What to Celebrate August 10 thru 16, 2020
Celebration Ideas for August 10 – 16, 2020
Well, August started out with some beautiful summer weather. Bright & sunshiny, and not too hot. But the heat’s coming back, along with the storms. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted!
And anyway, there’s plenty of things we can celebrate no matter the weather. Seriously, we can be lazy, tell jokes, and drink Prosecco indoors just as easily as out!
And so can you. So go ahead and take a peek and plan your week. And remember to always …
Enjoy!
Celebrate All August Long
If you’re looking to add to your furry family, August is the time to do it! (Ok, any time of the year is the time to do it, but during August you can also help clear out the shelters).
August is also the time to enjoy goat cheeses of all kinds. As snacks, on salads, and on hot, grilled sandwiches, which we’re also celebrating this month.
Clear the Shelters: Most everything has gone virtual for 2020, and the Clear the Shelters Campaign is no different! It’s a virtual “Adopt & Donate” effort to empty as many shelters as possible of all their adoptable animals. All during August you can find your next family member virtually and help make this year’s campaign ultra-successful. Since 2015 more than 410,000 animals have found their forever homes during Clear the Shelters campaigns.
National Goat Cheese Month: Cheese fans rejoice! The entire month of August is devoted to goat cheeses. Now a lot of people talk about “goat cheese” as if it’s some kind of special cheese. And it is special! But it’s also a generic term referring to any cheese made with goat’s milk. So cheddar or Brie can be goat cheese! You may be more familiar with Feta as a kind of goat cheese. Spend the month trying different kinds of goat cheese. Delicious!
National Panini Month: Why are we celebrating hot sandwiches during one of our hottest months? No clue! But these elevated grilled cheese sandwiches are scrumptious any day of the year. Use a goat cheese at least once for your Panini Month celebration!
Weekly Celebrations for Aug. 10 to 16
This week we keep pets fed, employees safe, and romance alive. Sounds like quite the worthwhile week!
Give a Dog a Bone Week (August 10 – 16, 2020): Help Pets of the Homeless make sure homeless people can get the dog & cat food, along with vet care, they need to keep their pets fed and healthy. Because like many of us, many homeless people would go hungry themselves before letting their pets skip meals.
Safe and Sound Week (August 10 – 16, 2020): This week is all about workplace safety, something we’re all more aware of than ever these days. It recognizes safety programs that have worked to keep employees safer and give companies a chance to learn ways to improve safety and/or recognize their safety successes.
National Resurrect Romance Week (August 9 – 15, 2020): It’s an entire week devoted to being the anti-Valentine’s Day. Because that day has been commercialized to death. So for this week we simply do romantic things each day. No huge bunch of roses, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, or grand gestures required. Just real romance.
Celebration Days coming up for Aug 10 thru Aug 16
Lions & elephants & honey bees, oh my! We’re celebrating wildlife big & small.
Along with jokes, both presidential and not. And relaxation & being lazy (not the same thing!).
And we fuel all this celebrating with filet mignon, ice cream, pie, and rum! Among other things.
So let’s do have another fun-tastic week.
August 10:
National S’mores Day: Make sure you have graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate on hand! Because how else will you celebrate S’mores Day?!
World Lion Day: Help save the lions! Donate if you can. But if you can’t you can still help spread awareness that the lions need our help to survive. They’re worth saving, don’t you think?
Skyscraper Appreciation Day: Admire the architectural wonders of the skyscraper on the birthday of the man who designed one of the most iconic skyscrapers ever, the Chrysler Building in New York City. That man was William Van Alen, and while we recognize his genius today the building had plenty of critics when it was completed in 1930.
Duran Duran Appreciation Day: Do you remember Duran Duran, that fabulously popular 80s band? Were you one of the people who helped them sell more than 100 million records? Well August 10 is the day to listen to their music once again, with all the same appreciation you felt way back then.
National Lazy Day: After you’ve spread the word about lions & made some s’mores it’s time to celebrate this day. Grab those s’mores, a drink, and your favorite book. Then kick back & relax. If you do wish to appreciate skyscrapers and/or Duran Duran that doesn’t take much effort and can easily be done from your favorite hammock or lounge chair. Nothing more needs to be done for this day.
August 11:
Play in the Sand Day: On August 11 we do as the name of the day says and play in the sand. At the beach or in a backyard sand box. Dig holes, build sand castles, or make sand pies. Whatever your heart desires! And no, it doesn’t matter if you’re 3 or 83, you’re not too old to play in the sand.
Global Kinetic Sand Day: If you can’t make it to the beach and you don’t have a sand box, you can still play with sand! Kinetic sand, that is. This oddly addictive substance is real sand! But better. It’s less messy and comes in lots of fun colors. Buy a bag or 3 (in different colors!) to play with on the very first Global Kinetic Sand Day and every day.
National Presidential Joke Day: On this day we laugh at presidents. How you do this is up to you. Tell actual jokes about presidents. Laugh at some of the jokes presidents have made. And/or laugh at mistakes presidents have made that are funny in hindsight. And do remember, this day is supposed to be lighthearted, not mean or an opportunity to call a specific president or his administration a joke.
National Hip Hop Day: If you love Hip Hop, this is the day to celebrate it. And if you don’t, maybe you just haven’t found the right Hip Hop artist to listen to. Try it again!
National Raspberry Bombe Day: Make and enjoy the frozen treat called raspberry bombe. Despite the fancy-sounding name, it’s really just an ice cream frozen in a round mold (so it looks like a bomb!) and then decorated.
August 12:
World Elephant Day: Help spread the word about the dangers elephant populations face. And learn how we can all help make sure these magnificent animals survive to enchant future generations.
Home Sewing Machine Day: Home sewing machines have been getting quite the workout the past few months as women and men across the country have been making masks to share and sell. So it’s quite fitting we celebrate the date on which Isaac Singer got his patent for an improved sewing machine design in 1851.
World Calligraphy Day: Practice your best penmanship (calligraphic or not!) and join the founder of this day, Manuscript Pen Company, in sending handwritten letters to people stuck in care homes/nursing homes who’ve been isolated from loved ones during this pandemic.
National Vinyl Record Day: How big was your record collection? Or maybe the question should be how big is your record collection? Because vinyl never completely went away, even as it was replaced with cassette tapes and digital recordings. And today vinyl records have seen a resurgence, with people swearing they offer a richer, more authentic sound. Celebrate them on the anniversary of Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph in 1877.
National Julienne Fries Day: No matter what style of fry you usually prefer, for this day your side of fries must be julienned. These long, thin fries are easier to get nice & crispy, and who can complain about that?!
August 13:
International Left Handers Day: Celebrate the weirdness … uh, uniqueness 😉 of those people who prefer to use their left hands. And give them a great big Congrats for managing to navigate a world created by and for right handers. But at least parents no longer try to force their kids to be right-handed (do they?). If you’re a left hander, embrace your uniqueness.
National Prosecco Day: Why not toast the left handers you know with a glass of Prosecco? This refreshing sparkling wine is perfect for toasting on a hot August day. Or any day really. So if you don’t already have a bottle, pick one up and toast away! Responsibly, of course.
National Filet Mignon Day: After you’ve toasted your favorite left handers, cook them a filet mignon dinner! Or just make/order one for yourself … especially if you happen to be left handed. Whatever the occasion, be sure to savor every tender bite.
August 14:
National Navajo Code Talkers Day: Honor and learn more about the people who created the only code the Japanese could never break, giving the Allies the advantage they needed to win World War II.
National V-J Day: The official V-J Day is in September, commemorating the signing of the surrender documents. But first came the announcement that Japan intended to surrender, and that happened on August 14, 1945 (August 15 in Europe). This happy news caused spontaneous celebrations everywhere. And we continue to celebrate the day the world learned the War was over.
National Shop Online for Groceries Day: Can you believe that just 6 short years ago buying groceries online was such a novel idea and so uncommon that it needed a special day to promote it?! It’s true! But we’ve come a long way. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic ordering groceries online had become more common. And in just a few short months it’s become part of everyday life for many people. Many stores even offer their own delivery services now. If you haven’t yet joined the online grocery shopping trend, this could be the perfect day to try it.
National Creamsicle Day: When you’re ordering your groceries online, remember to include a package of creamsicles! Because you’ll want to be able to celebrate this creamy, citrusy day. Creamsicles are simply vanilla ice cream coated with orange sherbet, but this combination is a tasty delight. Today other creamsicle flavors exist, but the vanilla/orange combo was the first. So, in our humble view, it’s the only right flavor to celebrate with.
August 15:
World Honey Bee Day: Celebrate the tiny little creature that’s terribly important to our food supply. Not only do they make that divine nectar we call honey, but they help pollinate many of our food crops. So take some time to learn about the honey bee and maybe even plant some bee-friendly flowers in your garden.
National Relaxation Day: On this day we relax. That’s it! Just relax. No, you may not spend your Saturday getting caught up on all the chores you’ve been neglecting. Only enjoyable activities all day long.
National Lemon Meringue Pie Day: If you find baking to be a relaxing and enjoyable activity you may make a lemon meringue pie to celebrate this day. If you’d rather walk across hot coals than bake, then buy yourself a sweet, tangy lemon meringue pie & relax.
August 16:
Tell a Joke Day: Tell jokes all day to everyone you come across! Try to listen to some, too. Because how can your audience celebrate properly if they don’t get a chance to tell jokes of their own?
National Roller Coaster Day: If there’s an amusement park near you (and it’s open), head out to ride the roller coasters. If you’re not a fan of these “thrill-rides” maybe just learn about their history and the science behind how they work.
National Rum Day: Make the most of your Sunday with your favorite rum cocktails. Enjoyed responsibly, of course.
