Author: Lisa Mungovan

Today is Bubble Gum Day, which encourages schools to let kids chew gum for a day, in exchange for a donation to charity. People have been chewing gum for more than 5000 years. They started by chewing blobs of wax, tree sap, or bark tar. The first bubble gum, Dubble Bubble, wasn’t invented until 1928.

All the plants and animals in an ecosystem, are part of a delicate balance. An eroding coastline in California is being restored, simply by bringing the sea otters back. The otters are happily devouring the crabs, that were destroying the marsh by eating all the plants. Otters restabilized the ecosystem, with their hearty appetites.

Do you always look on the bright side of things? Do you see the glass as half-full instead of half-empty? Then today will be easy for you, because it’s Optimist Day. The rest of us will have to try a little harder, to be optimistic. Start by picturing yourself, getting an “A” on your next test!

Today is Chopsticks Day. These simple eating utensils have been used in China since 1200 BCE, where they now produce 80,000,000,000 disposable pairs-per-year. If you don’t know how to use chopsticks, ask someone to teach you. You might need to buy light-up light saber chopsticks, to practice. After all, reusable chopsticks are better for the environment!

It’s National Frozen Yogurt Day, and many yogurt shops are having buy one get-one free specials, like Sweet Frog, Pinkberry, TCBY, and 16 Handles. What toppings do you like on your fro-yo? It’s also Pay A Compliment Day. Saying something nice to someone, will make their day better. Your yogurt looks so pretty!

The Oregon Zoo announced a new baby was born. Her mom’s name is Rose-Tu, and she’s an Asian elephant. Asian elephants are endangered in the wild. The elephant calf was standing on her own within 15 minutes of being born! The pair will bond in an off-exhibit area for a few months.

With the crazy temperatures some places have been experiencing, it makes you thankful for weather forecasts. Today is Weatherperson’s Day, so thank a meteorologist for letting you know whether to wear snow boots or flip-flops! It’s also Western Monarch Day. Plant some milkweed, to help the beautiful butterflies survive their annual 3000-mile migration!

Today we celebrate Fart Day, so remember this advice. Whoever smelt it dealt it, and whoever denied it supplied it. Actually, everybody farts, normally up to 25 times a day. Most mammals, except for sloths, also pass gas. So do snakes. Read the book, “Does It Fart?”, to see what other animals have flatulence.

Today is World Nutella Day. Nutella is a spread made from cocoa and hazelnuts, that tastes yummy on bread. It’s also Chocolate Fondue Day, which is melted chocolate that you can dip everything in. I think I’ll eat strawberries, spread with Nutella and dunked in chocolate! Now what will I have for dessert.