May 25 is National Tap Dance Day and also the birthday of tap legend Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson. National Tap Dance Day was signed into law on November 7, 1989. The art of tap dancing, one of America’s true national treasures, has a rich cultural history. Renowned choreographer Martha Graham once said, “To learn to dance […]
The disappearance of a child is a parent’s worst nightmare. This National Missing Children’s Day, May 25, is the perfect opportunity for parents to review and discuss safety measure with their kids. We should all take a moment to honor the professionals, agencies, and organization that work to protect our children. Thomas Paine said it […]
On May 24, 1830, Sarah J. Hale wrote the Mary Had a Little Lamb—one of our most timeless nursery rhymes. Hale was a writer and editor of Godey’s Ladies Journal, a popular women’s magazine of the era. After her husband’s death, and publishing two well-received books, she made the ultimate sacrifice. Leaving her children with […]
UPDATED: August 1st, 2016 May 23 is Lucky Penny Day. We’re all familiar with this popular myth about luck: Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck. However, if the penny is heads down, you’re supposed to leave it alone or, better yet, give it to a stranger. The […]
May 27 is Sunscreen Protection Day. An annual reminder just before Memorial Day—the unofficial beginning of beach season—that we should all be applying sunscreen on a daily basis. You wouldn’t voluntarily expose your body to harsh chemicals or stand in the middle of a thunderstorm holding a lightning rod. Yet millions of Americans spend the […]
Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker—neither one quite as good looking as the actors who portrayed them—robbed banks in the Depression era and died in a violent shootout on May 23, 1934 in Louisiana. In the course of their crime spree, they were suspected of 13 murders, some of them bank personnel or customers killed in […]
May 21 is National Waiter & Waitresses Day. Most of us have worked as servers at one point or another in our lives, so we appreciate this holiday. Restaurant work is really tough, as it involves a delicate balance of customer service, fellow employee communication (and tolerance) and food preparation. Also, the minimum wage for […]
UPDATED August 1st, 2016 May 22 is Buy a Musical Instrument Day, a day when we can all appreciate the music and musicians in our lives. Learning to play a musical instrument is incredibly powerful in the development of the brain for children and adults alike. It’s great for mental health, neuron pathways in the […]
On May 22, 1967 Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood premiered on PBS. The show, and its star, Fred Rogers, would go on to be an entertainment legend and a positive influence on generations of children. The show would ultimately win four Daytime Emmy Awards and a Special Lifetime Achievement Award. It also influenced later shows, with its […]