Tuesday, April 15, 2014

An announcement suitable for That Sucks Day

I'd like to thank you, loyal readers, for stopping by every day for current holiday news. Creating and maintaining the Holiday Whiz has been both fun and educational.

Now, let's move on to my purpose for writing this post, appropriate for publication on That Sucks Day:

All of us, as responsible adults, should pause now and then to take stock of our lives. So I have to ask, "Does maintaining this blog help me in the pursuit my life goals?" Sadly, the answer is, "Not really." I've worked hard to streamline the processes of discovering new holidays, tracking movable holidays, etc., but when I get right down to it, the Holiday Whiz takes up time that I could put to better use. I need to focus on projects that will better benefit my husband, my daughter, my blog dog, and my own self. In the words of the productivity guru, Peter Drucker, "Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all."

Perhaps I'll revive the Holiday Whiz again in the future, perhaps not. Feel free to search the Holiday Whiz archives for general holiday information from years past - but be aware that some holidays change dates from year to year. Please check my sidebar on the right for a list of other holiday sites.

Thank you, once again, for sharing so many celebrations with me over the past few years.

All my best,

Carolyn Brooks Fleming
The Holiday Whiz

Tax Day, That Sucks Day, Titanic Remembrance Day, more

April 15th, 2014, is Tax Day, Take a Wild Guess Day, National That Sucks Day, Rubber Eraser Day, Palindrome Day, National Library Workers Day, McDonald's Day, Jackie Robinson Day, Titanic Remembrance Day, and National Glazed Ham Day.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you have until midnight tonight to get that envelope postmarked. Be aware, however, that only some post offices will be open late. Have a happy Tax Day!

Today is Take a Wild Guess Day, although I wouldn't recommend taking a guess when filling out your income tax return.

National That Sucks Day is so named because, as mentioned above, U.S. income taxes are due on this date. Also, today marks the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the sinking of the Titanic. Bad karma, to say the least.

On this date in 1770, the rubber eraser was invented. Clean up your errors mistakes on Rubber Eraser Day!

If you're a regular reader, you won't be surprised to learn that today, 4-15-14, is another Palindrome Day.

National Library Workers Day is your opportunity to thank the hard-working people at your favorite library. Consider, for a moment, how lucky we are to have public libraries, bursting with great literature, how-to books, computers, and more. Priceless.

McDonald's Day commemorates the day when the first franchised McDonald's opened in Des Plaines, llinois. Now they're everywhere. As an exchange student in 1980, I was surprised to discover that the German McDonald's offered tartar sauce instead of ketchup and they also served beer.

Jackie Robinson Day honors the man who broke baseball's color barrier.

On this date in 1912 the Titanic sank, after striking an iceberg. Titanic Remembrance Day honors the lives that were lost. A memorial voyage set off on April 10th, 2012, exactly one hundred years after the original ill-fated voyage.

On National Glazed Ham Day, enjoy a lovely ham dinner with all the fixin's. Believe it or not, Coca-Cola (or Dr. Pepper) makes an incredible ham glaze. I learned this from Frank O. Pinion, a well-known radio personality in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Monday, April 14, 2014

Palindrome Day, Passover, more

April 14th, 2014, is Palindrome Day, Passover, Reach As High As You Can Day, National Look Up at the Sky Day, International Moment of Laughter Day, Ex-Spouse's Day, Pan American Day, Children with Alopecia Day, and National Pecan Day.

4-14-14 is yet another Palindrome Day, when the date is the same forward or backward. 

The Jewish Holiday Passover, or Pesach, begins at sunset today and continues through nightfall of April 22nd. Passover commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. 

Telescope. Image: Idea go; FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Dream big - today is Reach As High As You Can Day. Literally, stretch as far as you can. Figuratively, stretch your creativity. Feels great both ways, right?

On National Look Up at the Sky Day, take time to appreciate the wonders of the heavens. This year, the holiday coincides with a full moon and lunar eclipse! See my separate post.

I've advised my daughter to marry someone who can make her laugh, because laughter makes the tough times easier. Find many, many moments to laugh today, in honor of International Moment of Laughter Day.

I'm so happy to be exempt from celebrating this holiday, Ex-Spouse's Day. If the day has meaning for you, please try to find some peace and common ground, especially if you have children with your ex.

Pan American Day commemorates the date in 1890 when twenty-four American nations agreed to unite in one continental community.

Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss on the head and body. Learn how you can help on Children with Alopecia Day.

On National Pecan Day, have some pecans. The healthiest way, of course, is to eat your pecans as Mother Nature made them. The decadent way, which I love, is to eat your pecans in the fabulous dessert known as pecan pie.

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Sunday, April 13, 2014

April 2014 full moon and total lunar eclipse

Full moon. Image: morgueFile.

The full moon for April 2014 takes place on April 14th or 15th, depending on your location. In addition, this full moon features a total lunar eclipse.

Following is a list of full moon names for April, ranging from common to surprising. Which names speak to you?

Sugar Maker Moon - Abenaki
Egg Moon - Algonquin
Full Fish Moon = Algonquin
Full Pink Moon - Algonquin
Full Sprouting Grass Moon - Algonquin
Indian Corn Moon - Algonquin
When They Set Indian Corn - Algonquin
Broken Snowshoe Moon - Anishnaabe
Big Leaves Moon - Apache
Moon of the Big Leaves - Apache
Ice Breaking in the River - Arapaho
Frog Moon - Assiniboine
Growing Moon - Celtic
Egg Moon - Cherokee
Flower Moon - Cherokee
Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs - Cheyenne
Peony Moon - Chinese
Wildcat Moon - Choctaw
Planter's Moon - Colonial American
New Spring Moon - Comanche
Gray Goose Month - Cree
Leaves Appear Moon - Cree
Big Spring Moon - Creek
Moon When Geese Return in Scattered Formation - Dakotah Sioux
Rain Moon - Deborean
Seed Moon - English Medieval
Migratory Geese Moon - Haida
Chaitra Purnima - Hindu
Hanuman Jayanti - Hindu
Month of Windbreak - Hopi
Kriblalikvik - Inuit
Time for Pounding Camas - Kalapuya
Bashch'atsishe daawaatra - Keresan
Leaf Moon - Kiowa
"Ipos" Gathering - Klamath
Ring Finger (counting on fingers, beginning with thumb in August) - Klamath
Halanyimcep - Kumeyaay
Black Oaks Tassel - Maidu
Grass Moon - Maidu
Moon of the Breaking Up of the Ice - Mandan-Hidatsa
Budding Time - Mohawk
Big Spring Month - Muscokee
Strawberry Moon - Natchez
Egg Moon - Native American
Full Fish Moon - Native American
Full Pink Moon - Native American
Full Sprouting Grass Moon - Native American
Big Plant Moon - Navajo
Awakening Moon - Neo Pagan
Spring Moon - Passamaquoddy
The Strong Month (When the Trees Begin to Bloom) -  Pima
The Yellow Month - Pima
Flowers Moon - Pomo
Leaf Split Moon - San Juan
Half Moon - Shawnee
Melting Moon - Shoshoni
Bak - Sinhala
Moon of Greening Grass - Sioux
Moon of Red Grass Appearing - Sioux
Ashes Moon - Taos
Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs - Tlingit
Wattsuwim Muattsi - Tumpisa
Hare Moon - UnknownSeed Moon - Unknown Wind Moon - Wiccan
Planting Corn Moon - Winnebago
The 8th Moon - Wishram
Sewa Meecha - Yaqui
Big Summer Moon - Yuchi
Great Sand Storm Moon - Zuni

Sources for full moon names:

More about the moon:

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Palindrome Day, Scrabble Day, Beauty Peace Day, more

April 13th, 2014, is Palindrome Day, Palm Sunday, Orthodox Palm Sunday, International Plant Appreciation Day, National Scrabble Day, Baisakhi, Beauty Peace Day, National Ask an Atheist Day, Thomas Jefferson Day, and National Peach Cobbler Day.

Today is yet another Palindrome Day in our series - 4-13-14.

On Palm Sunday, worshippers wave palm branches to commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter.

The Orthodox Church celebrates Palm Sunday one week before Orthodox Easter.  

Do you talk to your plants? On International Plant Appreciation Day, celebrate by admiring plants, eating plants, or growing plants. Oh, and just breathe the air, oxygenated by plants.

Today is National Scrabble Day. Do you play small words strategically or aim for the eight-letter blitz?

Baisakhi is celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh in the Indian solar calendar.

On Beauty Peace Day, ladies, go out and about without makeup. Show off your inner glow!

National Ask an Atheist Day is meant to promote friendly dialogue between atheists and people of faith about atheism and secular matters.

On this date we celebrate Thomas Jefferson Day, honoring the third President of the United States.

Run, don't walk, to your local farmer's market or fresh produce store and stock up on sweet, juicy peaches. Today is National Peach Cobbler Day.

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Walk On Your Wild Side Day, D.E.A.R. Day, more

April 12th, 2014, is Palindrome Day, Lazarus Saturday, Walk On Your Wild Side Day, Russian Cosmonaut Day, International Day of Human Space Flight, D.E.A.R. Day, Drop Everything and Read Day, Big Wind Day, National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, and Licorice Day.

4-12-14 is yet another Palindrome Day.

Lazarus Saturday is observed by the Greek Orthodox Church on the Saturday before Holy Week. 

Be just a little bit daring today, in honor of Walk On Your Wild Side Day. Then report back if you dare!

Russian Cosmonaut Day honors Yuri Gargarin, the first man to experience space travel. His flight took place in 1961.The holiday is known around the world as International Day of Human Space Flight.

D.E.A.R. Day is also known as Drop Everything And Read Day. Please don't celebrate literally, but make time to include the joy of reading in your day.

Big Wind Day commemorates this date, back in 1934, when weather surveyors at Mount Washington in New Hampshire, USA, recorded the highest wind velocity ever measured on Earth. The wind measured 231 miles per hour.

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day is a great opportunity to enjoy a childhood favorite. Add a gourmet touch with a sophisticated cheese and whole-grain bread. Or just go retro and enjoy processed cheese slices on squishy white bread.

You either like licorice or you don't. If you do, celebrate Licorice Day! BONUS TIP: Fennel seed, which has a hint of licorice flavor, helps to make ground turkey taste like Italian sausage.

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Friday, April 11, 2014

Teach Your Children to Save Day, Cheese Fondue Day, more

April 11th, 2014, is Palindrome Day, Teach Your Children to Save Day, Day of Silence, Global Youth Service Day, Eight Track Tape Day, International Louie Louie Day, National Pet Day, Barbershop Quartet Day, World Parkinson's Disease Day, and National Cheese Fondue Day.  

Today brings the second Palindrome Day in our consecutive series, which runs from 4-10-14 through 4-19-14. Celebrate how you will, number geeks!

There's no better hedge against bad luck or a tough economy than having a nest egg. Teach Your Children to Save Day is the perfect time to explain that to your kids. Lead them by example!
 
The Day of Silence, founded in 1996, is a day when students join together, taking a vow of silence to draw attention to "the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools."
 
Global Youth Service Day is actually a three-day event, running from April 11th to April 13th this year. Young people from the ages of five to twenty-five the world over participate. Check here to see the participation ranking of your state or country.

Were you listening to music in 1964? If so, you're old enough to celebrate Eight Track Tape Day. Although, come to think of it, is there much to celebrate? Eight track tapes broke songs up in the middle and the players clunked every time they changed tracks. Memories!

Are you a member of the LLAMAS? Do you know what comes after "Three nights and days I sail the sea?" Are you a Louie fanatic? If so, raise a glass for International Louie Louie Day!

On National Pet Day, remember - "Adopt! Don't Shop!" We followed that motto when we adopted our Lhasa Apso, Shimmer. She's the Official Blog Dog of The Holiday Whiz.

Hey, Sweet Adeline, today is Barbershop Quartet Day! These days, barbershop has evolved into such things as techno acapella. Check out the incredible Pentatonix (which consists of five people, but who's counting):


Wear a red rose today in support of World Parkinson's Disease Day. Take time to learn more about this neurological disorder and support those who are afflicted.

National Cheese Fondue Day is the day to head to the Melting Pot restaurant nearest you for a cheesy gift.

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Holiday Whiz readers are from:

Albania, Algeria, Anguilla, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus. Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia [FYROM], Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia

If you're from somewhere else, please say "Hello" in the Comments!