By Staff
Michelle Blaylock, Mom's Corner
Did you know that September in National Coupon Month? No, I'm not kidding. It never ceases to amaze me the things that earn a month's standing.
I have to wonder who it is that observes some of these things. Some are, in my opinion, simply ridiculous and are used to earn corporations more money and recognition. For example, January is National Mail Order Gardening Month. Now I wonder who that would benefit? How about this one, Coffee Gourmet International Month is also observed in January. I wonder who sponsored this observance?
Of course, if you're too busy to celebrate the monthly observances, there are also weekly observances such as Intimate Apparel Week and Cuckoo Dancing Week in January.
Want to know some more rather outlandish observances? How about these: February includes National Cherry Pie Month and Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month. Also in February we are to observe Jell-O Week Feb. 13-19. March has to its honor National On-Hold Month and National Frozen Food Month, as well as National Bubblegum Blowers Week (March 20-26).
If you get bored in April you can always observe National Car Care Month, International Daffynitions Month, or better yet, International Twit Award Month. May seems to be big on the food. It has National Salsa Month, National Hamburger Month, and National Egg Month. Anybody for a hamburger-salsa omelet?
June is (are you ready for this?) Dairy Month and No Dairy Month. They have different sponsors and my guess is somebody wasn't paying attention when they schedule these. Which is really funny considering June is also Effective Communications Month. Hey moms! June is National Potty Training Month, too.
July is a little low for observances, but it did get the dubious title of Anti-boredom Month and National "Doghouse Repairs" Month. July has some interesting daily observances, though. For example, consider Cherry Pit Spitting Day on July 2 or Don't Step on a Bee Day July 10 .
Personally, I think the Cherry Pit Spitting ought to back in February during National Cherry Pie Month. Get it together people!
August gets to round out the summer with National Toddler Month. I've got a blast for them. If you have a toddler, every month is toddler month! Aug. 1-5 is also designated Psychic Week. One of my favorite days in August, which by the way we usually observe everyday, is Kool-Aid Day Aug. 12. Think about this one for a minute–Aug. 13 is National Underwear Day. Do I really want to know about that?
In addition to being National Coupon Month, September is also National Biscuit Month and National Chicken Month. September has a couple that I just can't mention in this article. You'll just have to use your imagination. However, there is also National Chicken Boy's Day on Sept. 1. Huh?
October is National Repair Your Toilet Tank Month. Again, I wonder who came up with that idea? October is also credited with being National Popcorn Poppin' Month, and National Cookie Month. I think I could enjoy those two.
How about Oct. 1? It's Scare a Friend Day. (I don't recommend this one – if you want to keep the friend that is.)
November is Vegan Month. (Vegan's don't eat anything that comes from an animal. Think about that one. It seems to me it kind of clashes with Thanksgiving, but maybe that was the whole idea.). Nov. 30 is Stay At Home Because Your Well Day. I bet employers love that one!
December is a little low on monthly observances, but it makes up for it by some of the daily observances. How about Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Day (Dec. 1); A'phabet Day or No "L" Day (Dec. 25). Sorry, but I'm a little too busy on Dec. 25 to think about that.
My question is who comes up with these things? Of course, some are fairly obvious, like the National Hot Dog Month. I would guess that the hot dog companies help support this one. I am referring to things like Hate Week (April 4-10) or "Love Makes the World Go Round But Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week" (Feb. 7-14). In my opinion, some of these people need to seriously look at getting a life.
But then again, for those of us who have nothing to do but sit around eating our bon-bons and watching soap operas, I suppose observing Answer Your Cat's Question Day should be a break from the mundane. Yeah, right!
By the way, if you're one of those people I just mentioned with the soap operas and bon-bons, all I can say is lucky you! I'm more likely to get to observe National Organize Your Home Day, but I think I need a bit longer than a day–maybe a week or two or three. . .years.
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