weird and wacky holidays happening in April

April 26 is National Pretzel Day

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Today is National Pretzel Day. In 2003, Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell dedicated April 26th to the snack food that continues to be a major contributor to the state’s economy.

By the 18th century, when German immigrants introduced them to the people of Pennsylvania, pretzels already had a long history. One popular origin story states that an Italian monk invented them in 610 AD to reward children who learned their prayers. He fashioned them to look like arms crossing the chest, which was supposedly the pose used to pray. There is no evidence to support any part of that but the legend persists.

The Hortus deliciarum, a 12th-century medieval encyclopedia compiled in an abbey in the German Alsace region, which is now part of France, contains the earliest known depiction of a pretzel.

National Pretzel Day

A prayer book commissioned in the 15th century by Catherine of Cleves is considered a Dutch masterpiece. In this portrait, St. Bartholomew is surrounded by pretzels.

National Pretzel Day

The next time you grab a pretzel, take a moment to appreciate its design and heritage before chomping into it. Have a happy National Pretzel Day!

Copyright 2016 Worldwide Weird Holidays

 

April 24 is New Kids on the Block Day

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new kids on the block dayToday is New Kids on the Block Day and has been ever since Massachusetts governor and failed presidential candidate Michael Dukakis declared it so in 1989.

Boston’s favorite boy band is still going strong. The NKOTB Cruise has been an annual tradition since 2009.  This year, Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre and Danny Wood will meet and greet their fans on a trip from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cozumel, Mexico. The October sailing has already sold out, but interested parties (you know who you are) can join the waitlist.

Happy New Kids on the Block Day!

Copyright 2016 Worldwide Weird Holidays

April 14 is Pathologists’ Assistant Day

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Today is Pathologists’ Assistant Day, founded in 2014 by the American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants (AAPA) to recognize the vital role every PA plays in protecting our health. Their meticulous attention to detail helps pathologists detect the abnormalities in tissue samples which lead to the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

At first glance, the site might look a bit off-putting to those who don’t have a positive response to scalpels:

pathologists' assistant day

But we’re happy to report the AAPA goes all out for its promotional materials. The artwork for the inaugural Pathologists’ Assistant Day was outstanding.

pathologists' assistant day

This year’s logo is available on playing cards, mouse pads, refrigerator magnets and luggage tags.

pathologists' assistant day

We lost count at twenty-two lungs and nine intestines. Happy Pathologists’ Assistant Day, everybody!

Copyright 2016 Worldwide Weird Holidays

National Equal Pay Day 2016

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Twenty years ago, Equal Pay Day was established to illustrate how far into the new year women have to work to earn the same wages that men make in the previous year.

national equal pay dayBecause Census data is released later in the year, Equal Pay Day has long been scheduled on the Tuesday in April that falls most closely to the estimated date. Tuesday was chosen to represent the extra time a woman must work to earn what men take home the previous week.

Well, congratulations, ladies! Your day has arrived. No, you aren’t going to be paid the same amount as men. The Equal Pay Act of 1963, making it illegal to pay a woman less than what a man would receive for the same job, signed into law by President John F. Kennedy remains nothing more than a well-intentioned piece of paper with a very valuable autograph.

We know the suspense must be killing you. Here goes: Yesterday President Obama proclaimed April 12 to be National Equal Pay Day. It’s official! No, you can’t have the day off. Honestly, you are a riot.

We know the president has worked hard for women’s equality because it says so in this White House press release. What’s more, he’s unveiled plans for a monument honoring the women’s equality movement to be erected in Washington, D.C.

We have a suggestion. Why not save the self-congratulatory groundbreaking until equal pay is achieved? Until then, reserve an empty spot to represent the net worth of legislators’ good intentions to the livelihood of their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters.

Set up a booth where Congresspeople can explain to children why their future efforts lose value the moment they are born girls. Raise money for the monument by garnishing 21% of their wages until they enforce the Equal Pay Act. (They don’t even need to write a law. It’s already on the books.)

Perhaps we would end up with a solution to this ridiculous situation, instead of a succession of declarations and photo ops. But we’re pretty sure that by the time that happened, we’d have the money for a really big statue.

Until then, have an angry National Equal Pay Day!

Copyright 2016 Worldwide Weird Holidays