Today is...
National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day

An insurance salesman named Harry Baker invented chiffon cake in the 1920s. He sold his cakes to the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles and all of Hollywood fell in love with the dessert’s lighter-than-air texture. Baker carefully guarded the recipe for over twenty years before selling it to General Mills (home of the Betty Crocker brand) for an undisclosed amount.
The recipe for chiffon cake debuted in a 1948 edition of Better Homes and Gardens. General Mills marketed it as “the first new cake in 100 years” and it quickly became a nationwide sensation. The secret recipe called for vegetable oil instead of butter or shortening, and instructed the baker to beat the egg whites and egg yolks separately.
There are many flavors of chiffon cake including chocolate, orange, walnut, maple, and today’s reason to celebrate, lemon! To celebrate National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day, try baking a delicious lemon chiffon cake for your family tonight!

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March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

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History for March 29 1848 - Niagara Falls stopped flowing for one day due to an ice jam. 1932 - Jack Benny made his radio debut. 1943 - U.S. rationing of meat, butter and cheese began during World War II. 1962 - Jack Paar made his final appearance on the "Tonight" show. 1967 - France launched its first nuclear submarine. 1976 - In Memphis, Bruce Springsteen jumped a fence at Graceland in an attempt to see his idol, Elvis Presley. ______________________________________________________ "The greatest danger, that of losing one's own self, may pass off as quietly as if it were nothing; every other loss, that of an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc., is sure to be noticed." --Soren Kierkegaard

Today is...
Eggsibit Day

Eggsibits (art exhibits of beautifully decorated eggs) take place each spring all around the world. At the annual Eggsibit in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, judges from the National Egg Art Guild award prizes for the most original, the most beautiful, and the most humorous egg designs.
People have been decorating eggs for centuries. One of the traditional forms of this ancient art is the wax-resist method, which is popular in eastern Europe. Artists use a stylus to create a design on the egg with melted beeswax before dipping it in the dye. The wax seals that section of the design so it doesn’t absorb the color. They adjust the wax and repeat the process with different colored dyes to create an intricate pattern.
In honor of Eggsibit Day, check out these elegant Easter egg designs, invite some friends over for an evening of decorating, and host your own eggsibit!

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Today is also National Black Forest Cake Day

 
March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

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History for March 28 1797 - Nathaniel Briggs patented a washing machine. 1885 - The Salvation Army was officially organized in the U.S. 1921 - U.S. President Warren Harding named William Howard Taft as chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. 1962 - The U.S. Air Force announced research into the use of lasers to intercept missiles and satellites. 1967 - Raymond Burr starred in a TV movie titled "Ironside." The movie was later turned into a television series. 1976 - Genesis began its first North American tour since Peter Gabriel's departure. Phil Collins was the new lead singer. ______________________________________________________ "A person who knows all sciences but does not know himself is a poor and ignorant person. He who does not know anything except for his inner spiritual self is an enlightened person." --Leo Tolstoy

Today is...
Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day

 What country music song always puts a smile on your face? Perhaps it’s Johnny Cash's "Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratching You," Kenny Chesney's "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy," or Homer & Jethro's "She Made Toothpicks Out Of The Timber Of My Heart." Today is the day to pay tribute to these unique songs!
Country music evolved from Appalachian folk music in the 1920s and became a nationwide sensation in the 1940s. The Grand Ole Opry radio station in Nashville, Tennessee began broadcasting weekly concerts that showcased all the different genres of country music—hillbilly, honky-tonk, bluegrass, western, rockabilly, gospel, and more.
In honor of today’s Reason to Celebrate, put on your cowboy hat, get out your banjo, and belt out your favorite quirky country music song!

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Today is also Holi 
 
March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

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History for March 27 1836 - The first Mormon temple was dedicated in Kirtland, OH. 1860 - The corkscrew was patented by M.L. Byrn. 1986 - Sammy Hagar played his first show as lead singer of Van Halen. 1987 - U2 filmed their video "Where the Streets Have No Name" on a rooftop in L.A. ______________________________________________________ "Remember that there is only one important time and that is now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person you are with, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? The most important pursuit is making the person at your side happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life." --Thich Nhat Hanh

Today is...
Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

If you’ve been following our daily Reasons to Celebrate, then you know how many interesting and unique holidays there are in the world. Today is your chance to make one up!
Establishing an official national holiday is not an easy process. For example, in the 1800s Sarah Josepha Hale decided that our nation should observe a national day of thanks. She wrote countless letters to politicians, governors, and even the president. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln agreed to Hale’s proposal, but Thanksgiving did not become an official national holiday until 1941!
To celebrate Make Up Your Own Holiday Day, come up with a creative, meaningful, or quirky idea for a holiday. Invite friends and family over tonight for its first annual celebration!

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March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

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History for March 26 1804 - The Louisiana Purchase was divided into the District of Louisiana and the Territory of Orleans. 1965 - It was announced that Jeff Beck would take Eric Clapton's place in the Yardbirds. 1972 - The Los Angeles Lakers broke a National Basketball Association record by winning 69 of their 82 games. 1989 - The first free elections took place in the Soviet Union. Boris Yeltsin was elected. ______________________________________________________ "The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and change amid order." --Alfred North Whitehead

Today is...
Passover

Passover begins tonight! Send a free Passover eCard to celebrate the occasion! Passover is an eight-day Jewish festival that celebrates the emancipation of the Israelites. Jewish families usually celebrate Passover on the first two nights of the holiday. They hold seders to retell the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and to enjoy a festive meal eaten in remembrance of their ancestors' hardships. During the meal, the youngest child asks the adults four questions about the significance of the Passover symbols.
Traditional Passover food is kosher and does not include any “chametz.” Chametz are leavened foods made with wheat, barley, or rye. When the Israelites fled Egypt, they could not wait for their bread to rise. Modern-day Jewish families eat unleavened matzo bread during Passover to honor this part of their history.
To celebrate Passover, enjoy a delicious meal in the company of friends and family. Happy Passover!

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Today is also Old New Year's Day


March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

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History for March 25 1609 - Henry Hudson left on an exploration for Dutch East India Co. 1776 - The Continental Congress authorized a medal for General George Washington. 1947 - A coalmine explosion in Centralia, IL, killed 111 people. 1966 - The U.S. Supreme court ruled that the "poll tax" was unconstitutional. 1968 - The 58th and final episode of "The Monkees" TV show was aired. 1982 - Wayne Gretzky became the first player in the NHL to score 200 points in a season. ______________________________________________________ "I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure." --John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Today is...
World Water Day

Today is World Water Day! The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the state of sustainable freshwater resources around the world. More than 880 million people on the planet do not have access to safe drinking water, and the amount of water we need to drink and to produce food, goods, and services continues to grow.
The United Nations General Assembly announced the first World Water Day in 1993. Every year on March 22 thousands of participants attend the World Water Forum to discuss the important issues. Send a free eCard for World Water Day to help raise awareness and learn more about this important campaign.

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Today is also National Goof Off Day

March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

This week is American Chocolate Week & National Spring Fever Week & National Wildlife Week

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History for March 22 1733 - Joseph Priestly invented carbonated water (seltzer). 1765 - The Stamp Act was passed. It was the first direct British tax on the American colonists. It was repealed on March 17, 1766. 1873 - Slavery was abolished in Puerto Rico. 1934 - The first Masters golf championship began in Augusta, GA. 1963 - The Beatles' first album, "Please Please Me," was released in the U.K. 1995 - Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov returned to Earth after setting a record for 438 days in space. ______________________________________________________ "In spite of illness, even of the archenemy, sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways." --Edith Wharton

Today is...
National French Bread Day

Today is National French Bread Day! French bread, also known as a baguette, is a crusty loaf baked in a long, thin shape. The French have been making long sticks of bread since at least the mid-eighteenth century, but the baguette didn’t become an iconic symbol of French cuisine until the twentieth century. A new law passed in 1920 banned workers from beginning their shift before 4am, which made it difficult for French bakers to have fresh bread ready for their customers in the morning. They turned to the fast-baking baguette for a solution, and soon it became a part of daily life.
While the baguette claims the title of “French bread,” France produces many other famous types of bread including: croissants, brioche, pain de campagne, batard, pain de mie, and fougasse. To celebrate National French Bread Day, buy or bake a delicious loaf of fresh French bread to share with your family!

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March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

This week is American Chocolate Week & National Spring Fever Week & National Wildlife Week

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History for March 21 1859 - In Philadelphia, the first Zoological Society was incorporated. 1970 - "ABC" by the Jackson Five was released. 1994 - Wayne Gretzky tied Gordie Howe's NHL record of 801 goals. _______________________________________________________ "Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don’t let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity." --R.I. Fitzhenry

Today is...
Snowman Burning Day

Every year on the first day of spring, students at Lake Superior State University burn a snowman to celebrate the end of winter. The inspiration for this unique tradition comes from the Rose Sunday Festival in Germany. The mayor of each town burns a straw snowman if the children of the town have been well behaved all year. The smoke rising from the bonfire is supposed to ward off blizzards and usher in the spring season. The first Snowman Burning Day took place in 1971. An LSSU student club called the Unicorn Hunters organized the event and established several traditions including the annual poetry competition. Students, faculty, staff, townspeople, and kids in the community compose poems about the snowman burning and recite them during the event.
To celebrate Snowman Burning Day, check out videos and photos from LSSU, break out your spring wardrobe, and say goodbye to winter!

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Today is also National Ravioli Day & National Quilting Day

March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

This week is American Chocolate Week & National Spring Fever Week & National Wildlife Week

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History for March 20 1616 - Walter Raleigh was released from Tower of London to seek gold in Guyana. 1760 - The great fire of Boston destroyed 349 buildings. 1956 - Tunisia gained independence from France. 1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married in Gibraltar. _______________________________________________________ "Life is the childhood of our immortality." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today is...
National Chocolate Caramel Day

 The union of chocolate and caramel is arguably one of the greatest flavor combinations ever conceived by man. These two ingredients appear in countless candy bars, ice cream flavors, confections, and desserts.
Did you know that Milton Hershey began his career at a caramel company? In the late 1800s he began experimenting with ways to improve caramel candy and found some German-built machines for manufacturing chocolate. His attention would eventually shift completely to chocolate, but Hershey’s first product was a chocolate-covered caramel!
To celebrate National Chocolate Caramel Day, enjoy some of your favorite goodies made with chocolate and caramel. Enjoy!

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March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

This week is American Chocolate Week & National Spring Fever Week & National Wildlife Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for March 19 1822 - The city of Boston, Massachusetts, was incorporated. 1918 - The U.S. Congress approved Daylight-Saving Time. 1957 - Elvis Presley bought the mansion he called Graceland. 1964 - Sean Connery began shooting his role in "Goldfinger." 1977 - The last episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" aired. 1991 - Brett Hull, of the St. Louis Blues, became the third National Hockey League (NHL) player to score 80 goals in a season. ________________________________________________________ "Since the mind is a specific bio-computer, it needs specific instructions and directions. The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever consider them as believable or achievable." --Denis Waitley

Today is...
Oatmeal Cookie Day

Oatmeal cookies have been around since the late 1800s. They originated in England, and evolved from the savory oatcake. In the Middle Ages, soldiers carried oatcakes with them in case they needed a quick boost of energy during battle. Although our modern-day version is much sweeter, oatcakes and oatmeal cookies share many of the same ingredients including spices, nuts, and raisins.
Oats are an excellent source of iron and fiber, which explains why oatmeal cookies are the healthiest type of cookie! Make a batch today to celebrate Oatmeal Cookie Day!

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March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

This week is American Chocolate Week & National Spring Fever Week & National Wildlife Week

images and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for March 18 1813 - David Melville patented the gas streetlight. 1834 - The first railroad tunnel in the U.S. was completed. The work was in Pennsylvania. 1911 - Theodore Roosevelt opened the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona. It was the largest dam in the U.S. at the time. 1945 - Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first National Hockey League (NHL) player to score 50 goals. 1997 - Yanni became the first western composer/performer to play at the Taj Mahal in India. ________________________________________________________ "The true way to soften one’s troubles is to solace those of others." --Mme. De Maintenon

Today is...
National Pears Helene Day

Pears Helene or Pears Belle-Helene is a delicious French dessert that combines warm poached pears, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce. Auguste Escoffier created this dish and named it after the opera La belle Helene.
Did you know that there are thousands of pear varieties? Some of the most popular types are Anjou, Bartlett, French Butter, and Comice. Pears are the third most important fruit crop in the United States (behind apples and peaches). They are an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, copper, fiber, and potassium.
To celebrate National Pears Helene Day, poach your favorite kind of pears for dessert tonight!

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March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

This week is Teen Tech Week

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History for March 15 1493 - Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after his first New World voyage. 1892 - New York State unveiled the new automatic ballot voting machine. 1937 - In Chicago, IL, the first blood bank was established at the Cook County Hospital. 1938 - Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia. 1956 - The musical "My Fair Lady" opened on Broadway. 1990 - The Ford Explorer was introduced to the public. ________________________________________________________ "Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." --William Shakespeare

Today is...
National Potato Chip Day

Today is National Potato Chip Day! Did you know that Americans consume 1.2 billion pounds of potato chips each year? It’s the nation’s favorite snack food!
An Irish chef named George Crum invented potato chips in Saratoga Springs in 1853. One day, a picky customer kept sending his fried potatoes back to the kitchen, complaining that they were too thick and soggy. Crum responded by slicing the potatoes so thin that they couldn’t be eaten with a fork. The customer was so pleased with Crum's crispy creation that they became a regular item on the restaurant's menu!
To celebrate National Potato Chip Day, enjoy some of your favorite potato chips with your lunch or dinner!

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Today is also Pi Day & Bake a Pie Day & International Fanny Pack Day

March is National Peanut Month & International Ideas Month & National Craft Month

This week is Teen Tech Week

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History for March 14 1629 - A Royal charter was granted to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1794 - Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin. 1900 - U.S. currency went on the gold standard with the ratification of the Gold Standard Act. 1956 - The movie "Rock Around the Clock" (with Bill Haley) made its premier in Washington, DC. ________________________________________________________ "In the last analysis it is our conception of death which decides our answers to all the questions life puts to us." --Dag Hammarskjold