Category: August Month

  • INTERNATIONAL PEACE MONTH – August

    INTERNATIONAL PEACE MONTH

    August is International Peace Month and a time to reflect on the First World War. On August 16, 1926, TIME Magazine wrote: “At Rheims, martyred memorial city of World War destruction, 4,000 pacifists from 30 countries assembled last week for the Fifth International Democratic Peace Conference. Nine hundred of the delegates were young Germans, representing almost every German city. At the first session, the present month of August 1926, was proclaimed “international peace month,” the delegates voting to encamp in tents upon the onetime World War battlefields of France through Aug. 29, ‘in order to pursue an intensive study of international peace work.’”

    International Peace Month was born of a series of tragic miscalculations, the war killed millions and ravaged Europe on a scale once considered unthinkable. The war not only set the stage for a century of violence and conflict but forever altered the human mindset, ushering in an age of cynicism, fatalism and lowered expectations for the future. As memory of the war recedes, it’s increasingly important that we educate new generations about the horrors of that conflict and learn whatever lessons we can, so we may not repeat the mistakes that led to the Great War.

    “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayan

    Many books have been written about the Great War. We have combined a reading list to help understand the era and how soldiers and families came to terms with the outcome.

    • All Quiet On the Western Front by E.M. Remarque is a novel about the effects of the war on the men fighting it.
    • Paths of Glory by Humphrey Cobb is a novel about corruption and injustice in the military. This piece of literature later became the basis for Stanley Kubrick’s classic film Paths of Glory.
    • The Great War And Modern Memory by Paul Fussell was a study of how the war changed Western culture.
    • The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman is a poignant story of how the war started.
    • Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo is a graphic look at the horrors of war told through the perspective of one soldier, the ultimate victim.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Study the history of the Great War, i.e., World War I. Learn about the worldwide devastation that led to the declaration of International Peace Month. Never let the world forget the devastating effects of the war. Use #InternationalPeaceMonth in social media correspondence.

    HISTORY
    International Peace Month was founded on August 16, 1926, at the Democratic Peace Conference in Germany. In commemoration of the month, delegates, mostly of German descent, voted to encamp in tents upon the battlefields of France through August 29.

     

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  • GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN MONTH – August

    GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN MONTH

    Start your Minivans and get ready to carpool! August is Get Ready for Kindergarten Month. The concept of kindergarten began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Bavaria and Strasbourg, on the French-German border. Elizabeth Peabody founded the first English-speaking kindergarten in the U.S. In 1860.

    Kindergarten is an essential prerequisite for your child’s education. Research into student behavior in kindergarten is useful in predicting academic performance in first and second grade. Kindergarten can also be a stressful experience for any child. Getting them ready is important. Putting your child in social situations ahead of time will help tremendously. Attending birthday parties, family gatherings, summer camping with friends and enrollment in social activities are excellent ways to get your little one socially savvy.

    You can also help your child better prepare for kindergarten by assisting them to memorize basic information, such as correct spelling of the name, address, and phone number. If your child is receptive, think about teaching the basic of letters and numbers beforehand. Work with them on developing some degree of nimbleness, as well as some basic physical activities, such as tying shoes.

    Helping your child get excited for the transition of kindergarten is an important step you can take together. Plan a visit to the classroom with your child to meet the teacher and see the facility. Get your child a full medical check-up, including eyes and ears. Set up a breakfast and bedtime routine at least a month in advance. Get necessary school supplies. Ask your child’s teacher for a list. Let your child choose colors and styles.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Document your child’s first day of school with photos. Use #GetReadyForKindergartenMonth in your social media correspondence. Never give out your child’s name or location on social media.

    HISTORY

    Author, Katie Davis, created Get Ready For Kindergarten Month in 2005.

     

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  • NATIONAL PANINI MONTH – August

    NATIONAL PANINI MONTH

    National Panini Month is the perfect time to celebrate the hot, melty sandwich on a beautiful August day. Panini is derived from Italian origin and is basically a grilled sandwich made with non-sliced bread. National Panini Month is an opportunity to break the regular old sandwich habit and panini away!

    A precursor of panini appeared in a 16th-century Italian cookbook but didn’t become popular 1970s and 1980s. In the 1980s young Italian hipster types who hung out in coffee-and-panini bars were known as “paninari.” The paninari revolted against the drabness of urban culture with colorful Italian fashion and a taste for fast food and “caferacer” motorcycles. Based in Milan, the paninaro craze spread across Italy. The British pop group Pet Shop Boys even recorded a song, Paniniaro, celebrating the paninari culture.

    There are many different ways to make a panini, but we suggest sticking to the original ingredients. Panini’s taste great with ciabatta, rosetta and baguette bread. Panini’s can be made from a variety of options. Paninis are especially good when pressed flat in a “panini press.” They resemble waffle irons, only with flat plates. A panini press is a versatile device. You can use it to make French toast, grilled cheese sandwiches, pita chips, omelets, pizza and your favorite breakfast sandwiches. Paninis go great with chili, coleslaw, French Fried potatoes, and your favorite soup!

    Try these panini variations:

    • CAPRESE – Mozzarella (smoked optional), tomato and basil, cooked until golden.
    • EGGPLANT-MOZZARELLA – Mozzarella (smoked optional), grilled eggplant and basil, cooked until golden.
    • CAPRESE VARIATIONS – Anchovies and capers, or prosciutto and Parmesan cheese.
    • PESTO TURKEY – A Caprese with pesto and slices of turkey breast.
    • CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA – Grilled chicken with pesto and prosciutto.
    • APPLE-MANCHEGO – Apple slices and manchego cheese with olive oil and quince paste.
    • THREE-MEAT – Sliced soppressata, capicola, salami, fontina and roasted red peppers.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Enjoy your favorite panini today! Use #NationalPaniniMonth in social media correspondence.

    HISTORY

    Sargento Foods, Inc. founded National Panini Month in 2008.

     

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  • NATIONAL GOAT CHEESE MONTH – August

    National Goat Cheese Day - August

    NATIONAL GOAT CHEESE MONTH

    August is National Goat Cheese Month! Chances are you’ve tried it, whether you realized it or not.

    If you have ever tried a Greek salad with Feta, you have tried goat cheese. The history of goat cheese goes back to Ancient Greece, circa 5,000 B.C. when the goat was first domesticated. Fresh goat cheese has about half the fat, cholesterol, and calories of commercial cream cheese made from cow’s milk. Also known as Chevre, goat cheese has always enjoyed a strong popularity and spread from the Mediterranean to Eastern Europe, Africa, South West Asia and India. The first settlers in America included goats in their inventory of dairy animals and the dairy goat has always been a presence on the typical American farm. Today, Alpine (France) and LaMancha (Spain) are among the top goat breeds for cheese production.

    It takes about a hundred pounds of goat’s milk to make around twenty-five pounds of cheese. Goat cheese can come fresh, aged or hard or brined. Castelo Branco goat cheese originated in Portugal. It has a fluffy texture, white color and is available salted or spicy. Caprino goat cheese is Italian in origin and popular in traditional recipes for its tangy flavor, salted and sour. Bucheron goat cheese is very popular in France. This goat cheese is known for its unique appearance of ivory color with brown edges. Bucheron has a soft and creamy texture and strong taste. Originating in Holland, Gouda goat cheese is popular on pizza and pasta. This cheese has a tangy, sweet/salty taste.

    “The variety and shapes and qualities of goat cheeses is matched only by the diversity of the American regions of their origin. Be it the hills of New England or upstate New York; the countryside of the Virginias or Carolinas; the Mid-West or Upper Mid-West; from the Texas plains to the Rockies and on to the coastal valleys of the West Coast; each cheese reflects the individual terrain and local traditions of the area of its production.” -Buffalo Creek Farm & Creamery

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Try some goat cheese combinations, such as goat cheese ice cream. Add some goat cheese to your salad. Goat cheese pizza might be fun too! Use #GoatCheeseMonth in social media correspondence.

    HISTORY

    The American Cheese Society launched National Goat Cheese Month in 1998 to promote the benefits of cooking with goat cheese.

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  • NATIONAL SANDWICH MONTH – August

    NATIONAL SANDWICH MONTH

    August is National Sandwich Month. The basic concept of the sandwich long predates the Earl of Sandwich, the real-life 18th-century aristocrat who reportedly loved them, and gave them their modern name. The ancient Jewish sage Hillel the Elder is said to have wrapped lamb-meat and bitter herbs between two pieces of matzoh (unleavened bread) during Passover. Early versions of the “wrap” have also been found in Asia and Africa. The sandwich grew in popularity among aristocrats in the 18th and 19th centuries. Legend has it they were popularly shared, held with one hand, during late-night gaming and drinking.

    According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a sandwich must have at least 35% cooked meat and be no more than 50% bread. The average American child eats about 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before finishing high school. Astronaut John Young once smuggled a corned beef sandwich on board a Gemini flight. Submarine sandwiches are called “hoagies” in Philadelphia and “heroes” in New York. The Dagwood sandwich was first introduced by Chic Young, creator of the Blondie strip, who described the sandwich as a “mountainous pile of dissimilar leftovers.”

    SANDWICH HACKS: HOW TO ENJOY NATIONAL SANDWICH MONTH

    • When making a BLT, weave the bacon together to avoid the bacon from falling out when you bite into it.
    • Worried about “fridge thieves” sealing your sandwich at the office? Get a Moldy Sandwich Bag. The bag isn’t really moldy; it only gives the appearance your lunch looks moldy and spoiled.
    • Instead of bread or toast, make your breakfast sandwiches with waffles.
    • Turn your freshly-baked bread over and slice it on the soft side. That helps prevent squishing the bread.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Try a new sandwich recipe every week and share them on social media! Check out the National Day Calendar recipes for more great ideas.  Use #NationalSandwichMonth to post your creations.

    HISTORY

    In 1952, the Wheat Flour Institute established August as National Sandwich Month. Newspapers across the country filled their pages with recipes fit for the Earl of Sandwich and picnics alike. The annual observance continues today.

     

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  • HAPPINESS HAPPENS MONTH – August

    HAPPINESS HAPPENS MONTH

    Once upon a time, a real group called the Secret Society of Happy People decided to dedicate a day to the pursuit of happiness. Members of the society wanted to let happy feelings linger inside them every day. In 2000, the Secret Society of Happy People expanded the celebration to Happiness Happens Month in August.

    Happiness is a choice. Remembering happiness does not mean you are problem free. That kind of life doesn’t exist. As the Stoics of Ancient Greece observed, happiness is all about the quality of your thoughts. Happiness is not a destination, but rather a life-long pursuit. Joy can be anywhere at any time. Don’t limit yourself to searching for pleasure. Enjoy everything and anything that makes you happy. Oprah Winfrey said it wasn’t until she learned to be happy that good things started happening to her.

    “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln

    If you struggle with finding happiness, you can learn to be happy. There is plenty of helpful advice available to guide you in the right direction. Reading self-help material is an excellent place to start. Here are a few published works you might want to read to help you in your pursuit of happiness:

    • The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
    • Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
    • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

    Most of the best “how to be happy” books and videos boil down to variations of the Ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism (not to be confused with the modern use of the word). The essence of stoicism is this: no matter what is wrong with the world in general, and your life in particular, you can choose to be happy if you learn how.

    “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”
    -Viktor Frankl

    HOW TO OBSERVE
    Notice more happy moments and share them with others. Use #HappinessHappensMonth in social media correspondence.

    HISTORY
    The Secret Society of Happy People started celebrating happiness with “Admit You’re Happy Day,” on August 8, 1999.

     

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  • NATIONAL BACK TO SCHOOL MONTH | AUGUST

    NATIONAL BACK TO SCHOOL MONTH | August

    Back to School Month in August gears up parents, teachers, schools, and students for a season of education.

    With shorter days, it’s time to dust off the backpacks, fill them up, and plan for a new school year. Preparing children for the new year includes everything from supplies, clothes, checkups, planning schedules, and making new friends. Teachers develop their lesson plans and ready their classrooms for the new, smiling faces.

    Despite all the excitement, the expense of going back to school can put a damper on going back to school. Fill-the-bus events, backpack programs, and teacher supply initiatives help to fill the gaps. Organizations around the country pull together to make the first day of school fun every year.

    Another resource can be found on the National Day Calendar Classroom page. We will prepare new lessons to add to last year’s wide variety of subjects for every age level.

    Whether you’re ready or not, friends, activities, and books are just around the corner.  Get ready to learn!

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Check your supply list, tour your new school, learn your schedule. Volunteer to show a new student around your stomping grounds. Have some fun before summer is over, too! How do you get ready for back to school? Share on social media using #NationalBackToSchoolMonth.

    HISTORY

    National Back to School Month has been observed since the 1960s.

    The school year has traditionally begun in the fall and ended in late spring allowing the children of farmers in our agricultural society to help with planting and harvesting. Though today most families have moved to a more urban and suburban lifestyle, most schools in the United States still function on this system. However, a trend toward a year-round school year is gaining steam.

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  • NATIONAL CRAYON COLLECTION MONTH | AUGUST

    NATIONAL CRAYON COLLECTION MONTH | November

    Preparing for the return to school, National Crayon Collection Month in August makes a point of ensuring every child has this essential school supply.

    Those gently used, but discarded restaurant crayons are the focus of Crayon Collection, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to redirecting mountains of much-needed crayons from landfills to schools. National Crayon Collection Month draws awareness to the environmental and social impact of throwing crayons away while students across the country go without crucial classroom supplies.

    Throughout the month, families and teachers are encouraged to ask managers of kid-friendly restaurants to save their discarded crayons.  At the end of the campaign, they can return to the restaurant, collect the restaurant’s saved crayons and donate them to their local schools. Bringing all those simple but brightly colored art tools to classrooms will free up teacher resources and place them into the hands of children who might have gone without.

    Our goal is for every child in America to have the crayons they need in time for the start of school. With the help of kid-friendly restaurants we can reallocate resources so that instead of trashing this like-new art supply, we can collect them for children to learn and expand their imaginations with. ~Sheila Michail Morovati – Founder Crayon Collection

    Crayons don’t decompose, but in the hands of young, supple minds, they foster visual learning, creativity, and academic achievement. Annually, over 150 million restaurant crayons given to young diners eventually end up in landfills. End to end, those crayons could span the contiguous United States 3 times or scale the Empire State Building 30,175 times. Wouldn’t those barely used crayons better serve the nearly 16 million children who live in poverty and are unable to afford even this simple tool of expression?  By collecting and redistributing crayons, our teachers can put some of the almost $900 of their own money they spend preparing their classrooms each fall, back into their pockets. Districts across the country continue to cut art funding despite the research supporting the positive impacts it has on scholastic performance. Putting art back in the classroom and giving students an environment for creativity cultivates curiosity and promotes learning.

    HOW TO OBSERVE

    Ask the question of your local restaurants. “Will you save crayons?” Be sure to make a commitment, too.  Collect the crayons from the restaurant at the end of the month and donate them to your schools. Teachers can participate in the Crayon Collection Curriculum to bring more art into your classroom. Share photos of your collections and art by using #GotCrayons on social media to encourage others to participate and to show how simply you can gain access to thousands of crayons. Want to learn more? Visit Crayon Collection and find out more about how to participate in National Crayon Collection Month.

    Follow Crayon Collection on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, too!

    Kid Friendly Restaurants

    • IHOP
    • Denny’s
    • Applebees
    • BJ’s
    • Cracker Barrel
    • Olive Garden
    • California Pizza Kitchen
    • Outback
    • Island’s Restaurants
    • Buffalo Wild Wings
    • Bubba Gump

    HISTORY

    National Crayon Collection Month was founded in 2016 by Sheila Morovati, President and Founder of Crayon Collection to energize and engage communities across the U.S. in a massive crayon collection program to prepare for the start of school. National Crayon Collection Month was declared by the Registrar at National Day Calendar in July of 2016.

    Sheila Morovati – President and Founder
    149 S. Barrington Ave. #649                LA, CA 90049
    ph. 310-435-8497

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  • August Monthly Observations

    August National Months

     

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  • National Golf Month – August

    National Golf Month is an annual designation observed in August.

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