Holiday Calendar

Mark your calendar and celebrate in your own way.

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Mark your calendar and celebrate in your own way.

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The name Lammas is taken from an Anglo-Saxon heathen festival which was forcibly Christianized. The name (from hlaf-mass, "loaves festival") implies, it is a feast of thanksgiving for bread, symbolizing the first fruits of the harvest.

Heathens mark the holiday by baking a figure of the God Freyr in bread, and then symbolically sacrificing and eating it.

Again, no purely Heathen name has survived for this festival, which takes place at the beginning of August, as this was the time when the first fruits of harvest were brought to the church as gifts; since this was taken over from Heathen custom. In English and German tradition, the First Sheaf was often bound and blessed as an offering to Heathen deities or the spirits of the field at the beginning of harvest, just as the Last Sheaf was at its end. English folk custom also includes the decoration of wells and springs.

In Heathenism today, the feast is especially thought of as holy to Freyr as a fertility God, Thor as a harvest God and his wife Sif, whose long golden hair can be seen in fields of ripe grain. The warriors who had gone off to fight at the end of planting season came back, loaded with a summer's worth of plunder and ready to reap the crops that had ripened while they were gone. Loaf-Feast is the end of the summer's vacation, the beginning of a time of hard work which lasts through the next two or three months, while we ready ourselves for the winter.

Freyfaxi marked the time of the harvest in ancient Iceland. Today the Asatru observe this date as a celebration of their harvest with blot to Freyr and a grand Feast from the gardens and the fields. Any grains harvested are made into breads and other seasonal fruits and vegetables are included in the feast. Preserving foods from the harvest is also done this time of year. Some groups gather to help each other preserve food for the winter.

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The United States Congress, in 1935, proclaimed the first Sunday of August as National Friendship Day.

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Celebrated every year on August 2, the unofficial holiday is also known as National Ice Cream Sandwich Day in the US.

Many countries around the world have their own version of the ice cream sandwich. In Iran for example, rose or pistachio flavored ice cream is sandwiched between two thin wafers, while in Vietnam, street vendors sell ice cream stuffed between two layers of bread.

How to Celebrate?
Visit your local ice cream shop and treat yourself to an ice cream sandwich.
Make your own ice cream sandwiches and share with your family and friends. All you need is some wafers, cookies or biscuits and some ice cream.
Experiment with different kinds of ice cream flavors and outside layers of the sandwich. What about making a chipwich, for example? It is an ice cream sandwich made of ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies.

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Mark your calendar and celebrate in your own way.

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International Beer Day was created in 2007 by Jesse Avshalomov, Evan Hamilton, Aaron Araki, and Richard Hernandez, in San Francisco, United States as a way to bring friends and strangers together over pints of beer. Between 2007 and 2012, the holiday was celebrated on August 5, but due to popular demand that the day be held on a Friday, the organizers changed the date to the first Friday of August.

Multicultural Drink
Beer is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting sugars found in cereal grains such as wheat or barley. Many beers around the world are brewed with hops, herbs, or fruits that add flavor to the drink.

Thought to be the world's oldest beverage still consumed today, beer has been drunk by almost all cultures around the world throughout human history. Today, beer is the third most consumed beverage in the world only after water and tea.

How to Celebrate?
If you brew your own beer, share your brews with friends and family and get their feedback.
Spend your evening at a bar trying out new types of beer.
Take a brewery tour and spend time learning the science behind beer making.

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Happy Purple Heart Day!

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Happy Frozen Custard Day!

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Happy Book Lovers' Day!

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On this date, we honor Radbod a king of Frisia what was an early target of Christian missionaries. Just before his baptism ceremony, he asked the clergy what fate had befallen his ancestors who died loyal to Asatru. The missionaries replied that Radbod’s Heathen ancestors were burning in Hell-to which the king replied: “Then I will rather live there with my ancestors than go to heaven with a parcel of beggars.” The baptism was cancelled, the aliens expelled, and Frisia remained free.

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Happy S'mores Day!

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Get spinning on August 12th with National Vinyl Record Day! Whether it’s the Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Monkees, Johnny Cash or the BeeGees, vinyl records have a sound all their own. Most will agree, vintage vinyl is almost as much of a classic as the bands themselves.

The day encourages listening to all kinds of music on vinyl records. Spin a disc on a jukebox or show off your style by demonstrating your hip hop moves.

About Vinyl Records

Jukebox at Wax Trax Records in Las Vegas loaded with 45s.

When vinyl records first came on the market they had other names. Some of them were gramophone record or a phonograph record. They’re also called records for short. It is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc. The sound is recorded by inscribing it on a modulated spiral groove.

Depdinging on the speed the sound was recorded, the vinyl record will need to be played at a specific speed on the record player. This is referred to as rotational speed. The revolutions per minute (RPMs) of the more popular vinyls are:

45s
33 1/3
78s
Other features of vinyl records included reproductive accuracy or fidelity (High Fidelity or Hi-Fi, Orthophonic and Full-Range), their time capacity (long-playing or single), and the number of channels of audio provided (mono, stereo or quadraphonic).

Vinyl records were also sold in different sizes such as:

12 inch
10 inch
7 inch
By 1991, vinyl records left the mainstream. However, manufacturers continue to produce them. Collectors and audiophiles increasingly desire the unique sound that only vinyl can produce. Since 2006, vinyl record sales continue to increase according to Pitchfork.com. Even more dramatic sales started hitting the markets beginning in 2012.

Rich Rosen, owner of Wax Trax Records in Las Vegas, has 45 years expereince in the vinyl record industry.
Rich Rosen, owner of Wax Trax Records in Las Vegas, has 45 years experience in the vinyl record industry.

HOW TO OBSERVE #VinylRecordDay
Stop by a vinyl record store in your town. While browsing through the selections, reminisce about the Good Ol’ Days. Share you finds using #VinylRecordDay to post on social media.

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INTERNATIONAL LEFT HANDERS DAY
International Left Handers Day on August 13th recognizes all those individuals who have mastered using their left hand in a right-handed world. We take our hats off to you – left-handed!

Approximately 10% of the population are southpaws. Scientists don’t know why a person develops left-handedness. But it’s more likely a child will be left-handed if one parent is a lefty, too. Parents of left-handed children used to force them to use their right hands. In the eyes of right-handers, the predominant use of the left hand seemed evil. Parents feared their communities would shun their children. While we accept left-handedness more readily than days gone by, its occurrence hasn’t increased.

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Today we celebrate and drink Prosecco, which is the most popular sparkling wine in the United States and is also the most popular wine in Italy, the country where it originated. The day was started by Riondo Prosecco, a revered brand of Prosecco wine, in order to celebrate the summer months. Prosecco is known for its mousse, the small layer of bubbles that rest at its top. There are three different levels of bubbliness that Prosecco can be made at. Spumante is the bubbliest, and it is followed by frizzante and tranquillo. Besides being loved for its bubbles, Prosecco also is appreciated for being reasonably priced. Some people compare it to champagne, but it is made with a different type of grape and is made in a different way.

Prosecco is made with Glera grapes, which were traditionally known as Prosecco grapes, and may also be made with grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir. It is principally made in the Veneto region of Italy, especially in the town of Valdobbiadene, where it got its start. It is almost always a drier wine, most times being made in the extremely dry brut style. But, it tends to have a touch of sweetness on account of its aromas and flavors, which include citrus fruits, honeydew melon, green apples, and white spring flowers.

Prosecco is usually served chilled and in a tulip glass. It is often served as an aperitif, a pre-dinner drink. It also goes well with entrées, particularly with medium-intensity foods like chicken, tofu, shrimp, and pork. It also pairs well with spicy curries, and with Southeast Asian cuisines, such as those from Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Singapore. You will also often find it being used to make mimosas.

National Prosecco Day is being observed today! It has been observed annually on August 13th since 2016.

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Celebrated annually on August 14, this unofficial holiday with unknown origins honors the creamsicle, a refreshing summertime treat on a stick. The original creamsicles were made of vanilla ice cream covered by iced orange juice. In recent years, creative ice cream makers have replaced the outer orange fruit juice layer with other flavors like blueberry, strawberry, and grape.

Also Known As...
Although Creamsicle is a brand name ice cream in the United States, any ice cream covered by a layer of iced fruit juice on a flat wooden stick is popularly called a creamsicle.

Due to the popularity of the Popsicle, which is a brand of frozen beverages, people sometimes use the word popsicle to refer to the creamsicle. Creamsicles are also sometimes generically called ice pops in the United States and in Canada and ice lolly in the United Kingdom.

How to Celebrate?
Treat everyone in your family with creamsicles.
Make your own creamsicles and share them with family and friends. Maybe come up with some interesting flavor combinations to try out?
Make other creamsicle-inspired treats. What about baking creamsicle cupcakes or making a creamsicle smoothie?

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Happy Fajita Day!

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Today’s fun facts about Bacon

Bacon is one of the oldest processed meats in history. The Chinese began salting pork bellies as early as 1500 B.C.
More than half of all homes (53%) keep bacon on hand at all times
Pregnant women should eat bacon. Choline, which is found in bacon, helps fetal brain development
Each year in the US more than 1.7 billion lbs. of bacon are consumed
Bacon is said to cure hangovers

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Mark your calendar and celebrate in your own way.

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Do you have an elderly person in your life that you love and appreciate? August 21 —National Senior Citizens Day — is the day to let them know how much you care about them. Our senior citizens have contributed so much to our communities and helped make them what they are today. National Senior Citizens Day is the day to show them our appreciation and support and recognize their accomplishments. It’s also a time to help raise awareness of various issues that affect senior citizens. In 1988 Ronald Reagan declared the holiday, but prior to this many observed August 14 as Senior Citizens Day as it was the day Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935. Today, senior citizens are still very active in their communities and the workforce. They still contribute heavily to our society and for what they have achieved and continue to achieve, they deserve our thanks.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY
1. Spend time at a nursing/retirement home
One of the kindest and most rewarding things one can do is make a visit to a nursing home. Sit and chat with residents. Play games and participate in activities. You can really make a difference in someone’s day, week, or even his or her life, and trust us, you will find the experience fun and rewarding too.

2. Reach out to a senior family member
Do you have a senior family member? Perhaps it’s a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle. Visit them and spend some time together. If you can’t see them in person, give them a call and let them know how much you appreciate them.

3. Have fun!
Are you a senior citizen yourself? Well today is all about you! Live it up! Treat yourself. Spend time with your favorite people, go shopping - do whatever it is you want to do! Maybe it could be the day you finally try that one thing you’ve been thinking about or maybe it’s a day for relaxing at home. Whatever makes you happy, go for it because it’s a day dedicated to you! You’ve earned it!!

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August 22 is Be An Angel Day. Established in 1993 by Jaune Howard Feldman, the day encourages people to be angels to those in need.

In many religions, angels are supernatural spirits that are thought to be responsible for protecting humans.
The day reminds us that even though we can't be actual angels, we can emulate the kindness they are known for. Being kind and good to our fellow human beings is not hard - all we need to do is to stop thinking about ourselves for a while (or a day) and to think about how we can make the world a nicer and kinder place.

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August 23 is Ride Like the Wind Day, a day to well, ride like the wind if you can. The day also commemorates the first time the Kremer Prize was awarded in 1977. The prize is awarded to people who pioneer human powered flight.

Glider being catapulted.
Glider being catapulted.
©iStockphoto.com/Argestes
Human powered flights are aircrafts that use human muscle power to run. Due to technological issues - they are unable to fly for long distances or for a considerable amount of time - human powered flights are usually flown for experimental and recreational purposes.
The first authenticated human powered flight that was successful in taking off and flying for a significant distance took place in 1961. Derek Piggott, a glider pilot in the British Royal Air Force flew Southampton University's Man Powered Aircraft on November 9, 1961 for about 600 meters.

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Happy Waffle Day!

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Because Pluto is very far from us - on average it is about 4 billion miles (6 billion kilometers) from Earth, little is known about the dwarf planet. In size, Pluto has a diameter of about 1400 miles (2250 kilometers), which is about two thirds the size of Earth's Moon.
Pluto's orbit is highly eccentric. In other words, its orbit around the Sun is not perfectly circular. This means that the distance between it and the Sun varies over time. It take Pluto about 250 Earth years to orbit around the Sun once, and about 6.5 Earth days to make a full rotation around its axis.

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August 25 is Kiss and Make Up Day, a day to let go of resentment, grudges, anger and indignation. The unofficial holiday encourages people to make up and reconcile with anyone they are estranged with - at work, school or in their family.

Conflict is one of the biggest truths in life. No matter how much we may try, disagreements are a big part of our relationships with others. Most of the times, these differences can be easily set aside and forgotten. Sometimes however, arguments and misunderstandings can take an ugly turn, estranging and isolating people from each other.
Kiss and make up is a English language idiom that means to forgive someone and be friends again with them.

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No one can win hearts like man’s best friend and in honour of this bond between man and canine, Dog Day is celebrated.

Take time to appreciate the love and value that dogs bring to our daily lives, and to do your bit for homeless and abused dogs the world over. From keeping us safe working for the emergency services to supporting people who are blind, deaf or disabled, dogs do a lot for us humans, and this is an opportunity to give something back.

Recommendations for ways to celebrate Dog Day range from adopting a dog from a rescue home to giving your dog a holistic spa treatment or even buying yourself and your dog matching t-shirts.

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NATIONAL JUST BECAUSE DAY
On August 27th National Just Because Day offers up an opportunity to do stuff…just because. Feel free to celebrate this day any way you choose. Just because!

Every day we all do things that are expected or required of us. Sometimes we even do things because we have to do them, we don’t know why. Well, on this occasion, that does not apply. This day is a chance to do something without rhyme or reason.

It could be that there is an outfit at the mall that you are admiring; buy it…just because.
Maybe you want to use a vacation day just to go fishing; do it…just because.
Perhaps you would like to pay the tab for the table next to you at your favorite restaurant; do it…just because.
Possibly you want to sing really loud while you’re in your car, by yourself, with your windows rolled down; do it…just because.
Surprise someone with flowers…just because!
Make something up…just because!
Or maybe, just maybe, do something just because Mom said so.

HOW TO OBSERVE #JustBecauseDay
Do something just because. Use #JustBecauseDay to post on social media.

Educators, taking the Just Because Day theme to heart, visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for ways to use this day in your classroom, just because.

NATIONAL JUST BECAUSE DAY HISTORY
In the late 1950s, Joseph J. Goodwin of Los Gatos, California created Just Because Day. It began as a family holiday and grew into an annual celebration across the United States.

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Happy Cherry Turnovers Day!

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On August 29, honor expertise, authority and the rules because it is According to Hoyle Day. Named after the English language phrase, according to Hoyle, the unofficial holiday celebrates the life and times of Englishman Edmond Hoyle, who died on this day in 1769.

A lawyer by trade, Edmond Hoyle is best known for publishing books detailing the rules and regulations of many popular card and board games of his time, including chess and backgammon. He is also known for writing an authoritative pamphlet on the card game of Whist.

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August 30 is Frankenstein Day. The unofficial holiday celebrates the life and times of English author Mary Shelley who wrote one of the word’s most read monster novel, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus .

Born on August 30, 1797, Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818 anonymously at the young age of 22.

Early Science Fiction
Considered to be a predecessor of modern day science fiction, Frankenstein recounts the story of scientist Victor Frankenstein and his experiment that ends with the creation of a human-like creature. In the novel, the creature who is hated and rejected by everyone due to its appearance, does not have a name. In popular culture, however, it is mistakenly referred to as Frankenstein after its creator.
Although everyone in the novel believes him to be a monster, he is also an intelligent and emotional being who is looking to be accepted by others.
The holiday is also known as National Frankenstein Day.

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August 31 is Eat Outside Day. So, pack up a lunch, head on over to the park and commune with nature while you eat your meal under the Sun.

This unofficial holiday of unknown origins encourages eating outside as excuse for people to go outdoors and take in from fresh air and enjoy some time under the Sun.
The day is also known as Eat Outdoors Day or National Eat Outside Day in the US.

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