Author: Lisa Mungovan

You might know about Groundhog Day, but what about Marmot Day? Marmots are large ground squirrels. There are 15 species of marmot, and groundhogs are one of them! It’s also Hedgehog Day! They look like spiky balls, with quills that feel like toothpicks. Don’t forget Sled Dog Day! Take your dog sledding, and yell “Mush!”

Today is World Play Your Ukulele Day. Ukuleles look like small guitars, but the Hawaiian instrument has unique tuning. Pop some little potato balls in your mouth between songs, because it’s Tater Tot Day too! It’s also Crepe Day. They’re like skinny pancakes, that you can fold around any filling you like!

It’s Groundhog Day! The official weather-predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his burrow and saw his shadow. That means there will be 6 more weeks of winter. But Martinsburg Maxwell, a groundhog with a degree in meteorology, said, “Phil’s only right 20% of the time. It’s impossible to accurately predict weather that way!”

Don’t cry over spilt milk, even when there’s 4160 gallons of it. A truck in Florida crashed on Thursday, spilling hundreds of crates of milk across the road. Luckily, nobody was hurt, but it took 3 hours for authorities to get traffic moo-ving again. It was an udderly unfortunate accident.

Today is Serpent Day, which celebrates snakes. Out of 3000 species of snakes, only 1/8th are venomous. The longest species, the reticulated python, can grow to over 30 feet long, while the tiny Barbados threadsnake, is like a 4-inch long spaghetti noodle. Snakes smell the air with their flickering tongues. Can you do that?

Today is Ice Cream For Breakfast Day. A study last year actually showed, that eating ice cream or other frozen foods in the morning, had an awakening effect on the brain. People were quicker and more alert, and less irritable. Maybe every day should start with ice cream, instead of cereal!

Today is going to be yummy. It’s Dark Chocolate Day! Bittersweet chocolate will get your tastebuds ready, for Baked Alaska Day. The hot-and-cold dessert is a layer of cake, topped with ice cream and meringue, and then baked. Since it’s also Decorating With Candy Day, you know what to do.

Today is Freedom Day, commemorating February 1st, 1865, when the 13th Amendment was signed, banning slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, had proclaimed all enslaved people free, but it took 2 years to become part of the Constitution. Because news traveled slowly, everyone wasn’t freed until June 19th 1865.

Do you know why zebras have stripes? While the black and white patterns can help camouflage them in tall grasses, the stripes also discourage biting flies. Scientists discovered flies avoid horses wearing striped coats. Mountain zebras, plains zebras, and Grevy’s zebras, are all native to Eastern and Southern Africa. Happy International Zebra Day!

Did you know that Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, are basically all the same plant? The wild cabbage was bred for different exaggerated traits. Kale and cabbage focuses on the leaves, broccoli is just the flower, and Brussels sprouts are the buds. It’s Eat A Brussels Sprout Day, so dig in!