Category: January 27

  • VIETNAM PEACE DAY – January 27

    VIETNAM PEACE DAY

    Every year on January 27th Vietnam Peace Day commemorates the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. This event ended America’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

    For eight long years, the United States was involved in the Vietnam War. The U.S. entered the war in 1965. However, the conflict in Vietnam started long before then. Tensions existed between communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam in the mid-1950s. During this time, America’s only provided funding and military training to South Vietnam.

    In 1961, President John F. Kennedy expanded the military aid program. In 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson became president. Two years later, the first American combat troops entered Vietnam. By 1966, there were 400,000 U.S. troops fighting in the Vietnam War. This number increased through the years, as did the number of people protesting the United States’ involvement. Due to backlash, President Johnson did not seek reelection. In November 1968, Richard M. Nixon became President. He promised to restore law and order and end the draft.

    By the time the United States pulled out of the war in 1973, over 58,000 military members had died. About 75,000 American Vietnam vets were severely disabled. People in this country still have strong feelings about the Vietnam War. Many feel our country should not have gotten involved. This is especially true since communist North Vietnam overtook South Vietnam. The communist takeover officially ended the war in 1975. Since then, North and South Vietnam has been known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #VietnamPeaceDay

    On this day, people in our country are encouraged to study our involvement in the Vietnam War. In doing so, we can learn from past mistakes and encourage our leaders to make better choices in the present and future. Other ways to observe this day include:

    • Learn more about what caused the Vietnam War.
    • Watch one of the many documentaries on the Vietnam War, such as, “Winter Soldier,” “Regret to Inform,” “The Vietnam War,” “The My Lai Tapes,” and “Hearts and Minds.”
    • Make plans to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
    • Thank a Vietnam veteran for their service by taking them out for lunch or coffee.

    Share this day on social media with #VietnamPeaceDay.

    VIETNAM PEACE DAY HISTORY

    On January 27th, 1973 President Nixon signed the Paris Peace Accords. This officially ended the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. The North Vietnam accepted a ceasefire. However, the war did not officially end until 1975 after the Fall of Saigon.

  • WORLD BREAST PUMPING DAY – January 27

    WORLD BREAST PUMPING DAY

    World Breast Pumping Day was created to acknowledge the time, effort, and dedication that pumping breastmilk requires. The day dedicated to breast pumping moms is observed each year on January 27th.

    Pregnant women will need to decide whether to feed their baby formula or breastmilk. There are many reasons moms choose breast milk. One reason is that breastmilk is a healthier option. Breastfeeding is also a wonderful way to bond with their baby. For many moms, breastmilk is the least expensive and most convenient choice.

    When moms choose to feed their baby breastmilk, they may need to pump their milk. Breast pumping helps to increase the amount of milk they produce. Some women have a harder time producing milk. Since pumping helps to stimulate production, these women might also benefit from breast pumping. One more reason moms choose to breast pump is so that milk will always be readily available for their baby. This is especially helpful for moms who wish to get a full night’s sleep or for working moms.

    Breastfeeding and Pumping Facts
    • When a baby is born, breastmilk contains colostrum, which boosts the baby’s immunity.
    • Breastmilk also contains nutrients that help the baby’s brain and nervous system develop.
    • Breastmilk can be different colors and consistencies from one pumping to the next.
    • 8 out of 10 mothers choose to breastfeed their babies at birth.
    • It’s recommended that babies be breastfed until at least one year of age.
    • Breastmilk can be stored up to five days in the refrigerator.
    • Breastmilk can be kept frozen for up to 12 months.

    Breast pumping is a big commitment. Since breast pumping doesn’t come naturally, it takes time and effort to learn how to do it right. Because breast pumping can be challenging, it’s important to support these mothers who choose to do it. In the end, most moms who choose breast pumping feel their efforts are well worth it.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldBreastPumpingDay

    Moms who breast pump are encouraged to feel pride in their accomplishments. They are also encouraged to share their stories. If you don’t engage in breast pumping, there are other ways to participate.
    If you know a mom who breastfeeds their baby, offer them a word of encouragement.

    • Learn about the history of breast pumping.
    • Research the many benefits of breastmilk.
    • Reach out to a mom who is having a hard time breast pumping or breastfeeding.

    Don’t forget to share this day on social media with #WorldBreastPumpingDay or #WeCanPump

    The observance also features some offers for moms, too! Visit the Celebration Deals page for more information. And if you know of a special offer that’s not listed, send us a message through our Contact Us link; we’ll be happy to get it added.

    WORLD BREAST PUMPING DAY HISTORY

    World Breast Pumping Day was founded by Wendy Armbruster in 2017. Armbruster, who is from Canada, made the first hand-free pumping bra. She created the day so that breast pumping moms could find a digital village in which to celebrate their accomplishments. A few of the recent themes have been “Every Drop Counts” and “Support Changes Everything.”

  • HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY – January 27

    HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

    International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

    Holocaust Remembrance Day – Each year on January 27th, the world remembers one of the most horrific events in modern history. This tragic event is known as the Holocaust. The holocaust occurred during WWII when Nazi Germany killed millions of innocent victims. The day is also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day.

    #HolocaustRemembranceDay

    Nazi Germany is one of the evilest regimes that ever existed. They persecuted and killed millions of people in just under four years. One group in particular that suffered were those of the Jewish faith. It is believed that six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. The Nazis’ persecution of the Jews became a genocide.

    Genocide occurs when those of a particular ethnic group is deliberately killed. However, the Nazis killed more than just Jews. Hundreds of thousands of other groups of people died under the evil regime. These included:

    • 7 million Soviet civilians
    • 3 million Soviet prisoners of war
    • 1.8 million Polish civilians
    • 312,000 Serb civilians
    • Up to 250,000 people with disabilities
    • Up to 250,000 Gypsies
    • Around 1,900 Jehovah Witnesses
    • Possibly thousands of homosexuals

    Most Jews died in concentration camps. The most notorious concentration camp is Auschwitz, where approximately one million Jews died. While some of the Jews in the concentration camps died from disease or starvation, others died in the gas chambers. Other groups of people were forced to live in ghettos where they died of sickness or starvation. Still, others were rounded up, shot, and buried in mass graves.

    Many famous books and movies have been produced about the holocaust. One of the most famous books is Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. The book is a real-life account of the two years that Anne Frank and her Dutch family hid from the Nazis. The family was discovered and deported to a concentration camp. Anne was 15 years old when she died in the camp from typhus. Other books include The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, and Born Survivors by Wendy Holden. Movies include Schindler’s List, The Reader, Denial, and The Devil’s Arithmetic.

    There are many other works, such as theater productions, music, and poetry. Many of the works were created by victims and survivors of the holocaust. Other works commemorate the many heroes who helped save thousands of Jews and other victims from certain death.

    HOW TO OBSERVE HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

    Many events are held throughout the world to commemorate this solemn day. The United Nations hosts a Holocaust memorial ceremony. The ceremony includes testimonies by Holocaust survivors, special music, and memorial prayers. There are also photographic exhibits, panel discussions, film screenings, and book signings. Sadly, there are some that try to deny the holocaust ever happened. This is one more reason to take part in this day. If the holocaust is forgotten or denied, it will be easier for history to repeat itself. Share this day on social media with #HolocaustRemembranceDay or #NeverForget.

    HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY HISTORY

    On January 24, 2005, the United Nations General Assembly marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. Later that year on November 1, the UN General Assembly designated January 27th as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. It is also referred to as Holocaust Remembrance Day. It was on January 27th in 1945 that Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

  • NATIONAL BIG WIG DAY – Last Friday in January

    NATIONAL BIG WIG DAY

    Putting the “fun” in fundraising while bringing awareness to a cause close to many hearts, National Big Wig Day™! on the last Friday in January, gives everyone an opportunity to play an important role, the role of the Big Wig.

    #NationalBigWigDay

    National Big Wig Day™! is both an expression of the potential inside of all of us and an entertaining opportunity to positively impact the lives of others. To do this, we must dust off our hidden talents and bring them forth without hesitation. So be bold and even a little bit courageous. Roll up your sleeves and grab a few friends because that always makes it more enjoyable and the journey more exciting. But whatever you do, bring your Big Wig with you. Because we all have one inside us, and even Big Wigs need to have fun!

    Call it what we will, CEO, director, or pilot; we are the Big Wigs in our lives. National Big Wig Day™! reminds us that, regardless of title, we can make a difference and improve the lives of others through celebration.

    By demonstrating that even a dollar can have a big impact, National Big Wig Day™ is out to show we ALL have a BIG WIG inside of us.

    HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BIG WIG DAY

    • Wear a wig.
    • Visit National Big Wig Day.
    • Host a fundraiser for your favorite charity.
    • Invite others to wear their Big Wigs.
    • It’s not about giving big. It’s about many people giving.
    • Visit the National Big Wig Day™ Facebook page to share your fundraiser.

    Use #NationalBigWigDay to share on social media.

    Visit the National Big Wig Day™ Facebook page, too, and share all the fun-raising details.

    NATIONAL BIG WIG DAY HISTORY

    In 2016, Patty Sharkey founded National Big Wig Day™! after a bout of post-holiday blues. After going through her fabulous collection of wigs and selecting a chocolate, raspberry curly wig, and taking a selfie, she posted “Happy National Big Wig Day.”

    Soon after the overwhelmingly positive post, Patty was struck with an inspiring cure for the blues, and National Big Wig Day™! was born. Friends in California, New Jersey, Texas, and Massachusetts hosted the inaugural National Big Wig Day™! parties where 75% of the proceeds raised were donated to the Look Good/Feel Better division of the American Cancer Society in 2016.

    Each year, Sharkey nominates a Big Wig who inspires the inner Big Wig in us all. Anthony Davis, the Notre Dame Killer, was named the official Big Wig of 2016. His perseverance after a severe brain injury sidetracked his football career earned him the title of Big Wig.

    The 2017 Big Wig is Jo Ann Thomas, co-founder of FANtastick Horror Film Festival, for providing a venue for independent filmmakers to feature their work.

    The Registrar at National Day Calendar® declared National Big Wig Day™! in October of 2016.

  • NATIONAL FUN AT WORK DAY – Last Friday in January

    NATIONAL FUN AT WORK DAY

    Fight the workday doldrums during National Fun At Work Day on the last Friday in January! National Day Calendar makes it so easy to do when everyone around the workplace has a birthday for one example. Just head over to Search here! and enter any date for the current week (January 28 for example) to discover National Days to celebrate at work.

    #FunAtWorkDay

    Click play and enjoy a story about National Fun At Work Day featuring our founder, Marlo Anderson. If you enjoy the 2-minute show, subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

    Many people spend a good portion of their lives at work, so why should they not try to enjoy it? While looking to find fun things to do at work, let your imagination be the leader. Make sure to obtain your boss’s approval for whatever fun and exciting things you choose to do. Better yet, get your boss involved in the fun!

    Dave Hemseth and Leslie Yerkes, co-authors of 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work say, “Organizations that integrate fun into work have lower levels of absenteeism, greater job satisfaction, increased productivity, and less downtime.”

    HOW TO OBSERVE FUN AT WORK DAY

    • Host a boss look-alike contest.
    • Organize a chili cook-off.
    • Go office to office singing random songs.
    • Create a healthy potluck with a variety of fruits and veggies.
    • Set up a corn hole game in the break room or in any appropriate space.
    • Celebrate the National Days with National Day Calendar

    Use #FunAtWorkDay to post on social media.

    NATIONAL FUN AT WORK DAY HISTORY

    National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this fun workday holiday. In the meantime, we will be having fun at work.

    Fun At Work FAQ

    Q. I work from home. Is this day for me?
    A. Whether you work from home or work with others, National Fun At Work Day is for you. 

    Q. Are there other fun work-related holidays on the calendar?
    A. Yes. Check these out:

  • NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY – January 27

    NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY

    National Chocolate Cake Day celebrates the cake more people favor. And more often than not, we celebrate our special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays and weddings with cake. Why not enjoy chocolate cake on January 27th every year?

    #ChocolateCakeDay

    In America, chocolate was consumed primarily as a beverage until the 1830s or 40s. Chocolate cakes, as we think of them today, mostly did not exist then.  According to the Dover Post, the chocolate cake was born in 1765 when a doctor and a chocolate maker teamed up in an old mill.  They ground up cocoa beans between huge millstones to make a thick syrup. The liquid was poured into molds shaped like cakes, which were meant to be transformed into a beverage.  A popular Philadelphia cookbook author, Eliza Leslie, published the earliest chocolate cake recipe in 1847 in The Lady’s Receipt Book.  Unlike chocolate cakes we know today, this recipe used chopped chocolate.  Other cooks of the time such as Sarah Tyson Rorer and Maria Parloa all made contributions to the development of the chocolate cake and were prolific authors of cookbooks.

    The first boxed cake mix was created by a company called O. Duff and Sons in the late 1920s. Betty Crocker released their first dry cake mixes in 1947.

    HOW TO OBSERVE CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY

    When it comes to food holidays, we know how to celebrate. This one is no different. Have some cake. Share it with someone else. Visit your favorite bakery and give them some credit, too. Or, if you have some mean baking skills, show them off! We want to see them, too. That means, share your recipes, take some pictures, make a video and show off those delicious, chocolatey cakes! We love how you celebrate these days, so celebrate them with us!

    Use #ChocolateCakeDay to post on social media.

    NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CAKE DAY HISTORY

    National Day Calendar says have your cake and eat chocolate, too. We just don’t know who created a holiday celebrating this delicious treat!

    Chocolate Cake FAQ

    Q. Does vanilla frosting go with chocolate cake?
    A. Yes. Vanilla frosting goes well with chocolate cake. So do coconut, peanut butter, almond, caramel, and several berry-flavored frostings.

    Q. Does chocolate cake have caffeine in it?
    A. Yes. The darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it will have. Add chocolate frosting and the caffeine content increases, too.

    Q. Does the calendar include other chocolate holidays?
    A. Yes. Check these out:

    Chocolate Cupcake Day
    Boston Cream Pie Day
    Chocolate Eclair Day

    January 27th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) History

    1880

    The U.S. Patent Office issues patent no. 23,989 to Thomas Edison for incandescent lighting.

    1925

    After two children died of diphtheria in the ice-bound Alaska Territory, a dog sled team composed of 20 mushers and 150 dogs came together to bring the antitoxin from Nenana, Alaska to Nome. They relayed the vials across 674 miles of frigid temperatures in 5 1/2 days meeting up on the Iditarod Trail to relieve fellow mushers in their mission.

    1950

    A new antibiotic is announced. As reported in the magazine Science, Charles Pfizer & Co. discovered and produced the antibiotic Terramycin after researching thousands of soil samples. It is discovered in Indiana.

    January 27th Celebrated (and Not So Celebrated) Birthdays

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – 1756

    Considered one of the greatest classical composers in history, Mozart was also one of the most prolific. His music influenced artists across genres.

    Charles Dodgson – 1832

    You know him by the name Lewis Carroll and for his works of fiction Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-glass. Both books created unforgettable characters such as The Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts, and Caterpillar.

    Samuel Gompers – 1850

    In 1886, Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor. He served as its president on multiple occasions, including the last three decades of his life.

    Georgia Neese Clark – 1898

    In 1949, President Harry S. Truman nominated Georgia Neese Clark Gray to the United States Treasury. She was the first woman to hold the position.

    Hyman G Rickover – 1900

    During his 63-year naval career, Rickover was instrumental in developing nuclear propulsion and is considered the “Father of the Nuclear Navy.”