Welcome to our series sharing Unique Holidays: August 2022. Would you take a look at the holidays being celebrated today and let me know which holiday you most want to celebrate and why. Charlie and I are going to take today off from celebrating and just veg out. Would you like to join us?
Chinese Valentine’s Day/Daughter’s Day – 7th day of 7th Lunar Month August 14, 2021; August 4, 2022; August 22, 2022; August 10, 2024; August 29, 2025
Today is the day to celebrate love Chinese style because today is Chinese Valentine Day. Also known as the Daughters Festival and other names. Chinese Valentines Day is celebrated on the Seventh day of the Seventh month of the Lunar calendar.
Chinese Valentines Day is one of love and it’s romantic that this holiday evolved from an ancient love story from Chinese folklore. As a result of being handed down from generation to generation over thousands of years, there are several versions of the story.
Here is one of the most popular versions:
The Goddess of Heaven also known as the Queen of Heaven had seven beautiful, young daughters. The seven daughters came down to earth. The daughters decided to bathe in a pristine River, leaving their clothes on the shore. Along came a Cow herder but the herd were actually Ox named “Niu Lang”. The Cow Herder took their clothes to see what they would do. The daughters decided that the youngest, and most beautiful, named Zhi Nü should get out of the Water and recover their clothes. Because Niu Lang saw her naked, they had to get married. They fell madly in love, and shared several years of marital bliss.
Finally, her mother became irritated by her absence from Heaven, and ordered her to return. Seeing how much Zhi Nü missed her husband, the Jade Emperor of Heaven brought the couple back together. Ultimately, Zhi Nü was allowed to visit her husband, Niu Lang just once a year. The annual reunion occurs on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar.
Other names for this holiday include:
- Festival of Seven Daughters
- Seventh Sister’s Birthday
- Festival of Double Sevens
- Night of Sevens
Determining the Date:
The Lunar year is established based upon the sighting of the new moon. Calendar Converters are available online to convert to/from the Julian and Chinese Calendars.
The History and Origin of Chinese Valentine Day:
This holiday is celebrated in China and the Holiday comes from a Chinese legend that has been handed down for thousands of years. There are several variations of this legend.
Many websites mistakenly report this on varying dates in early August.
More on Chinese Valentine’s Day
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is today even though it may be blisteringly hot outdoors. Put on your apron and fire up the oven, for this is a holiday to bake dozens and dozens of Chocolate Chip Cookies. Then eat the Cookies. Store bought or homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies are all okay.
If you are a baker, celebrate this holiday, by pulling out your favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe and bake as many Cookies as you can. If this day falls on a workday, it is perfectly fine to bake the Cookies the night before.
To celebrate this holiday, bakeries and grocery stores often offer a free Chocolate Chip Cookie to customers and some offer discounts on purchasing Cookies.
Americans eat on average 18,928 Cookies of all vartities in their lifetimes.
The Chocolate Chip Cookie was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield from Massachusetts, in 1938. Her husband ran the Tool House Inn, resulting in her Cookies being called “Toll House “Cookies. Nestlé’s bought the rights to the name, and the rest is history!
The History and Origin of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day:
Our research easily found Ruth Graves Wakefield, the creator of the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. But, we did not find the creator of this holiday.
U.S. Coast Guard Day honors the Military branch that protects our Waters and shorelines. The U.S. Defense Department suggests that this holiday is largely an internal celebration for all Coast Guard personnel and their families. Past and present. We’d like to encourage everyone to honor the brave members of this branch of the Military.
Celebrate U.S. Coast Guard Day by learning more about the responsibilities and functions of the U.S. Coast Guard which is now playing an even more extensive role in Homeland Security to protect our Country.
We salute Coast Guard personnel today and every day and I hope you do, too.
History and Origin of U.S. Coast Guard Day:
On August 4, 1790, the Revenue Cutter Service was created by the U.S. Congress. Congress authorized the construction of ten cutters. These ships were built to enforce U.S. tariff laws. The Revenue Cutter Service was the predecessor the U.S. Coast Guard. The name “Coast Guard” was first used in 1915.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
