Today Is... 📆

[GregRedd]

Good morning!

It is Friday, 26 March 2021

(W12/D85/280 rem)

Today is: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

Have you ever thought, “There really should be a holiday to celebrate ________“? where the blank space is something or someone who feel is worth memorialising with its or their own holiday? Of course you have. Well, today’s the day you get to make your own holiday day a reality-it’s Make Up Your Own Holiday Day!

As you’ve probably noticed there seems to be a holiday for just about everything, from the culturally important ones like Christmas and Hannukah to the purely secular and silly like Office Supply Day.

The origin of Make Up Your Own Holiday Day can be traced back to the Wellcat website, and its founders Ruth and Thomas Roy. The Roys have created more than seventy fun and frivolous holidays of their own, all of which have been posted on their website and are included in Chase’s Calendar of Events published by McGraw-Hill.

After creating so many holidays of their own and sharing so much joy with the world it is perhaps unsurprising that they decided it was time to invite others to join in the fun!

While many holidays have their roots in religious and culturally important events, it’s certain that at some point they got their start because someone simply decided to start celebrating something important to them.

That celebration was shared with others, who in turn shared it with others, and an entire tradition was started simply because someone was looking for an excuse to have a little fun. Make Up Your Own Holiday Day invites everyone to share their excitement about their favorite things with others.

And that’s the principle behind Make Up Your Own Holiday Day - think of something important to yourself and dedicate a holiday day to it.

Holidays can be created to celebrate movies, foods, arts and crafts, medical conditions and much more, and can serve as an opportunity to raise awareness, generate funds for charity, and generally bring people together about your favorite topic.

It all starts with deciding what you want your holiday to be about, and that’s something you can do as an individual or as part of a group. Is there something that’s important to you or a group of people you’re a part of that doesn’t get enough recognition and you think it’s high time it had a holiday?

Make Up Your Own Holiday Day is your chance to start making other people aware of this important cause. Don’t let that thing that’s important to you continue to live in obscurity, create a holiday of your very own and start giving it the attention it deserves!

So what is your holiday day going to be? Who or what is significant enough in your life to warrant a day dedicated to them?

Now go have a fun day because today is Friday, and also International Messy Hair Day!

[murfle]

@GregRedd

also International Messy Hair Day!

I’m so there

[czc]

I can do messy beard day.

[Beo]

One thing I hate about my hair and beard, it has a mind of its own. They may even come up with their own holidays.

[DarthMol]

I therefore declare it to be International Chelsea Bun day!

And this photo from a few years ago shows you how to celebrate it:

[FarligOpptreden]

Now I want one. And that one in your photo is quite big!

[DarthMol]

Yep biggest I’ve found yet!

[FarligOpptreden]

It’s about the size of the sourdough breads we buy from Babylonstoren just outside Stellenbosch, and we eat it over the course of 3 days!

[1nF4m0u5]

Hello spiertier

[GregRedd]

Good morning!

It is Saturday, 27 March 2021
(W12/D86/279 rem)

Today is: International Whisk(e)y Day

International Whisk(e)y Day was first announced at the Whiskey Festival in the Northern Netherlands in 2008, and has subsequently been celebrated annually on 27 March since 2009.

It was created in honour of the legendary whiskey and beer connoisseur and writer, Michael Jackson . (No relation to the King of Pop.) Jackson was world-renowned and known for his writings on whiskey and beer, and who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His whiskey-loving friends wanted to not only celebrate his love for whiskey but also help find a cure for this difficult disease. Since Michael’s birthday was March 27, the date is a nod to him.

So, the purpose of International Whisk(e)y Day isn’t just the raising of awareness of whiskey and its charms, although that is certainly a great reason. The purpose is also to spread awareness for Parkinson’s, a disease that the whiskey aficionado suffered from in his later years.

The name for Whisk(e)y comes from the Gaelic language, where it was referred to as Uisce na Beatha, which means ‘The Water of Life’. It wasn’t long before the name was shortened to Uisce (merely “Water”) and then the pronunciation slowly changed over time from Ish-Key, to Whiskey. And that pronunciation has remained ever since.

And yes, the parenthetical (e) in the name of the day is intentional. There are actually two correct ways to spell whiskey, depending on the context. Originally, Irish Whiskey included the ‘e’ while Scottish Whisky did not. The Americans adopted the ‘e’ version for their whiskey, but Canadians and Japanese whisky makers did not! Because the day is about celebrating all whiskeys, the correct, inclusive spelling is International Whisk(e)y Day !

The most obvious and practical way to celebrate this holiday is to either imbibe a favorite variety of Whiskey or to try a new one! Check out these ideas for celebrating Whisk(e)y Day:

Try a New Kind of Whiskey
Even better, get together with friends and introduce each other to your favorites, and maybe check out a few new vintages or styles. Look into these, for example:

• Irish Whiskey. Smooth, made from a mash of malt, caramel-colored, and must be distilled for at least 3 years in a wooden cask.
• Scotch Whisky (also called ‘Scotch’). Made with either malt or grain, must age in an oak barrel for 3 years.
• Canadian Whisky. Light and smooth with a high amount of corn, must be aged in a barrel for 3 years.
• Bourbon Whiskey. Made from at least 51% corn, aged in a new oak barrel, and must be 80 proof or higher. (Tennessee Whiskey is a sub-type of bourbon with special filtering step.)
• Japanese Whisky. Methods and taste are similar to Scotch, often used with mixed drinks.

Introduce Whisk(e)y to a Newbie
What could be more fun than opening up the world (and a bottle) to someone who has never tried whiskey before? Although it might be hard to imagine, many people are out there who are new to whiskey and have no idea how to enjoy it. Grab one of them, open a bottle, and reveal to them the myriad of reasons why Whisk(e)y Day is absolutely worth celebrating!

Donate to a Parkinson’s Disease Charity
Don’t forget to make a donation to your favorite Parkinson’s charity while you’re at it! Team Fox, the charity created by actor Michael J. Fox, who lives with early-onset Parkinson’s Disease, often teams up with various Whiskey Day folks to build momentum for celebrating the day and raising funds for the charity.

However you decide to observe International Whisk(e)y Day , please do it safely and take care of yourself and those with you. And don’t be a drink and then drive doos!

Happy Saturday everyone! Good health to all!

---

Today is also the first day of Pesach, the Jewish festival of Passover. Passover commemorates the Biblical story of the Exodus — where God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Passover is celebrated with great pomp and ceremony, especially on the first night, when a special family meal called the seder is held. At the seder, foods of symbolic significance are eaten, much wine is drunk, and the story of the Exodus is told. So l’chiam and chag sameach!

[czc]

I didn’t know Canadian Whisky was a thing.

[murfle]

The best Canadian whiskeys are made from rye, though.

Chag sameach!

[Beo]

Tullamore Dew is all I’ll say.

[GregRedd]

Good morning!

It is Sunday, 28 March 2021
(W12/D87/278 rem)

Today is: Something On A Stick Day

Something On A Stick Day is all about celebrating foods we love to eat – that just happen to come on a stick!

And while it would take lot to beat a delicious, thick, freshly made beef or chicken sosatie on a Sunday braai, when you think about it, there’s a lot of food that can go on a stick…

Who doesn’t love food that you can pick up by the stick and eat? So whether it’s a toffee apple, camp-fire sausage, cheese cubes on a toothpick, ice cream bar, lollipop or other lovely treats, feel free to indulge in them on this day! Or why not try the favourite American food on a stick if you can – the famous corn dog? (Has anyone ever had a genuine US corn dog? What’s it like? It intrigues and repulses me at the same time.)

What about planning an entire meal of a starter, main course and dessert all on sticks? Easy, informal, and fun – and very little cleaning up to do afterwards! What a great theme for a dinner party to have on Something on a Stick Day!

Observed each year on 28 March, Something on a Stick Day is a food holiday that lets you use your creative talents. Once you get started, the possibilities are endless. Foods that come on a stick are fun and easy to eat.

There isn’t much that can’t be put on a stick when talking about food. Soup might be that one exception, though if it were flavorful frozen, we might make an exception.

From cool summer treats like the Popsicle to frozen food staples like the corn dog, food on a stick is one of the world’s great inventions. Fresh fruit kabobs and skewers of grilled veggies and meat are both summer favorites.

Street fairs and food trucks have created a variety of recipes made to go on a stick that takes us from breakfast to after-party hunger with flavor combinations that sometimes make us wonder why we haven’t tried that before!

Whether it is fresh and healthy or breaded and deep-fried, menu choices are broad and plentiful for National Something on a Stick Day.

Again though, sosaties on braai FTW!!

Happy Sunday everyone!

[FarligOpptreden]

@GregRedd

Again though, sosaties on braai FTW!!

And there I celebrated the day without even knowing it…

[GregRedd]

Good morning!

It is Monday, 29 March 2021
(W13/D88/277 rem)

Today is: World Piano Day

World Piano Day began as an idea by the German pianist, composer, and producer, Nils Frahm. Frahm composes classical piano music with electronic music, reforming piano music with an unconventional approach. He launched the holiday back in 2015.

When Frahm was asked why the world needs a Piano Day, he replied, “Why does the world need a Piano Day? For many reasons. But mostly, because it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the piano and everything around it: performers, composers, piano builders, tuners, movers and most important, the listener.”

Since its founding, the holiday has expanded as people held concerts, recitals, lectures, and demonstrations. An official website, Pianoday.org, lists all the concerts and events you can go to all over the world to help celebrate the beauty of the piano.

World Piano Day takes place on the 88th day of the year because of the number of keys on the instrument being celebrated.

The aim of the day is to create a platform for piano related projects in order to promote the development of musical dimensions and to continue sharing the centuries-old joy of playing piano. World Piano Day welcomes all kinds of piano lovers — young and old, amateur and professional, of any musical direction – to join in. It is intended to be the most joyful of all holidays!

There are official World Piano Day playlists on Spotify and on Soundcloud:

> Official Piano Day Playlist on Spotify

> Piano Day Playlist 2020 on Soundcloud

You can find music by the days originator, Nils Frahm, on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music.

Nils Frahm on Apple Music

Nils Frahm

https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCHUlZT-VoVWIID4xcJZ5s6g?feature=share

Any MEWbs do the ivory tickling thing? Give us a taste of your skills. Everyone else is free to share your favourite pianist, piano-based music, or piano heavy tune. (And as much as it is appropriate, try to be a little more imaginative than just Billy Joel and “Piano Man”.)

Have a magnificent, musical Monday everyone!

[Beo]

Pass.

[GregRedd]

Pass? What do you mean “pass”? Are you some uncultured piano-hating philistine?

[Wyvern]

I was told politely in primary school to stay away from all musical instruments.

[Beo]

There’s other “classical” instruments that I prefer, I’ve never really been fond of piano.