National Nurses Day – May 6, 2022

At the end of the 19th century, “The Lady With the Lamp” — or as she is more widely known, Florence Nightingale — founded modern nursing. Thanks to her strict use of hand-washing and hygiene practices while caring for wounded soldiers in the Crimean War, Nightingale and her helpers reduced the death rate from 42% to 2% — ushering in nursing as we know it today. On May 6, we recognize the important role nurses play in our lives by celebrating National Nurses Day.

History of Mother’s Day

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”

Once a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their “mother church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special service. 

Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s.

Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe

The origins of Mother’s Day as celebrated in the United States date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children.

These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation.

Another precursor to Mother’s Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” to be celebrated every June 2.

Other early Mother’s Day pioneers include Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperance activist who inspired a local Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the 1870s. The duo of Mary Towles Sasseen and Frank Hering, meanwhile, both worked to organize a Mothers’ Day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some have even called Hering “the father of Mothers’ Day.”

Anna Jarvis Turns Mother's Day Into a National Holiday

The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.

Happy Mother's Day to Mary the Mother of my three Daughters 💗 ❤️ 💕!

NATIONAL NUTTY FUDGE DAY

Each year on May 12th, National Nutty Fudge Day tempts you to indulge in smooth chocolate fudge filled with crunchy nuts.

A Western confection, fudge is usually sweet and delicious. It consists of combining sugar, butter, and milk, heating it to the correct temperature, and then mixing it while it cools to a smooth, creamy consistency. There are many varieties and flavors of fudge, with chocolate being the most popular.

In 1886, a letter was found written by Emelyn Bettersby Hartridge a Vassar College student in Poughkeepsie, NY about her Baltimore, MD cousin. It referred to a fudge her cousin had made and sold for 40 cents per pound. Hartridge obtained the recipe, and in 1888, she made 30 pounds of fudge for the Vassar College Senior Auction.

Late in the 19th century, some shops on Mackinac Island, Michigan, began to produce similar products as the Vassar College fudge and sold it to summer vacationers. Fudge is still made in some of the original shops there today.

Many candy makers include pecans and walnuts when they prepare their fudge. As a celebratory treat, fudge makes a delicious gift. It packages well and recipients are often overjoyed to receive homemade fudge.

National Apple Pie Day May 13th, 2022

Grab a fork and a napkin, because Apple Pie day is coming this May 13. Talk about a holiday you can really sink your teeth into!

Apple pie has been around since the Middle Ages. A Dutch cookbook dated 1514 lists a recipe for Appeltaerten. It called for a standard pie crust, slices of soft seedless apples, and a few tasty spices—specifically cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, mace, and sugar—all cooked up in a traditional Dutch oven. The English also had their version of apple pie, which dates back to the time of Chaucer. The English version also suggests adding figs, raisins, and pears to the apple-and-spice mixture. In Sweden, apple crumble was the gold-standard. Traditional Swedish apple crumble requires breadcrumbs or rolled oats instead of pastry, and is served up with custard or ice cream. In France, apple pie is served upside-down as a tarte tatin.

The French also caramelized their apples, an innovation which added a whole new dynamic to the flavor. They were also the ones who decided to add cheese to their pies, which actually makes for a surprisingly delicious treat. In the 17th century, apple pie was finally brought to the American colonies. Over time, apple trees (which were not native to the Americas) began to grow, which made baking much easier. Now, apple pie has become an indelible part of the American identity, to the extent that apple pie is considered one of the most American things in the world.

I direct the Secretary of Defense, on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for soliciting the participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens.  I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their respective jurisdictions each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States.  I also invite veterans, civic leaders, and other organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day each year.

Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes and businesses on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day.

Proclamation 10210 of May 14, 2021, is hereby superseded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

NATIONAL YUCATÁN SHRIMP DAY

National Yucatán Shrimp Day on May 24th celebrates a dish exploding with flavor. Plump, peel-and-eat shrimp are the centerpiece of this dish, and the flavors remind diners of the sunny summer evenings.

Shrimp lovers shouldn’t miss out on a dish like this. While the Yucatán Peninsula is further south on the Gulf of Mexico, this recipe hails from the waters along Florida’s coast. The garlic, butter, and special sauce give it a kick that keeps diners coming back for more. Serve it with crusty bread and white wine or an icy cold beer. You can almost imagine the dazzling blue waters of the Gulf and the sea breeze with every bite. And don’t forget the large, tender shrimp, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE #YucatanShrimpDay

Make up a recipe that says summer. Invite friends and family to join you – it’s not a celebration if you don’t. Add some chilled beverages, and you’ll be ready to enjoy some delicious Yucatán shrimp. When you do, be sure to share the occasion using #YucatanShrimpDay on social media. Looking for a recipe to make? Try this delicious recipe from Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille!

Ingredients
1lb of fresh Gulp Shrimp
8 oz of Yucatan Sauce
8 tablespoons of Butter
1 Lime (optional for more zest!)
Fresh cilantro

Preparation
Boil shrimp until cooked through.
Bring Yucatan Sauce along with butter to a simmer.
Reduce heat, toss the cooked shrimp into the sauce and garnish with cilantro.
*Extra* Toast your favorite type of bread for dipping!

NATIONAL YUCATÁN SHRIMP DAY HISTORY

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille located in Ft. Meyers, St. Pete Pier, Captiva Island, and Sanibel Island, Florida, founded National Yucatán Shrimp Day in 2020 to celebrate one of their signature flavors. On May 24, 2019, they began selling their Doc Ford’s Yucatán Sauce by the bottle. The day marks the launching of their signature product loved all across the country.

In 2020, the Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed the day to be observed on May 24th, annually.

I could eat scrimp everyday! How about you?

NATIONAL WINE DAY

On May 25th each year, wine lovers everywhere pour a glass of their favorite wine to celebrate National Wine Day.

Made from fermented grapes or other fruits, wine is an alcoholic beverage. During the fermentation processes, yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes converting it into alcohol.  Different grapes produce different wines.  Winemakers will combine different wines to create more complex flavors.  Wines made from fruit or honey are often named according to the variety of fruit used.

Red wine varietals produce deep ruby reds as well as subtle ambers and browns. Their beautiful colors hint at the coming change in the season. With that, we can look for delicious menu changes, too. Besides, what better way to enjoy a great bottle of wine than by pairing it with excellent company and food.

Winemakers produce white wines from grapes with light yellow-green skins or light red skins. However, it’s not the color of the grapes that give the wine its color. It’s the tannins in the grape skins that color wine red and also the flavor. White wines are generally sweeter than red wines and are best served chilled. Most red wines are served at room temperature. However, a sweet red should also be chilled for the best flavor.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalWineDay

Reminisce with family and friends over a glass of wine.  Enjoy wine with a favorite meal.  And just a little tip, in a couple of days we celebrate National Coq Au Vin Day which includes red wine as an ingredient. Pick up an extra bottle to prepare. Post photos using #NationalWineDay on social media.

If you’re looking for more wine days to celebrate Check out these 9 Wine Celebrations.

MAY YOU GET ALL YOUR WISHES BUT ONE, SO YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO STRIVE FOR!”

Of course, we want your dreams to come true, but if you have nothing to work towards you haven’t earned your wine.

National Blueberry Cheesecake Day – May 26, 2022

National Blueberry Cheesecake Day is celebrated every year on May 26. It is a day dedicated to the blueberry cheesecake, one of the most popular desserts in the U.S. Although originating in ancient Greece, cheesecakes have today spread to the far corners of the world and each region has its own varieties of cheesecakes. One such very popular variety is the blueberry cheesecake.

NATIONAL ROTISSERIE CHICKEN DAY | JUNE 2

On June 2nd each year, chicken lovers celebrate National Rotisserie Chicken Day. While there a numerous ways to cook a whole chicken, rotisserie chicken offers a slow cooking method that seals in flavor.

#RotisserieChickenDay

When cooking chicken using a rotisserie chicken, the whole chicken is cooked on a rotisserie or spit that turns continuously over a heat source. This process slowly roasts and sears the skin to seal in the flavor. The result is a tender and juicy chicken. Some cooks inject rotisserie chicken with a blend of seasonings to give increase the flavor. The popularity of rotisserie chicken continues to grow as the health benefits of it become more widely known.

Rotisserie chicken goes well with a variety of side dishes, too. Whether you like traditional salads, potatoes, rice, and steamed vegetables, or more elaborate dishes, you will not go wrong. You can even use the leftovers in many ways, including salads, sandwiches, and casseroles. It is just as delicious cold as it is hot, too.

NATIONAL ICED TEA DAY | JUNE 10

National Iced Tea Day on June 10th each year celebrates one of summer’s favorite drinks. Whether you prefer sweetened or unsweetened, with or without lemon, many love and enjoy iced tea by the glass full all summer long.

#NationalIcedTeaDay

Creating your custom iced tea is as easy as adding a hint of flavor. Whether you add a squeeze of lemon or the juice of raspberries, lime, passion fruit, strawberry, or cherry, make your iced tea your way.

An alternative to carbonated soft drinks and quite popular in the United States, iced tea makes up about 85% of all tea consumed. Restaurants, convenience stores, vending machines, grocery stores and self-serve soda fountains make finding iced tea easy and convenient.

Recipes for iced tea have been found dating back to the 1870s. The Buckeye Cookbook, published in 1876, and Housekeeping in Old Virginia, published in 1877, both contain iced tea recipes. It is believed, however, that iced tea started to appear in the United States in the 1860s and became widespread in the 1870s. During that time, hotels offered iced tea on their menus and railroad stations offered the beverage as well. In 1904, the beverage was introduced at the World’s Fair in St. Louis causing its popularity to explode.  

HOW TO OBSERVE National Iced Tea Day

Brew and enjoy a glass of iced tea with friends. With so many ways to brew iced tea, it’s become more convenient than ever, too. Create your favorite flavors by adding mint, lemon or fruit. Enjoy a drink during lunch at your favorite restaurant. We even have two recipes for you to try:

Sweet Tea
Lemonade Tea

Are you looking for iced tea deals to celebrate? We have them! Check out the Celebration Deals page for more information. If you have deals, use the Contact Us link, and we’ll get yours added.

While enjoying your iced tea, be sure to share on social media using #NationalIcedTeaDay.