JUNE 26: TROPICAL COCKTAILS DAY
Tropical Cocktails Day, started in 2013 by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, celebrates the flavorful drinks most associated with tiki bars. More often than not, rum is their starting place. Tropical cocktails became popular after two tiki bars, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's, opened in California in the 1930s. Both claimed to have invented one of the most popular tropical cocktails, the Mai Tai. Since their start, tiki bars have portrayed a romanticized view of what Polynesian drinks and culture are like. After about thirty years however, tiki bars fell out of popularity. But a resurgence in the 1990s — and into the 21st century — means tropical cocktails are once again filling people's glasses. Most well-known are the piña colada, the hurricane cocktail, the daiquiri, the caipirinha, or the good old mojito. And don’t forget the tiny umbrellas!
JUNE 27: NATIONAL ICE CREAM CAKE DAY
National Ice Cream Cake Day brings two favorites together under one delicious treat. Between the classic summer treat, ice cream, and the time-honored celebratory cake, the ice cream cake is one of culinary history’s favorite combinations — the perfect dessert for just about any occasion. The origin of the ice cream cake, however, is a mystery. No one knows for certain who came up with the idea or even when it began.
Ice-cream-cake makers use any flavor — or flavors — of ice cream and shape them into a cake. They can add many different ingredients: cookie crumbs, sponge cake, fudge, fruit, or caramel between the layers. Next step: decorating. They begin by adding frosting, whipped cream, or icing. Just like cakes that come from the oven, ice cream cakes can be decorated to fit any theme or celebration.
JUNE 28: PAUL BUNYAN DAY
One of America’s most famous folklore heroes, Paul Bunyan was brought to life in the 18th century by stories lumberjacks from the Northeastern US and Eastern Canada back. Spread orally, no original written account exists in the world. Logging bunkhouses continued with the tradition of telling Paul Bunyan stories for decades after that, embellishing it with more and more details, making their hero larger than life. Along the way, he gained a companion, a giant blue-colored ox called Babe the Blue Ox, said to be a gift from Paul’s fellow woodsmen, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone.
Paul Bunyan’s story was first written down by a journalist, James MacGillivray in 1906. However, the mythical woodsman was popularized by freelance writer and adman William Laughead in 1914, when he created an advertising campaign for a logging company using Paul Bunyan stories. Soon, this character’s myth and tales spread far and wide around the US and Canada, and he began to be featured in many other promotional campaigns for products, services, and cities. Today, stories about Paul Bunyan have appeared in more than 1,000 books; and Paul is renowned as one of the most popular and recognizable characters in American folklore. Many north-central US cities claim the title of being Paul Bunyan’s official home. Statues were erected in various places to honor this folktale — a 26-foot-tall animated Paul Bunyan at an amusement park in Minnesota, a 49-foot statue of Bunyan and a 35-foot statue of Babe the Blue Ox in Klamath, California .
Paul Bunyan has an origin story. Seems 5 storks were needed to carry this large newborn. As he grew older, when he clapped his hands and laughed, windows shook and shattered. Another tale has him sawing the wooden legs off of his parents’ bed in the middle of the night when he was only seven months old! Folklore also credits Bunyan with forming the Grand Canyon as he, with Babe walked through, dragging his ax behind. Another myth suggests Bunyan created the Great Lakes so Babe would have a watering hole.
JUNE 29: NATIONAL CAMERA DAY
Say “cheese”! National Camera Day celebrates photography — once so complicated it took a scientist to understand — as part of our everyday lives. The word “photography” is based on two Greek words that, when put together, mean ‘’writing with light.’’ A camera is an irreplaceable tool used to record and replicate memories, events, people, and places. Before the invention of the camera, painting was the only resource to document a vision. Capturing an image of a person or place in a drawing took time and skill. The power of a camera provided many with a simple, inexpensive, and fast solution.
George Eastman, known as “The Father of Photography,” brought the camera to the masses. While he did not invent it, he developed many additions improving the use, ease, and production of the camera. His developments made the camera widely available to homes around the world. The first cameras were large and bulky, but each later design evolved, until some cameras were as small as a pen. Today’s digital cameras have many features and variations, making them appealing to people of all ages for personal and professional use. According to Business Insider, in 2017, Americans took over 1.2 trillion digital photos.
JUNE 30: NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN DAY
We’re taking a point of personal privilege — and as a salute to Kendal’s own Muriel Fox — by selecting National Organization for Women Day as the special observance for June 30. Founded on June 30, 1966 by a group of activists, including Muriel, it raised awareness to end sex discrimination and has remained a strong group for women’s rights. NOW works to end discrimination and harassment against women, to help women attain economic security, and to empower women to take action in their communities. NOW also educates the public about the issues facing women and works to engage individuals and groups in supporting equality for women. As one of the longest-running and most well-known organizations fighting for women's rights, NOW has been a powerful force in advocating for change, helping make progress on many fronts. Some of the challenges facing NOW include continuing to fight for progress on key issues such as reproductive rights and equal pay, while also working to engage younger generations in the movement. NOW has had a profound impact on the lives of US women and has been a powerful force in the fight for equality. The organization continues to be a vital voice in the movement for women's rights.
JULY 1: INTERNATIONAL CHERRY PIT SPITTING DAY
International Cherry Pit Spitting Day, celebrated on the first Saturday in July, has an important message: more can be done with cherries than just eating them. Now that’s inspiring! This year, ICPSD is celebrated on July 1. Cherry pit spitting is the act of spitting out remains of cherries from one’s mouth to send them as far away as possible. Thousands of people, comprising contestants and spectators around the US, gather at specified venues to participate and witness this exciting holiday.
International Cherry Pit Spitting Day is a day specially created to host cherry pit spitting competitions around the world. The origin of the day is associated with Herb Teichman. The owner of Tree-mendus Fruit Farm, he held a the first cherry pit spitting competition in 1974 at his farm. Unbeknownst to Teichman, his innovation would be elevated to the status of an international event. The international competition, organized in different locations around the US, generally involves standing on a mark and spitting out cherry pits as far as possible. Each contestant is given three tries and the longest shot out of the three is recorded. The contestant with the longest recorded range is declared the winner. Today, the competition is divided into different categories to match people of different age groups and specifications. Cherry pit spitting is also practiced in Australia, France, Germany, Canada. The US states in which they are most popular are Michigan and Utah. The “sport” is popular, although there are no leagues organized. Yet.
The current Guinness World Record for the longest range shot belongs to Brian “Young Gun” Krause, who recorded a cherry pit spitting distance of 93 feet 6.5 inches in 2004.
JULY 2: WORLD UFO DAY
UFOs have been the stuff of legend for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that freaky flying saucers grabbed national and international mainstream attention. Since then, UFOs have captured the minds of old and young alike, and witness’ stories have proliferated around the world. World UFO Day serves as a way for everyone to come together and watch the skies on the same night in search of UFOs, but that’s not its only purpose. Many see the holiday as a way to spread knowledge and awareness of UFOs, making a case for their existence, and hoping to make disciples out of the dubious. Why July 2? For many enthusiasts this date represents the anniversary of the famed and all-but-confirmed-but-not-quite 1947 incident in Roswell, New Mexico. Believers claim a UFO crash landed here, deep in the American southwest, but that the government has been covering it up ever since. [Cue Twilight Zone music.] What do you believe?