International Day of the Girl Child, an October 11 holiday, is today. Attaining women’s rights and equality has been a long struggle around the world. In many parts of the world, women continue to be oppressed in many ways. As a result, today’s special day brings attention specifically to young girls. A key objective during this day is to draw attention to the challenges girls face. Putting the spotlight on the many problems should help to overcome them. Today also serves as a voice toward true equality. It also encourages and empowers girls to seek rights and equality. One of the early goals of this day has been to end arranged child marriages. While it may be hard for Americans and modern nations to believe, child marriages continue unabated to this day.

Today is International Coffee Day, an October 1 holiday. This day celebrates one of the world’s favorite hot beverages, which is enjoyed and celebrated around the world. Call it what you like: coffee, Java, a cup of Joe, or any of dozens of names. Billions of people around the world drink billions of cups of coffee daily.

Coffee Day and National Coffee Day – Up until now, dates have varied widely across dozens or more countries. International Coffee Day replaces these prior events.

Can’t wake up and be alert without your first cup of Java? You’re not alone. It is estimated that 88.8 gallons of coffee are consumed annually per capita. This author suspects he consumes a whole lot more than the average Joe. How about you!?

Did You Know? On a per capita consumption basis, you may be surprised to know the U.S. is not the top coffee-drinking country, not even close. Depending upon what survey you read, the U.S. ranks between 22 -25. Who is the top coffee-consuming country? Finland.

Origin of International Coffee Day – Eliminating the Confusion

At a meeting on March 3-7, 2014, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) created International Coffee Day and established October 1 as the date to celebrate coffee around the world. The first International Coffee Day was held on October 1, 2015. This allows people and countries around the world to celebrate coffee on the same day.

Not all holidays and special events originate in the United States, not by a long shot. Without a doubt, some of the really great ones originate in just about any part of the world. International Chefs Day, an October 20 holiday, is one of those great ones. And it comes to us all the way from South Africa.  From the southern tip of Africa, this holiday has spread around the world, making it a truly international day.

One of the things that makes this special day so great, is that it is not just about honoring or celebrating chefs. Sure, one of the objectives of this day is to celebrate this noble profession and to promote this exciting career. But, the main focus of  International Chefs Day is to provide education, especially to kids, on how to eat healthily.

The organization Worldchefs is perhaps the largest promoter of  International Chefs Day. This is a worldwide network of chef associations. Each year, the Worldchefs organization sets a theme for this day and helps to provide educational materials to interested groups. These materials make it pretty easy for your group to hold healthy eating programs for your community.

To celebrate this day, schools, governments, and local organizations hold educational programs, workshops, and exhibits on how to prepare healthy foods. In keeping with the stated goals of this day, a special emphasis is  placed on holding programs for young people, helping them to establish healthy eating habits for a long and healthy life.

Artists of all kinds are celebrating around the world today, as it is International Artist Day, an October 25 holiday. On this day, we can and should honor and recognize all of the artists who enrich our lives and society in so many ways. It is important to recognize the contributions of artists around the world. It certainly makes sense that this should be an international event. There are so many famous artists from virtually every corner of the world. It would be a shame, had the creator of this special day limited it to one area or a single country.

So, just who is an artist? Painters and sculptors are usually the first people that come to mind. But, there are many other art fields, including acting, dancing, photographers, writers, musicians, poets, and digital artists, to name a few. There are certainly plenty more artistic fields. So, let’s use today to celebrate all artists around the world.

On the second Monday in October, we celebrate Indigenous People Day. It is often referred to as Native American Day. Indigenous People Day is related to another Native American Day, celebrated on the fourth Friday in September. To further complicate matters, what is the definition of indigenous people and native Americans? Are they the same? Who exactly are we celebrating and honoring, and why? Are you among the many people who are confused!? Read on………

Every year in late October, we get the opportunity to participate and enjoy Howl at the Moon Night. The closer we get to Halloween, things begin to get strange and eerie. Hopefully, the evening will be cloudless. And hopefully, it will be a full moon, as they are more fun to howl at. While the moon is more often in the night sky, sometimes it is visible in the daytime. When this happens, this October 25 holiday is called Howl at the Mon Day.

This holiday is all about the animals that are known to “howl at the moon”. This includes wolves, coyotes, dogs, and perhaps even a couple of humans that you know. In particular, wolves have been howling at the moon for a long, long time. Wolves have been around for over 1.5 million years, much longer than humans.

People believe all canines are more vocal during a full moon. But, do they really howl at the moon? Recent studies say “No”. But frankly, we believe those studies are simply wrong.

Hindu Diwali Day is the first day of a five-day Hindu holiday celebration. It is a festival of lights, one of the major Hindu holidays of the year. Diwali Day originated in India as a harvest festival. It is now celebrated by Hindus throughout the world. It is also called “Diwali”.

Diwali Day signifies the victory of:

• Light over darkness

• Good over evil

• Knowledge over ignorance

• Hope over despair

Did You Know? Hinduism is the third largest religion. It has 1.2 billion members.

Happy Diwali Day!

If ever there was a day to crawl into your shell all by yourself, talk to no one, and act like a hermit crab, today is that day. Hermit Day is today, an October 29 holiday.  Certainly, as a recluse you shun publicity. Instead, this is a quiet day to spend quietly in seclusion, all by yourself.

For some people, being a recluse is a way of life. They spend every day by themselves, in peaceful seclusion. For whatever reason, Hermits prefer living away from the crowds and the sea of humanity. For many of us who lead an increasingly busy and stressful lifestyle, the idea of being a “Hermit for a Day” is very tempting. The thought of getting away from it all, even if for just one day, is very appealing.

If you are a Hermit, celebrate your lifestyle today. If you’re one of the many, who yearn for a break from your hectic lifestyle, be a Hermit on this day. Chill out by yourself where no one can find you. We hope that no one interrupts the calm and serenity you seek today.

Our Favorite Musicians: The 1960s rock band Herman’s Hermits

Our Favorite Crustacean: Hermit Crabs

Have a happy, secluded, quiet, and peaceful Hermit Day.

Wear Something Gaudy Day is today. Surely, this October 17 holiday is your chance to really stick out in a crowd. The word “gaudy” refers to something bright, gay, cheap, showy, outlandish, or otherwise not in good taste.

Have a little fun on this day. For just one day, forego fashion and style. Pick out clothes to wear today, that do not match, ones with colors that clash. If you look at them and say “I wouldn’t be caught dead in that”, then it’s the perfect outfit for this day. Look for something to wear that’s really wild and wacky, and will stick out like a sore thumb wherever you go. If you don’t have anything like this in your wardrobe, perhaps a friend does.

Note: If you’re always garbed in gaudy attire, this is your day to look like everyone else!

International Frugal Fun Day is today. With the way prices of everything are constantly on the rise, being frugal is a way to make the family budget go just a little further. As a matter of fact, being frugal is the only way many cash-strapped people can have fun. Now, it is your challenge to find fun things to do that don’t cost a penny. Just look around you and you will find endless free or inexpensive opportunities.

On this day, it is perfectly okay to be a penny pincher, a cheapskate, or a miser. Being thrifty is encouraged. This is a day to have fun “on the cheap. Look for activities that are free or cost very little money.  

Today’s Motto: A penny saved is a penny earned.

Here’s wishing you a very Happy Frugal Fun Day.