Every culture has its own cuisine. Over time, each culture develops its own dietary tastes, driven somewhat by the availability of local food sources, including herbs and spices. Chinese culture has evolved over many thousands of years. As a result, Chinese cuisine is one of the most diverse and delicious of all. Today is National Chinese Takeout Day. On this November 5 holiday, we have the pleasure of enjoying a truly exquisite food holiday. And, with it, we can choose among a very wide array of meals. The title of this holiday makes it clear that we should specifically partake in takeout food. So, go online and order a variety of Chinese menu items. We suspect your only problem today is determining which items to order and how much. 

To properly partake in this delicious holiday, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind:

• Of course, place a takeout order for Chinese food from your local Chinese restaurant. Order your selections to go. Include an order of egg rolls, too. It doesn’t matter whether you go out to pick it up, or order it through a delivery service like Door Dash.
• Hot tea or rice wine is the  everage of choice for this holiday.
• You will also want to select a soup. May we suggest Wonton or Egg Drop soup?
•  Certainly, make sure to include fortune cookies for everyone.
• Lastly, eat the meal with chopsticks. If you don’t know how to use them, today is the perfect time to learn the art of using chopsticks. It’s not that hard.

Is your sweet tooth acting up? That’s no surprise, as today is International Cake Day. On this November 26 holiday, there’s no doubt what to make to satisfy your sweet tooth on this sweet and delicious food holiday. The most common ingredients are flour, eggs, sugar, baking powder, and water. But, that’s where commonality abruptly ends. There are countless ingredients and flavorings you can add to the batter. After it bakes and cools, comes the fun part as you add your favorite flavor of frosting and decorate it. Decorating them opens up a whole world of possibilities. This is where a creative baker uses his or her ingenuity to create an artful masterpiece.

There is some confusion about the title of this day. It is called World, International, National, or simply Cake Day. Our research discovered that the vast majority of references refer to it as an international holiday.  However, it doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as you enjoy a few slices of cake today.

As you celebrate this delicious holiday, we hope you have our cake and eat it, too, And of course, don’t forget the candles!

Are you bored or indifferent with your life and the things you have? Are you unimpressed with all of the excesses your world has to offer? Then, we have great news for all of the apathetic and world-weary folks out there. Today is Blasé Day. Boredom rules the day. And, yawning is in keeping with the spirit of this holiday. On this November 25 holiday, being unimpressed with your surroundings is perfectly okay. Openly expressing your displeasure is okay, too. However, we do issue a caution as you don’t want to come across as a snob when you shun the luxuries your world has to offer. Also, this day should lack excitement. 

The word Blasé originated in France in the 1800s. It’s all about being unimpressed or bored with the things you have. And, the more well-off you are, the less likely you are to be impressed by more of them. For example, your next trip becomes “been there, done that”. And, your jewelry box is already filled with glittering baubles and bangles. As you tour a museum or art gallery for the umpteenth time, it becomes impossible to stifle a yawn.

People normally celebrate Blase Day in one of two ways. The well-to-do can openly express their displeasure with the opulent and excessive world around them. Those less fortunate can strive to get ahead in the world so they can also enjoy some of the joys the world has to offer.

Being a princess is every young girl’s dream. But, you don’t have to be a little girl to have this dream. Today every girl, regardless of their age, can use her imagination and become one. Today is National Princess Day. There’s no better day to act out your dream. On this November 18 holiday, we honor and celebrate every girl along with real-life and fairy tale princesses. These characters are strong female role models for every girl. Girls, you can pick one or more and strive to be like them. it’s going to be a fun-filled day.

Just ask any father, and he will tell you his daughter is a princess. However, there are three ways to become one in real life. First, you are born to a king and queen of a country. Second, you are the daughter of a prince. Last, but not least, you marry into the position. If you are not yet married, all you have to do is find your Prince Charming. Then, get him to “pop the question”!  You will find them, past and present, in most countries in the world. The world has seen countless sovereign ladies, both real and in fairy tales. They are beautiful, charming, and royal. And they are dressed in royal finery. It’s no wonder every girl wants to be one. 

To all of you beautiful young ladies out there, we bow before you and wish you a sincere and happy National Princess Day! May all of your regal dreams come true.

Science is a world of discovery. It offers countless benefits and products to mankind and society. Certainly, discoveries and breakthroughs in science make our everyday lives much better. And, sometimes, science leads to weapons of war, and results in not-so-great benefits to mankind. Today is World Science Day for Peace and Development. The United Nations created this November 10 holiday to encourage us to better understand science. Accordingly, it encourages us to use science for peaceful means and to aid in world development. While they are lofty goals, we certainly should use science to benefit man and his world.

Was the discovery of fire and the wheel sheer dumb luck? Or, did science come into play? We won’t debate this question. However, clearly science has benefitted mankind and society for thousands of years. It leads to the discovery of life-saving medicines like the polio vaccine and penicillin.  It creates useful products like our televisions and cellphones. We use scientific discoveries to drive to the grocery store and to blast off to the moon.

Scientific research and discovery come along at an ever-increasing rate. Scientific breakthroughs lead to tomorrow’s technology. The technology in turn leads to all kinds of new products. It obsoletes yesterday’s similar and more limited products. And, without a doubt, over time the new technology becomes more and more complex. It is getting harder and harder to understand the advanced scientific discoveries. It takes a scientific mind and degree to comprehend how and why it works. Many of us only know that a product does indeed work, Yet, we don’t understand the basics behind it.

Today’s scientific study and discoveries are tomorrow’s technology. This holiday was created to encourage us to better understand the science behind it all. Each year, UNESCO publishes a new theme for the year. 

A few days before Halloween, you lovingly carved out pumpkin faces. After that, you placed the Jack ‘O Lanterns on your front porch and lit a candle inside on Halloween night. Then, they glowed with pride! However, a few days after Halloween they are now coated with black mold on the inside. And the Jack O’ Lantern’s face is sagging a little more each day. Sadly it’s time for them to go. Pumpkin Toss Day comes along at just the right time. On this November 3 holiday, we toss them out before they turn into smelly mush on the porch.

The primary objective of this holiday is to toss carved pumpkins, as they are quickly rotting on your front porch. You can also toss uncarved pumpkins, too. However, they are an important part of the Thanksgiving scene. So, why not keep some uncarved pumpkins to decorate the inside of your home and your yard? Afterwards, you can toss them on the day after Thanksgiving. Then, the Christmas holiday decorations go up and take center stage for the rest of the year. 

On this holiday, you are encouraged to find ways to play with them one last time. We offer some ideas in the next section below. Then, it’s time to say goodbye. If at all possible, avoid sending them to the waste stream. Rather, look for ways to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way. Pumpkins are eco-friendly. 

Today’s Band Selection: Smashing Pumpkins, an American rock band from Chicago.

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. Meanwhile, 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 my epitaph, let alone ponder what to inscribe on my tombstone.

However………….

When you stop to think about it, maybe it’s best if you consider what legacy you want to inscribe on your tombstone. After all, 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. However, as the years go by and we gain wisdom, 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.