Welcome back to our series of sharing Unique Holidays: June 23rd, 2021. Take a look at the Holidays being celebrated today and let me know which Holiday you most would like to celebrate and why.
International Fairy (or Faery) Day
I would like to invite you to enter the enchanted world of Fairies, as today is a day to celebrate these magical and mystical beings. Fairies, or Faeries as they’re called in some parts of the world, are fascinating to people young and not so young alike.
In some form or another, Fairies have captivated us for hundreds of years. Did you know Fairies first appeared in European Countries back in the Middle Ages. They can also be found in Greek Mythology. Fairies are not limited to children’s Fairy tales.
There are all kinds of Fairies but perhaps the best known, is the Tooth Fairy, who leaves money under a child’s pillow in exchange for a tooth. Fairies also have many cousins, including: Dwarfs, Elves, Pixies, Gnomes, and a variety of others. Fairies have a wide variety of varying characteristics and traits. Fairies can be good or bad and they’re often mischievous and whimsical.
Are you up for a Fairy tale? Then, take out a book with Fairies in it, and let your imagination run wild as you read it.
It’s quite easy to participate in International Fairy Day? Here’s some ideas:
- Read a book with Fairies in them and no, its not limited to children’s books.
- Read a book with Fairies in it to a child.
- Hold a Fairy party. Everyone can dress like a fairy!
- Start a Fairy garden. If you already have one, spend some time in it.
- Watch a movie with a Fairy in it. For me I will watch Peter Pan with Tinkerbell my favorite Fairy. Do you have a favorite Fairy if so who and why?
If I had a magic wand I would wave mymagic wand at you and wish you a very happy National Fairy Day!!!!
National Handshake Day – last Thursday in June
Today is National Handshake Day which celebrates the handshake in all of its forms, as a way of greeting, and in business where professionals around the world, “seal the deal” with a handshake, prior to putting the agreement into writing.
Did you know people have been shaking hands for thousands of years. A form of shaking hands dates back to at least 5,000 B.C. Roman soldiers and medieval knights would shake hands, to check the forearms of their opponents for daggers and other hidden weapons.
Handshakes are used around the world upon meeting or greeting someone. Handshakes are a universal sign of friendship. There are countless examples of the use of a handshake to disarm wary adversaries or end feuds and battles. Native Americans incorporate the handshake in “blood brother” rituals.
Kinds of Handshakes
Is there a right way or a wrong way to shake hands? We will stay out of this debate. I will admit there certainly is a wide variety of handshaking styles.
In Western culture, a strong, firm handshake is the most common. In business, the professional handshake consists of one to two pumps, with a firm, hard grip.
It generally indicates a strong, positive, successful and determined individual. In a variation of this, the “military” handshake is quite similar, adding a vice grip like squeeze displaying the strength of the individual.
Outside of business, a handshake with the ladies is usually quite light and almost dainty. With that said, a woman in business, may well pride herself in a strong, firm shake of the hand.
Other hand shake variations include the “wild pump”, with fast and excessive shaking of hands. Now, lets not forget the wimpy or Fishy shake. Not all cultures prefer the firm handshake. For example, in Asian culture, a light handshake is the norm.
Clubs and Societies have historically had their “secret” handshakes consisting of any number of twists and moves in contact with open or closed hands, elbow or forearm contacts. When it comes to secret handshakes, kids can be very creative.
Modern Hand Shakes? More recent times have brought newer forms of handshakes, or ways of greeting. Including high fives, low fives and the fairly recent “fist bumps”.
At the advent of the COVID-19 Coronavirus in early 2020, the “elbow bump” substituted for handshakes or other forms of greeting to minimize physical contact and the spread of the disease.
The History and Origin of National Handshake Day:
This special holiday was created by Miryam Roddy of Brody Professional Development in Jenkintown, PA. Did you know this Holiday was created around 2005.
Swim a Lap Day is good for your Health and, it’s a fun day, too! All ‘ya gotta do today, is take a dip in the Swimming pool and cool off. Which is what I would like to do today.
Summer has arrived and it’s time to enjoy all that Summer has to offer, including plenty of time in and around the pool. What better way to enjoy the early days of Summer, than by taking a lap or two (or three) around the Swimming Pool. In addition to the fun, it’s great exercise to help keep you fit.
It’s likely to be Sunny and hot today. Find a few friends and Swim a couple laps in the pool. Then, let the Pool Party begin!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
