Everyone’s skin needs a little hydration, especially during the cold, dry winter months. On January 21st, National Hyaluronic Acid Day raises awareness of the important hydrating benefits of the skincare ingredient hyaluronic acid. The day also provides education on the proper usage of hyaluronic acid products.
#NationalHyaluronicAcidDay
#nationalHAday
Hyaluronic Acid (H.A.) is the second most searched beauty ingredient of 2021. It is also a popular ingredient recommendation by dermatologists. However, most have not realized its full potential as a hero ingredient that can be integrated into everyone’s routine.
Hyaluronic acid offers a variety of benefits including deep hydration, plumping, and reduction of fine lines and is suitable for sensitive skin.
On January 21st, celebrate Hyaluronic Acid’s immense dermatological potential as a universally loved ingredient that hydrates every skin type.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL HYALURONIC ACID DAY
Protect your skin during the skin-drying winter months and all year long. Discover the benefits of Hyaluronic Acid, what it can do to protect and improve your skin and how to incorporate it into your routine. Share how, and why, you use hyaluronic acid in your skin routine!
Discover more with #nationalHAday and #nationalhyaluronicacidday on social media, and follow La Roche-Posay on Facebook to join us in celebrating!
NATIONAL HYALURONIC ACID DAY HISTORY
La Roche-Posay, the dermatologist-recommended skincare brand, founded National Hyaluronic Acid Day in 2022 to celebrate the immense dermatological potential of Hyaluronic Acid. The day brings greater awareness of this universally loved skincare ingredient.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Hyaluronic Acid Day to be observed annually on January 21st.
International Sweatpants Day on January 21st celebrates one of the comfiest pieces of clothing ever invented. It’s a day to don your sweatpants and wear them all day long! (Unless of course your school or place of work has a dress code).
In 1882 Émile Camuset founded the activewear company Le Coq Sportif in Entzheim, France. This company is credited with inventing sweatpants in the 1920s. The flexible and comfortable pants were designed primarily for athletes. Through the years, sweatpants have been called many things. Some of these include track pants, sweats, and jogging pants. Along with providing comfort, sweatpants were designed to keep athletes warm when they performed outdoors on chilly days. Despite the fact sweatpants were made for exercise, people wear them for the exact opposite reason – to relax!
Through the years, there has been an increase in sweatpants options. There are many colors and materials from which to choose. Some of the most popular sweatpants materials include cotton, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and spandex. There are also various styles and types of sweatpants. Some of the most popular types of sweatpants include:
Baggy
Drawstring
Basic length
Cropped
Elastic cuff
Pocketed
Relaxed fit
Slim
Striped
How many pairs of sweatpants do you own? What are your favorite styles? Do you just wear them at home or when you’re out and about? If you love your sweatpants, you’re in good company. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Hailey Baldwin Bieber, and Carrie Underwood love their sweatpants so much they have turned this piece of clothing into a fashion statement. This is certainly much different than the days when wearing sweatpants outside the comfort of your own home was a serious fashion faux pas!
HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalSweatpantsDay
The best way to celebrate this day is to wear your favorite pair of sweatpants. If you decide you need more sweatpants, today is the perfect day to go shopping for them. You may want to go wild and buy a style of sweatpants you’ve never worn before. Other ways to participate include:
Count how many pairs of sweatpants you own
Search the internet for pictures of celebrities wearing sweatpants
If you don’t like sweatpants, wear your comfiest clothing
Take time to do something relaxing like watch a movie or read a book
Post a picture wearing your favorite pair of sweatpants to social media with #InternationalSweatpantsDay.
INTERNATIONAL SWEATPANTS DAY HISTORY
International Sweatpants Day was founded in 2009. Since its inception, people from all over the world have participated by wearing sweatpants on this day.
Each year on January 21st, Kiwanis kicks off a weeklong anniversary celebration of the service club’s first official meeting. The celebration goes from January 21-26.
Most people have probably heard about a club called Kiwanis. However, they might not know precisely what the club does. Kiwanis is an international service club. Every year, these clubs host several service projects.
Most of these service projects center around children. The service projects ensure that children have what they need to be secure and successful in their community. Examples of Kiwanis service projects include building playgrounds, mentoring teens, and sponsoring youth sports. Kiwanis also partners with other organizations to eradicate poverty and disease.
To encourage participation for the younger generation, Kiwanis is broken down into these clubs:
Key Club International – the oldest and largest service leadership organization for teens
Circle K International (CKI) – the world’s largest collegiate service leadership organization
AKTION Club – service club where adults with disabilities learn leadership skills
K-KIDS – primary school students learn about leadership skills and self-empowerment
Builders Club – students between the ages of 11 and 14, develop leadership
Altogether, Kiwanis Club members devote more than six million hours of service. Additionally, club members raise nearly $100 million every year for communities, families, and projects.
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldKiwanisWeek
The best way to observe the week is to find a local Kiwanis International Club in your community. Sign your kids up to participate in one of their clubs. If you don’t have a Kiwanis Club, you can still donate to the organization. Volunteer with a different organization in your community that helps children. Search the Internet to find out more about the history of Kiwanis and what they do.
Don’t forget to share on social media with #WorldKiwanisWeek
WORLD KIWANIS WEEK HISTORY
The first official meeting of the Kiwanis took place on January 21, 1915, in Detroit, Mi. At the time, the organization called itself the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers. The club was formed as a way for business people to improve their communities. In 1920, Kiwanis adopted the slogan, “We build.” In 1922, Kiwanis convened across the border in Toronto. By that time, the organization had grown to over 802 clubs with over 68,000 members.
Today, Kiwanis is a global community of clubs. They are now primarily known for helping children. Their current motto is “Serving the Children of the World.” There are over 555,000 members in 80 countries. Kiwanis is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, and hosts nearly 150,000 service projects a year.
National Use Your Gift Card Day reminds Americans to use the $1 billion in unused gift cards each year. On the third Saturday in January, take stock of the gift cards you received over the holidays. Then, make the most of each one of them before they’re forgotten for good!
#UseYourGiftCardDay
We all do it. Stash away gift cards, thinking we will have more time later to use them. Instead, they collect dust and disappear into an abyss somewhere. We discover them as we clean and often don’t remember how much was on the card or if we used a portion of it. Those partial balances add up, too! So the first step is to collect the cards together and see what you have. You know where to look.
Every pocket of every purse and wallet you have
The infamous junk drawer
Glove compartment of the car
Bottom of the toy box (Someone probably used it to scrape goo off a toy.)
The other junk drawer
A gift bag with the tissue paper still in it
The toolbox (We know what happens when you can’t find a flathead screwdriver.)
Once you have your gift cards, get organized. Where do the gift cards work? Restaurants, retail, and services all offer gift cards. Some gift cards are designed to be used just about anywhere.
Maximizing Your Gift
Check for deals to maximize your gift cards. In most cases, gift cards work just like cash and can be used with coupons. However, there are exceptions, so it’s always good to check first.
Is the card to a place you don’t shop? You have a few options:
See if the card is good at a companion location.
Check to see if the retailer will cash the card out.
Have a gift card swap party or sell your gift card for cash.
Finally, donate your gift card to a charity fundraiser like a silent auction.
Plan to overspend the amount of the gift card to avoid having small balances lying around. Even if you add a small useful item (lip balm is always handy) to go a penny over the amount, you’ll be able to hand the card over to the retailer to recycle the card.
HOW TO OBSERVE USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY
Collect your gift cards. It’s time to use them. Don’t let them sit for a year and risk losing your gift altogether. Instead, maximize your gift cards with deals and get the most out of your gift cards, too. Take a shopping spree or a spa day with your gift cards. Don’t let those gifts and savings pass you by! Use #UseYourGiftCardDay to share on social media.
NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY HISTORY
Tilson PR founded National Use Your Gift Card Day in 2020 to make sure everyone gets the most out of their gift cards. Leave no gift card unturned and find tips, ideas, and deals by visiting useyourgiftcard.com, too.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar® proclaimed the first National Use Your Gift Card Day to be observed in 2019 on the third Saturday in January and annually thereafter.
Gift Card FAQ
Q. Do gift cards expire
A. Gift cards should be used within five years of the date they are activated. Federal law prevents retailers from expiring their gift cards in under five years. However, the retail may charge a fee if the card isn’t used within 12 months.
Q. I received a gift card for my birthday. Should I let my friend know what I buy with the gift card?
A. It’s not required for you to share how you use the gift card. However, sometimes a gift card allows us to finally purchase something we’ve been wanting. Telling your friend that the gift card went toward something meaningful lets know their gift was appreciated.
Q. I received a gift card that I’m probably not going to use. Is it ok to re-gift it to someone else?
A. So you received a gift card for a coffee shop and you don’t drink coffee. Or maybe it was for a sports equipment store and you prefer books. Consider this before giving the card to someone else:
Visit the store’s websites. They may have a product that interests you after all.
Purchase a gift for someone else with the gift card, someone who loves coffee or sports.
See the answer to the first question. If you are going to re-gift the card, be sure to give it to someone within a couple of months of receiving it to avoid reducing the value of the gift card.
Each year on January 21st, National Granola Bar Day recognizes the considerable nutrition and energy found in one wholesome granola bar.
#NationalGranolaBarDay
A basic granola bar includes whole grain (usually oats, though quinoa and barley can be used as well), fruit or nuts and honey, molasses, agave nectar, or syrup. The bar can also include butter or nut butter. Flavor and nutrition benefit from a variety of combinations.
When making granola bars, mix the ingredients, and press them into a pan. When the ingredients set, cut them into bars. For a crispy bar, the mixture is baked. Softer, more chewy versions are left raw or only partially cooked. Additionally, they can be stored in sealed containers and frozen for long-term use.
The ingredients pack granola bars with energy. Additionally, these little bars of grains and complex sugars offer convenience, too. Easily stored in a pocket while on a hiking or biking trail, the wrapper goes out with you. While considered a healthy food by some, the bars are high in calories. Hikers, bicyclists, and fitness enthusiasts add granola bars to their diet as a way to give a boost of energy. Despite their high calories, they offer a more healthful alternative to a candy bar for those of us who don’t hit the trails very often.
Outside of the United States, granola bars are called by various names; flapjack, muesli bar, and a cereal bar.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL GRANOLA BAR DAY
While mixing up a pan of granola bars, try some variety. Mix up the nuts, grains, and fruit. Don’t hesitate to try agave in place of honey. Try quinoa, millet, and buckwheat. They will add another level of texture and nuttiness to your granola. Dried cranberries, coconut, dates, apricots offer a variety of natural sweetness without adding sugar. Share your favorite combinations.
Use #NationalGranolaBarDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL GRANOLA BAR DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this healthy nut and fruit bar celebration.
Granola Bar FAQ
Q. How many calories are in a granola bar? A. Granola bars vary by ingredients and brands. That said, one granola bar may have between 90 and 150 calories.
Q. What are some of the benefits of granola bars? A. Granola bars come with both benefits and drawbacks. Here are things to consider when choosing to add granola bars to your diet:
Read the labels. Most granola bars are made with fiber-rich whole grains which our bodies need. However, some also add a lot of sugar and fat, increasing the calories in a granola bar. For those who compete in physical competitions, those added fat and calories are beneficial. But if you’re looking at the granola bar as a way to lose weight, it might not help you achieve the goals you’re setting.
Choose preportioned bars. Luckily, almost every granola bar is individually wrapped. Portion control is one of the biggest obstacles for people trying to lose weight. Allowing yourself one serving helps to prevent overeating.
Go whole. Whole grain, whole food granola bars are the best option overall. These types of granola bars will contain the least amount of calories and processed sugars.
On January 21st, Squirrel Appreciation Day recognizes a critter some consider a pest and others see as just fascinating. The creator, Christy Hargrove, is a wildlife rehabilitator in North Carolina and is affiliated with the Western North Carolina Nature Center. According to Christy, “Celebration of the event itself is up to the individual or group — anything from putting out extra food for the squirrels to learning something new about the species.”
#SquirrelAppreciationDay
According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System of North America (ITIS), over 200 species exist in the world. Some of the oldest squirrels categorized on the list include the nocturnal arrow flying squirrel (validated in 1766) and the Black Giant (validated in 1778). Of all these species, they fall into three types.
Three Types of Squirrels
Ground squirrels, such as the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, the rock squirrel, California ground squirrel, and many others blanket the prairies and deserts of North America. Often causing damage, they often earn the name of pest, and they are labeled rodents. Predators enjoy them as a tasty morsel, too. As a result, they work together to protect themselves. Their only protection is to flee!
Tree squirrels make their homes in the trees. However, they also find their nesting materials and food on the ground and above. Making their homes in cities and the countryside in nations all around the globe, these familiar backyard and park residents help themselves to your birdfeeders or snag your snack right from your hands if they have become practiced enough!
The third type of squirrel leaps farther than the others with flaps of skin between the legs. Flying squirrels glide greater distances giving the impression they can fly. When they jump from tree to tree or building to building, they spread their legs wide and float on the breeze escaping predators or perhaps other snarky tree squirrels with a nut to pick with them.
HOW TO OBSERVE SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY
Learn more about these fascinating creatures. Tell us your favorite squirrel story or share a picture of your squirrel visitors.
Set up a squirrel feeder and watch them as they feed. Can you identify what kind they are?
Go to a park and watch the squirrels as they travel from tree to tree. How many are there?
Squirrel watching is similar to bird watching and nearly as fascinating. Study their behavior and note their differences.
Watch a squirrel documentary to learn more.
Use #SquirrelAppreciationDay to post on social media.
SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY
Christy Hargrove from Asheville, North Carolina, created Squirrel Appreciation Day on January 21, 2001.
Squirrel Appreciation Day
Q. Can squirrels fly?
A. Yes. No. Well, sort of. The Flying squirrel has flaps of skin between its legs that allow it to glide longer distances than other squirrels.
Q. Who was the artist who had a squirrel?
A. Bob Ross, the host of The Joy of Painting, rescued an orphan squirrel and occasionally brought the little creature on his show.
Q. Are squirrels social creatures?
A. Yes. They will chatter and are comfortable living among humans. They will sometimes even eat out of your hand.
Q. Do squirrels bite?
A. Yes, but only if provoked. Their teeth are strong so they can crack nuts. They will bite to defend their hoard of nuts or territory if they are cornered. However, they will prefer to flee before attacking.
Q. What’s a rally squirrel?
A. During Major League Baseball’s post-season play, an American gray squirrel interrupted several games in which the St. Louis Cardinals played. Beginning with the National League Division Series between St. Louis and the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium, a squirrel interrupted play during two games in the series. The Cardinals went on to win the series causing the fans and players to adopt the furry creature as a deputy mascot and calling him Rally Squirrel. He made a third appearance during game three of the National League Championship Series. The Cardinals went on to win the World Series against the Texas Rangers.
RELEVANT VIDEOS
January 21st Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) History
1648
Long before the suffrage movement, Margaret Brent asked the Maryland General Assembly to grant her voting privileges. While the assembly of men denied Brent her request for not one, but two votes, she proved to be a savvy attorney and landowner in her own right.
1888
James Edward Sullivan and William Buckingham Curtis established the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The nationwide organization promotes multiple sports and fitness programs for all ages.
1921
Publishing house The Bodley Head published British author Agatha Christie’s debut novel in the United Kingdom, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The novel was released in the United States a few months earlier.
1976
The Concorde makes its first supersonic commercial flights. British Airways and Air France operated the twenty Concordes built. The first flights departed from London to Bahrain aboard British Airways and from Paris to Rio de Janeiro aboard Air France Concordes.
January 21st Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) Birthdays
Sophia Jex-Blake – 1840
In the latter third of the 19th century, Jex-Blake led a small movement to allow women to into medical school in Great Britain. Her efforts proved successful, and in 1877, Jex-Blake and four other women who joined her on the journey passed their medical exams.
Roger Nash Baldwin – 1884
As one of the co-founders of the American Civil Liberties Union, Nash served as its executive director for 30 years.
Wolfman Jack – 1938
Born Robert Weston Smith, the American disc jockey is best known for his raspy voice heard over the radio airwaves. He’s also heard (and possibly seen) in films such as American Graffiti, The Midnight Special, and The Wolfman Jack Show.
Paul Allen – 1953
In 1975, Allen and Bill Gates founded Microsoft out of a garage in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
National Hug Day or National Hugging Day occurs on January 21st and is officially recognized by the United States Copyright Office, but is not a public holiday.
#NationalHuggingDay
The purpose of the day is to help everyone show more emotion in public. The only way to celebrate the day is by offering a hug to anyone and everyone you want. While National Hug Day and the Free Hugs Campaign share many similarities, there is not an association between the two.
Whether you hug a family member or a stranger, the mental and physical health benefits are the same. From the day we are born, hugs or touch improve our sleep. Hugging, like cuddling, releases oxytocin. On its own, this hormone provides tremendous health benefits. Not only does it gives us feel-good hormones, but it reduces pain. Receiving a hug helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure, and lowers the risk of heart disease. It also eases anxiety.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL HUGGING DAY
Give someone a big hug. Or, if you need one, ask for a hug and reap the benefits. You can also give a mental hug. Let someone know you care by sending warm, cheerful words of encouragement to those in your circle. Boost their joy by letting them know how much they mean to you with a verbal hug until you can give them the real one.
Use #NationalHuggingDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL HUGGING DAY HISTORY
The holiday was founded by Rev. Kevin Zaborney on March 29, 1986, in Caro, Michigan.
Usually the third weekend in January, National Fruitcake Toss Day challenges us to chuck the fruitcake as far as we can. (Occasionally, this fun holiday is listed as occurring on the first Saturday in December.)
#FruitcakeTossDay
Many people receive fruitcakes as gifts sometime during the holiday season. Some people eat this holiday bread while others may re-gift them. There are those who sneakily throw them away and others who will do so openly.
But on the third day of January, another type of fruitcake, ahem, a person comes out of the woodwork. These are the characters who have hoarded them, stored them, and hid them so they can celebrate with a competition of sorts.
HOW TO OBSERVE FRUITCAKE TOSS DAY
Host a fruitcake tossing competition. Invite family members to join you outside with their respective fruitcakes (the ones made with flour, fruit, and nuts) and take turns chucking them as far as they can. Make hot chocolate and prizes. Share your celebration using #FruitcakeTossDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL FRUITCAKE TOSS DAY HISTORY
The first Great Fruitcake Toss was held in Manitou Springs, Colorado on January 3, 1996. Each year the entrants compete to see who can hurl or toss their fruitcakes the farthest.
DATES 21 January 2023 20 January 2024 18 January 2025
Fruitcake Toss FAQ
Q. Who can celebrate National Fruitcake Toss Day? A. Anyone! It’s just a fun way to spend a winter day.
Q. Does the fruitcake have to be old? A. No. We didn’t find an age limit related to the holiday.
Q. I like the fruitcake I received. Do I have to toss it? A. No. Enjoy your fruitcake. There are several other holidays on January 3rd for you to celebrate.
Q. Is it better to toss the fruitcake under-handed or over-handed? A. Technique will vary from person to person. However, heaving it like a shotput should be considered.
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