NATIONAL TV DINNER DAY

National TV Dinner Day is observed annually on September 10th.  In 1953, C.A. Swanson & Sons changed the prepackaged meal business forever. Introducing the TV Dinner revolutionized frozen food.

In 1962, Swanson stopped using the name TV Dinner. However, in the United States, the term remains synonymous with any prepackaged dinner purchased frozen from a store and heated at home.

The first Swanson TV Dinner consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, peas, and sweet potatoes. Originally, Swansons made the tray of aluminum. They separated each food item into individual compartments, too. At home, the cook heated the dinner in the oven. The cooking time was usually 25 minutes. Today, nearly all frozen food trays can be cooked in the microwave or a conventional oven. 

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When Swanson’s first sold TV dinners, they priced them at 98 cents. In the first year, production estimates reached 5,000 dinners. To their surprise, Swanson far exceeded that amount. In the first year, they sold more than 10 million of them.

TV Dinner Facts
  • 1960 – Swanson added desserts to a new four-compartment tray.
  • 1964 – Night Hawk name originated from the Night Hawk steak houses that operated in Austin, Texas, from 1939 through 1994. The original diners were open all night, catering to the late-night crowd. The restaurants produced the first frozen Night Hawk TV dinner in 1964.
  • 1969 – The first TV breakfasts were marketed. Great Starts Breakfasts and breakfast sandwiches followed later.
  • 1973 – Swanson markets the first Hungry-Man dinners. The meals included larger portions of its regular dinner products.
  • 1986 – Microwave-oven safe trays debut on the market. 
  • 1986 – The Smithsonian Institute inducted the original Swanson TV Dinner tray into the Museum of American History.

Much has changed since the original TV Dinner. They also remain a popular choice for a fast and convenient meal, fun to eat in front of the TV!

Looking for something to watch?  Check out some of my favorites here.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalTVDinnerDay

Get out a TV dinner, pop it in the microwave or oven, and enjoy! Use #NationalTVDinnerDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL FORTUNE COOKIE DAY

We see a time when you will enjoy a crunchy, sweet treat on National Fortune Cookie Day! Each year on July 20th, Americans celebrate the cookie that is a traditional part of Chinese take-out.

These crisp, folded cookies have a hint of buttery sweetness. Break them open, and you will find a slip of paper tucked inside with a message on it. The phrase will range from profound words of wisdom or tricky riddles to simple bits of common sense. Some fortunes include quotes from famous philosophers.

While these nuggets of enjoyment are most often found at the end of a Chinese meal, they didn’t originate in China. The distinctively folded cookie began in Japan, where elegant desserts and folding techniques are quintessentially Japanese. However, in Japan, the fortune was tucked in the fold on the outside of the cookie. Sometime in the late 1800s, the fortune cookie migrated to the United States and made its transition. During World War II, it exploded in popularity, and Americans have never stopped enjoying them.

HOW TO OBSERVE #FortuneCookieDay

Order some Chinese takeout and indulge in some fortune cookie therapy. But that’s not the only way to celebrate. Of course not!

  • Try making your own fortune cookies. Here’s a tasty homemade fortune cookie recipe for you to try.
  • We know you save your favorite fortunes. Please share them with us.
  • While you’re sharing, take a turn at writing a fortune. If you’re making fortune cookies, you’re going to need to practice this.
  • Try this neat fortune generator for your fortune cookies.

Want more cookies???

Share your celebration with us. Use #FortuneCookieDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL WEDDING MONTH

Ahh, February. The month of all things “love.” Why not honor weddings during the month that honors American Hearts, Valentine’s, and Chocolate Souffle?! February is National Weddings Month; a celebration of the beauty of unconditional love and the excitement of marriage and wedding parties.

Did you know that more than 2.4 million couples get married in the U.S. every year, and about 16 thousand of them get married on Valentine’s Day?! Even though the majority of weddings do take place during the summer months (specifically June, August, and September), February does own the most weddings to a single day. Since it’s known as the most romantic month on the calendar, it seems fitting to give weddings an extra special celebration in February.

According to the National Association of Bridal Consultants, it’s also the month that most brides and grooms-to-be start doing serious wedding planning. That may be because December is the most popular month for proposals!

So, let romance win in February and celebrate all things wedding-related.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalWeddingsMonth

National Weddings Month is an excellent time to celebrate romance and the excitement of weddings.

  • Share a picture from your wedding.
  • Begin planning your wedding.
  • Visit wedding venues for your big day.
  • Call florists, DJs, bands, banquet halls, caterers, and dress shops.
  • Design your announcement and invitations.
  • Send Save-the-Date cards.

Share your plans and excitement on social media, too. Include tips and recommendations for the best businesses for weddings. Businesses, celebrate the month with promotions and deals. The brides, grooms, and parents will thank you! Check out this playlist too. For the ceremony, reception and everything else.

Use #NationalWeddingsMonth or #WeddingMonth to post on social media.

Create an Amazon Wedding Registry
Create an Amazon Wedding Registry

GOOD FRIDAY

The Friday before Easter commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the Christian Faith and is called Good Friday.

Christians around the world recall the biblical story of Jesus’s crucifixion on this day. The day goes by other names as well, such as Holy Friday, Black Friday, and Great Friday. Though sources conflict, the phrase “Good Friday” may have been derived from “God’s Friday,” though sources conflict.

The observance is central to the Christian holy season that leads up to Easter when Jesus Christ was resurrected. While Easter has become a traditional celebration in the secular world, Good Friday has remained a holy and spiritual observance.

GOOD FRIDAY HISTORY

The celebration of Good Friday has been observed for centuries, some say since at least the 4th century.

Since Easter is based on the lunar calendar, Good Friday can happen anytime between March 20th and April 23rd depending upon when the first full moon occurs after the spring equinox.
Different cultures around the globe celebrate Good Friday with varying traditions.

  • El Salvador – Artists create alfombra de asserin (sawdust rugs) using colored sawdust. The artwork depicts a variety of scenes or patterns in honor of Good Friday.
  • London – Reenacts the crucifixion as a passion play. The performance is free to the public.
  • Ireland – Eggs are marked with a holy cross and are then eaten on Easter Sunday.
  • Israel – Christians walk in Jesus’s footsteps in Jerusalem where he was crucified.

HOW TO OBSERVE GOOD FRIDAY

  • Churches across the country hold services.
  • Depending on the denomination, their services and traditions may vary.
  • Many spend the day in meditative reflection.
  • Some churches will fast, selected hymns are chosen for services and a black cloth is draped over the altar and cross.
  • Other churches will include specific prayers such as the Stations of the Cross.
  • Similar to making Easter bread, some make hot cross buns for the observance. Learn more about the biblical story of the crucifixion.
  • Use #GoodFriday to share on social media.

NATIONAL EARTH DAY

Each year on April 22nd, National Earth Day campaigns around the globe promote ways to save the Earth. 

Since its inception, the organizers promote events educating the public about a variety of subjects including:

  • climate change
  • air pollution
  • water pollution
  • erosion
  • recycling
  • composting
  • renewable fuels and power
  • carbon footprints
  • efficient cars
  • rain forests
  • ecosystems

As citizens of the world, we can take actions protecting the Earth, its creatures and their habitats. Greener living can include more fuel-efficient vehicles or windows. It can also include landscaping for your climate reducing the amount of water required. 

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I know here in Florida, there are quite a few place encouraging solar panels. They can reduce your carbon footprint and in some cases save you some money too. Our power company also gives an option to get our electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

The best idea I’ve seen are solar panels you can drive on… imagine replacing roads and parking lots with something like this. Retail giants could take advantage of this technology and make thier parking lots this way. I hope to see this perfected and more cost effective. We would love to do this to our long driveway.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalEarthDay

Celebrate by engaging in Earth Day activities in your area. Ways to participate include:

  • Support and use recycling programs in your community. 
  • Volunteer to clean up local parks and streets on clean up days. 
  • Support and frequent green businesses.
  • Use re-usable products versus disposable.
  • Repurpose items that have outworn their use.
  • Shop secondhand and thrift stores for gently used items.
  • Use energy-efficient appliances or line dry your clothes. 
  • Walk or ride your bike to work if possible.
  • Carpool or make one trip instead of multiple trips for shopping.
  • Encourage your favorite products to reduce packaging.

The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something
today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard. ~ Gaylord Nelson – Founder of Earth Day

Numerous green campaigns launch events around the globe each year. Join one near you or organize one that fits your community needs. Be sure to register the event, too!  For example, check out One Square Inch of Silence. Founded on Earth Day in 2005, it encourages you to participate in expanding naturally silent spaces around the globe.

Share your Earth Day experiences and join the conversation using #EarthDay on Social Media.

NATIONAL EARTH DAY HISTORY

In 1969, the concept of Earth Day was established at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. On March 21, 1970, a sanctioned Proclamation was signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations. A month later, on April 22, 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day. While National Earth Day is not considered a national holiday we encourage you to learn more.

Environmentalists held rallies in large cities around the country. The observance became a global event in 1990 and hasn’t stopped since.

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