My family is going out of town for a couple days and I didn’t want you to miss out on our series sharing Unique Holidays which is why you find Unique Holidays: September 16th, 2021 a couple days early giving me time when we get back to get back on track.
In the meantime take a look at the Holidays being celebrated today and let me know which one you most want to celebrate and why. Charlie and I can’t wait to collect Rocks to celebrate Collect Rocks Day. Would you like to come with us?
The American Legion was granted its federal charter by Congress on this day in 1919 and it was established to support and assist Veterans returning from World War I. Since then the American Legion has grown and supported Veterans of Wars, and veterans of Peacetime as well.
The American Legion currently has over 3 million member Veterans, at more than 14,000 posts worldwide and they provide a social community and mutual aid to all members.
While the American Legion was formed in 1919, it wasn’t until 2009 that this Holiday was created on September 15, 2009, Congress proclaimed September 16 as American Legion Day.
Collect Rocks Day a day to enjoy and add to your rock collection. Ahh, to be a kid again, and have a rock collection. Well, we have good news for you. No one ever said you had to give up your rock collection when you became an adult. We hope you always keep and cherish your rock collection.
Kids collect rocks because it is a fun thing to do and they even trade rocks among rock collectors. There are no books on what rocks to collect, or how much each rock is valued at. Rocks are selected for a collection based upon a wide range of attributes. A lot of it is appeal. The rock could be big or small, or a particular color or range of colors. smooth or rough, or display a unique characteristic. When it comes to rock collecting, beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder (or rock holder in this case).
Ice Cream of the Day: Rocky Road
Baby Names: Rock, Rocky, Stone, and if its a girl…. Pebbles!
History and Origin of Collect Rocks Day:
Kids young and old have been collecting rocks for hundreds, if not thousands of years and it is likely that someday the origin of this Holiday will be found written upon stone tablets, or on the rock wall inside of an ancient cave.
Step Family Day was established to recognize and show appreciation for the importance and value of step-parents and extended families. Our research discovered this Holiday was founded by Christy Borgeld of Grand Rapids, Michigan. We found references to this Holiday as “National” Step Family Day. We found no documentation that this Holiday is a true “National day”, which requires an act of Congress.
Step Family Day was first celebrated with a picnic on September 16, 1997 and the suggested method of celebration is a picnic at a park. Since it’s inception, it has slowly gained recognition and popularity.
Step families are created through the death of a parent, divorce or separation. A step mom or dad comes into our life, often accompanied by a step brother or sister.
Decades ago, most marriages lasted for life and separation and divorce was often looked down upon. In today’s society divorce and remarriages are commonplace. Over 50% of all marriages end up in divorce and that means over half of us are divorced and/or children of divorces. That gives us cause to recognize the extended family, and how they enrich our lives.
Mayflower Day celebrates the date the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England to America. On September 16, 1620, 102 men, women, and children set sail.. Their destination was the New World, where they could have religious freedom, and continue using their Native language, culture, and customs.
Every Mayflower Day, we commemorate these brave, early settlers the very first immigrants, and helped to pave the way for millions more to follow, in search of freedom and the dreams and promises of a New World.
Facts about the Mayflower
- The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth England on September 16, 1620.
- The Pilgrims were headed to the settlement in Virginia and they had an agreement to settle there.
- The voyage took 66 days and they landed at Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1621.
- 102 passengers were on board which included three pregnant women. One of these women gave birth just before landing.
- On November 21, 1620, the passengers signed the Mayflower Compact, set forth the rules of governance of the fledgling colony.
Mexican Independence Day celebrates Mexico’s Independence from Spain. Like the U.S. Independence Day, this day is celebrated in Mexico with parades, fiestas, fireworks, and picnics.
Mexican Independence Day History:
In 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo of Dolores, Mexico was planning a revolt to free the country from Spanish rule. On September 15, 1810 at 11:00 pm, Father Hidalgo rang his church bell to call his parishioners, and rally them to fight off Spanish rule. He then made a speech to his congregation, and the fight for freedom began.
Today, Mexican people mark this very special holiday, by repeating the ringing of the bells at 11:00 pm on the 15th. It is followed by a day of celebrations on the 16th.
Here’s a Holiday that just can’t be limited to a “National” day. Play-Doh is a popular child’s toy around the world. In 2015, Hasbro Toys, the creator of this Holiday, wisely changed the title to World Play-Doh Day.
Both World Play-Doh Day and National Play-Doh Day celebrates a great childhood play toy. Play-Doh was invented in the mid 1950s and this toy has entertained millions of children, allowing them to express their creativity, both at home and in the classroom.
The invention was simple. A school teacher wanted a safe modeling clay for her pre-schoolers. She asked her brother-in-law Joseph McVicker, who worked at a chemical company, to come up with something. The result was simple….flour, water and food coloring.
It’s fun and easy to celebrate World Play-Doh Day and National Play-Doh Day. Pull out the Play-Doh and ……Play! There are other brands of play clay on the market but having raised children, I’ve never seen a better brand than Play-Doh.
History and Origin of World Pay-Doh Day and National Play-Doh Day:
Play-doh was created in 1955 by Joseph McVicker of Kutol Chemicals in Cincinnati, Ohio. Play-Doh hit the market in 1956, and has been a popular play toy ever since. Play-Doh was created because McVicker’s sister-in-law wanted a safe, clay-like product for her nursery school children to use. Noah and Joseph McVicker received U.S. Patent No. 3,167,440 for Play-Doh.
Hasbro Toys, the current makers of Play-doh, say it a little differently. They state: “The story of PLAY-DOH modeling compound begins in 1956 when Scientists at Rainbow Crafts, a Cincinnati Soap and Cleaning compound company, stumbled upon a new use for the unique dough-like cleaning product. The company realized this product’s potential as a child’s modeling compound; and thus, the original, reusable PLAY-DOH compound was born.”
National Play-Doh Day was created in 2006 by Hasbro toys and in 2006, Hasbro changed the title to World Play-Doh Day, to recognize Play-Doh’s popularity around the world.
Working Parents Day gives recognition to moms and dads who work hard to provide for their children. Every day dad, and mom, go off to work. They work hard to earn money to make ends meet and they work hard to be able to afford the extras that kids want and need. Including school trips, funding the prom, athletics, music, dance classes, clubs, and more.
Today is a day for the children to show a little appreciation. We suggest kids should do the dishes, clean up the living room, and extra chores around the house. If the children are old enough, make dinner for your parents.
This day speaks to “working parents” we believe that “stay at home moms” fit this classification because moms just might work harder than anyone.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
