Category: February 11

  • INTERNATIONAL SNOWMOBILE RIDE DAY | Second Saturday in February

    International Snowmobile Ride Day | Second Saturday in February

    The second Saturday in February is International Snowmobile Ride Day as a day to encourage everyone to bundle up for an exciting adventure outside on a snowmobile.

    #SnowmobileRideDay

    International Snowmobile Ride Day is the perfect day for everyone to get outside and experience the outdoors during the winter months. In fact, we can’t think of a better way to see the beauty of winter than while riding a snowmobile. Besides providing an opportunity to view the winter wonderland around you, riding a snowmobile is also a great way for families to get together for fun during the long, winter months.

    What is a snowmobile? A snowmobile is a motorized vehicle designed to operate on snow or ice, using tracks or runners on the bottom to move the machine. Snowmobiles do not travel on the open road, but instead on open terrain or on trails. The design is specific for use during the winter months for travel and recreation. Depending on where you live, a snowmobile can go by several other names:

    • Ski-Doo
    • Snowmachine
    • Sled
    • Motor Sled
    • Skimmobile

    Winter Playground

    Winter is one of the most beautiful seasons. Many people miss out on that beauty because of the cold. However, snowmobiling is the perfect activity to experience that beauty. Riding snowmobile can take you over hundreds of miles of hard-to-reach landscapes. In fact, snowmobiling allows you to explore gorgeous scenery of snow covered hills, plains, and mountain trails. Imagine traveling on a trail and you stop to overlook a canyon as the sun goes down. The glow of the winter sun emitting off of pure white snow looks like miles and miles of sparkling gems glowing in different hues of red, orange, and yellow.

    Driving a snowmobile is easy to learn. Whether you are a part of a snowmobiling club or you ride as a hobby, anyone can ride a snowmobile. The entire family, from kids to grandparents, can learn to drive a snowmobile quickly by simply pushing buttons. Once you learn the basic parts of a snowmobile, you will be on the trail in no time making winter fun again and making memories that will last you a life time.

    CELEBRATE SNOWMOBILING

    • Join a snowmobile club.
    • Plan a day of trail riding with your family and friends.
    • Teach a snowmobile safety course.
    • Learn about the different varieties of snowmobiles on the market.
    • Document your trail ride and post to social media using #SnowmobileRideDay.

    INTERNATIONAL HISTORY 

    In 2022, BRP, Inc. joined the National Day Calendar Founder Family establishing International Snowmobile Ride Day. This family-fun winter day is to be celebrated each year on the second Saturday in February. As stand-alone company, BRP, Inc.  has brought an impressive portfolio of products that has been enabling unforgettable experiences for their customers for decades.

    About

    In 1937, Joseph-Armand Bombardier was granted a patent for the first ever vehicle that could travel on snow. Developed in his garage in Valcourt, Quebec, Bombardier worked through his personal determination and daring ideas. In 1942, a second, larger vehicle followed his patent. This led to Bombardier founding his own company that same year. The company became known as L’Auto-Neige Bombardier Limité.

    Over the years, J.-A. Bombardier refines his own design and launches the Ski-Doo in 1959, which was powered by a Kohler motor. This innovative product created a new sport that became known as snowmobiling. In the years to follow, Bombardier would seek to consistently innovate new machines by exploring every playground and revolutionizing the powersports industry. Today, the BRP, Inc. riders can be transported on snow, on water, on the ground, and even in the air. United by their passion to keep moving forward towards new adventures, BRP, Inc. gives their customers around the world the power to create their best memories.

    Important Dates

    • 1942 – Start up of Auto-neige Bombardier Ltd.
    • 1959 – Industry-first Ski-Doo snowmobile.
    • 1968 – Industry-first Sea-Doo PWC.
    • 1970 – Acquisition of the Austrian Rotax brand.
    • 1989 – Acquisition of the Nordtrac Oy and Lynx brand.
    • 1998 – Bombardier enters the ATV market.
    • 2001 – Acquisition of the Evinrude and Johnson brands.
    • 2003 – Bombardier sells its Recreational Products division; BRP is officially launched.
    • 2007 – Industry-first three-wheel vehicle .
    • 2010 – BRP enters the side-by-side vehicle market
    • 2013 – BRP’s Initial Public Offering.
    • 2018 – Acquisition of the Alumacraft and Manitou Brands.
    • 2018 – BRP enters the Nasdaq.
    • 2019 – Acquisition of Australian boat manufacturer Telwater.
    • 2020 – BRP refocuses its marine business; Discontinuation of Evinrude E-TEC and E-TEC G3 outboard engines.

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  • GLOBAL MOVIE DAY – Second Saturday in February

    GLOBAL MOVIE DAY

    Right in the heart of Oscar season, the second Saturday in February celebrates Global Movie Day to honor the way movies have captured audiences’ hearts and minds around the world for over 100 years. Since their inception, movies have transcended geography, language, time, and culture, connecting us all through the power of storytelling.

    #GlobalMovieDay

    There are many parts that come together to bring a movie to life. They all play a role in telling the story before the first flicker of light on the screen, before the first note of the musical score plays. Collectively, these elements create magnificent narratives that captivate us time and again.

    HOW TO OBSERVE GLOBAL MOVIE DAY

    • What was the first movie you saw at a drive-in theater?
    • Who loves musicals? Tell us about the first musical you saw.
    • You probably don’t remember your first animated movie. Which is the first one you DO remember?
    • So it’s date night. What movie did you and your significant other first see together?
    • Tell us about your favorite movie line.
    • We know you hide under the blankets when the scary music starts. Tell us about the first time you discovered the horror genre!
    • No matter how you choose to celebrate, be sure to take pictures/videos and share moments and memories using #GlobalMovieDay across social media
    • Explore these 5 Movie Originals and Their Remakes as you make your Oscar picks!

    GLOBAL MOVIE DAY HISTORY

    Global Movie Day logo, AMPAS Gold Oscar SilThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences founded Global Movie Day in 2020 to celebrate the power of movies to reach, connect, and inspire people across the globe.

    On January 15th, 2020, the Registrar at National Day Calendar® proclaimed the Global Movie Day to be observed annually on the 2nd Saturday in February.

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  • NATIONAL INVENTORS’ DAY – February 11

    NATIONAL INVENTORS’ DAY

    National Inventors’ Day honors inventors of the past, the creators of the present, and encourages the architects of the future. On February 11th, National Inventors’ Day celebrates the genius behind design. It also dives into the history behind some of our most unusual inventions.

    #NationalInventorsDay

    What do Ermal Fraze, Thomas Adams, Melitta Bentz, Patricia Beth, and Stephen Perry all have in common? They are recognized annually on February 11th, along with the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, George Washington Carver, and Elisha Otis.

    Thanks to inventors, we can safely ride in an elevator, have a well-lit room at the flip of a switch, speak to someone on the other side of the world or efficiently pump lotion from a bottle. Many inventors go their whole life without recognition for their creations, while others are household names. Nearly everything around us results from someone tinkering in their garage, laboratory, or basement trying to find a solution to a problem.

    Some inventions may be happy accidents by an observant person; the microwave oven, penicillin, sticky notes, and bubble wrap may never have made their way into their current use if it were not for sharp or persistent inventors.

    “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

    The proverb “Necessity is the mother of invention” says a lot about how inventors look at life. They are a progressive, forward-thinking bunch. Without pacemakers, traffic signals, rubber bands, or coffee filters, where would we be?

    Though there are some inventions that we may be better off without. A DVD re-winder doesn’t quite fit the necessary criteria. Or, they are otherwise too impractical. For example, tugging around a stroller fridge for your watermelon along with the cooler and beach umbrella seems to be a bit of overkill. Still, without inventors, the world would be downright dull and much more challenging.

    Inventors should keep track of their ideas, processes, ingredients, and components. Then, protect your inventions and get your unique creations patented.

    HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL INVENTORS’ DAY

    • Keep inventing!
    • Share your creations.
    • Recognize an inventor you know.
    • Read about inventors and inventions that changed the way we look at the world today. We recommend Mistakes that Worked by Charlotte Jones, The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation by Jon Gertner, and Five Notable Inventors by Wade Hudson.
    • Learn about the patent process and how to protect your ideas. Then, put your ideas to work for you!
    • Visit the National Day Calendar® Classroom for a lesson designed for National Inventors’ Day.
    • Watch documentaries about your favorite inventions. You might find out something about the inventor you never knew!
    • Use #NationalInventorsDay to share on social media.

    NATIONAL INVENTORS’ DAY HISTORY

    In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Inventors’ Day, which takes place every year on Thomas Edison’s birthday.

    Inventors FAQ

    Q. Do I have to be an inventor to celebrate this day?
    A. No. You can celebrate a favorite inventor.

    Q. Do all inventors patent their ideas?
    A. No. Some inventors love the process of creating and solving problems.

    Q. Can inventors make a lot of money?
    A. Some do, but usually after a lot of trial and error. The process of invention is rarely a fast track to getting rich.

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  • NATIONAL PEPPERMINT PATTY DAY – February 11

    NATIONAL PEPPERMINT PATTY DAY

    National Peppermint Patty Day recognizes a treat enjoyed by millions around the world. On February 11th each year, sink your teeth into the minty chocolate sweet. 

    #PeppermintPattyDay

    The oldest commercially-made mint patty or cake was made by the Quiggin’s family on the Isle of Man (an island located in the middle of the northern Irish Sea). They had been making the cakes since 1840, but in 1880, four of the sons formed the Kendal Mint Cake Company.

    In the United States, as early as 1900, peppermint patties were made by regional confectioneries. Companies such as Idaho Candy Company, Trudeau Candie’s, and Pearson’s. Pearson’s purchased Trudeau in 1951, both were Minnesota companies. Possibly the most known, though not the oldest, York Peppermint Patties were made by the York Cone Company of Pennsylvania.

    York Peppermint Patties were first made in 1940 and distributed regionally, much like other candy makers of the era. York dominated the market because of its firmness and crispness while the others were soft. A former York employee remembered that the final (sample) test of the patty before it left the factory was called a “snap test.” If the candy did not break clean in the middle, it did not make it onto candy store shelves.

    In 1975 the company was acquired by Peter Paul Cadbury. Cadbury moved the factory to Reading, Pennsylvania, much to the distress of workers and residents of York. The company then distributed the popular treat across the country.

    HOW TO OBSERVE PEPPERMINT PATTY DAY

    • Create a festive treat from peppermint patties to perk up a friend or family member. A fresh bouquet of these minty treats would be a delightful surprise!
    • Mix up a minty peppermint patty milkshake for a chilling change. 
    • Add a bit of peppermint kick to your mocha to celebrate the day! Whether you use a syrup, add a peppermint stick or order it from a local coffee shop, you won’t go wrong. 
    • Be sure to use #PeppermintPattyDay to share on social media. 

    NATIONAL PEPPERMINT PATTY DAY HISTORY

    We continue researching the origins of this minty food holiday. However sweet it is, we’ve not discovered who created the day.

    Peppermint Patties FAQ

    Q. Do Peppermint Patties always include chocolate?
    A. Peppermint patties are a chocolate-coated candy with a creamy peppermint center.

    Q. Do Peppermint Patties come in dark chocolate?
    A. Yes.

    Q. Is there a Peanut character named Peppermint Patty?
    A. Yes, there is. Charles M. Schulz created the comic strip character named Peppermint Patty in 1966. Her full name is Patricia Reichardt.

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  • NATIONAL SHUT-IN VISITATION DAY – February 11

    NATIONAL SHUT-IN VISITATION DAY

    National Shut-In Visitation Day on February 11th serves as a reminder to bring some cheerful company to people who are unable to leave their homes. Visiting a person who is shut-in makes a positive difference in that person’s life.  

    #ShutInVisitationDay

    Someone who is shut-in remains in their home due to physical, mental, or emotional reasons. These conditions can cause a person to feel lonely, isolated, sad, and cut off from the rest of the world. Sometimes they do not have family and friends available to visit and spend time with them. Many lack any kind of companionship.

    We often take for granted our freedom to be able to go outside each day, go to work, eat lunch at a restaurant, work out at the gym or take a vacation. These are things that people who are shut-in are not able to experience on any day. A visit with them would brighten their day, and we could share our experiences with them.

    HOW TO OBSERVE SHUT IN VISITATION DAY

    Visit a person who is shut-in due to disability or illness and brighten their day. Become a companion. Some activities you can do include:

    • Play a board game
    • Read a book
    • Watch a favorite movie
    • Work on a jigsaw puzzle
    • Read the National Day Calendar and find ways to celebrate together
    • Read the newspaper
    • Bring a new library book and offer to return old ones
    • Try a new recipe
    • Take up a hobby you’ll both enjoy
    • Explore your ancestry together

    Use #ShutInVisitationDay to post on social media.

    NATIONAL SHUT-IN VISITATION DAY HISTORY

    National Day Calendar has not identified the origins of this selfless holiday. 

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  • NATIONAL WHITE SHIRT DAY/ WHITE T-SHIRT DAY – February 11

    NATIONAL WHITE SHIRT DAY/WHITE T-SHIRT DAY 

    National White Shirt Day, also known as National White T-Shirt Day, commemorates the day a historic auto worker strike resolved on February 11, 1937.

    #NationalWhiteShirtDay

    Manufacturing provided a large part of our workforce in the early part of the 20th century. When the 1929 stock market crash triggered the Great Depression, auto manufacturers laid-off workers and cut costs. GM did as well, eliminating their more expensive models. They stripped down their remaining models and sped up production to a grueling pace. As they hired workers back, they did so at lower pay and didn’t consider seniority.

    In 1935 the Wagner Act allowed workers to legally organize and join labor unions. By 1936, conditions reached a dangerous and fierce pace. Workers had organized before, standing in picket lines that put not only their jobs at risk but their lives, too.

    Sit-ins, though, created an opportunity to shut down the plant entirely without any replacement workers crossing picket lines. On December 30, 1936, GM workers took up residence in the Flint, Michigan Body Plant Number 1, after a plan to walk out was derailed. Their sit-in lasted 44 days and brought production to a halt and impacted not just GM but the entire auto industry. 

    The strike helped The United Auto Workers (UAW) union become the sole bargaining agent for General Motors autoworkers. The observance is best known in Flint, Michigan, and other cities that have a GM auto plant.

    HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WHITE SHIRT DAY

    • Learn more about the history of labor unions and how they’ve influenced change in working conditions.
    • Read about manufacturing and skilled labor in the United States.
    • Share the history of someone who has helped change a workforce for the better.
    • Share your experience in the workforce. Use #NationalWhiteShirtDay to post on social media.

    NATIONAL WHITE SHIRT DAY HISTORY

    Bert Christenson, a member of UAW Local 598, initiated National White Shirt/White T-shirt Day on February 11, 1948.

    White Shirt FAQ

    Q. Does the United Automobile Workers still exist?
    A. Yes. Today, though, it also consists of aerospace and agricultural Implement workers.

    Q. Why is it called White Shirt Day?
    A. At the time of the GM strike, only foremen and supervisors were allowed to wear white shirts. The thought was if all the workers wore white shirts, they couldn’t fire them all.

    Q. What’s the difference between a sit-in and a picket line?
    A. A sit-in is when workers remain on-site but have halted work to gain the opportunity to have their concerns heard. On a picket line, the workers are outside the site for a strike, often with signs that express their reasons for striking.

    February 11th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) History

    1809

    The United States Patent Office issues Robert Fulton a patent for the first successful steamboat. Although the original patent record was destroyed in the 1936 US Patent Office fire, Fulton’s commercial success with his North River Steamboat and Clermont spread westward.

    1922

    Frederick Banting and Charles Best discover insulin at the University of Toronto. Their discovery would advance the treatment of diabetes.

    1945

    Declaration of a Liberated Europe signed at Yalta Conference by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and General Joseph Stalin.

    1990

    After 27 years as a political prisoner, the leader to end South African apartheid, Nelson Mandela is released from Victor Verster Prison outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

    February 11th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) Birthdays

    Jean Baptiste Charbonneau – 1805

    The explorer, trapper, and guide rarely stayed in one place long during his entire life. Born days before his parents Toussaint Charbonneau and Sakakawea set out with the Corp of Discovery, it is little wonder that he became a guide and explore like his parents before him.

    Thomas Edison – 1847

    “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison, considered one of America’s greatest inventors set up shop in Menlo Park, New Jersey, developing his ideas that changed the world.

    Beulah Louise Henry – 1887

    The American inventor of a vacuum-sealed ice cream freezer earned the nickname “Lady Edison” for her ingenuity and sharing a birthday with Thomas Edison.

    Honorable Mentions

    Josiah Gibbs – 1839
    Johnathan Wright – 1840
    Sidney Sheldon – 1917
    Jane Yolen – 1939
    Sheryl Crow – 1962

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  • NATIONAL DON’T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK DAY – February 11

    NATIONAL DON’T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK DAY

    On February 11th, Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day promotes a positive attitude even when things might not be going your way. It’s a day for looking on the bright side of things and then carrying that feeling with you every day after. Do not worry, and do not stress over the little things. Life is too short to let the little things bother us.  

    #DontCryOverSpilledMilkDay

    In one of its oldest forms, the proverb was “No weeping for shed milk,” as referenced by James Howell in 1659. The saying has evolved but still retains its original intent. There is no changing what is done, and crying over it serves no purpose.

    Everyone knows that unexpected or unplanned things happen in life, sometimes daily. With a positive attitude, life is much brighter and easier.

    HOW TO OBSERVE DON’T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK DAY

    • Don’t cry over spilled milk. 
    • Be prepared! Sometimes the things that happen do so because we didn’t study, prepare or organize our day. While not every detail needs to be planned, the general stuff of the day does. 
    • Expect the unexpected. No matter who we are or what we do, things happen. Kids get sick. Customers make special requests. A car pulls out in front of you. The server brings the wrong dish. You take a wrong turn. It will only be a blip on your day if you adjust and move on. 
    • Have a backup plan. These come in especially handy for big occasions. We’re talking about surprise parties or a wedding. In the end, what’s really important about special occasions are the good memories we make. If a little milk should fall, er, spill, while everyone laughs, dances and smiles, it really won’t matter. 
    • Breathe. Ask yourself, Will this issue matter in a day? If the answer is, No, then it’s just a little spilled milk. How about a week? Still a no? It’s still just spilled milk. If the concern doesn’t change the entire course of your life, it’s only spilled milk.
    • Share how you cope with life’s twists and turns. Use #DontCryOverSpilledMilkDay to post on social media.

    DON’T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK DAY HISTORY

    While National Day Calendar has not found the origins of this uplifting day, we’re not going to cry over spilled milk. We’re going to pursue other avenues and probably spill a little milk along the way. 

    Spilled Milk FAQ

    Q. Is it spilled or spilt?
    A. Both are appropriate. While spilled is more common today, spilt has the same meaning as spilled. However, spilt does creep into our usage more when using the idiom “Don’t cry over spilt/spilled milk.”

    Q. Are there phrases similar to the “Don’t cry over spilled milk” idiom?
    A. Some similar sayings are:

    • It is what it is.
    • What’s done is done.
    • Let bygones be bygones.
    • It’s all water under the bridge.

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  • NATIONAL MAKE A FRIEND DAY – February 11

    NATIONAL MAKE A FRIEND DAY

    Always observed on February 11th, National Make A Friend Day is a fantastic opportunity to meet someone new and make a new friendship. Friends serve a vital role in everyone’s lives. They are one of life’s most valuable assets.

    #NationalMakeAFriendDay

    “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light”  – Helen Keller

    New friends can broaden our horizons by helping us to see new perspectives, challenging us to try something different, or connecting us to opportunities. Meeting new people can help sharpen our social skills and keep us from becoming lonely.

    “Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer”  – Ed Cunningham

    While friends often share common backgrounds or experiences, they certainly don’t have to have everything in common.  One of the simplest ways to make new friends is to explore your interests by taking a class or joining a club.

    HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MAKE A FRIEND DAY

      • Make a friend at work, school, in the community, or just about anywhere.
      • Introduce one friend to another.
      • Give a shout-out to a friend who makes your life better.
      • Invite someone you’d like to know better out for coffee or tea.
      • Share your tips on how to make friends.
      • Visit the National Day Calendar Classroom for fun friend-making projects.
      • Read Celebration Spotlight where we make a friend with Fay Stout.

    • Use #NationalMakeAFriendDay to post on social media.

    NATIONAL MAKE A FRIEND DAY HISTORY

    National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this friendly day, making new friends along the way.

    Make A Friend FAQ

    Q. What are some good ways to make new friends?
    A. There are many different ways to make friends. Try these ideas:

    • Sign up for a class. You’ll meet people who have the same interests as you do.
    • Volunteer. This is a great way to give back to your community and meet others who are doing the same.
    • Say hello. It may be to someone new at work or school or a stranger in the store.
    • Host a party. Ask your friends to bring people you’ve never met.
    • Introduce yourself to a neighbor. Many of us don’t know our neighbors well, but they sometimes turn out to be the best of friends.

    Q. Do friends have to have common interests?
    A. No. Friends can have many different interests. Sometimes their interests are completely different from yours. It’s more about enjoying each other’s company.

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