Little Known Holidays in February

Everyone knows that Valentine's Day, Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, and even Groundhog Day, fall in February. But there are many more reasons to celebrate in February! Have you ever heard of these holidays?

1^st: National Freedom Day! Created in 1948, this holiday stems from the abolishment of slavery. It is a day to remember that the United States is a place for all people to be free. There are many people in the world who are not yet free, so on this day, give thanks that you are in a country where you do have a lot more freedom than others.

2^nd: Candlemas! This is the Feast of Purification of the Virgin Mary. It was the Jewish custom for women to be considered unclean after the birth of a child. After a certain amount of time (40 days after the birth of a boy, and 60 days after the birth of a girl) the woman could go to the temple and be purified in a candle ceremony. The Feast of Purification is a remembrance of the day when Mary was purified after giving birth to Jesus. No matter what your religion is, you might want to light a candle today, and let it remind you of all of your blessings!

3^rd: This is the anniversary of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Today, pull out some of your favorite old rock hits and listen to them, to keep the music alive!

4^th: Thank A Mailman Day. People get awfully cranky and irritable if their mail isn't delivered on time! Even in the midst of a blizzard, people still count on their mail. Yet its usually a thankless job! Today, leave your mail carrier a special card, or open the door and offer her a glass of water and a smile.

5^th: National Weatherman's Day. Here's another thankless job! Many people depend on the TV weather forecast to decide what they will wear, when they will leave for work, what kind of traffic to expect, what activities they can do, etc. Today, maybe you can send your local weather forecaster a fan letter!

6^th: Bubblegum Day! Just the name of this holiday sounds like fun! Bubblegum Day was created by a mother who wanted to have a school fundraiser that didn't require children to sell items to friends and family members. If children brought in fifty cents or more to donate to the school, they were allowed to chew gum in school for the day. Now many schools participate by having bubblegum-themed days, incorporating bubblegum into their lesson plans, having bubblegum-blowing contests, etc. What a fun way to show school spirit!

7^th: Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbor Day! This is a day to reach out to your neighbors (and also your coworkers, acquaintances, etc) by giving a friendly wave. The name of the holiday specifies waving all your fingers at your neighbor, so as to prohibit you from waving just one particular, angry finger.

8^th: Boy Scout Day! This day marks the birth of Scouting. It is often celebrated by scout troops with treats at a meeting, or even a pancake breakfast or other special event. Do you have any Scouts in your life?

9^th: Read In the Bathtub Day! If you love to read, but feel like you don't have time to read, or get interrupted too often while reading, why not try multitasking? Get into a nice warm bath, and bring a book! (But maybe you'd better not bring a library book!)

10^th: Umbrella Day! Today, be thankful for the umbrella, a simple device that can protect us from both rain and sun. Do you have an umbrella? Why not show it off today?

11^th: Make A Friend Day! Everyone could use an extra friend! Meetup.com is a good way to meet new friends who share your interests. You can also use this site to find playgroups for your kids!

12^th: Safety Pup Day! Safety Pup is a cute little cartoon dog who teaches children to keep themselves safe. Many police departments have Safety Pup materials to hand out to children!

13^th: Get A Different Name Day! Its your name. If you don't like it, you're free to change it. Or, if you're not ready to legally change your name, why not come up with a nickname you like?

14^th: National Have a Heart Day! Today is Valentine's Day, so we already have candy hearts and sweethearts on our minds. But today we should also think about the hearts that are beating inside our bodies, and how to take care of those hearts! Today, think about how you can keep your heart healthy by exercising and eating right.

15^th: Gum Drop Day! There's nothing really significant about this day, so just relax and... eat some gum drops!

16^th: Do A Grouch A Favor Day! When you have a grouchy person in your life, your first reaction is often to be even more grouchier back at him. But today, try doing a favor for the grouch you know! Maybe you'll cheer him up, and he won't be as grouchy!

17^th: World Human Spirit Day! Today, at 3 pm Eastern Time, people all over the world will observe two minutes of silence to reflect upon the idea that we are all human beings, and we are all together here on Earth. If we all sense our connection to one another, we can help bring more peace and harmony to the world!

18^th: Battery Day! Not much to celebrate, but today you can show some gratitude towards batteries. Batteries help our lives in so many ways... from your children's toys, to emergency radios and flashlights!

19^th: Chocolate Mint Day! There sure are a lot of candy-themed holidays in February, aren't there? Today, celebrate the flavor that is a favorite of many people!

20^th: Love Your Pet Day! Do you have a pet? Then take today to spend some special time pampering your pet. Buy some special treats, take her for an extra walk, give him a spa treatment (although, do pets really enjoy that???) and give her lots of snuggles!

21^st: Single Tasking Day! There is a lot of emphasis on multitasking, these days. But when you multitask, you don't give your full attention to any of the things you're doing. Today, try doing just one thing at a time, and giving each activity your full focus.

22^nd: World Thinking Day! This day was originally created for Girl Scouts to think of each other, their "sister" scouts, and do kind things for one another. The day has evolved into one that encourages girls to think about health issues. If you have a girl in your life, why not do something to teach her about taking care of her health?

23^rd: International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day! Nobody appreciates a dog biscuit as much as a dog! These days, you can get all sorts of dog biscuits, including homemade ones and gourmet ones! Why not get some dog biscuits for your dog... or donate some biscuits to the local animal shelter?

24^th: International Pancake Day! This has always been a day for enjoying pancakes, but a few years ago International House of Pancakes adopted the day as their own. Often on this day IHOP gives away free short stacks of pancakes to customers. People are encouraged to take the money they would have spent on pancakes, and donate it to the Children's Miracle Network.

25^th: Inconvenience Yourself Day! We all do some things that inconvenience others, while being more convenient for ourselves. Today, try to do things that inconvenience yourself, instead!

26^th: Tell A Fairy Tale Day! What is your favorite fairy tale? Why not share it with a child today? Or, try writing your own fairy tale!

27^th: Polar Bear Day! Did you know that a polar bear's fur is actually clear? The light, reflecting onto the fiberoptic-like fur, makes it look white. And a polar bear's skin is actually black! Today, learn some other fun facts about polar bears, and even go see one for yourself at the zoo!

28^th: Public Sleeping Day! In some countries, whole cities shut down at around lunch time, so everyone can take a nap. People doze off on benches, at work, in their cars, at school, or wherever they happen to be. Today, catch a nap wherever you can... even if everyone can see you!

Have a great month!