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 MONTH OF HOPE

During April, buds come into full bloom brightening our days, and the National Month of Hope also lends a hand in lifting our spirits.

Bringing hope to someone can take many forms. Being a positive role model in a child’s life or providing a community a foundation for future endeavors both provide hope for the future. Lift the spirits of a friend suffering from a medical issue or volunteer at a local homeless shelter. We are each able to bring a ray of hope in our own ways by contributing wisdom, time, kindness, and when possible, donating to charities that make the impossible possible.

NATIONAL MONTH OF HOPE HISTORY

H.O.P.E.

Mothers In Crisis, Inc. founded National Month of Hope to help spread hope around the world. Founded by Rosalind Tompkins in 1991 when she was just four years clean and sober, Mothers In Crisis, Inc. supports women and families who are in need bringing them hope and empowering them to find a new path.

On Mothers In Crisis’s 25th Anniversary in April of 2016, they received proclamations from the City of Tallahassee and the Board of County Commissioners acknowledging the significant contributions Mothers In Crisis has made in their region and also declaring Friday as Hope Universe Day.

Explore More….

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalMonthOfHope

  • Everyone needs a little hope now and then. Spread a little sunshine their way and bring some hope into their lives.
  • Volunteer by reading to children in schools.
  • Experience meaningful and healthy communication with loved ones, family, friends, co-workers,
    and colleagues.
  • Giving of time, food, and money to help families in need.
  • Minister to those incarcerated by writing letters and visiting.
  • Post on social media words of hope.
  • Sharing your story of overcoming with those who are going through hard times.
  • Lending a helping hand to those in need.
  • Cleaning up areas where there is trash such as parks and beaches.
  • Spend a day with the homeless whether on the streets in shelters, etc. “Unless you walk a mile in their shoes you won’t know how to help!”
  • Use #NationalHopeMonth to share your hope on social media.

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.