Welcome to November 30, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate amazing flights and the spirit of giving. Mississippi is best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley and The Blues. But it’s also known as the setting for one of the world’s greatest feats of aviation. In 1935, two brothers from Meridian, Mississippi—Al and Fred Key—took off in a single-engine plane from the local airport. They wanted to see how long they could stay in the air before having to land. Their aircraft, called the Ole Miss, circled the area and refueled from another plane via a special nozzle they had invented. When it was all said and done, the brothers had been flying for just over 27 days and had traveled 52,320 miles--which at the time was a world record. It’s National Mississippi Day, and we celebrate The Flying Keys and all of the fine folks in the Magnolia State. If you’re already stressed out from a weekend of holiday shopping, today is the perfect time to hit pause. On the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, folks celebrate Giving Tuesday also known as the National Day of Giving. It doesn’t take a lot to lift someone’s spirits. Take the story of Matthew Flores. Matthew was a 12 year old boy who just wanted something to read. He could not even afford a bus pass to the library, let alone books of his own. Matthew asked his mail carrier, Ron Lynch, for any extra junk mail he could read and the postal worker put the story on FaceBook. 3,500 books later Matthew has his own personal library, which he now shares with those in need. On Giving Tuesday, celebrate your own good fortune by sharing it with those around you.  I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to November 29, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate convenient ways to stay connected and shopping with ease. When Neil Papworth sent the first ever text to his boss in 1992, he had no idea the impact it would have. The text was pretty simple—it said Merry Christmas—but this message changed the world. Texting has become a part of everyday life. In fact, it’s the most popular form of electronic communication in the world. Last year, 2 trillion texts were sent—and that’s only counting the United States. This form of communication makes it easy to keep in touch with friends and family, no matter where they live. And as we enter the holiday season, thank goodness for that. On Electronic Greetings Day, celebrate by reaching out to those you love. Shopping from the convenience of your living room has never been easier as we celebrate the phenomenon known as Cyber Monday. What began as a marketing gimmick in 2005 was actually a clever trend prediction by Ellen Davis and Scott Silverman of The National Retail Federation. They noticed the spike in online sales after Black Friday and figured that folks were using the faster internet at work to round out their holiday shopping. A simple press release launched the phrase and the Monday after Thanksgiving became the biggest online shopping day of the year. In 2019 that translated into more than 9 billion dollars in sales. It’s also a win-win for shoppers who enjoy the ease of purchasing from their mobile devices. On Cyber Monday keep calm and shop on. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to November 28, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the Festival of Lights and reclaiming lost bread.  This evening kicks off Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights. During the time of Alexander the Great, Jewish culture began to blend with Greek culture in a mostly peaceful relationship. That is until Antiochus IV desecrated the Jewish Holy Temple. When the Israelites rededicated the Second Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough oil to keep the lamps lit for one night, but instead, the oil lasted for 8. Chanukah celebrates this miracle with 8 nights of observance. In the evening, families light the menorah, adding one candle each night until all 9 candles are glowing on the last day. They exchange gifts, and share foods that commemorate this event. On the first day of Chanukah, we share in the spirit of miracles and embrace the ones we love.  Today we celebrate a favorite breakfast food that goes by many names. Best known as French toast, it's actually not French at all. The first known recipe dates all the way back to the 5th century AD. That’s when the Romans whipped up eggs and milk, dipped in bread and fried it in oil or butter. And the recipe has remained more or less the same ever since. It was later called “poor knights” in Germany and “eggy bread” in England. And in France the name is “pain perdu” which means lost bread. What a perfect description for the magical transformation of stale bread into a golden toasted perfection. Try it with cinnamon and whipped cream, fruit or syrup and lots of melted butter. On National French Toast Day, celebrate this breakfast favorite with any name you please! I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to November 27, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate protein on the go and supporting the small guys. The preservation of meat by smoking or drying has been around for a very long time. Evidence of meat jerky is even found in the tombs of ancient Egypt. And this makes sense when you realize that refrigeration has only been around a relatively short while. But today we celebrate the artisanal flair of the folks who produce craft jerky with everything from elk to buffalo and even soybeans and mushrooms. Your taste buds may only be geared for the traditional beef kind originally produced by the South American tribes of the Andes.  On National Craft Jerky Day prepare your palate for something savory and something more adventurous if you dare. Small Business Saturday reminds us of the prime shopping opportunities right in our own backyards. These places offer lots of gift-giving possibilities with hands-on service and quality, thoughtful gifts. Small businesses feed our communities. They keep our main streets thriving and employ nearly half of the American workforce. You’ll feel good knowing that your holiday shopping puts food on the tables of the folks you know. And plenty of the people on your list prefer handmade items anyway! Don’t hesitate to browse a small business website as well as the traditional brick and mortar kind. You may be surprised to discover just what you’ve been looking for. On Small Business Saturday, celebrate the moms and pops who put the fun and goodwill back into the season of giving.  I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices