Unique Holidays: January 2nd, 2021

Good morning, how are you? I would like to share our series featuring Unique Holidays: January 2nd, 2021. Today is National Bath Safety Month and I am off to take a bath and let me tell you we have a Garden Tub and for me it isn’t that easy to climb in or out of. I will be looking for ways to make National Bath Safety Month much safer in my home. I hope you will as well.

National Bath Safety Month

This January is Bath Safety month, reminding you to take extra precautions and save yourselves from home injuries. Bathing is such a routine activity that we neglect to take proper precautions while we’re in the bathtub which is absolutely one of the most dangerous places in our homes. There are a lot of things we can do to minimize the risk of injury in the bath. Many of these precautions are especially important for the very young or very old. Safety bars or grab handles and non-slip mats inside the tub or shower are just two of the most effective and common ways to stay safe in our soapy bathtubs. Let’s look at a few more ways to stay safe in honor of National Bath Safety Month, which takes place every January.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL BATH SAFETY MONTH

Before Ancient Greece, in prehistoric times, the Sea and Rivers served as the most raw and original form of a bath. Did you know the oldest accountable daily ritual of bathing can be traced to the ancient Indians? Indians used elaborate practices for personal hygiene with three daily baths and washing. These are recorded in the works called Grihya Sutras and are in practice today in some communities. As communities formed in the ancient world, public baths became the main form of bathing, largely because many didn’t have access to private bathing facilities. The Great Bath of Mohenjo, Daro is one of the earliest public baths in history. Located in Sindh, Pakistan, the bath dates back to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization one of the three oldest human civilizations, next to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

“Showers” in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia involved rich people having private rooms in which servants poured cold Water out of jugs over them, but ancient Greeks were really the first to pioneer what we now consider the modern shower. The first showers where Water actually flowed through a pipe were originally developed by ancient Greeks. The Romans expanded on this pipe system creating their famous aqueducts that provided indoor plumbing and bath houses with water. These public bathhouses were virtually the first spas, fully equipped with massages, exercise, and entertainment.

By the early Twentieth Century, personal cleanliness became a greater concern. Growing awareness of germs inspired new advice on bathing to remove “invisible dirt” which caused disease. Meanwhile, industrial production techniques made tubs cheaper, and warm baths became more acceptable as a means of comfort and relaxation.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BATH SAFETY MONTH

1. Install no-slip mats in the bath which are low-cost but absolutely necessary additions to the bath. No-Slip Mats are a simple solution that helps prevent slips in the tub. Also put small no-slip rugs outside the bath, too.
2. Install a couple of safety handles in the bath and near the toilet to prevent slips and falls and to assist those who need help when entering and exiting the tub or shower. Safety Handles are also a good idea for helping those who have difficulty standing up from the toilet.
3. Childproof the bathroom. Make sure items intended for adults including Razors, Clippers, and Tweezers are kept safely stored in the bathroom and away from curious hands of little children.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT BATHS

1. Studies show that soaking in a hot bath soothes Muscle Aches, it can Lower Blood Pressure, and helps us get a good night’s sleep.
2. Some studies seem to indicate a hot bath can lower Blood Sugar for Type 2 Dabetics.
3. The Baths of Caracalla in Rome were built in the Third Century AD and could hold up to 1,600 bathers at once.
4. Most Americans use between 80 and 100 gallons of Water per day. The average American family uses about 300 gallons of water per day.
5. The National Institute on Aging reports that 80 percent of falls suffered by those aged 65 and older occur in the bathroom.

WHY NATIONAL BATH SAFETY MONTH IS IMPORTANT

1. he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an alarming stat: drowning remains a leading cause of death — while infants and adults older than 85 are most likely to drown in a bathtub.
2. Protecting ourselves and those we love begins by learning the facts. National Bath Safety Month inspires us to seek them out.
3. It may seem like too much trouble to retrofit the bath in order to protect others from what may seem like a rare occurrence. Unfortunately, those sound-like famous last words.

National Blood Donor Month

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH

1. Donate blood not just in honor of National Blood Donor Month, but in the simple spirit of providing the stuff of life to those who need it most. Donate now. Donate again in eight weeks. Then repeat.
2. Inspire others to donate blood creating an exponential increase in blood donations when and where they’re needed the most.
3. What’s your blood type? Some examples: O positive donors are needed more often than other blood types. O Negative donors are considered “universal donors.” AB positive donors are “universal recipients.”

5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT BLOOD DONATIONS

1. According to the American Red Cross, about 38 percent of the U.S. population can donate blood but only 10 percent actually will donate blood.
2. Brookhaven National Laboratory says that people who begin donating blood at age 17 and donate every eight weeks will have donated 48 gallons of blood by the age of 76.
3. When we donate blood, labs examine the donation for multiple infectious diseases, including HIV and West Nile virus.
4. Your dog can donate blood, too. Check with your veterinarian and the Humane Society to make sure you know the local rules and regulations for this type of donation.
5. Every time we donate one pint of blood, the potential is there to save three lives.

WHY NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH IS IMPORTANT

1. Someone needs blood every few seconds in the United States and more than 4.5 million Americans would die every year without lifesaving blood transfusions. National Blood Donor Month helps us remember these vital statistics.
2. The American Red Cross needs 13,000 blood donations every single day to maintain an appropriate blood supply. Fortunately, eligible blood donors can donate blood every eight weeks.
3. The American Journal of Epidemiology reports that blood donors are 88 percent less likely to have a heart attack.

Feast of the Epiphany – Three Kings – date varies Future Dates: January 3, 2121; January 2, 2022; January 8; 2023; January 7, 2024; January 6, 2025. Except traditionalists always celebrate it on the 6th.

Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar were the three kings from the Orient. Also known as the Three Wise Men or the Three Magi. They were merchants who saw the Star over Bethlehem when Christ was born. They followed the Star, to find the Christ child lying in the manger on January 6th. They brought the Christ child gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word “to reveal”. This day is known as “Theophany” the revelation of God to Man.

The Feast of the Epiphany is also known to some as Three Kings Day, and Little Christmas. This day marks the end of Christmastide. In Eastern Europe, it is as important as Christmas Day. Some people also refer to this day as “Saint Nicholas Day. However, the Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6th.

For many, theNativity scene, with the Manger and figurines of those at the stable on this day, are kept up through January 6th, and are the last decorations to be put away until next Christmas.

The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” refers to the period between Christmas and The Feast of the Epiphany. Many, if not most people, erroneously associate this period as the twelve days leading up to Christmas.  

To some Christians, Little Christmas, is a time to exchange gifts consisting of candy, fruit, or small gifts.

International Stop Spam Day– is always on January 2nd.

Today is International Stop Spam Day. No, we’re not talking about Spam, the processed Pork in a can. We’re talking about the millions of junk texts and emails that bombard our cellphones and email accounts every day. Spam is an international problem, occurring anywhere and everywhere on the planet. Often spammers come from offshore sites, making them unidentifiable and untouchable.

International Stop Spam Day was created to officially recognize spam texts and emails as one of the greatest scourges of our time, and to do something about it. Spam messages are a total waste of the recipient’s time and there’s no way to eliminate these time-consuming scam messages from our lives. Spam filters are getting better at identifying spam. The trouble is, many spam messages still get through to your email account. Junk mail folders sometimes traps real important messages. That means you still need to spend time scanning the messages in your junk folder, lest you miss an important message.

What is spam? Spam is any unwanted text or emails usually sent out in mass. There are a couple kinds of spammers. By far the worst kind is created by scammers, who are looking to separate you from your money. In their quest for your money, their messages can appear very compelling. Scammers have become very good at masking the source of the messages they send, making it sometimes look like it’s coming from someone you know. Valid business, organizations and even individuals are another group of spammers, sending out messages that the recipient may or may not want. Often, this is from a valid sender you recognize, and whom you bought from before or have been acquainted with. But, the bottom line, is if you don’t want the message, it is spam, regardless of who sends it or what is their intent. 

People often seem helpless to eliminate or even slow down the torrent of spam. There is a lot of truth to this concern. There are things you can do reduce the number of spam messages you receive. Including:

• If you don’t recognize the sender, do not open the message. Delete the message immediately.
• Whatever you do, do not reply to messages from unknown senders.
• If your email account provider allows you to adjust and personalize spam filter controls, by all means tinker with these controls, to increase the accuracy of the spam filters. 
• Limit the visibility of your email address.
• If you no longer want emails or texts from a retailer or other organization, unsubscribe from their mailings. 
• Don’t fall for signing up to mail and announcements. When filling out forms or ordering product and services, review each check box, to see if they are trying to sign you up to their mail list.
• Review website privacy policies. Avoid those that do not provide assurance that they will not sell or share your email address or other personal information.

Run up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day

“Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes” is an expression which means to float an idea to see what people think, or if they notice the idea. The term is commonly used in advertising and print media.

Run it Up the Flagpole to See if Anyone Salutes Day is set aside to allow people to do just that. Be creative today.  Use this Holiday to try and test new ideas and concepts.  Don’t limit the ideas to business applications. In your personal life, try out a new dress or clothing style, perhaps a different haircut. Or, maybe buy a new house flag and run it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes or even notices.

History and Origin of Run it Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day:

We discovered no substantial information about the origin of this Holiday. Because this is a common expression, we suspect someone decided there should be a day dedicated to express or display new ideas, and concepts, etc. And there’s no better time to try something new than early in the New Year. Making January 2nd a good day for Run it Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day.

World Introvert Day– always on January 2nd.

This is the kind of Holiday that quiet or shy people can really enjoy. Today is World Introvert Day. That makes this your day to celebrate and enjoy. There is an estimated 25 to 40% of people who are introverts. There is a about an equal number of extraverts. There is a sizable number of us who are “Middle of the Road”, enjoying the benefits of both worlds. These people are sometimes called “ambiverts”. There’s no right or wrong way to be. There are advantages to each type of person.

Are you an introvert? If so, you are in good company. As an introvert, you’re likely to enjoy a more quiet and serene lifestyle away from the limelight. Solitude is your virtue and you’re likely to be perfectly happy by yourself reading a book or watching a movie, taking a hike by foot or on a bicycle, gardening, or sitting and watching a sunset. That’s not to say that you can’t function in large groups. It’s just that introverts are at their best in a calmer, more peaceful environment. You won’t find many introverts making a career in public speaking, or in high visibility positions. But introverts are known for making great contributions to Society and the world. introverts have a big impact on Society and in shaping the world.

Introverts are often Scientists, Creators, Philosophers, Thinkers, Writers, Artists, Park Rangers, and often “techies. Introverts are generally considered happier and have fewer goals or lofty expectations. You may find introverts perfectly happy with the way things are. In communications, introverts prefer texts and emails over in person meetings or phone calls.

 The object of World Introvert Day, is to celebrate being an introvert in true introvert fashion. No glitz, and no glamor, and definitely no party. Spend the Holiday or evening alone, doing whatever you enjoy. It’s as simple as that! You are also encouraged to promote awareness about what it means to be an introvert, and how great it is to be a person with this type of personality.  

 The terms “Introvert” and Extrovert” were created by Carl Jung in the 1920’s. Aren’t you glad you now know that.?

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates