Today is Buzzards Day. This March 15 holiday is sometimes called Turkey Vulture Day, as this is another name for these under-appreciated birds.  Bizarre as it may seem, today we celebrate them. It’s not like they are cute or cuddly, or any other pleasant adjective for that matter. So, before we continue, let’s make certain we know what we’re celebrating. A buzzard is also known as a Turkey Vulture, or simply called a Vulture. Buzzards are scavengers. They eat roadkill or carrion. By definition, they eat the dead and putrefying meat of animals….. yuck. Now, aren’t you glad to know that we’re celebrating buzzards today?

Turkey vultures are migratory birds. In the fall, they migrate to the warmer climates of Mexico, Columbia, and Ecuador.  In the spring, they return to many parts of North America.

How on earth did we ever get to the point of having Buzzard’s Day? Walter Nawalaniec, a Cleveland, Ohio patrolman and bird watcher, tracked the spring migration of returning turkey vultures to the Cleveland area each year. He told local reporter Robert Bordner and historian Eunice Morton that he had observed the buzzards had returned to the area exactly on March 15 for the past six years. History has since proven that Buzzards return to the Cleveland, Ohio area on March 15 most years.    

 Watching the buzzards return each year became an annual event in the Cleveland area. Along the way, serving and eating pancakes and sausage became part of the tradition for this day.

Did You Know?  The Migratory Bird Act of 1918 protects buzzards. Turkey vultures perform an important role in the ecosystem, cleaning the environment of dead animals.

I suppose if people call you an “old buzzard”, then this day is for you, too!

Today is Learn About Butterflies Day. This March 14 holiday is a fun day because everyone likes butterflies. When we first heard about this special day, we thought…Oh, how cool! Butterflies are neat and fun to watch, flittering about the yard during the summer months.

But, then we thought: Why hold Learn About Butterflies Day in March? There’s logic to this. As we approach summer, we get outdoors and become busy with all of the activities of summer. It’s far better to do a little learning in the winter, so we are prepared to better appreciate these colorful, winged creatures, as they re-appear in our backyards. 

In keeping with the spirit of this very special day, celebrate by learning a little more about the wide range of butterflies. Buy a Butterfly identification book, so you will know what butterflies inhabit your yard. Importantly, learn how to attract them to your yard. You can do this by planting flowers that they like.

Bunsen Burner Day is today. This March 31 holiday celebrates the birthday of its creator. German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen was born on March 31, 1811. And, you guessed it, von Bunsen created the Bunsen Burner.

High school students know all about the bunsen burner. It’s a standard piece of equipment in a science lab. If you work in a chemistry laboratory, chances are you use the burner in your job. If it’s been a while since high school chemistry class, the memory of the Bunsen burner may have faded somewhat.

In case your memory has faded, the Bunsen Burner is a long, hollow tube. Gas and air are combined to create an extremely hot flame. The burner is used in a wide range of scientific and laboratory projects.

Spend a few minutes today to appreciate the value of this important scientific tool. We will let you determine how many minutes to spend in reflection. 

It isn’t anywhere near Christmas. But this March 8 holiday appears ready-made for Ebenezer Scrooge. Today is Be Nasty Day. Now, if ever there was a holiday or observance to NOT participate in, it’s Be Nasty Day!

There are naughty days and nice days, and all sorts of goodie gumdrop days on the calendar to celebrate and enjoy. So, it stands to reason that there will be a few negative types of days. Certainly, this is one of those days.

We hope you do not celebrate this day. Hopefully, this holiday will never become pouplar. We include it on our calendar, as it has a sizable presence on the internet, and it has been around since before 2000. If you do celebrate today, please recognize that there is a big difference between being nasty and being cruel. 

Today’s Motto: Mamma always said: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it!”.  

Let a little sunshine into people’s lives today. it is I Want You to be Happy Day, a March 3 holiday, which is an unselfish day. It’s a pleasant thought that we wish upon those that we care for or love. This is the kind of day when you do something for someone to bring joy and happiness into their lives. Note: This day is sometimes called National I Want You to Be Happy Day.

This day to be nice is followed several days later this month by Be Nasty Day!

Be creative today in your efforts to make people’s lives happier. There are endless ways to make others happy. We are certain you can find a way to make everyone you come in contact with a little happier. 

Attention ladies young and not so young. Today is Barbie Day. This March 9 holiday is a great day to celebrate this iconic doll. Wildly popular, playing with fashionable Barbie dolls has never been out of fashion. Most girls grew up with Barbie dolls, using their imagination and a wealth of outfits and accessories to envision her in all sorts of places and situations. Barbie dolls offer girls the opportunity to use their creativity to imagine themselves doing all the things their doll does.

These dolls have been around for several decades. They have a broad and successful history. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, Inc. realized that girls needed something more than baby dolls and paper dolls. As a result, she designed the Barbie doll. Mattel, Inc. mass-produced it. On March 9, 1959, it was introduced at the American International Toy Fair in New York. It was an immediate hit with young girls. 

Barbie’s full name is full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. She was born and raised in (fictional) Willows, Wis. She went to High School there. 

Barbie enjoyed the “Singles Scene” for two years. Then in 1961, the Ken doll arrived on the scene. Needless to say, Ken swept Barbie off her feet. The couple has enjoyed a long and fantastic romance, doing all sorts of things together. But to this day, he has yet to put a ring on her finger. However, if Ken were to ask, is Barbie ready for the ultimate commitment!? Only time will tell. Over the years, Mattel, Inc. has introduced an immense array of outfits, accessories, toys, and play sets to complement any and every girl’s imagination. Over the years a sizable number of Barbie’s friends and family have come on the scene thanks to Mattel. 

Pardon us for being Lubberly, but today is Awkward Moments Day, a March 18 holiday. C’mon, admit it. You’ve had an awkward moment or two in your life. You know, the ones that make you say “I’m so embarrassed”. We’ve all had those weird and uncomfortable occurrences and events that we wish we could take back. I’m sure you’re no exception. Some are innocent little occasions out of our control, a chance encounter, or experiences that may not have even been your fault. Others are real whoppers, the kind that makes you want to crawl under a rock until the red fades from your cheeks. Years after the event, we can reflect back and usually laugh about it with others.

Being able to laugh about your gaffes and awkward moments is good for you. As a matter of fact, being able to relate your past discretions and awkward moments is a big part of Awkward Moments Day.

Some awkward synonyms: Backward, cloward, clumsy, lubberly, gatword, heyward

However you decide to enjoy this day, we hope to rehash those awkward moments at some later. Undoubtedly, the retelling will bring many smiles and laughs.

Johnny Appleseed Day honors one of America’s great legends. Johnny Appleseed was a real person. Born John Chapman, he was among the American settlers captivated by the movement west across the continent. Johnny Appleseed traveled westward in threadbare clothes and usually barefoot. He sold apple trees and seeds to settlers. Along the way, Johnny planted many apple trees himself. He continued planting and selling apple trees for over forty years. With every apple tree planted, his legend grew. While Prohibition dulled the legend for a time, Johnny Appleseed remains one of America’s great legends.

Did You Know? John Chapman did not plant varieties of eating apples. Rather, they were tart. People called them Spitters”, because after taking one bite, you’d spit it out. These apples were commonly used to make hard cider and applejack.

Celebrate today with an apple-rich menu. Include fresh apples for snacks, and some applesauce or apple pie for dessert. And, make plans to plant an apple tree.

National Agriculture Day is a salute to American agriculture and everyone who plays a role in it. Sometimes called World Agriculture Day, this holiday is celebrated in March as Spring begins to arrive and we all begin to think of our gardens. According to the Agricultural Day website and sponsors of this holiday, the purpose of National Agriculture Day is to “celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture”.

Agriculture has been around since the caveman first learned how to plant seeds and grow food. The industry has evolved from simple tools for growing and harvesting crops, to horse or ox-drawn plows, and now employs modern tractors and harvesting equipment.

Every year, producers, associations, universities and other groups recognize and celebrate the contributions of agriculture.

Note: National Agriculture Day, is sometimes referred to as World Agriculture Day. Agriculture is a vital industry to feed the billions of hungry people on the planet.

The date of this special day can vary. It is often, but not always on the first day of spring.

Song of the Day: The Farmer in the Dell.