Category: November 17

  • INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ DAY – November 17

    INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ DAY

    On November 17th, International Students Day commemorates the anniversary of the Nazi storming of the University of Prague. The day also promotes student activism around the world.

    Through the years, university students have not shied away from voicing their political opinions, and in many instances, students express themselves politically in the form of demonstrations. One of the first demonstrations held by students occurred in 1939. That year, students at the University of Prague demonstrated against the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. During the demonstration, a student of the medical faculty was shot, injured, and later died. Thousands of students turned his funeral into an anti-Nazi demonstration.

    The Nazis rounded them up and sent over 1,200 students to concentration camps. The Nazis also forced the closings of all the universities and colleges in Czechoslovakia. However, the most hideous crime occurred on November 17th, 1939, when the Nazis executed nine students and professors without trial.

    Other high-profile student uprisings include:

    • Kent State at Kent State University in Ohio (1970)
    • Athens Polytech Uprising in Greece (1973)
    • Soweto Uprising in South Africa (1976)
    • Tiananmen Square in Beijing China (1989)
    • Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic (1989)
    • Umbrella Protests in Hong Kong (2014)

    Many students were killed or injured during these protests. For example, during the demonstration in Tiananmen Square, it’s believed that thousands of students died, and the government imprisoned many more.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalStudentsDay

    On International Students’ Day, many colleges and universities worldwide hold events that promote multiculturalism and diversity. Students also raise their voices for equal access to education during the annual event. In addition, students are encouraged to take part in activism in various areas, such as political, environmental, and economics.

    To participate:

    • Learn more about student uprisings and the impact the students had.
    • Talk to your kids in school about ways they can help to promote change in certain areas.
    • Watch the documentary I Am Not Alone. It tells the story of the Velvet Revolution. Another option is The Gate of Heavenly Peace about the protests at Tiananmen Square.
    • Donate to an organization that promotes equal education opportunities for all students.

    Share this day on social media with #InternationalStudentsDay

    INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ DAY HISTORY

    On November 17th, 1940, the Central Association of Czechoslovak Students (USCS) was reestablished in London after Nazi Germany had forced the group to disband. Throughout 1941, members of the USCS sought to convince other students worldwide to acknowledge November 17th as a day of commemoration. On November 16th, 1941, they held a meeting to proclaim November 17th as International Students’ Day. In 1989, students used the 50th anniversary of International Students’ Day to help spark the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

     

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  • NATIONAL BUTTER DAY – November 17

    NATIONAL BUTTER DAY

    Few ingredients make a meal richer and more flavorful than butter. On November 17th, National Butter Day gives this creamy ingredient, and those who make it, a pat on the back.

    Butter has been used by humans for thousands of years. As recently as the first half of the last century, the butter churn was an essential tool in many kitchens. When butter was rationed during World War II, households struggled to get along without this delicious staple.

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    “With enough butter, anything is good.” ~ Julia Child

    Butter can be used in simple and complex ways – spread a pat of butter on warm toast for an instant hit of flavor and texture or use it to create the light, flaky layers in a croissant. It also enhances the mouthfeel of hot drinks, like coffee and cocktails, and it keeps meats tender while roasting. Butter is the crucial ingredient in mouthwatering sauces, rich cookies, creamy mashed potatoes, hearty casseroles, and so much more.

    The average American eats 6.3 pounds, or about 25 sticks, of cow’s butter every year. Around the world, butter can be found in cuisines of every culture, and each one uses it to enhance their recipes and enrich their lives.

    Around the dinner table, the phrase “Please, pass the butter,” connects us to those we break bread with and to the food we love to eat. National Butter Day invites you to celebrate your favorite dishes and baked goods with butter.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalButterDay

    National Butter Day offers so many avenues for celebration. Whether you set to work in your kitchen making family favorites or test out a new recipe, take a moment to recognize the role butter plays in our food.

    • Bake cookies with the kids. Be sure to let them mix the butter and sugar together.
    • Make compound or brown butter and reap the flavor benefits.
    • Thank a dairy farmer, milk hauler, or butter maker, like those at Dinner Bell Creamery, for the butter they make possible.
    • Compliment the chef who made the delicious, buttery sauce for your seafood meal.

    When you celebrate, be sure to share your stories and photos on social media using #NationalButterDay and tag Dinner Bell Creamery on Facebook and Instagram.

    NATIONAL BUTTER DAY HISTORY

    Dinner Bell CreameryDinner Bell Creamery – a cooperative owned by the dairy farm families of AMPI – founded National Butter Day in 2021 to celebrate this culturally important and incredibly delicious food. They also honor the modern-day process of butter making, from raising dairy cows on family farms to crafting butter for sale in stores and markets.

    The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Butter Day to be observed annually on November 17th.

     

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  • WORLD PREMATURITY DAY – November 17

    WORLD PREMATURITY DAY

    Every year on November 17th, World Prematurity Day spreads awareness about preterm birth and the concerns about premature births for their families.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 million babies are born preterm. This means one in 10 babies is born too early. A baby is considered premature at less than 37 weeks gestation. The number of preterm babies continues to rise. The countries with the most preterm births include India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the United States. Premature births raise concerns because these babies face an increased chance of disability. Some of the most common disabilities and health issues include cerebral palsy, developmental delay, asthma, hearing loss, vision problems, intestinal problems, and recurrent infections.

    Other babies face the risk of death. One million babies die each year due to complications from a premature birth. Globally, premature birth is the leading cause of death of children under 5. In low-income settings, half of these babies die due to a lack of cost-effective care and a lack of primary care for infections and breathing difficulties. In high-income countries, most babies born at or after 32 weeks almost always survive.

    Helping Babies Live

    Premature babies are tiny, and their organs are often underdeveloped. The world’s smallest premature baby to survive is Baby Saybie. She was born at 23 weeks and weighed just 8.6 ounces. Doctors told her parents she only had hours to live. Five months later, she was discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in San Diego, CA.

    Access to cost-effective health care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) dramatically increases the chances of survival for preemies. The availability of steroid injections to strengthen the baby’s lungs in utero and antibiotics to treat infections are also essential. Additionally, a type of care called kangaroo care, where the mother makes skin to skin contact with her baby for several minutes a day provides many benefits to the tiny baby.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldPrematurityDay

    Each year an increasing number of countries celebrate this day. Events include public art installations, public health meetings, parliamentary hearings, marches, and conferences.

    To participate:

    • Reach out to a mother with a premature baby in the (NICU).
    • Go purple to help spread awareness. Wear purple, light up your office purple, or light a purple candle.
    • Volunteer at your local Ronald McDonald House, where many parents of premature babies stay when their preemie is in the NICU.
    • Knit preemie hats for babies staying in the NICU.
    • Take the Kangaroo Mother Care Challenge.
    • Learn about famous preemies including Stevie Wonder, Sir Winston Churchill, Mark Twain, and Johannes Kepler

    If you have had a premature baby, share your story on social media. When doing so, use #WorldPrematurityDay.

    WORLD PREMATURITY DAY HISTORY

    The first international awareness day for preterm birth was created by European parent organizations in 2008. The organizations celebrated the first official World Prematurity Day on November 17th, 2011.

     

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  • INTERNATIONAL HAPPY GOSE DAY – November 17

    INTERNATIONAL HAPPY GOSE DAY

    Every year on November 17th beer lovers gather together to celebrate International Happy Gose Day. Instead of rhyming with rose, Gose (ɡōzə) rhymes with Rosa.

    Gose is a fermented sour wheat beer that originated during the sixteenth century in Goslar, located in Northern Germany. In later years, Gose became more associated with the city of Leipzig. The beer became so popular that it gained exemption for the country’s purity law called Reinheitsgebot. This law stated that German beer could only contain water, barley, yeast, and hops. But Gose is also made with malted wheat and coriander. Salty water from the Goslar River was also used, giving the drink a unique salty and tart taste.

    The beer was made until WWII. After the war, Gose disappeared for a while but made a comeback in 1949. Friedrich Wurzler Brauerei is credited for saving Gose and he continued to brew the sour beer until he passed away. He then passed on his Gose-making abilities to his stepson, Guido Pfnister. He continued brewing the beer until the 1960s but only a few pubs sold the fermented beer. Pfnister died in 1966. Gose would not come back into existence until 1986. Today, there are still 400 makers of Gose with a handful of them in the United States.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalHappyGoseDay

    Today is a day for Gose lovers to unite. If you know of a brewery or pub that serves Gose, today is the perfect day to gather your friends and go out for a drink. While you’re drinking it though, you’re not allowed to say, “Cheers.” Instead say, “Goseanna!” If you brew your own beer at home, you can use this recipe to make your best Gose.

    If you can’t find Gose, it’s a great day to try a new kind of brew. You may want to try one of these popular German beers:

    Pilsner
    Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier
    Spaten Oktoberfest
    Aecht Schlenkeria Rauchbier
    Gaffel Kölsch

    Whatever kind of beer you choose to drink on this day, be sure to share on social media with #lHappyGoseDay.

    INTERNATIONAL HAPPY GOSE DAY HISTORY

    International Happy Gose Day originated in Leipzig, which is referred to by some as The City of Gose. The first International Happy Gose Day was held on November 17th, 2016 by the Leipzieger Bierfreunder.

     

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  • NATIONAL HOMEMADE BREAD DAY – November 17

    NATIONAL HOMEMADE BREAD DAY

    On November 17th, homes will fill with warm, comforting aromas reminding us to slow down and enjoy National Homemade Bread Day.

    Yeast bread calls for us to slow down. We need to spend time with each other as we work the dough and let it rest and rise before baking. Quick breads allow a special treat to share and enjoy with coffee or tea.  Other homemade breads, such as donuts, pretzels, muffins, and biscuits, add variety to our everyday meals. And making them with friends and family brings joy and an opportunity to exchange recipes.

    Those who make homemade bread commit to using good ingredients and investing in the time. They make it not only because they love the flavor, but because they know the people they love to do also. Homemade bread enriches the flavors of our meals and the flavors of our conversations, too.

    Bread is full of symbolism around the world, across cultures and religions. In our lives, bread is valuable. We consider our livelihood to be our daily bread. We are making it, breaking it, consuming it as part of our faith. Bread can be exciting if it’s sliced or boring if it’s white. There’s a bonus bread, too. However, it seems a bit messy if it’s buttered on both sides. Then again, when we roll in the dough, it’s messy, too. Bake it, and it becomes heavy bread, but it means the same thing.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #HomemadeBreadDay

    Take out your recipe box and get to baking.  Or find a few new recipes like the ones below. It’s the best thing since sliced bread! When you make bread, don’t forget to use some for homemade croutons, too. We have 7 great ways to use croutons besides on a salad.

    French Bread

    Use #HomemadeBreadDay to share on social media.

    NATIONAL HOMEMADE BREAD DAY HISTORY

    The National Homemade Bread Committee from Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded National Homemade Bread Day to encourage families to enjoy making homemade bread.  The day has been celebrated since the early 1980s.

    Bread FAQ

    Q. Can I use brewer’s yeast to make bread?
    A. You could, but the bread won’t be as light and fluffy as you’re accustomed to. Baker’s yeast produces more CO2 than brewer’s yeast making it more ideal for bread making.

    Q. Is yeast a living organism?
    A. Yes. And under the right conditions, it reproduces rapidly. That’s why certain yeasts are ideal for baking and brewing.

     

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  • NATIONAL TAKE A HIKE DAY – November 17

    NATIONAL TAKE A HIKE DAY

    National Take a Hike Day on November 17th encourages us to get out there and hit the trails. With over 60,000 miles of trails in the National Trail System across the 50 states, there is no lack of opportunity to take a hike.  

    Some of those trails are hundreds of years old. For example, the oldest continuously used trail in the United States is Crawford Path in New Hampshire. The beginnings of the mountain path were cleared to the summit of Mt. Washington in 1819. Other trails allow us to follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark or explore even more ancient history like Effigy Mounds National Monument.

    Besides experiencing majestic views and the great outdoors, we also exercise our bodies. Hiking not only gets our hearts pumping and our muscles moving, but being outdoors is good for our minds. Many of us spend too much time indoors behind a desk. Hiking can burn between 400-550 calories per hour. What better way to get a head start on all those ‘other’ holiday temptations and observe Take a Hike Day?

    Events around the country celebrate Take a Hike Day. Local, state and National Parks support hiking events encouraging us to enjoy a hike. Be sure to wear good shoes, take a snack and bring a buddy, but get out there and enjoy the fresh air, scenery and get a little exercise to boot!

    HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalTakeAHikeDay

    Invite a friend and take a nice hike. Check out the resources below to find trails near you. When you go, use #NationalTakeAHikeDay to post on social media.

    Americantrails.org
    National Parks Posters
    AmericanHiking.org

    You can also check out 12 Family Friendly Hikes for more ways to celebrate the day!

    NATIONAL TAKE A HIKE DAY HISTORY

    National Day Calendar® continues to research the origins of this adventurous holiday.

    Hike FAQ

    Q. Do I need special shoes to go hiking?
    A. If you’re going to take hiking seriously, you’ll want to consider your footwear. It is important to consider several things when choosing a hiking boot:

    • Terrain – Will you be sticking to well-groomed trails or are you planning to take the road less traveled? If you choose the latter, consider the rocks and tree roots you will come in contact with and the ankles they will roll.
    • Water-resistance – Whether or not you plan to hike across streams or creeks, you’ll likely encounter a wet path or a rainstorm or two.
    • Fit – Can you say blisters? Make sure the boot is comfortable. Test them out by walking a few laps around the store. If they rub anywhere or slip around, try another size.
    • Weather – Do you plan to hike in the winter months? You might consider different boots for the weather conditions. Summer boots won’t afford the protection winter boots will and winter boots will cause your feet to sweat. 

    Q. Are there other hiking days on the calendar?
    A. Yes! National Hike With A Geek Day is on June 20th.

     

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  • GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT – Thursday Before Thanksgiving

    GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

    Each year on the third Thursday in November, the American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout.

    This is an annual social engineering event to encourage Americans to stop tobacco smoking. The Great American Smokeout challenges smokers to quit cigarettes for 24 hours with the hopes that this decision will continue forever.

    There are benefits to 1 day without cigarettes. After just 20 minutes without a cigarette, the heart rate drops. So does the blood pressure. Twelve hours later, the body will cleanse the carbon monoxide from the last cigarette from the body.

    That’s a great start. If you make it past 1 day, your risk of heart attack begins to decrease along with heart disease and stroke. After just 1 day – keep it up.

    After 2 days, things start tasting and smelling better. That’s because your nerves are healing from the smoke damage.

    Day 3 may be tough. The nicotine is leaving your body and symptoms of withdrawal may occur. But you can do it.

    By 1 month, you may notice you can breathe better. The coughing is less. Your lungs may be clearer.

    Do you want to find out more? Visit the American Cancer Society to learn more.

    HOW TO OBSERVE #GreatAmericanSmokeout

    Join millions of other smokers and do not smoke for the day. Support your friends and family who are trying to quit smoking. Find tips and support at the American Cancer Society. Use #GreatAmericanSmokeout to post on social media.

    GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT HISTORY

    Evolving from a series of small-scale initiatives, the first Great American Smokeout was held on November 16, 1977, in San Francisco’s Union Square.

    • 1970 – Randolph, Massachusetts – Arthur P. Mullaney suggested people give up cigarettes for a day donating the money to a local high school.
    • 1974 – Monticello, Minnesota – Lynn R. Smith of the Monticello Times promoted a “Don’t Smoke Day”.
    • 1976 – November 18, The California Division of the American Cancer Society successfully prompted nearly one million smokers to quit for the day.

     

    DATES:
    17 November 2022
    23 November 2023
    21 November 2024
    20 November 2025
    19 November 2026
    25 November 2027
    23 November 2028
    22 November 2029

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  • NATIONAL BAKLAVA DAY – November 17

    NATIONAL BAKLAVA DAY

    On November 17th, National Baklava Day fills the kitchen with an aroma of a sweet and flaky pastry. Baklava’s sweet layers of texture and flavor are created between sheets of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and drizzled with syrup or honey. 

    Many believe Baklava to have originated with the Turkic people in Central Asian nations. However, many countries prepare the dessert in a variety of ways. The word “Baklava” first appeared in English in 1650.

    If you’ve never tried baklava, try sampling the many varieties. Walnuts, pecans, pistachios, or almonds can be used. The filling can be composed of raisins, dates, prunes, and even figs. Most baklava recipes call for cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves – sometimes all three spices. 

    Preparing this dessert may be somewhat time-consuming. However, it is a treat worth the work and the wait. 

    HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalBaklavaDay

    Try your hand at this complex dessert. It will be a satisfying achievement for any home cook. We’ve even provided a couple of recipes for you to try. However, if you prefer, frequent your local bakery. They willl be happy to show you their specials. When you do, give them a shout-out. And be sure to share with a friend or two while using #NationalBaklavaDay on social media.

    Baklava recipe
    Cardamom Fig Baklava

    Use #NationalBaklavaDay to post on social media.

    NATIONAL BAKLAVA DAY HISTORY

    National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this delicious food holiday.

     

    November 17th Celebrated (And Not So Celebrated) History

    1800

    The Sixth United States Congress convenes in Washington D.C. for the first time. Even though many rooms remain incomplete, substantial progress allowed both the House of Representatives and the Senate to begin their sessions in the Nation’s Capital.

    1857 

    The U.S. Patent Office issues H.N. Wadsworth patent No. 18,653 for a new and improved Tooth-Brush.

    1869 

    After more than 10 years of construction, the Suez Canal opens, creating a shipping lane between the Mediterranean and the Red seas.

    1888

    The U.S. Patent Office issues patent No. 388,850 to George Eastman for his box camera. The inventor also registered the trademark name, Kodak, on the same day.

    1896 

    The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League began to play at Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park Casino.

    November 17th Celebrated (And Not So Celebrated) Birthdays

    Grace Abbott – 1878

    Abbott dedicated her career to child labor policies and relief programs for immigrants. She headed the Children’s Bureau under President Warren G. Harding and while she saw a constitutional amendment against child labor, the states did not ratify it.

    Soichiro Honda – 1906

    In 1948, the Japanese engineer founded the Honda Motor Co., Ltd. with Takeo Fujisawa. Their first product is the D-type motorcycle.

    Winson Hudson – 1916

    An early Civil Rights activist, Anger Winson Gates established the Leake County chapter of the NAACP in Mississippi. For 25 years, she attempted to register to vote. But persistent voter suppression prevented Gates from registering until 1962.

    William H. Hastie – 1904

    The American attorney and civil rights advocate became the first African American named to the federal magistrate in 1937. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Hastie to judge of the Federal District Court in the Virgin Islands.

    Danny DeVito – 1944

    The award-winning actor, producer, and comedian gained his first critical attention in the role of Louie De Palma in the comedy series Taxi. Other credits include Big Fish, Get Shorty, Batman Returns, and Matilda.

     

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