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Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Saturday, June 14, 2025

National Play Catch Week - A Holiday Review

This interesting holiday is held each year in the third week of June. Begun in 2018, the week always includes Father’s Day. Perhaps this is because of the age-old activity of kids ‘having a catch’ with dad.

Playing Catch

When one hears the term ‘let’s play catch’, one might immediately picture two people with gloves and a baseball. But playing catch isn’t just for baseball. People enjoy tossing around a football just as much. You can also use a softball, a tennis ball or a soft rubber ball. Playing catch builds relationships, especially true of a dad playing with his child.

The History of National Play Catch Week

25,000 Miles to Glory: Football, Freedom, Friendship, And America

25,000 Miles to Glory

The inspiration began with Rhett Grametbauer, filmmaker, writer and passionate sports fan, in 2013. Rhett made an epic road trip in an old VW Bus to visit every one of the NFL stadiums in the U.S. He captured his incredible adventure in a documentary and a book entitled 25,000 Miles to Glory: Football, Freedom, Friendship, And America.

While on his trip, Grametbauer discovered the simple joy of playing catch, simply tossing a ball back and forth with someone. Strangers he met along the way all seemed to enjoy getting involved in a game of catch.

The iconic movie “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner centers around baseball and ends with the famous scene of Costner’s movie character asking “Want to have a catch, dad?”

Summary

So, get outside, enjoy some fresh air with family and friends, or even complete strangers at a park during the June Holiday of National Play Catch Week which begins on Father’s Day each year. The delightful pastime of playing catch can be enjoyed all summer long.

Saturday, June 7, 2025

National Donut Day - A Holiday Review

National Donut Day is celebrated each year on the first Friday of June. This event began in 1938 as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. The idea came from the Salvation Army women of World War I who served donuts to soldiers. Known as ‘Donut Dollies’, these women volunteers of the Salvation Army traveled to France to support American Soldiers.

By 1938, the goal was to help those in need during the Great Depression.

Some Donut History

Doughnuts have been around for centuries, although the modern doughnut in America became better known during the 19th century from the influence of Dutch immigrants. The ring shape came from efforts to prevent a raw center and create even frying by punching a hole in the center.

The name for this tasty treat is interchangeably known as donut or doughnut. Doughnut was the original name, with donut becoming a shortened version.

Since ‘doughnuts’ are made from a small lump of sweetened ‘dough’ and ‘nut’ is a way of saying “a small lump”, it is easy to see how this pastry’s name came about.

Other words for donuts include cake, pastry, sweet bun, Danish, sinker, dunker, and crueller. Then we have the popular New Orleans fried doughnut with powdered sugar called a Beignet! Served in many restaurants around the country, beignets are most famously known at New Orleans’ Cafe du Monde.

Personal Favorite Donut Story

My high school years were at a time when Driver’s Education was still taught as part of the school curriculum during school hours. We had some classroom instructions, interspersed with actual driving times. There were three of us girls in the driving part of my class and our time was around 10 a.m. One morning we drove down a street that had a Dunkin Donuts store and we girls begged our instructor to let us stop and get donuts. He said no because, if he did it for us, he’d have to do it for everyone. We promised we wouldn’t tell anyone! He finally relented (to our delight), but said if anyone from class said anything, he’d know one of us ‘told’ and we would lose any further ‘privileges’. None of us EVER told! :)

Summary

This fried dough delicacy has evolved through time and today is available in a wide range of flavors, shapes and toppings. It is now a beloved treat enjoyed around the world.

Whether you frequent a favorite local bakery or donut shop, or make your own homemade donuts, these small sweet fried cakes are a favorite with everyone.

National Donut Day
1st Friday in June

Donut Related Links:

Homemade Donut Recipe
Air Fryer Sugar Cinnamon Biscuit Bites by Sam Monaco
Review of Cafe du Monde in New Orleans by Wednesday Elf

*Donut Day Review written by Wednesday Elf

Kitchen Accessories for Making Your Own Homemade Donuts

Bellemain Premiere Donut Pan for Baking | Nonstick 12.5 x 8.5” Doughnut Pan with 6-Doughnut Molds | Steel Donut Trays | Make Perfect Bagels and Cake Donuts (2)

HULISEN Donut Cutter, 3.5 inch Stainless Steel Doughnut Cutter with Soft Grip Handle, and Small Biscuit Cutter, Professional Baking Dough Tools, Gift Package

Baker’s Friend Mini Donut Maker Machine for Home, 6 x 3'' Mini Doughnut Maker Machine, Donut Maker for Kids, Maquina Para Hacer Donas, Donut Baking Pan, Donut Party, Aqua

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Saturday, April 26, 2025

A Review of Halfway to Halloween ~ or Halfoween

Halloween images of ghosts and black cats and spooky stuff.

We are all familiar with Christmas in July. Now we have a midpoint Halloween Holiday called Halfway to Halloween ~ or Halfoween.

Halfoween or Halfway to Halloween Fun Facts

Halfoween is a celebration midway to All Hallow’s Eve, usually occurring on or about April 30th or May 1st. It has become a great time to enjoy some early spooky fun. Many celebrate with themed events or other activities.

This halfway Halloween holiday often finds people putting up Halloween decorations, preparing and eating Halloween-themed snacks and drinks, and having special events like watching favorite spooky movies or putting on a costume and enjoying a Halloween party or attending a festival.

*Personal Note: My daughter-in-law will be thrilled to learn of this special halfway holiday, as Halloween is her VERY favorite holiday for which she has TONS of decorations for both inside and outside the house. Now she will be able to use them twice a year! :)

This holiday hasn’t been around very long, but it is interesting to note that this date of Halfway to Halloween occurs around the date of Walpugis Night, or Walpurgisnacht (‘Night of the Witches). This is a pagan festival celebrated on April 30th each year. The tradition involves lighting bonfires and singing Celtic folk songs to mark the arrival of Spring.

The Disney Parks “Halfway to Halloween"

In recent years, the Disney Parks have adopted this Halfway to Halloween celebration as an annual event where the Disney destinations announce and preview their upcoming Halloween celebrations. They have parties like “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" at Walt Disney World and the 'Oogie Boogie Bash' or Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. You can check out the upcoming new offerings, plus early looks at Halloween decorations and merchandise on the Disney Parks Blog.

Summary

A really exciting way to celebrate the Halfway to Halloween Holiday is to attend one of the many festivals (or spooky film festivals) being held around the country around the end of April or the first of May. Do an online search to see if there is one happening in your area, or plan on attending one that appeals to you.

The most fascinating one I spotted for this year is the Wicked New England Festival being held on May 3rd in Salem, Massachusetts (home of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692). Quite an appropriate location for a Wicked Halfway to Halloween Holiday Festival. The event is for anyone who can't wait for Spooky season!

So, mark April 30/May 1 on your calendar to celebrate Halfway to Halloween in your favorite 'celebrate Halloween' way.

Crafty Cuties for Halfoween

*Halfway to Halloween Holiday Review written by Wednesday Elf

Halfway to Halloween Stuff!

Womens Halfway to Halloween Retro 70s Flowers Groovy Floral Ghost V-Neck T-Shirt

Happy_ 1/2 Halfway to Halloween Tote Bag

Womens Halfway to Halloween V-Neck T-Shirt

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Saturday, April 19, 2025

National Jelly Bean Day Review

National Jelly Bean Day is a Food Awareness Day celebrated each year on April 22.

The Jelly Bean

There are dozens of companies who make Jelly beans. Just one company makes the Jelly Belly jelly bean. It was first just a brand of the Herman Goelitz Candy Company. Today, it is its own company ~ the Jelly Belly Company.

The Jelly Belly Company makes over 50 flavors of beans. The difference between Jelly Beans and Jelly Belly beans is the taste. The standard jelly beans have no flavoring or coloring in the center, whereas Jelly Belly flavors both the centers and the shells. Jelly Belly beans are smaller, but have a more intense flavor and are made in exotic flavors.

Fun Facts About Jelly Beans

Although no one knows who started National Jelly Bean Day, the first mention of the jelly bean can be traced back to an 1861 ad by William Schrafft, a confectioner in Boston, which promoted sending jelly beans to soldiers in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Candymakers have always made candy into novelty shapes, which seems to be the main reason this egg-shaped candy ended up being called jelly beans

Being egg-shaped, the Jelly Bean became popular starting in the 1930s as the perfect candy for Easter Baskets. By the way, if you lined up all the jelly beans eaten by folks during the Easter holidays, they could circle the Earth three times! In fact, about 5 billion Jelly beans are eaten at Easter.

There are 4 calories in each Jelly Bean.

And the ‘funnest’ facts of all…..

Jelly Beans were President Reagan’s favorite candies. He used them to quit smoking when he was governor of California.

About 3 tons of red, white, and blue jelly beans were used during Reagan’s inauguration as the 40th President of the United States

Jelly Belly beans were the first jelly beans in space, sent on the 1983 Challenger mission by President Reagan as a surprise for the astronauts.

Reagan’s favorite flavor was licorice!

SUMMARY

National Jelly Bean Day is a fun holiday often associated with Easter traditions because the egg-like shape of the jelly bean reminds us of the Easter Bunny delivering eggs as a sign of Spring.

National Jelly Bean Day
April 22

For More Holiday Reviews, Click on

ReviewThisReviews: Holidays

For More Easter Reviews, Click on

ReviewThisReviews: Easter

*National Jelly Bean Day holiday review was written by Wednesday Elf

JELLY BEANS:

ClassicBrach Jelly Beans Bulk, Assorted Flavors, 2 Pound Bulk Pack - Delicious Traditional Jelly bean Candy for Easter Egg Hunts, and Baskets

The Jelly Bean Planet, Gourmet Jelly Beans Gift 42.5 Oz Jar - 36 Huge Natural Fruit Flavors, Seasonal, Birthday, Easter Candy, Plant Based Colors - Gluten Free, Fun Bulk Sweets Assortment

Jelly Belly 49 Assorted Flavors Jelly Beans - 1 Pound (16 Ounces) Resealable Bag - Genuine, Official, Straight from the Source

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Saturday, March 8, 2025

National Alfred Hitchcock Day Reviewed

March 12 has been selected as the day we honor the Master of Suspense - Alfred Hitchcock.

Alfred Hitchcock Day is a holiday in the category of Arts & Entertainment. On March 12 we celebrate the life, times and work of this master filmmaker.

Presenting Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock (Wikipedia)

Hitchcock was an English film director who became one of the most influential figures in the world of cinema.

In a career that spanned six decades, Hitchcock directed over 50 feature films, many of which are still watched and well known today. Some of his most famous were Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder, To Catch a Thief, Vertigo, North by Northwest, The Birds and Psycho. The actors in these, and other, Hitchcock films were some of the top names of the day, including Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman.

Hitchcock became as well known as any of his actors due to his cameo appearances in most of his films, his many interviews, and his television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Born in Essex (near East London), Alfred Hitchcock grew up in a rather austere and strict environment without much joy. He had no real friends and developed many fears over the years. Perhaps his background helped bring out the suspenseful and fearful ideas he had for his many films.

Hitchcock's favorite subject was geography and he loved maps and timetables of trains, trams and buses. He had a particular interest in London trams and, fans of Hitchcock films will note, a large percentage of his films included rail or tram scenes.

Alfred Hitchcock married Alma Reville, an English screenwriter, in 1926 and they had one daughter, Pat. Alma became his closest collaborator and wrote or co-wrote many of Hitchcock's films.

One of Hitchcock’s most famous movies was Psycho. The violence (shower scene) and the early death of the heroine by a disturbed murderer became the hallmarks of a new horror-film genre and became very popular with audiences.

Alfred Hitchcock’s films showed recurring themes and plot devices throughout his directing career. The "Hitchcockian" style included the use of "editing and camera movement to mimic a person's gaze, thereby turning viewers into voyeurs, and framing shots to maximise anxiety and fear."

Summary

Alfred Hitchcock received many awards for his work over the years, and frequent accolades. Life magazine called him the "greatest master of melodrama in screen history". The holiday of National Alfred Hitchcock Day celebrates this outstanding Master of Suspense.

Related Reviews:

Alfred Hitchcock Suspense Films Collection Reviewed by Sylvestermouse Cynthia

For more Holiday Reviews, Check out
ReviewThisReviews: Holidays

A Few of the Many Favorite & Most Well-Known Hitchcock Films:

The Birds [DVD]

Psycho (1960) - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD]

North By Northwest (4K UHD + Digital)

Rear Window - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD]

*Review of the Holiday ‘National Alfred Hitchcock Day’ was written by Wednesday Elf.

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Wednesday, March 5, 2025

There Are Days Just Meant For Fun! A Holiday Review

As Mid-March arrives, if anyone asks what your favorite color is, the answer better be GREEN!

Why? Well everyone knows that on the 17th of March, the whole world seems to be Irish! St. Patrick's Day is the one day of the year where GREEN is the mandatory color in everyone's attire or their accessories!

It doesn't matter if its Kelly Green, pale Green, Bold Emerald Green or any combination, the most important part is that it belongs to the family of Green!

Now let's get down to a bit of history! St. Patrick became the Patron Saint of the Green Isle when he was sent to proclaim Christ to the people in the 5th century. Yes you read that right, he is a very old Patron Saint. He was born in Britain and at the age of 16 was taken from his village and placed into slavery in Ireland. Yes, the times he lived in were barbarous and slavery was not uncommon. He did manage to escape, but felt a calling to return to Ireland.

He was a very spiritual man, who during his travels around Ireland, baptized many people into the Catholic Christian Church. He was very careful to keep the peace with all the chieftains in the region so that he was welcomed by all. He gave gifts and took none in return. Many legends surround St. Patrick, the most popular is the Shamrock which helped Patrick explain the concept of the Holy Trinity.

St. Patrick is also credited with getting all the snakes, demons and practitioners of magic to leave Ireland. These "miracles" cannot be authenticated, but many still believe them.

But let's get to the fun part, current day celebrations of St. Patrick's Day are attributed to the European immigrants in the 18th century. Boston celebrated the first St. Patrick's Day parade in 1737. The large Irish population enjoyed the celebrations so much that many new ways to celebrate the day came about. The color GREEN not only celebrates St. Patrick, but rather is a way to celebrate the country of Ireland.

Today we see everyone as Irish on March 17th and many people enjoy adding to the mirth and merriment of the day by adding something GREEN to their clothing. People will enjoy Irish foods and even color their beer for the day.

Now I've given you fair warning that this holiday is coming up shortly and to that end have furnished you with a page from Amazon.com where you can find anything your little heart could desire to make this St. Patty's Day fun for you and your family.

Just imagine a day without any strife and everyone wishing everyone else a Happy St. Patty's Day! A little fun goes a long way.

Here's an Irish Blessing Just for You!

May love and laughter

light your days

and warm your heart and home,

may good and faithful friends be yours

wherever you may roam,

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures,

May all life's

passing seasons

bring the best

to you and yours!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL! MAY YOU ENJOY YOUR IRISH ON THE 17TH!

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Sunday, February 9, 2025

Valentine’s Day: Proof That Humans Have Always Been a Little Extra

Ah, Valentine's Day.

That one day a year when lovebirds get all mushy, single people roll their eyes (or throw an anti-Valentine's party), and stores bombard us with pink and red everything.

But have you ever stopped mid-chocolate binge to wonder how this whole love-fest even started?

Buckle up because the history of Valentine's Day is way messier—and bloodier—than you'd expect. Let's review.

The Romans: Masters of Mixing Love and Chaos

Like most weird traditions, we can thank (or blame) the ancient Romans.

Before Valentine's Day was about overpriced roses and candlelit dinners, the Romans celebrated Lupercalia, a festival held in mid-February. And by "festival," I mean a bizarre mix of fertility rites, matchmaking, and light public nudity. (Yes, really.)

Picture this: young men running through the streets, smacking women with strips of animal hide because someone, somewhere, decided that would increase fertility. And instead of swiping right, single ladies would toss their names into a jar, and men would randomly pick one.

Ah, romance! Nothing says "everlasting love" like a lottery-based relationship system.

Saint Valentine: The Man, The Myth, The Martyr (Or Martyrs?)

Fast forward to the 3rd century, when Emperor Claudius II had a brilliant idea—ban marriages for young men so they'd focus on war instead of love. (Classic buzzkill move.)

Enter Saint Valentine, a rebel priest who secretly performed weddings for love-struck couples. When Claudius finds out, he throws Valentine in jail, where legend says he fell for the jailer's daughter and sends her a note signed "From your Valentine."

Touching, right? Well, not for him because Claudius executed him on February 14th.

And just like that, a martyr was born, and centuries later, we'd all be celebrating his tragic love story by eating too many chocolates.

(Oh, and fun fact: there might have been multiple Saint Valentines. Being named Valentine and getting executed was a trend back then. Who knew?)

Chaucer, Shakespeare, and the Birth of Lovey-Dovey Poetry

For a long time, February 14th was just another day on the calendar.

But then along came Geoffrey Chaucer, a medieval poet who decided to write about birds choosing their mates on Saint Valentine's Day. (This is scientifically inaccurate, but let's not fact-check 14th-century poets.)

Shakespeare took it from there, mentioning Valentine's Day in Hamlet, and before you knew it, the idea of February 14th as a day for romance started catching on.

By the 1700s, people were writing love letters, and by the 1800s, mass-produced Valentine's cards hit the scene. Because nothing says true love like a pre-written poem on fancy cardstock.

Modern Valentine's Day: Love, Capitalism, and Sugar Overload

Today, Valentine's Day is a full-blown industry. We're talking billions of dollars spent on chocolates, flowers, jewelry, and awkward dinner reservations at packed restaurants.

And while some people love grand romantic gestures, others see it as a corporate money grab. Either way, the pressure is real.

Forgot to plan something? Good luck explaining that.

Single? Congratulations, you'll be getting targeted ads for dating apps all month.