Category: March 26

• EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY – PURPLE DAY | March 26

  EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY – PURPLE DAY

  Epilepsy Awareness Day on March 26th aims to increase the public’s knowledge of a neurological condition affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide. Also known as Purple Day, people are encouraged to wear purple in support of epilepsy awareness. 

  #EpilepsyAwarenessDay or #PurpleDay

  The neurological condition, epilepsy, impacts the central nervous system causing seizures and other symptoms. The types of seizures vary depending on the cause and type of epilepsy. Some known causes of epilepsy include:

  • brain injury
  • genetics
  • metabolic disorders
  • immune disorders
  • infection

  However, sometimes no known cause can be found for epilepsy in a patient. While epilepsy is not contagious, any age group can develop epilepsy. The good news is that it’s highly treatable. Although the condition can be confusing for children. In some parts of the world, treatment can be challenging to find.

  Another important goal for the day is removing the stigma associated with epilepsy. Those with epilepsy can lead normal lives, especially when their epilepsy is controlled.

  HOW TO OBSERVE EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY

  • Join the Purple Day movement. 
  • Learn more about epilepsy. 
    
  • Show your support by wearing purple.
    
  • Volunteer at a fundraising event.
  • Donate to research to cure epilepsy.
  • If you or someone you know has epilepsy, speak up, and help eliminate the stigma associated with epilepsy.
  • Know the signs of a seizure and what to do.
  • Use #EpilepsyAwarenessDay or #PurpleDay to post on social media.

  EPILEPSY AWARENESS DAY HISTORY

  In 2008, Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada launched Purple Day to encourage awareness of epilepsy and to cast away some of the myths that cloud the general public’s view of the condition. While other awareness observances existed previously, Purple Day and its founder continue to gain a following and awareness is spreading around the globe.

  Epilepsy FAQ

  Q. Is there a cure for epilepsy?
  A. No, there is no cure for epilepsy. However, anti-epileptic medications and other treatments help to manage epilepsy.

  Q. Are all seizures related to epilepsy?
  A. No. Seizures can occur for a variety of medical reasons.

  Q. How many people in the United States have epilepsy?
  A. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 5.1 million people in the U.S. have a history of epilepsy.

  March 26th Celebrated History

  1830

  Printer E.B. Grandin of Palmyra, New York, publishes the first edition of Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon.

  1872

  The U.S. Patent Office issues patent no. 125,063 to Thomas J. Martin for “Improvements in Fire-Extinguishers”

  1953

  Dr. Jonas Salk announces he has successfully developed a new vaccine against the poliovirus.

  1985

  The day after Stevie Wonder wins the Oscar for Best Original Song for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” from the movie The Woman in Red and dedicates it to Nelson Mandela, South African radio stations ban his music.

  March 26th Celebrated Birthdays

  Robert Frost – 1874

  The poetry of Robert Frost illustrates life through the voice of a New Englander. In his lifetime, Frost earned the Pulitzer Prize in poetry four times. His poems and style fall easily into the realm of 19th-century poets like Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Walt Whitman.

  Tennessee Williams – 1911

  Playwright Tennessee Williams created enduring characters who are a part of the American psyche still today. Plays like The Glass Menagerie, A Street Car Named Desire, Baby Doll, and many others have been adapted to screen and earned him critics, celebrity, and numerous awards including two Pulitzer Prizes.

  William Westmoreland – 1914

  William Westmoreland directed U.S. military strategy during much of the Vietnam War. Selected by President Lyndon Johnson, Westmoreland commanded the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam. Following the devastating Tet Offensive, Westmoreland was replaced by his deputy commander, General Creighton W. Adams.

  Robert J Seiwald – 1925

  Robert Seiwald along with Joseph H. Burkhalter receive credit for helping synthesize the compound used today for rapid and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) earned them a place in The National Inventors Hall of Fame.

  Sandra Day O’Connor – 1930

  In 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman Chief Justice on the Supreme Court. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, O’Connor received unanimous approval.

  Leonard Nimoy – 1931

  Known for his logical character, Spock in the television and movie series Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy earned four Emmy nominations. Nimoy also took over the director’s chair and wrote several books.

  Nancy Pelosi – 1940

  In 2007, the U.S. Representative from California became the first woman to serve as Speak of the House.

  Diana Ross – 1944

  As the lead singer of the vocal group of The Supremes, Diana Ross earned her first of many number 1 hits with songs like “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Come See About Me.” The vocal group would become a Motown success story and launch Ross into stardom. Despite being nominated 12 times for a Grammy, the legendary singer has never won a Grammy.

  Notable Mentions

  Elleanor Eldridge – 1785
  Alan Arkin – 1934
  Bob Woodward – 1943
  Steve Tyler – 1948
  Martin Short – 1950
  Marcus Allen – 1960

  April 8, 2015

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  National Day Calendar

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  Health & Awareness, March 26, National Day

• NATIONAL NOUGAT DAY – March 26

  NATIONAL NOUGAT DAY    

  National Nougat Day on March 26th celebrates a soft and chewy or sometimes hard and crunchy candy often found at the center of a candy bar. 

  #NationalNougatDay

  Made by whipping egg whites together and adding honey or sugar, roasted nuts, and sometimes candied fruit, some say nougat has been a sweet treat since ancient Rome. Enjoyed both as a candy all on its own or paired with chocolate or other flavorings.

  Recipes range from the more traditional nougat made with almonds and honey to those with hints of citrus.

  In Italy, they call it torrone. In Spain, a nougat is called turrón. The United States has a version made with corn syrup called divinity.

  Three basic kinds of nougats include:

  1.     White nougat – made with beaten egg whites and honey.
  2.     Brown nougat – made without egg whites and has a firmer, often crunchy texture.
  3.     Viennese or German nougat – chocolate and nut praline

  In the United States, modern candy bar makers use a different recipe than the traditional nougat. Today they make of a mixture of sucrose and corn syrup aerated with a whipping agent such as egg white or hydrolyzed soy protein or gelatin. It is the preferred and often used ingredient of large candy companies because it is inexpensive to make and used as a filler.

  Varieties of nougat are found in:
  3 Musketeers, Mars, Snickers, Milky Way, Zero, Salted Nut Rolls, Reese’s Fast Break, Reese’s Whipps, Baby Ruth, and others.

  HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL NOUGAT DAY

  • Become a nougat aficionado.
    
  • Or perhaps try learning the nuances of nougat.
    
  • No matter how you spend the day, be sure to get a sample or two.
    
  • Give a shout-out to your favorite candy maker.
    
  • Be sure to share a piece, too! Use #NationalNougatDay to post on social media.

  NATIONAL NOUGAT DAY HISTORY

  National Day Calendar continues researching the origin of this confectionary holiday. 

  Nougat FAQ

  Q. What candy bars have nougat?
  A. Many candy bars on the market are made with nougat. Some of them include:

  • Charleston Chew
  • Mars bar
  • Snickers
  • Milky Way
  • Three Muskateers

  Q. Does nougat come in different flavors?
  A. Yes. There are as many nougat flavors as there are coffee syrups at your local coffee shop. Try these flavors:

  • Peanut Butter
  • Matcha Black Sesame
  • Coffee Almond
  • Chocolate Honey

  June 12, 2014

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  National Day Calendar

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  March 26, National Day

• NATIONAL SPINACH DAY – March 26

  NATIONAL SPINACH DAY    

  On March 26th each year, National Spinach Day reminds us of the health benefits packed into this leafy green vegetable. Not only are there so many delicious ways that you can enjoy spinach, but it is also incredibly good for you!

  #NationalSpinachDay

  An annual plant, spinach grows natively in central and southwestern Asia. Thought to have originated in ancient Persia, Arab traders carried spinach into India and later introduced it into ancient China. There it was known as “Persian vegetable.” The earliest available record of the spinach plant was found in a Chinese document. It noted that the spinach plant was introduced into China via Nepal.

  During her reign as queen of France, Catherine de Medici enjoyed spinach so much that she ate it at every meal. Today, dishes made with spinach are known as Florentine, reflecting Catherine’s birth in Florence. 

  Spinach is:

  • Eaten raw or cooked and is available fresh, frozen, or canned.
  • One of the best sources of iron.
  • An excellent source of calcium, folic acid, fiber, protein, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K.
  • Loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants
  • Believed to help improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.

  Types of spinach:

  Savoy:  This dark green spinach has curly leaves, and producers usually sell it in fresh bunches.
  Flat or Smooth Leaf:  You know this spinach by its broad, smooth leaves. It’s mainly grown for canned and frozen spinach, soups, baby food, and processed foods.
  Semi-savoy: Its crinkly leaves have more texture than other spinach. Producers sell this hybrid variety fresh and processed.

  • Following China, the United States produces the world’s second-largest spinach crop. 
  • California, Arizona, and New Jersey are the top spinach-producing states in the United States.

  HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SPINACH DAY

  • Shake up your vegetable routine and mix up your greens. Experiment with some spinach. 
    • Fresh spinach salad
    • Spinach pizza
    • Spinach dip
    • Cream spinach
    • Spinach lasagna
    • Add spinach to scrambled eggs
  • You can also plant some spinach in your spring garden. Not only will you reap the benefits of a lush green salad, but spinach doesn’t require much space.
    • Spinach grows in pots on a sunny balcony or small garden space. 
    • Use fertile soil.
    • Plant in cool weather.
    • Keep moisture levels consistent.
    • Harvest and enjoy!
    • You can plant again in the fall. Double the bounty!
  • Share your favorite ways to add spinach to your meals. 
  • Need more spinach ideas? Read 7 Ways to Sneak Spinach into Your Meals.
  • Use #NationalSpinachDay to post on social media.

  NATIONAL SPINACH DAY HISTORY

  National Day Calendar continues researching the origin of this leafy holiday. However, we’ve ruled out Popeye, the sailor man. 

  Spinach FAQ

  Q. How many calories are in spinach?
  A. Two cups of fresh spinach contains approximately 14 calories.

  Q. Can spinach be cooked?
  A. Yes! Spinach is delicious fresh or cooked.

  Q. What is the best time of year to grow spinach?
  A. Spinach is a cool-weather crop, so plant it early in the spring for best results. Spinach does not grow well in the hot summer temperatures.

  RELEVANT VIDEO

  June 12, 2014

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  National Day Calendar

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  Health & Awareness, March 26, National Day