Are you hungry? We certainly hope so, as celebrating this day is a real pleasure. Meal planning for the day is all set. As today is National Cheesesteak Day is today, a March 24 holiday.  This sandwich is best known as the “Philadelphia Cheesesteak” or “Philly Cheesesteak”.

Hot dog vendors and brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri from Philadelphia, PA are credited with creating the Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich in the 1930s. They created a grilled beef and onion sandwich on a long, soft hoagie roll. It became an immediate hit. It wasn’t long before a taxi cab driver suggested to Pat Olivier that he quit the hot dog vending business and open a store to sell his popular sandwich. That’s exactly what he did, opening “Pat’s King of Steaks” restaurant. The original sandwich did not have cheese. Cocky Joe, an employee of the restaurant added melted provolone cheese. Grilled peppers also came later.

Celebrate today with a delicious and classical American sandwich for lunch, dinner, or both of these meals!

Today is National Cereal Day, a March 7 holiday. Did you have your bowl of Wheaties today? Perhaps it was Cheerios, Captain Crunch, Alphabets, or one of the dozens of different varieties to choose from. Maybe you had a bowl of bran cereal, to really get you going. Whatever cereal you chose, you are in good company. About one-half of Americans enjoy a healthy start to the day, with a bowl of their favorite breakfast cereal.

Cereal arrived at the breakfast table in America in the mid-1800s. You might say cereal was the very first health craze. At the time, the American diet was unhealthy, consisting of way too much protein, alcohol, and caffeine. It was believed that this combination was unhealthy, leading to illness, poor overall health, lust, and sloth. It was also believed to cause constipation and gastrointestinal illnesses. And they were correct!

Some of the pioneers of cereal were alive at the time and developed the first cereals, promoting them to improve diets and health. Americans bought into the concept and discovered that not only was it good for their health, but cereal tasted good, too. It was also a quick breakfast with little clean-up, allowing them to quickly get on with their morning chores and work. A bowl of healthy cereal soon became the go-to for breakfast. In 1939, cereal became just a little less healthy, as sugars were added to many varieties. Many saw the added sugars as a boost to their morning energy levels.

Did You Know? Cheerios were originally called “CheeriOats”.

On National Cereal Day, you can begin celebrating bright and early with a morning bowl of cereal. But, don’t stop there. Cereal can be consumed at any time of the day or night.

March is National Celery Month. It’s a month to celebrate this marshland vegetable. You’re up for a Celery-bration, aren’t you!? Of course, you are!

Native to the Mediterranean, Celery is one of the best foods you can eat. It is very, very low in calories, People say it takes more calories to eat celery than the calories it contains. It is high in fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Celery adds a tasty crunch to salads and tuna fish. It’s great in soups, stuffing, and many other recipes. It is a great snack paired with a variety of dips, or peanut butter. And, what would a Bloody Mary be without a stalk of celery!?

Did You Know? Celery has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Back in 850 B.C., Celery seed was believed to have healing powers. Benefits include: preventing gallstones, aiding in indigestion, and helping to lower blood pressure. So, there are plenty of reasons to eat ample amounts of celery.

Who were you named after? Why were you named after that person(s)? These are excellent questions to explore and find the answer to on Namesake Day. Use this day to find out why your parents chose the name they gave you.

As the day of your birth neared, your parents explored different names for you. Upon your birth, they carefully selected a first name, and most often a middle name to give to you.

As parents-in-waiting, we spend countless hours pouring through baby name books. We seek names that sound good, and names that honor someone we love, look up to, or respect. We read up on what the meaning of the names on our short list represents.  Then, on the day you are born, we bestow a first and middle name for very good and purposeful reasons.

Do you know why mom and dad named you Crystal, Susie, Mason, or Carter? Maybe, mom and dad anointed Alex or Erica, simply because it was on the Top 10 list of names the year you were born.  If you don’t know anything about why they gave you the name that you have, don’t you think it’s time to find out!? On Namesake Day it’s time to contact mom and dad, to get the answers. If mom and/or dad are no longer around, perhaps a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle can offer insight into this question. While you are performing this research, try to find out more about your namesake(s). We also encourage you to take this event as an opportunity to explore your family Ancestry.

Multiple Personality Day is an opportunity to get in touch with yourselves. On this March 5 holiday, you can and should get in touch with your inner self, however many that may be. When greeting someone with this psychological disorder, begin with “To whom am I speaking to!?”.

Someone with a split personality has two personalities. Someone with multiple personalities has more than two personalities.  It’s a psychological disorder that we hope none of our readers have. Many people who have this are dangerous. 

Don’t be surprised to find yourself surrounded by people who are talking to themselves today. You might find yourself talking to yourself, too!

When you wish someone “Happy Multiple Personality Day”, you may need to do so multiple times, once for each personality. And, if you are going to send someone a card for Multiple Personality Day, do you know how many to send!?

Observations for Today’s Holiday: I was just saying to a couple of myselves that this holiday will be a lot of fun. They all agreed.

National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day is today. This March 29 holiday celebrates the millions of small business owners that make up the backbone of this country. These individuals spend countless hours nurturing and growing their young enterprises. The workload demands, and lack of a hired staff, often translate into long and late hours, and many missed family and personal events. But, all in all, they love what they do. After all, they are their own boss.

New businesses have always been a vital, yet not fully appreciated, part of the U.S. economy. On the retail side, they bring different and unique products to the marketplace. They provide stellar and personal service support. When you call, you are more likely to get a real, live person. And unlike big national chains, they know their products. They are outstanding performers in niche markets. In manufacturing, they create many new concepts and ideas, making them creators of new products.

Celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day by showing your support….shop their stores today, and every day.

With all of the John Does and Jane Does in the world, how do you tell them apart from one another? Why it’s their middle name, of course! Today is Middle Name Pride Day, a March 10 holiday. This day honors the seldom-used middle name that often sets you apart from others. Our parents selected it with care, so you should be proud of it. Some people like it so much, that as adults they use their second name as their official name. A great example of this is F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

Here are two big reasons to be proud of your middle name:

First, there are plenty of John Smiths and Mary Jones. It’s the second name your parents gave you that makes your name unique.

Second, your parents often selected your middle name to honor a good friend or relative. That person is likely a role model for you as you grow up. He or she may possess certain quality traits and characteristics that your parents hope you inherit. 

Do you know why you were given your middle name? If not, today is the day to find out. If it was in honor of someone, find out a little more about that person.

Thought for the Day: The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so he can tell when he is really in trouble.

Today is Melba Toast Day. Also called “Toast Marie”, this is a March 23 holiday. But, just what is this crispy toast? And, how did this special day come to be!? Melba toast is a thin, dry slice of bread, that has been toasted to a crisp texture.

It was originally named “Toast Marie” by its creator, famous chef Auguste Excoffier. The name did not stick for long. Famous opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba, took ill and was on a limited diet, including dry toast. It was quickly renamed Melba Toast and became part of Nellie’s diet while she was ill. There are conflicting dates when this occurred. Most references suggest it was 1897 or 1901.  

Take a Guess: Who was Peach Melba named for? You guessed correctly!

 Other Names: This special day has also been referred to as Toast Day and variations, including references to it as a National Melba Toast Day”.

Make Your Own Holiday Day allows you to make today a special day for anything you want. The objective of this March 26 holiday is to allow one day for any topic or event that has otherwise escaped recognition… up to now. The topic for your special day is seemingly unlimited. Or, you can make up a special day just for yourself. Sorry, there already is a “Joe Day”. But, there isn’t a Mary, Bill, or Sue Day.  And, you never know, the day you create just might catch on in the internet.

We didn’t create this day. But, we are glad it’s here. Over the years, many site visitors have emailed us and inquired as to how to create a holiday or special day. It’s not easy, and it’s even more difficult to create a truly national day.

See: How to create a holiday or special day.

Today is your day to skip all of the red tape, bypass all of the effort, and create a special day of your choosing. Do some research to see if it already exists. Then, simply declare your special day.

“Live Long and Prosper” is a saying from Science Officer and First Officer Spock, a Vulcan aboard the Starship Enterprise on the television series Star Trek. It is derived from the ancient Vulcan blessing: “May you live long and prosper”. Live Long and Prosper Da,y a March 26 holiday, celebrate Spock, and his many Vulcan sayings.

So, how might you apply “Live long and prosper” to your life and those you love? This day encourages us to think about this particular saying, and how we can make our lives happier, healthier, and more prosperous. Matt McCarthy, the creator of this day, encourages us to focus on ways to live longer and prosper. McCarthy suggests we accomplish this through better food and diet, increased exercise, reading, relaxation, finding ways to save money, and volunteering.  

As I’m sure you know, Spock was played by actor Leonard Nimoy. His full Vulcan name is S’chn T’gai Spock. While we refer to him as a Vulcan, he is half Vulcan and half human. Spock’s Vulcan father is Ambassador  Sarek. His mother is Amanda Grayson.