Take a Hike Day is today, a November 17 holiday. Walking, and hiking are excellent ways to exercise and get into shape. Hikes are distinguished from walks, in that they are taken in the woods, hills, mountains, or somewhere else in a natural setting. Hikes not only give you exercise, but they also provide scenic sites and vistas, that are good for the relaxation of the mind and soul.

There is some reference to this as National Tell Your Boss to Take a Hike Day. It likely evolved out of Take a Hike Day. We have found no factual information whatsoever, on this derivation of Take a Hike Day. Also, we believe that telling your boss to “take a hike”, may not be healthy for your employment situation.

Some people have suggested that this day be used to tell someone to “take a hike”. We leave this use of this interpretation up to the reader!

Use this special day to take a hike, alone or with others. Make it a goal to hike today and work off a little excess weight so you can put it right back on during Thanksgiving. You’ll be glad you did.

Stay at Home Because You Are Well Day is today, a November 30 holiday. Do you feel okay? If so, it is a good day to take off from work. According to  Wellcat.com, the creators of this special day, the objective is to call in “well” to your work. It’s as simple as that.

Caution: Of course, we recommend you use extreme caution and good judgment. Following the concept of this day could get you a reprimand or cost you your job. Participating in this day might not be the right thing for you to do. 

You may be hesitant to call in “well”. Certainly, the boss could become perturbed. And, you don’t want to lie. We suggest you tell the boss you are “under the weather”. This isn’t a lie, as we all are constantly under some kind of weather.  Hopefully, you are under sunny weather.

Have a happy Stay at Home Because You Are Well Day.

Small Business Saturday is held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. And, it’s a really important day for your neighborhood retail shops, helping them to get a slice of the huge holiday market. Following on the heels of Black Friday shopping, don’t miss participating in this important holiday.

Small Business Saturday is the much smaller kid brother to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Small businesses participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, their efforts are dwarfed by the big, national chain stores and the monster-sized Amazon. Of course, small businesses do not have sizeable advertising budgets and brand awareness to compete with the big stores on these two mega-shopping days. Sales numbers on these two days can actually be lower for small businesses, as consumers focus upon the many deals the big stores offer and advertise over every media outlet in existence.

Small Business Saturday is a hugely important day for small business owners. On this day, the focus is solely on these small, hometown shops. It brings awareness to the presence of these small shops. Before today, you just might have driven past these shops, without really seeing them as you head to a big box store. Small Business Saturday drives shoppers to local stores in big numbers, if only for the day. It builds awareness that there is indeed a shop right in the community, that offers a plethora of different and unique holiday gift ideas. This day can have long-term, positive effects on your local businesses well beyond this one day. And, it has a positive impact on your local economy.

We hope you embrace this special day, by shopping at locally-owned retail outlets. And, keep them in mind all year long.

Shopping Reminder Day is today, a November 26 holiday. On your mark. Get Set. Go Shop!  Get out your wallet and celebrate this holiday event. Black Friday deals have already been available all November. One wonders why we need this holiday. 

If we all heed this reminder, there is no doubt the malls and stores will be mobbed. As a result of the heavy online traffic, the internet will slow down noticeably. But, wait a minute!? Isn’t the holiday season already in full gear? Aren’t we being blasted with ads on television, radio, newspapers, and billboards? How could we not know that it’s time to shop for the holidays?

There is no shortage of fun, crazy, wacky, and special days. Some of them are a little “wackier” than others. Yet, as we pondered this special day, we realized if you need a special day this time of year to remind you to do your holiday shopping, then it’s not just this special day that’s a little wacky. 

So, just in case you weren’t thinking about it, please remember to do your holiday shopping.

Also see Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year.

Saxophone Day is today, a November 6 holiday. The Sax is a classical brass wind instrument. It is an essential instrument in jazz bands, symphonic bands, marching bands, and more. Because of its popularity, it is only fitting that this great instrument has a day of recognition all to its own. Without a doubt, this musical holiday is a treat for your ears.

The Saxophone was invented around 1840. It was created by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian musical instrument maker. The sax is made of brass.

Adolphe Sax invented 8 types of saxophones: Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contrabass, and Subcontrabass. The first Saxophone ever created was the Bass Saxophone. The 9th type of Saxophone, the Soprillo Saxophone, was invented in 2004. It is the smallest Sax.

Some famous Sax players (Alphabetical order):

• John Coltrane
• Stan Getz
• Coleman Randolph Hawkins “Hawk”
• James Moody
• Charlie “The Bird” Parker
• Lester Prez Young

So, we wish you a very happy and musical Saxophone Day!!!

We invite you to bite into your favorite sandwich, for today is Sandwich Day. Unsurprisingly, this November 3 holiday is held on the birthday of the Earl of Sandwich. Without a doubt, this is a day you can sink your teeth into. The sandwich is truly a great creation. They are a daily luncheon staple for millions of Americans. As a matter of fact, they are so popular, that there are endless varieties for you to make. There is a huge choice of bread and condiments. Then, the things you can put in between the bread offers countless variety. too. 

Pumpkin Destruction Day comes along at just the right time. Halloween is over. Sadly, it is time to dispose of leftover pumpkins. So, why not have a little fun while doing so.? First of all, farms, garden centers and many other stores usually have plenty of unsold pumpkins. Secondly, you and I likely have carved and uncarved pumpkins. We need to dispose of them in some manner. However, your uncarved pumpkins can be kept for Thanksgiving decorations.

The objective of Pumpkin Destruction Day is to have a little fun while destroying leftover pumpkins. Once they have been smashed, dropped from a sufficient height, jumped on, or otherwise obliterated, it is important to put the remains into your compost pile or a composting facility. A big part of the reason for this day is to keep millions of pumpkins out of landfills.

Today’s Band: Smashing Pumpkins

Today is Play Monopoly Day, a November 19 holiday. The Monopoly game is the fourth most popular board game ever played. Only the Game of Life, Clue, and Candy Land are more popular. Yet, true Monopoly gamers firmly believe it is number one. Have you played Monopoly before? Chances are, you have. Over 1 billion people in over 100 countries have played Monopoly at least once. Many of us have played it far more than once. Gather a few friends or family members together and pull out the Monopoly Board from your closet. It’s time to have some fun! While you read this article, check out the monopoly trivia. Then, as you play the game later today, you can amaze other gamers with your knowledge of Monopoly.

We understand how you can be on edge today. It’s because this is Pins and Needles Day. The original intent of this holiday is to commemorate the opening of the pro-Labor play Pins and Needles on Broadway on this day in 1937. Over decades, people lost track of the original meaning of this November 27 holiday. 

Today, most people look upon Pins and Needles Day, as a nervous and anxious day. It’s a day of eager anticipation, as we await an event or for something to happen. One could argue that kids are on pins and needles from now until Christmas, as they nervously wonder if they have been good enough to receive a visit from Santa in a few weeks.

Of all the special days on the calendar, this is a nerve-racking day. You are on pins and needles until that special future event successfully unfolds. And, if it doesn’t………. well we will just think positively.

We hope you have a happy, and calm, and relaxing Pins and Needles Day!

National Philanthropy Day is today, a November 15 holiday. Throughout history, Philanthropists have made great contributions to those in need, and to worthy causes. According to the official National Philanthropy Day website, this day is set aside to “recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy – and those people active in the philanthropic community – have made to our lives, our communities, and our world.”

Great philanthropists are known in history for their many and frequent monetary contributions, big and small. Many of them do so in a quiet way, not looking for recognition. Others get a hospital wing, or a building named in their honor.

While we commonly view Philanthropy as a monetary contribution, voluntary efforts at fundraising are also within the definition of philanthropy. So, if you have little extra money to contribute, do so. If not, turn your labor effort into charitable cash contributions by participating in fundraisers, making you a Philanthropist!