Author: Lisa Mungovan

Some people think the number 13, breaking a mirror, or spilling salt, is bad luck. These are called superstitions, and are not actually true. Today is Defy Superstition Day, so feel free to walk under ladders, step on all the cracks, and open umbrellas indoors. Just make sure there’s nothing in the way first!

During World War Two, Dogs for Defense was formed. Today we honor dogs who served, with National K9 Veterans Day. It’s also Earmuff Day. 15 year-old Chester Greenwood invented earmuffs in 1873. While you’re warming up your ears, celebrate Open An Umbrella Indoors Day. It’s only bad luck, if you don’t give yourself enough room!

Do your parents wake you up too early on weekends? Here’s a fact, for World Sleep Day. Scientists say catching up on your sleep, will help you live longer! It might be impossible to get the sleep you require when school and activities interfere, but extra sleep on the weekends gives you a healthy balance.

Today is Milky Way Day, so you can celebrate both the candy, and our galaxy. Milky Way candy bars have chocolate-malt nougat and caramel, although the European version is just nougat, like a 3 Musketeers. Our Milky Way galaxy, has 100,000,000,000 stars and 5,510 known planets. The Sun, is just 1 medium-sized star.

The first Ken doll was introduced in 1961, 2 years after Barbie. Celebrate Ken Day by inviting all your dolls and action figures to a party. Don’t forget the popcorn, since it’s also Popcorn Lover’s Day. Do you pop yours in the microwave, on the stove, or still on the cob over a campfire?

The Girl Scouts were started in 1912. It’s Girl Scout Day, so buy some of their cookies! With more than 1,000,000 members, someone should still have Thin Mints! It’s also Plant A Flower Day. Plant some pretty perennials, which are flowers that return every year. If it’s still too cold, start some seeds inside.

Shoppers in an antique store in New York, spotted one item that was not for sale. Perched on a shelf next to a chicken-shaped cookie jar, was an eastern screech owl. The sleepy owl was carefully placed outside by an Environmental Conservation officer, where it flew to a tree to continue its nap.

The San Diego Zoo in California, announced the birth of 4 male cheetah cubs. Mom Kelechi, is bonding with her babies behind the scenes. The brothers will form a lifelong group, called a coalition. There are only around 7,000 cheetahs left in the wild, so zoo breeding programs help to save the species.

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, is erupting. Last Tuesday, it started shooting jets of lava, 1000 feet into the air. The molten rock has stayed contained in a crater at the top, although some roads have been closed due to falling ash and debris. Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

Did you ever need to report something that wasn’t really an emergency? 9 1 1 is the emergency phone number, but it was getting overwhelmed with calls about illegal parking, or noise complaints. Many cities now use 3 1 1, to handle calls that aren’t urgent. For National 3 1 1 Day, find out if your city is one of them.