Category: Environment

  • National Fortune Cookie Day

    National Fortune Cookie Day

    National Fortune Cookie Day   By Sharon Schweitzer While these nuggets of enjoyment are most often found at the end of a Chinese meal, they didn’t originate in China. The distinctively folded cookie began in Japan, where elegant desserts and folding techniques are quintessentially Japanese. However, in Japan, the fortune was tucked in the fold…

  • Marine Day in Japan

    Marine Day in Japan

    Marine Day in Japan   By Sharon Schweitzer   Since 2003, Marine Day in Japan has been observed on the third Monday of July. Marine Day is a Japanese national holiday that aims to thank the ocean for its bounty. Considering that Japan is a maritime nation, the country and its people are heavily dependent…

  • National Koi Day

    National Koi Day

    National Koi Day By Sharon Schweitzer   National Koi Day celebrates the Japanese Koi fish and brings attention to the exotic beauty of the fish. As a symbol of courage, patience, perseverance, and strength, the Koi fish has been celebrated in the Japanese culture for centuries. The word “koi” comes from nishiki-goi, which means colored…

  • International Day of Parliamentarism

    International Day of Parliamentarism

    International Day of Parliamentarism   By Sharon Schweitzer   Parliamentary diplomacy is a way to build relationships and promote cooperation between national parliaments. Many parliaments encourage their members to participate in inter-parliamentary organizations, bilateral exchanges, and other parliamentary diplomacy initiatives. In this way Parliamentarians can represent their countries’ interests, foster dialogue and cooperation with counterparts…

  • Anthony Bourdain Day

    Anthony Bourdain Day

    Anthony Bourdain Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   “Southeast Asia has a real grip on me. From the very first time I went there, it was a fulfillment of my childhood fantasies of the way travel should be.” -Anthony Bourdain   Anthony Bourdain-chef and writer, traveled the world with humility, humanity, curiosity, humor, and with…

  • Honoring Old Glory: Flag Protocol on National Flag Day

    Honoring Old Glory: Flag Protocol on National Flag Day

    Honoring Old Glory: Flag Protocol on National Flag Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   Annually, on June 14, the United States celebrates the Star Spangled Banner on National Flag Day. Celebrated on the anniversary of the Flag Resolution, signed by the Second Continental Congress in 1777, US citizens are called to hoist the stars and…

  • International Clothesline Week

    International Clothesline Week

    International Clothesline Week   By Sharon Schweitzer   International Clothesline Week was first started in  2006, and is celebrated from the first Saturday of June to the next, all around the world. This year it takes place from June 1st-8th. It is a week-long celebration initially created to enlighten people about more sustainable living. Do…

  • National Women’s Health Week

    National Women’s Health Week

    National Women’s Health Week   By Sharon Schweitzer   Every May beginning on Mother’s Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) leads National Women’s Health Week (NWHW). This year, NWHW takes place May 12 – 18th. This observance aims to highlight women’s health issues and priorities and…

  • Global Pay It Forward Day

    Global Pay It Forward Day

    Global Pay It Forward Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   If you’ve believed in paying back kindness all your life, allow us to introduce you to a more refined and helpful initiative — paying kindness forward! This day is celebrated in over 80 countries, encouraging us to collectively perform random acts of kindness in a…

  • International Sculpture Day

    International Sculpture Day

    International Sculpture Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   Every year on the last Saturday in April, International Sculpture Day raises awareness, appreciation, and enjoyment of sculpture. It’s also a day for sculptors around the world to showcase their artistic talents. Sculpture is a type of visual arts that operates in three dimensions. The word sculpture…