May 23 Taffy Day

Today, May 23rd, we can all take a moment to appreciate Taffy. Salt Water Taffy, Laffy Taffy, Original Taffy. All kinds. Salt water taffy in was invented 1883 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Taffies are available in many flavors and colors. The most popular are fruit flavors, like banana and lemon, but actually anything can go. Even salt water! But the very first taffies were flavorless. Later molasses and vanilla were added to make candies better. That was the beginning of experiments with different flavors. Color experiments began much later and they were designated to match the flavor of the candies.

There are many rumors on that how they were created. The most popular legend says, that a candy store was flooded during the storm, and the candies soaked in saltwater. When a little girl came to buy a taffy, the owner said, that she could offer her only salt water taffy. Little girl was delighted with it and bought one. She brought the candy to show her friends. Mother of shop owner heard the conversation and loved the name of the candy. That is how salt water taffy was born.

Choose your favorite taffies to celebrate the holiday and share them with your family and friends. 

May 22 Buy a Musical Instrument Day

Each year on May 22 we observe National Buy a Musical Instrument Day. It is unknown when the first musical instrument was invented, but historians believe that flutes made of animal bones date back 37,000 years. Today there are 6 main instrument categories – percussion, woodwinds, brass, strings, keyboard, and electronic.

Playing a musical instrument is a fun and engaging activity for people of all ages. Celebrate today as you learn to play a new instrument.

The most played instrument is the piano, followed by the guitar and the drums. 21 million Americans play the piano – that's more than all other instruments combined. Other popular instruments include the flute, ukulele, saxophone, clarinet, trombone, and violin. Not only is playing a musical instrument fun, it can also increase abilities in other areas. Children who play a musical instrument are shown to read at advanced levels, have larger vocabularies, and work better in teams. 

May 22 Maritime Day

National Maritime Day is observed annually in the United States on May 22. Created to recognize the maritime industry National Maritime Day also honors America’s Merchant Marines for their contributions and sacrifices for our country.

The United Nations (UN), via the International Maritime Organization (IMO), created World Maritime Day to celebrate the international maritime industry’s contribution towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping. The event’s date varies by year and country but it is always on the last week of September.

World Maritime Day was first held on March 17, 1978 to mark the date of the IMO Convention’s entry into force in 1958. At that time, the organization had 21 member states. It now has about 167 member states and three associate members. This membership includes virtually all the nations of the world with an interest in maritime affairs, including those involved in the shipping industry and coastal states with an interest in protecting their maritime environment. 

May 21 Armed Forces Day – Third Saturday in May

August 31, 1949 then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed Forces Day. President Harry Truman also announced the holiday in a presidential proclamation on February 20, 1950. All branches of the military were asked to celebrate on this day and they complied on the first Armed Forces Day which was held the following year on May 20, 1950.

Parades, open houses, receptions and air shows were held to celebrate the first Armed Forces Day held on May 20, 1950. Armed Forces Day annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a day to pay tribute to men and women who serve the United States’ armed forces.

Certain types of music are also played at Armed Forces Day events, including at memorials and at cemeteries, as a way to respect those in the armed forces who died for their country. For example, buglers have played a bugle call, known simply as Taps, on Armed Forces Day in recent years. Taps is usually sounded by the United States military at events such as flag ceremonies, memorial services and funerals. 

May 21 Strawberries and Cream Day

Strawberries and Cream Day is observed annually on May 21. strawberries is the only fruit with the seeds on the outside. Strawberries are believed to originate in Northern Europe, but wild strawberries can be found in many countries, including the USA. Food historians could trace strawberries to the Roman Empire, but they think, that Greeks knew about this berries even before Romans.

One strawberry contains about 200 seeds and each of them has a genetic potential to become a new variety of strawberry. There are no two seeds alike, that is why breeders could develop so many varieties of strawberries.

There are hundreds of different strawberries varieties. Each variety requires special growing conditions and soil to grow. Some varieties grow early in the season, some later, but all berries should be harvested at the peak of ripeness.

To celebrate National Strawberries and Cream Day, head to a local farm and pick your own fresh strawberries as a fun spring activity for the whole family. Then enjoy the fruits of your labor with a delicious snack of strawberries and cream at home. 

May 20 Be a Millionaire Day

Be a Millionaire Day is observed every year on May 20. Having one million dollars in your bank account is still a major financial success, isn’t it? The term “millionaire” first appeared in the English language in a letter written by Lord Byron in 1816. There were only a few millionaires at the time, but thanks to the Industrial Revolution, more millionaires were created outside of the aristocracy. 

Today there are more than 12 million millionaires scattered around the globe.

The first multi-millionaire in the United States was John Jacob Astor (1763 – 1848). Astor made his fortune in trade and later established the first trust in American history. His great-grandson, John Jacob Astor IV, was the wealthiest person aboard the Titanic.

Read book like think and grow rich... pray, trust and it happen.

There are many different ways to celebrate be a Millionaire Day. Invest money in a savings account or stock portfolio, or purchase a lottery ticket to try your luck. 

May 20 Pizza Party Day – Third Friday in May

May 20 is Pizza Party day observed by people each year. It was estimated that the annual production of pizza cheese in the United States in 1997 was 2 billion pounds. The first United States pizza establishment opened in 1905 was in New York’s Little Italy.

Thought to have originated in Italy, pizza today has become a popular dish served in restaurants and homes around the world. It is often considered by many as the perfect party dish – a single pie can feed a lot of people, it can be easily made at home or ordered from a restaurant, eating it does not require utensils or fancy dishware, and most importantly it is delicious even when consumed cold.

On this day millions of pizza lovers across the nation join in extolling the qualities of pizza on National Pizza Party Day. Celebrate by inviting friends and family to share a night of fun at your favorite pizzeria. Another way to celebrate is with a homemade pizza with fresh toppings or by having one delivered.

The original pizza used only mozzarella cheese, mainly the highest quality buffalo mozzarella variant which was produced in the surroundings of Naples. 

May 19 Devil’s Food Cake Day

May 19 is Devil's Food Cake Day. This chocolate cake is America's favorite for its airy and moist texture. One of the earliest recipes appeared in the August 10, 1898, edition of the Hagerstown Exponent of Hagerstown, Indiana. Devil’s Food cake is a divine chocolate cake. It differs from a regular chocolate cake by its darker color and tends to be more moist and airy.

Today is a celebration of this delicious dessert, which is considered the counterpart to the classic white angel food cake. Devil's food cake has a unique light and moist texture, which sets it apart from other chocolate cakes. The recipe calls for quite a bit of baking soda, and boiling water instead of milk. Both of these ingredients contribute to the fluffiness of this confection.

You can bake devil's food cake to celebrate holiday. Cover it with rich chocolate frosting and enjoy the cake with your family and friends. 

Recipes for Devil’s Food cakes…

May 19 May Ray Day

May Ray Day is Observed each year on May 19. On this day go outside, enjoying the sunshine and soaking up some rays.

According to meteorologists, the month of May is the last month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is when the temperatures start raising and the anticipation of summer is evident all around us - in stores with summer clothing and agricultural produce, in nature with summer flowers and plants getting ready to bloom, and in our schools where students are getting ready for the upcoming summer vacations. This makes it the best time of the year to get some sunshine and enjoy the Sun before it gets too hot.

There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors and the warmer days as summer approaches. Whether your place under the sun is at the park, a rooftop or your own back yard find a way to enjoy the nicer weather. 

May 18 Cheese Souffle Day

Cheese Souffle Day, observed May 18,

It's very important to know when you are going to serve your soufflé. You can wait for soufflé for a while, but it won't wait for you, unless you are going to serve a deflated soufflé. The secret to successful serving cheese soufflé during the meal is to decide, what are you going to serve first – salad or soup for example. Soufflé should go into the oven when you sit down for your first course.

Cheese soufflé is easy to make. Preheat oven to 350°F and cover ramekins with butter and flour.

Combine 2 1/4 cups shredded cheese, 3 tbs flour, and 3/4 cup milk. Set the mixture over simmering water in a double-boiler. Heat until cheese melts. Stir in 3 yolks one spoon of warm cheese mixture and then transfer it into cheese mixture. Stir to blend. Beat 6 egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold 1/4 of whites into cheese mixture, then add cheese mixture to whites and fold together. Divide soufflé among ramekins and bake it for about 15 minutes. Serve it hot.

 

May 18 No Dirty Dishes Day

No Dirty Dishes Day is observed on May 18. On this day you could celebrate by either not washing any dirty dishes or by washing all the dishes you can.

Dirty dishes, they are part of life. A lot of time, money and energy is spent every day on washing and drying dishes and putting them away. This unofficial holiday with unknown origins encourages people to take a break from doing the dishes for the day and spend the time saved doing things for fun.

There are many ways to make No Dirty Dish Day happen. An obvious solution is to switch to plastic plates, but this is by far the least glamorous way to mark this innovative holiday. Going out to a favorite restaurant or planning an outing on which you bring snacks or grill some goodies outdoors are just a couple of options which easily turn No Dirty Dish Day into a true festivity.

On this day, no dirty dishes should to be created, which you would have to wash. It is also not the goal of this day that you stack the dirty dishes and wash it the next day. 

May 17 Pack Rat Day

Pack Rat Day is celebrated every year on May 17, this holiday celebrate to encourages people to do some late spring-cleaning and to make space for newer, more useful things in their lives. “Pack Rat” can be considered a clever nickname for a hoarder. They may develop problems with compulsive hoarding. There are problems which may arise from compulsive hoarding which includes cluttered homes, yards, vehicles and other spaces.

We’re all a little bit materialistic, and tend to buy, own and hoard more ‘stuff’ than we might really need… We’re all pack rats, hoarders of treasures and possessions. Pack Rat Day encourages us to embrace the fact that we want to keep stuff, and suggests that you shouldn’t throw your old belongings, clothes or even rubbish away as it may be useful or valuable in days or years to come.

May 17 Cherry Cobbler Day

May 17 is Cherry Cobbler Day. This fruit pie deserves its own holiday and today is a perfect day to bake cherry cobbler to celebrate with friends and family. No one knows how cobblers got their name, but there are several theories. One source suggests that the word “cobbler” evolved from “cobeler,” which was a specific type of wooden bowl used in cooking.

Cherry cobbler is a baked dessert made with a rich fruit filling and a biscuit dough crust. Back in the 19th century, pioneers of the American West had to adapt many recipes because of a severe lack of ingredients. The traditional pie evolved into the cobbler, which was often served as the main dish of the meal.

A cherry cobbler differs from a crisp as a cobbler lacks oatmeal. Sometimes the cobbler is topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Bake your own delicious cobbler and serve it as the main course.

May 16 of each year honors Love a Tree Day.

Trees are a vital part of nature. This is a good day to plant a new tree or spend some time enjoying the beauty of the trees that are all around you.

Trees provide more than just beautiful landscapes and a shady canopy on a sunny day. They play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate as well as give us oxygen. Large quantities of carbon are stored in their tissues as trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Do Something below for tree around us.

1. Learn the Name of Trees That Live Around You, 2. Water a Thirsty Tree, 3. Give Your Tree Some Healthy Company, 4. Plant a Tree, 5. Give a Tree in Celebration.

On this day, trees are celebrated and recognized for the wonderful gift that they are to us. Love a Tree Day is in the middle of Garden for Wildlife Month. 

May 16 Sea Monkey Day

Today is May 16 Sea-Monkey Day. Harold von Braunhut invented the “Sea Monkeys” and hatching kits in 1957. Most of us have memories of waiting for our mail order shipment of these magical creatures. The delivery usually contained the small “aquarium-like” hatching kit for them to live and grow in. Sea-monkeys, which are also called “brine shrimp”.

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Sea-monkeys have three eyes and breathe through their feet. Sea Monkeys are a type of “Artemia” (brine shrimp). They got their name because of their monkey-tail look.

One of the most fascinating characteristics of the sea-monkey is its ability to live for years as an egg before hatching. Purchased sea-monkeys only begin to hatch and grow once you’ve added the proper nutrients to the water environment.

Sea Monkeys went into space with astronaut John Glenn on October 29, 1998, aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. They returned to Earth after spending nine days in space and the eggs hatched eight weeks later, apparently unaffected by their travels. 

May 15 Chocolate Chip Day

Chocolate Chip Day is celebrated on May 15 and everybody loves chocolate chips. They are available in numerous sizes, from large to miniature, but are usually less than 1 cm in diameter. Today, 25% of all the cookies baked in the United States are chocolate chip.

Chocolate chips are a required ingredient in chocolate chip cookies, which were invented in 1937 when Ruth Graves Wakefield of the Toll House Inn in the town of Whitman, Massachusetts added cut-up chunks of a semi-sweet Nestlé chocolate bar to a cookie recipe.

Chocolate chips are very popular as a baking ingredient in the United States and the chocolate chip cookie is regarded as a quintessential American dessert. Chocolate chips are also available in Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world. 

May 15 Nylon Stocking Day

Nylon Stocking Day is observed across the country each year on May 15. The stocking has come to represent a large number of different concepts, from femininity to sexuality.

Chemical company DuPont’s introduction of nylon in 1939 began a high demand for stockings in the United States. As nylon stockings were inexpensive, durable and shear, up to 4 million pairs would be purchased each day.

On February 11, 1942, as America entered World War II, DuPont ceased production of nylon stockings and switching their focus to the manufacture of parachutes, airplane cords and rope. This created a mass shortage followed by a black market for stockings. At the end of World War II, DuPont resumed production of the stockings but could not meet the demand leading to nylon riots in American stores. In time, DuPont was able to increase its output.

Stockings worn before the 1890s were made of woven cloth such as cotton, linen, wool or silk. Before the 1920s, women’s stockings were worn for warmth. As hemlines of women’s dresses rose in the 1920s, women began to wear stockings over their exposed legs. These 1920s stockings were sheer, made first of silk or rayon, followed by nylon after 1940. 

May14 Buttermilk Biscuit Day

May14 is Buttermilk Biscuit Day. Biscuits appeared in the USA prior to Civil War. Alexander P. Ashbourne patented the first biscuit cutter in 1875. In 1931, Ballard and Ballard patented these refrigerator biscuits.

Biscuits became popular when people realized, that their hardness, compared to sliced bread, worked better to wipe up gravy on the plate. This evolved into a well-known meal, biscuits and gravy.

Biscuits are made using baking powder or baking soda as a leavening agent rather than yeast. A typical buttermilk biscuit recipe contains flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, and buttermilk. They are often referred to as a “quick bread”, indicating they do not need time to rise before baking. While being made, the dough is beaten and folded to incorporate air, which expands while baking, causing the biscuit to rise. 

 

May 14 Dance like a Chicken Day

Today May 14th is Dance like a Chicken Day. The Chicken Dance is a tradition at weddings, children’s discos and family events.

Werner Thomas, a Swiss accordion player, wrote the basic melody for the Chicken Dance song in the late 1950s. In 1963, he began performing it at his restaurant. The people who bravely stood up and danced along often used sporadic movements that reminded Thomas of ducks and chickens. By the time the Chicken Dance arrived in America in the 1970s, it had transformed into a set of movements with repeated "beak", "wing", and "tail" movements.

Although we may not like to admit it, we all have rocked the Chicken Dance at least once or twice in our lives. This goofy dance is a popular favorite at kid’s birthday parties, bat mitzvahs, weddings, and beyond. 

May 13 Apple Pie Day

Apple Pie Day is observed annually on May 13th. America’s favorite dessert. It was invented in Europe sometime during the 14th century. The ingredients in the recipe included apples, spices, raisins, figs, pears, and saffron which was all enveloped in a pastry crust.

The dish was also commemorated in the phrase "for Mom and apple pie". The phrase “as American as apple pie” has been around for more than 100 years.

Teddy Roosevelt was impressed to have a taste of home when he was an American apple pie while traveling in Africa. Soldiers during World War II were often quoted they were fighting “for Mom and apple pie.” In 1970, advertisers used the patriotic connection with a commercial jingle “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.”

To celebrate National Apple Pie Day, bake a delicious apple pie or pick one up at your local bakery to share with your family and friends.