Did you know that there are an abundance of daily holidays and special days every month? Some are immersed in tradition, while others may be silly, bizarre, unique, special or inspirational. Unofficial Holidays are not traditionally marked on calendars but are celebrated by various groups and individuals. Some are designed to promote a cause or to
recognize historical events not recognized officially, while others are fun holidays, generally intended to just be humorous. So, in the midst of our busy lives, maybe consider taking time to enjoy some of the entertaining but lesser-known holidays throughout the year. Many people consider
November as the month of gratefulness. In the original Roman calendar, November was the ninth month of the year. Its name comes from the Latin word ‘novem’ which means nine. However, it became the eleventh month when the Romans added January and February to the start of the year.
November brings us many notable events including Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. November is also known as National Beard Month (also known as ‘No-Shave November’) as a way to raise cancer awareness. If you are looking for other fun ways to celebrate, consider one of these lesser-known holidays.
On Monday, November 12, people from all over celebrated Chicken Soup For The Soul Day. This heart-warming holiday is celebrated each year to pay tribute to the encouraging stories from the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. These inspirational books have allowed ordinary people to share their extraordinary stories with readers worldwide for 20 years, selling more than 110 million copies. According to the book series creators, this day was created to celebrate “who you are, where you’ve been, where you’re going and who you will be thankful to when you get there!” Honor this day by reflecting on the past year or reading a book from the series – perhaps over a bowl of chicken soup! Chicken soup is the king of com-fort foods and thought to be a remedy for colds, flus and just about anything else that ails you. So, if you want to ’soupersize’ your day with a ‘souper’ delicious bowl of chicken noodle soup, perhaps consider a visit to Chick-N-Bones at 1953 W Lumsden Rd., in Brandon or The Stone Soup Company at 1919 E 7th Ave. in Tampa. Use #ChickenSoupForTheSoulDay to post your celebration on social media.
If you are always in a hurry, then National Fast Food Day on Friday, November 16, is your day to celebrate. Did you know that the first fast food restaurant in United States was White Castle in Wichita, Kansas in 1921? This restaurant was considered to be ahead of its time and they only sold hamburgers that cost a nickel each.
Today, fast food is an American tradition. There are more than 300,000 fast food restaurants in the United States alone. In 2017, Americans spent $208 billion on fast food. Also a fun fact: 90 percent of American children will visit a McDonald’s restaurant in any given month. Many fast food restaurants celebrate this day with different specials, so download the different apps on your phone or visit the websites to find out what is available. Go ‘taco-bout’ it with the family and head out to your local Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Burger King, Arby’s, Subway or KFC to honor this American tradition!
After your fast-food adventures, nothing is more exciting than a care-free drive. Thursday, November 22 is National Go For A Ride Day. This holiday reminds us to savor each moment and enjoy life’s aimless journeys. To celebrate Go For a Ride
Day, gas up your car and explore a new part of town, or find a new mode of ‘riding.’ There are plenty of transportation alternatives in the Tampa Bay area. Consider a fun Segway tour of Tampa’s waterside area through www.magiccarpetglide.com. Consider a water taxi ride to discover Tampa Bay’s beautiful homes, history and wildlife through www.tampawatertaxico.com. If you want to ride a little further, take the Suncoast Beach Trolley
(www.psta.net/riding-psta/trolley-ser-vices) and explore area beaches, restaurants and local attractions the easy way without worrying about directions or parking. Wherever your journey takes you, make sure to sit back and enjoy the ride.
November boasts many other fun holidays including Cook Something Bold Day, Clean Your Refrigerator Day, Homemade Bread Day and Square Dance Day, just to name a few. For a complete list, visit www.holidayinsights.com.
