Category: January 13

• KOREAN AMERICAN DAY – January 13

  KOREAN AMERICAN DAY

  Korean American Day on January 13th commemorates the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903. The day also honors the Korean American’s immense contributions to every aspect of society.

  #KoreanAmericanDay

  In 1882, the United States and Korea signed a treaty establishing a peaceful relationship, friendship, and commerce. While this led to Korean diplomats, students, politicians, and businessmen visiting the United States, few felt compelled to stay.

  It wasn’t until December of 1902 on the SS Gaelic that 102 Korean immigrants set sail for Honolulu, Hawaii. These families initiated the first wave of Korean immigration, resulting in over 7,500 immigrants over the next two years.

  They served their communities and their country during World Wars I and II and the Korean War. During these times, more Koreans decided to emigrate from their homeland; some, as wives to U.S. servicemen, others were adopted as children.

  Honoring a Few

  Ahn Chang Ho – also known as Dosan, one of the earlier immigrants, Ho is credited with establishing the Willows Korean Aviation Corps in the United States, which later helped establish the Korean Airforce.

  Sammy Lee – Olympic two-time gold medalist in diving (1948 – London) and (1952 – Helsinki).

  Wendy Gramm – Served as U.S Commodity Futures Trading Commission chair under Presidents Reagan and Bush I.

  Judge Herbert Y.C. Choy – First Asian American appointed to U.S. Federal Court (Court of Appeals Ninth District) in 1974.

  David Hyun – Architect charged with revitalizing Little Tokyo in Los Angeles.

  Sang Hyun Lee – First tenured Asian American professor at Princeton Theological Seminary

  Hines Ward, Jr.  – Professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers

  HOW TO OBSERVE KOREAN AMERICAN DAY

  Learn more about Korean Americans then and now. Read books about their experiences or watch documentaries. We’ve provided two books:

  • Korean American Pioneer Aviators: The Willows Airmen by Edward T. Chang and Woo Sung Han
  • Korean-Americans: Past, Present, and Future by Ilpyong J. Kim
  • Memoir of a Cashier: Korean Americans, Racism, and Riots by Carol Park

  You can also visit Korean American Story to hear their stories or document your own. Find out more or share your experience by using #KoreanAmericanDay on social media.

  KOREAN AMERICAN DAY HISTORY

  In 2003, President George W. Bush proclaimed a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants. In 2005, the U.S. House and Senate passed simple resolutions in support of Korean American Day. Since then, states across the country have passed bills declaring January 13th as an annual celebration of Korean American Day. 

  January 12, 2017

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  National Day Calendar

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  Education & History, January 13, National Day, Pop Culture & Lifestyle

• NATIONAL STICKER DAY – January 13

  NATIONAL STICKER DAY

  National Sticker Day on January 13th recognizes all the ways stickers brighten up a page or send a special message. The day celebrates all things stickers, from the custom printing of them to sharing stickers. Every sticker has a story.

  #NationalStickerDay

  Historians credit the European merchants in the 1880s as the first to stick labels to their products, in an effort to promote their goods and wares to passersby.

  These savvy, pre-industrial entrepreneurs used a gum paste to get the labels to adhere and, well, stick: hence “stickers.” By the 1900s a sticker-specific paste had been developed and was widely used, most notably on stamps, which dried and then would re-apply when moistened.

  The observance is in honor of R. Stanton Avery, who was born on that day in 1907. Avery was the original creator of the adhesive label with removable backing.

  HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL STICKER DAY

  National Sticker Day offers so many ways to celebrate! We won’t limit it to any age group either, so be sure to invite everyone to the party. That means everyone deserves a sticker whether they are shopping online, promoting their business, or learning something new. While you are planning your celebration, be sure to check out these ideas, too.

  • Host a sticker collection contest. Award prizes for the largest, most colorful, and most original collections.
  • Stickers bring in business, too. Create a buzz around special days using stickers.
  • They inspire creativity in the classroom. Ask students to design stickers for events and campaigns.
  • Get organized! Color code your favorite projects with stickers that keep you on track.

  Take photos of them to post on social media using #NationalStickerDay.

  Learn more about the history behind National Sticker Day and Sticker Giant by reading Celebration Spotlight.

  NATIONAL STICKER DAY HISTORY

  StickerGiant, a promotional sticker and product label company based in Longmont, Colorado, created National Sticker Day in 2015 to celebrate all the fun stickers bring to all ages.

  The Registrar at National Day Calendar® declared the first National Sticker Day in 2016 to be observed on January 13th, annually.

  Sticker FAQ

  Q. Who can celebrate National Sticker Day?
  A. Anyone can celebrate National Sticker Day. Stickers can send a message, create a reminder, bring a smile to one’s face or organize our life.

  Q. Are stickers an artform?
  A. They can be. Almost any piece of art can be turned into a sticker. Get creative and design a sticker of your own. You might even become a sticker artist.

  November 10, 2015

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  National Day Calendar

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  Art & Entertainment, January 13, National Day

• NATIONAL BLAME SOMEONE ELSE DAY – First Friday the Thirteenth of the Year

  NATIONAL BLAME SOMEONE ELSE DAY

  National Blame Someone Else Day uses superstition to pawn our mistakes on to other reasons. It is always celebrated on the first Friday the 13th of the year.

  #BlameSomeoneElseDay

  While considering how to spend this Friday the 13th freebee, plan accordingly. We all run into a little bad luck from time to time. Occasionally a flat tire or an alarm clock sets our day on another course. At other times, someone placed in our path causes a malfunction in our day. It may be someone we know. Or, it could be a complete stranger. Either way, casting blame comes in all forms.

  A co-worker, our child, a spouse – we’ve been known to throw them under the bus when we needed a scapegoat. Or perhaps they do own the blame for our lateness, stained clothing or dented car.

  What about our bad behavior? A short temper that explodes in the boss’s office or a shortcut we take when we run short on time – who is really to blame? Well, on this occasion, someone else is to blame. Just this once. In terms of an excuse, we can blame another. We can blame the dog, the weather, or the mechanic.

  Tight-fitting clothes? Blame the closet fairies. If our bank account runs low before payday, the day calls for blaming someone else. Too many happy hour drinks last night causing a headache this morning? Definitely blame someone else. Only for this one occasion, though. The rest are on you.

  Go lightly into this day. If you don’t want to blame someone, blame something. It’s all in fun.

  HOW TO OBSERVE BLAME SOMEONE ELSE DAY

  On National Blame Someone Else Day, don’t sweat your mistakes. Let someone else do that for you! 

  Use #BlameSomeoneElseDay to post on social media.

  Educators, visit the classroom for games and projects designed specifically for this observance.

  NATIONAL BLAME SOMEONE ELSE DAY HISTORY

  National Blame Someone Else Day was invented by Anne Moeller of Clio, Michigan in 1982. One day, her alarm clock failed to go off, hence creating a domino effect of bad luck events throughout the day.  Since the day happened to be on Friday the 13th, the observance takes place on the first Friday the 13th each year. 

   
  June 12, 2014

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  National Day Calendar

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  January 13, National Day, Pop Culture & Lifestyle

• STEPHEN FOSTER MEMORIAL DAY – January 13

  STEPHEN FOSTER MEMORIAL DAY

  Stephen Foster Memorial Day on January 13th commemorates the music of the man who composed hundreds of America’s first popular songs.

  #StephenFosterMemorialDay

  Born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1826, Stephen Foster became known as America’s First Composer. His catchy tunes based on minstrel songs are still known today.

  Despite Foster’s exclusive music contract with Firth, Pond, and Company, he was penniless when he died at the age of 37. While his songs were wildly popular, the lack of copyright protection and alcoholism left him with nothing of value to show for his work.

  During his short life, Foster wrote over 200 songs. His best-known compositions include “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” “Old Folks at Home,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Old Black Joe,” and “Beautiful Dreamer” and are still very popular today.  

  Foster died on January 13, 1864, at the age of 37.

  HOW TO OBSERVE STEPHEN FOSTER MEMORIAL DAY

  Read about the life of Stephen Foster or watch a documentary. Listen to some of his music. You might be surprised to learn how familiar some of it is. How many of them do you already know? Check out our suggestions below:

  • Doo-dah! by Ken Emerson
  • Beautiful Dreamer: The Life of Stephen Collins Foster by Ellen Hunter Ulken
  • Read about the African American influence on Stephen Foster’s music.

  Use #StephenFosterMemorialDay to post on social media.

  STEPHEN FOSTER MEMORIAL DAY HISTORY

  Congress passed a joint resolution on October 27, 1951, designating January 13th Stephen Foster Memorial Day and President Harry S. Truman proclaimed the observance for Sunday, January 13, 1952.

  Stephen Foster FAQ

  Q. Are Stephen Foster’s songs in the public domain?
  A. Yes. Though Foster sold the rights to his songs in 1857 to his publishers, today, Foster’s songs may be performed, recorded, or published without permission.

  Q. Was Stephen Foster inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame?
  A. Yes. In 1970, Stephen Foster was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

  Q. What was the last song Stephen Foster wrote?
  A. Stephen Foster wrote “Beautiful Dreamer” two weeks before his death.

  January 13th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) History

  1910

  Decades of invention and experiments from contributors around the globe culminated into a single moment at the Metropolitan Opera House. Inventor Lee Deforest powered up the transmitter and antenna and began the world’s first public radio broadcast, a performance of Enrico Caruso. While the audience was small, it demonstrated the potential of public broadcasting.

  1942

  German test pilot Helmut Schenk successfully deploys the first ejection seat while being towed aloft in his HE280 by two Bf 110C tugs. During heavy snow, the jet iced up and Schenk found he had no control of the plane. He jettisoned the towline and ejected from the plane.

  1966

  President Lyndon B. Johnson establishes the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He appoints Robert C. Weaver as the secretary of the new department, the first African American to hold a Cabinet position.

  1981

  Barbara Sonntag of Colorado set the American speed crocheting record of 4,412 stitches in 30 minutes. That comes to roughly 147 stitches every minute.

  January 13th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) Birthdays

  Horatio Alger – 1832

  One of the most popular American authors in the decades following the Civil War, his stories followed the familiar rags to riches theme.

  Alfred C. Fuller – 1885

  In 1906, Alfred Fuller founded the Fuller Brush Company and grew it into a household name for cleaning supplies.

  Sabine Zlatin – 1907

  During World War II, Zlatin and her husband rescued children from intern camps and eventually established a home for refugees. However, in 1944, Klaus Barbie and Nazi soldiers captured all 44 children and adults who lived and worked there except Zlatin and killed them. During a war crimes trial in 1987, Zlatin testified against Barbie.

  Shonda Rhimes – 1970

  The American screenwriter and producer is best known for the television medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Her other notable works include Scandal, Private Practice, and The Princess Diaries.

  June 11, 2014

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  National Day Calendar

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  January 13, Music, National Day

• NATIONAL PEACH MELBA DAY – January 13

  NATIONAL PEACH MELBA DAY

  Another dessert brought to us by an internationally famous chef, National Peach Melba Day offers a refreshing celebration on January 13th each year. 

  #PeachMelbaDay

  French chef Auguste Escoffier invented the elegant dessert back in 1892 or 1893, depending on the source. He created the dessert with peaches, vanilla ice cream, and raspberry sauce while employed at the Savoy Hotel, London. The dessert honored Australian soprano, Nellie Melba. The chef was known for naming his creations after famous people. Three such recipes are celebrated on the calendar including National Melba Toast Day on March 23rd.

  Nellie Melba was born Hellen Porter Mitchell. She took the stage name Melba in honor of her hometown of Melbourne. Her achievements as an opera singer took her on tour worldwide. Later, she earned the title of Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire in 1927.

  Chef Escoffier originally called the dessert “Pecheau Cygne” or “Peach Swan” and presented it in a swan-shaped ice sculpture and topped with spun sugar.

  HOW TO OBSERVE PEACH MELBA DAY

  Listen to Nellie Melba while you make a Peach Melba.

  Use #NationalPeachMelbaDay to post on social media.

  NATIONAL PEACH MELBA DAY HISTORY

  While National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this delicious food holiday, we’ll also try to belt out the high notes, too. 

  Peach Melba FAQ

  Q. Who can celebrate National Peach Melba Day?
  A. Anyone who loves peaches and delicious desserts can celebrate this day.

  Q. Is Peach Melba a type of sundae?
  A. Yes. Peach Melba fits the definition of a sundae.

  Q. Where is the Savoy Hotel located?
  A. The Savoy Hotel is located in London, UK.

  June 11, 2014

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  National Day Calendar

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  January 13, National Day

• NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKY DAY – January 13

  NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKY DAY

  According to a 1973 Sesame Street calendar, Rubber Duckie’s Birthday is January 13th so around the country it’s National Rubber Ducky Day! A friend of Ernie and Big Bird, Duckie made his debut in a February 1970 episode.

  #NationalRubberDuckyDay

  The rubber ducky (also spelled duckie) has come a long way from his first concept as a chew toy for children. While the origin of the first rubber ducky is uncertain, many rubber molded toys came about when rubber manufacturing developed in the late 1800s. They produced a variety of toys from dolls and various animal shapes, including the rubber duck. 

  In 1928, Landon Smart Lawrence received the earliest patent for a rubber duck toy. His clever design weighted the toy so that when it tipped it returned to an upright position. The sketch included with the patent was that of a duck.

  During World Wars I and II, rubber was a valuable commodity. Rationing became mandatory and by the 1940s with the advent of plastic, the rubber ducky began being produced in vinyl and plastic.

  Russian Sculptor Peter Ganine sculpted many animal figures. One, a duck, he later designed and patented into a floating toy that closely resembles the rubber ducky we have become familiar with today.

  Sales of the iconic yellow rubber ducky we’ve come to know today soared in Britain in 2001. Why? A British Tabloid, The Sun, reported Queen Elizabeth II had a rubber duck in her bathroom that wore an inflatable crown.

  The rubber ducky became a Toy Hall of Fame inductee in 2013. Founded in 1998, the Hall of Fame has only inducted 52 other toys.

  HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKY DAY

  Spend time with your favorite rubber ducky. Share photos of your rubber ducky collection. Discover all the different kinds of rubber duckies available. Use #NationalRubberDuckyDay to post on social media.

  NATIONAL RUBBER DUCKY DAY HISTORY

  While our research did not uncover the creator of National Rubber Ducky Day, National Day Calendar® is pretty fond of the idea that it has to do with Sesame Street’s Rubber Duckie.    

  Rubber Ducky FAQ

  Q. What is the world’s largest rubber duck?
  A. Mama Duck is the world’s largest inflatable rubber duck. At six stories tall and weighing 30,000 pounds, the big yellow duck makes quite a splash. Owned by Big Duck LLC, Mama Duck and her baby duck travel to waterfront festivals across the country.

  Q. Who has the world’s largest rubber duck collection?
  A. According to Guinness World Records, American Charlotte Lee owns the world’s largest collection of rubber ducks. In 2011, her collection comprised 5,631 rubber ducks.

  June 11, 2014

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  National Day Calendar

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  Art & Entertainment, Education & History, January 13, National Day