s actually the day it was formally adopted by the Continental Congress, but it wasn’t signed by most signatories until August. ~Americans typically eat 150 million hot dogs on Independence Day, “enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times,” according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. ~Massachusetts became the first state to make the 4th of July an official state holiday in 1781. ~The famed Macy’s fireworks show in New York City uses more than 75,000 fireworks shells and costs about $6 million. ~Small towns in the U.S. typically spend between $8,000 and $15,000 on their fireworks displays. ~John Hancock has the largest signature on the Declaration of Independence.

Did you know more pets gets lost on July 4th then any other day of the year? Here are a few ideas to keep your pets safe. Many dogs get scared when they hear fireworks. ~Be sure your dog has a visible and up to date id tag. ~Take a current photo of your pet just in case they get lost and you need a current photo. ~You can leave music or a TV on to distract your dog from the noise of the fireworks.

It’s Lightning Safety Awareness Week! Dangerous weather is not uncommon this time of year. If thunder roars, go indoors! If you can hear thunder, you’re in the danger zone – lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from rainfall. Play it safe with summer storms.

Thunderstorms are dangerous weather systems that include lightning and can also produce power winds of more than 50 mph, create hail, and can cause flash flooding and tornadoes.Lightning is one of the leading causes of injury and death from weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Although the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are less than one in one million, some factors can put you at greater risk. Lightning most often strikes people who work outside or engage in outdoor recreational activities. Regional and seasonal differences can also affect your risk of being injured by lightning. Last year, in 2019, 20 people in 13 states died from lightning strikes. All of the lightning-strike incidents happened while individuals were outside; six were involved in water activities.

You can protect yourself from severe thunderstorms even if you’re caught outdoors when lightning is close by. Have a lightning safety plan.
If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity. Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter. Don’t forget the 30-30 rule. After seeing lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. If no shelter is available, crouch low, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly up to, and exceeding, 100 feet away. Avoid concrete floors and walls. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring. Outside dog houses are not lightning-safe. Dogs that are chained to trees or wire runners can easily fall victim to lightning strikes. Consider bringing your pets inside the home or garage during thunderstorms.

~Never drive or walk through flooded roadways. Turn Around Don’t Drown®. It takes just six inches of fast-moving water to knock an adult down, and one foot of moving water can sweep away most vehicles. ~If indoors, avoid running water or using landline phones. Electricity can travel through plumbing and telephone lines. ~Wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before going back outside after the storm.

For more information click here: https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

 

On June 19, 1865, two and half years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, a group of Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and finally overcame the resistance of Texas slave owners and other assorted racial bigots. It was then that Juneteenth was first celebrated. In the here and now, Juneteenth is known as the oldest national celebration commemorating the end of US slavery. To this day, June 19th is observed as the African American Emancipation Day. Juneteenth celebrations are incredibly nuanced and emotionally powerful. One important aspect is food; some foods synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations are strawberry soda-pop and barbecuing. Barbequing is so spiritually and culturally important to the date that the barbeque pit is often referred to as the center of attention at celebrations. BBQ is a symbolic gesture in which participants can share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors – the newly emancipated African Americans – would have experienced during their own ceremonies. Today, June 19th celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. Additionally, it has taken on a more national, symbolic, and even global perspective with a mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture.

Official Juneteenth Poem

From Africa’s heart, we rose
Already a people, our faces ebon, our bodies lean,
We rose
Skills of art, life, beauty and family
Crushed by forces we knew nothing of, we rose
Survive we must, we did,
We rose
We rose to be you, we rose to be me,
Above everything expected, we rose
To become the knowledge we never knew,
We rose
Dream, we did
Act we must

Kristina Kay,
We Rose © 1996, Juneteenth.com

The second week of June is designated National Right of Way Professionals Week. In order for pipelines, transmission lines or other facilities to be constructed on public and private property, landowners must give permission for the right of way. Most often, rights of way are easements granted by landowners to the developer, giving the utility permission to run wires, cables or pipeline across the landowner’s property. Right of Way Professionals around the world have been trained to secure property rights on behalf of third parties by negotiating these easements through negotiations with landowners. Right of Way Professionals Week was submitted by Contract Land Staff as a way to honor the professionals in this niche industry for their commitment to leadership and service. It was approved by the Registrar at National Day Calendar in 2016. This week is Right-of-Way Professionals week! Show your appreciation by saying “thank you” to the crews who keep our power lines clear and outage time low!

Last week was National Boating Safety Week. The Safe Boating Campaign is a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating, encouraging boaters to always wear a life jacket while on the water. It’s tempting to not wear a life jacket while on the water, especially on nice days. You want to get some sun, you think you’ll get too hot, or you think you’re a strong swimmer. But whether you’re going fishing or just enjoying a ride on the boat, there’s never an excuse to not wear a life jacket. Accidents happen in an instant. Make it a habit. Always wear a life jacket. Boating safety advocates recommend that all boaters and passengers not only have a life jacket, but wear it at all times while boating.

Drowning was the reported cause of death in 77 percent of all boating fatalities. Of those, 84 percent were reported as not wearing their life jackets. Two-thirds of drowning victims are good swimmers

Here are the most common excuses with the top five reasons to wear a life jacket.
1. “I have life jackets on board.” Having life jackets on board the vessel is not enough. Accidents happen too fast to put on a stowed life jacket.
2. “I’m a strong swimmer.” Even a strong swimmer needs to wear a life jacket. During an emergency, clothing can become heavy or waterlogged while in the water.
3. “It’s too hot and doesn’t look cool.” Old-fashioned, bulky orange life jackets have been replaced with new styles, like inflatable life jackets that may resemble a pair of suspenders or a belt pack. These are much cooler in the warmer weather.
4. “It gets in the way.” There are life jacket styles available for any recreational water activity – fishing, water sports, hunting, paddling and more. There are even styles for pets!
5. “Nothing is going to happen to me.” Face it, accidents happen. Boating can be a fun, safe and enjoyable activity, but when the “Wear It!” message is ignored, the consequences can be grim.

 

 

https://safeboatingcampaign.com/

World Biodiversity Day is a United Nations-sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues. Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth; the healthier an area’s biodiversity, the healthier the ecosystem – which includes not only the animals and plants but also the people. Although it was originally introduced in 1993, it went through rebranding in 2000 and each year now has a theme. This year’s theme is Our Solutions are in Nature, and is focused on encouraging solutions to a host of issues that are interconnected: the climate crisis, economic issues, political problems, and more. Essentially, this date focuses on nature-based solutions for the betterment and protection of all life on Earth.

May the Fourth be with you each year on National Star Wars Day. Or is it, “May the force be with you?” It all depends on whether you like using puns or not. Star Wars fans didn’t first introduce the often quoted phrase on May 4th. It was 1979, and Britain elected the first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. On May 4th, the day she took office, the Conservative Party placed an advertisement in The London Evening News, which read, “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.” Star Wars creator, George Lucas, was asked during a 2005 interview on a German news TV channel to say the famous sentence “May the Force Be with You.” Upon doing so, the interpreter interpreted the sentence into German as Am4 Mai sind wir bei Ihnen (On May 4 we are with you). TV Total captured this and aired it on May 18, 2005. National Star Wars Day was first organized in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Toronto Underground Cinema in 2011. Produced by Sean Ward and Alice Quinn, festivities included an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show, a costume contest, and the web’s best tribute films, mash-ups, parodies, and remixes on the big screen. May 4th was chosen because of the play on words.

Charles Almanzo Babcock, Oil City, Pennsylvania Superintendent of Schools, established the first Bird Day in 1894. It was also the first holiday in the United States dedicated to the celebration of birds. Babcock founded the day, observed annually on May 4th, to advance bird conservation as a moral value.We honor our feathered friends on several holidays called Bird Day in the United States. The day celebrates birds of all kinds across North America. With over 2,000 species of birds in North America, birdwatchers and nature lovers alike will appreciate the beauty and variety of these winged friends offer. From songbirds to waterfowl and domesticated birds, they come in every color of plumage and wingspan. During the spring, migrating birds move to their summer nesting grounds. It’s an excellent time for those new to birdwatching to learn to identify birds by species. Enthusiasts also know that birds will migrate through backyards and stop for a rest, a bite to eat, and a drink if the right habitat is provided. They stand prepared by their windows with binoculars and watch as new visitors arrive daily. Whether it’s an oriole, a tree swallow, the ruby-throated hummingbird, or an American Finch, you’ll want to make sure you’ve prepared food, natural habitat and water sources for your guests. However, it’s not just the passersby that get birdists excited. It’s the long term residents and those of the greater outdoors. Year after year they watch robins collect their nesting material or chickadees caring for their brood. They wander through nature preserves seeking a glimpse of a varied thrush or a prairie warbler. When they do, they are often graced with a privileged view of a bald eagle soaring above them.

 

Celebrate the gorgeous month of May! The Sun is warming, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the garden is growing. May acts as the bridge between spring and summer, hinting at warmer weather for those still stuck in spring’s grasp, while heating things up for those already well on their way. In May, enjoy new life by attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden!

A few holidays/national days that are in May are: Mother’s Day, World Naked Gardening Day, Memorial Day, Cinco De Mayo, National Blueberry Cheesecake Day, and it is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness month.

Some Astonishing Misconceptions about May: ➤ Some people believed that if you got up on May 1st and washed your face in the May dew, it would remove all freckles and pimples, giving you a great complexion. ➤ Another belief was that babies born in May would be sick all through their childhood, and cats born in May wouldn’t catch rodents but rather bring home snakes. ➤ According to an old Cornish superstition, it was unlucky to buy a new broom in this month. And so was washing a blanket!

The month was named after the Greek Goddess of Fertility, Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. No month other than May ever begins or ends on the same day of the week, in the same year. May is the month of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, and spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
The birthstone is emerald, which signifies love and success. The birth flower is the Lily of the Valley.

Oh! fragrant is the breath of May
In tranquil garden closes,
And soft yet regal is her sway
Among the springtide roses.
—William Hamilton hayne, American poet (1856–1929)