On This Day: September 16th … Strange Holidays
Collect Rocks Day
American Legion Day
Mayflower Day
National Play Doh Day
National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day
No muss. No fuss. I’m on it.
National Play Doh Day
Play-Doh is a popular child's toy around the world. So in 2015, Hasbro Toys, the creator of this special day, wisely changed the title to World Play-Doh Day.
Both World Play-Doh Day and National Play-Doh Day celebrates a great childhood play toy. Play-Doh was invented in the mid-1950’s. It has entertained millions of children, allowing them to express their creativity, both at home and in the classroom.
The invention was simple. A school teacher wanted a safe modeling clay for her preschooler’s. She asked her brother-in-law Joseph McVicker, who worked at a chemical company, to come up with something. The result was simple—flour, water, and food coloring.
It's fun and easy to celebrate World Play-Doh Day and National Play-Doh Day. Simply pull out the Play-Doh and ......Play! There are other brands of play clay on the market. Having raised three children, this author has never seen a better brand than Play-Doh.
Play Doh was created in 1955 by Joseph McVicker of Kutol Chemicals in Cincinnati, Ohio. It hit the market in 1956, and has been a popular play toy ever since. It was created because McVicker's sister-in-law wanted a safe, clay-like product for her nursery school children to use. Noah and Joseph McVicker received U.S. Patent No. 3,167,440 for Play-Doh.
Hasbro Toys, the current makers of Play Doh, say it a little differently. From their website, they state: "The story of PLAY DOH modeling compound begins in 1956 when scientists at Rainbow Crafts, a Cincinnati soap and cleaning compound company, stumbled upon a new use for the unique dough-like cleaning product. The company realized this product’s potential as a child’s modeling compound; and thus, the original, reusable PLAY-DOH compound was born."
So I ask … which one do you believe?
"Sometimes the most brilliant and intelligent minds do not shine
in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds."—Diane Ravitch
Collect Rocks Day
Today is a day to add to your rock collection. Ahh, to be a kid again, and have a rock collection. Well, we have good news for you. No one ever said you had to give up your rock collection when you became an adult. We hope you always keep and cherish your invaluable rock collection.
Kids collect rocks because it is a fun thing to do. They even trade rocks among other rock collectors. There are no books on what rocks to collect, or how much each rock is valued at. Rather, rocks are selected for a collection based upon a wide range of attributes. A lot of it is individual appeal. The rock could be big or small, a particular color or range of colors. smooth or rough, or display a unique characteristic. When it comes to rock collecting, beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder (or rock holder in this case).
(Truth here: I have one rock (small ones of course) from all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. Years back I had bagged and tagged 15 rocks from several European countries but when I tried to bring them back to the states, airport authorities confiscated them from me.)
Ice Cream Flavor of the Day: Rocky Road
Baby Names for Today: Rock, Rocky, Stone, and if it’s a girl—Pebbles!
"Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism leads to power."—William James
Mayflower Day
Today celebrates the date the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, England to America. On September 16, 1620, 102 men, women, and children set sail from Plymouth, England. Their destination was the New World, where they could have religious freedom, and continue using their native language, culture, and customs.
Every Mayflower Day, we commemorate these brave, early settlers. They were the very first immigrants, and helped to pave the way for millions more to follow, in search of freedom and the dreams and promises of a New World.
A few things about the Mayflower:
The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth England on September 16, 1620.
The Pilgrims were headed to the settlement in Virginia. They had an agreement to settle there.
The voyage took 66 days. They landed at Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1621.
102 passengers were on board. This included three pregnant women. One of these women gave birth just before landing. Peregrine White was born to William and Susanna White in November of 1620 aboard the Mayflower, while the vessel was docked off the coast of Cape Cod. Susanna was 7 months pregnant when she had boarded the ship bound for the new world.
On November 21, 1620, the passengers signed the Mayflower Compact, which set forth the rules of governance of the fledgling colony.
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."—George Bernard Shaw
More Strange Holidays Coming!