Today is the day those fortunate enough to have freckles happily look forward to. It’s Love Your Freckles Day. On this November 22 holiday, some of us get to show off those cute little spots. The rest of us with clear skin can only look at freckled folk with envy. Oddly, this holiday is in colder weather when they have faded from people with summer freckles or solar lentigines. Freckles are those cute little sun-kissed spots on your face, legs, or arms. The spots are shades of brown, tan, or red.  

The dermatological name is “ephides”. Members of every ethnic group from anywhere in the world can have them. From a genetic standpoint, people who have the MC1R gene, or the VCI92 variant can have them. It appears most often on people who are light-skinned or have red hair.

It is important to note that they are not skin defects, and they are not harmful in any way. Although throughout much of history, people looked upon them as unsightly and unfavorable. During Medieval times, people with freckles were persecuted and accused of witchcraft. As recently as the 1920s, they were undesirable. Skincare companies made products specifically to hide them or make them fade. People with freckles hid them behind heavy layers of makeup. They also used various methods to remove them through surgery, chemical treatments, and more recently laser procedures.

My how times change. Nowadays freckles are “in”. People who have them wear them with pride. They are described as cute and youthful. Will this be just a passing fad? We think not, as people who have are beautiful people.

Did You Know? The word comes from the Scandinavian word “freken”.

Plan Your Epitaph Day is a little bit morbid for my liking. My first thought was who would create this November 2 holiday? And, why? I don’t want to think about it, let alone plan it.

However………….

When you stop to think about it, maybe it’s best if you do it. You never know what a relative or friend may put on your tombstone once you’re gone. Or, worse still, what if they don’t say anything?  

While we’re young, we think this is a long way away. As we age and get wiser, more of us consider getting directly involved with our epitaph, as well as all of the details of our demise. So, think about the inscription you want on your tombstone. Then, let the people who will manage your final arrangements know. 

So, if you need a little nudge to plan your epitaph, let today be the day.

You’re Welcome Day encourages us to simply say “You’re welcome”. The objective of this special day is to put manners back into society. While we should say thank you every day, there is some confusion as to when is You’re Welcome Day. Read on… 

This very special day comes the day after Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day, we say “Thanks” for what we have.  So, it only seems natural, that “You’re Welcome” immediately follows a thank you.

 Are you enjoying this special day? If so, you’re welcome!

Young Readers Day is today. Reading opens up a lifetime of knowledge, information, success, and happiness. According to the creators of this day, it is “… a special day to recognize the joys and benefits of reading.”

Grade schools around the country take advantage of this day, to promote the importance of reading. Use today to help and encourage our youth to learn to read, and open the door to knowledge, information, success, and happiness.

Happy Young Readers Day to readers young, and not so young.

World Peace Day encourages us to be kind to others and teach others to be peaceful. This November 17 holiday pursues the goal of peace everywhere. Throughout the history of the human race, long-lasting peace has been elusive. But, it is possible, and we should never stop working towards this goal. 

The creator to this day, encourages us as individuals, to play a role in making the world a better place. The creator believes it starts with us. He suggests we teach our children and others, in ways to promote peace and avoid war. He also invites us to write to our county’s leadership about our support for peace and world harmony. Without peace, the consequences are tragic.  

It is very kind of you to visit this important page and learn more about World Kindness Day. This November 13 holiday originated in Japan and spread around the world. The objective of this is to encourage us to be kind to others. It helps to create a nicer, better world.

According to the World Kindness Movement website, World Kindness Day is intended to “build a kinder and more compassionate world”. We sure can use more of that.

Use today as an opportunity to be kind to family, friends, neighbors, and others. You will find kindness rubs off on others and generates even more kindness. It is definitely contagious.

The objective of World Hello Day is a November 21 holiday. It exists to promote world peace. The theme of this day is “Greet ten people for peace”. It is really easy to participate in World Hello Day. Simply, say hello to the people today. And, voice your concern for world peace.

World Hello Day was created during the 1973 conflict between Egypt and Israel. The creators of this day, Brian McCormack and Michael McCormack believe your efforts can help to promote global peace. They believe it starts with communication, hence the greeting to ten people.

For more information, visit the creators’ website. See: World Hello Day

On World Vegan Day we celebrate those who practice veganism. This November 1 holiday is a great opportunity to learn and appreciate the benefits of veganism for humans, non-human animals, and the environment.

 Veganism is the practice of consuming a plant-based diet and not eating animals. For a true vegan, this includes not eating fish, as well as milk, eggs, cheese, and anything made with these products. Imagine all the foods that have milk or eggs in them! A significant number of people who are “Vegan”, will not eat meat but will consume milk or eggs. 

Today we celebrate the benefits of veganism to:

• Humans – It’s a healthier, plant-based diet, and results in a healthier you. This diet is higher in fiber and lowers in cholesterol. It helps to lower the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, and obesity risk.
• Animals – Animals and animal rights groups will just love you. It means the lives of many animals will be spared.
•  Environment – Plants are lower on the food chain and require far fewer resources to feed you than animal meats.

Vegan organizations celebrate this day, by raising awareness of veganism. They offer educational programs and workshops to the general public. They also sometimes hold a feast, loaded with plant-based goodies. If you are new to the world of veganism, you can become a vegan, if only for a day.

Did You Know? An Ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

Today is World Pneumonia Day, a November 12 observance. This special day is not a holiday. Rather, as mentioned, it is an observance. Created by The World Health Organization (WHO) of the UN, the goals of this day are to raise awareness, promote prevention, and promote treatment of pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a common and very serious ailment. It can be deadly. Pneumonia is an infection in your lungs, that makes breathing difficult. This in turn puts stress on your heart and other organs of your body. Just about anyone can get pneumonia. A cold can turn into pneumonia. Pneumonia is most serious for the very young, the very old, and people whose immune system is weak or compromised. Anyone with a cold can find it turns into pneumonia. If you contract pneumonia or suspect you do, see your doctor immediately. Medicine is effective in most cases. So, take medicines as prescribed. Get plenty of liquids, plenty of rest, and very importantly, get up out of bed to take short, frequent walks. Lying in bed allows pneumonia to “settle” into your lungs. That’s when pneumonia can become deadly.

Did You Know? Pneumonia is the largest single cause of death for children under 5 years old.

There’s good news in the fight against pneumonia. There is now a vaccine to help protect you from pneumonia. And, most people can take it. Now, you can protect your children, elderly parents, and yourselves. Do what the UN’s WHO want you to do. Talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine for every member of your family.

Today is World Origami Day. Aren’t you glad that this November 11 holiday is finally here!? Origami is a form of art, first practiced in ancient Japan. It is the art of making intricate objects out of squares of paper. The most frequent origami objects are cranes and other birds. You can make any other object, assuming you have the skill and imagination to do so. Origami is extremely popular at weddings, parties of all kinds, and even fancy dinners. 

The art of origami first appeared in Ancient Japan. It also has early roots in China and to some extent European countries. Today, you can find origami artists plying their trade to tourists on the streets of cities like Tokyo and Shanghai. In America, it is far less popular. However, if you are interested in trying your hand at origami, you can buy kits at craft stores.

Ready to try your hand at origami? Start with a simple object first. Take a piece of paper. Fold it in almost any number of ways. But, you can’t use scissors, a knife, glue, or tape parts of it together. It can only be made by folding the paper. Simple objects can be made in less than a minute, while other more intricate objects can take quite some time. There are plenty of online sites where you can get instructions.

Did You Know? Making paper airplanes is a form of origami.