The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) along with millions of photographers and photography lovers across the nation observe Nature Photography Day on June 15th.
HISTORY
Nature Photography Day was designated by NANPA in 2009 to promote the enjoyment of nature photography.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Use your dedicated camera and/or the camera on your phone to take some photos of nature. Use #NaturePhotographyDay in social media.
National Papaya Month takes place in June. The vibrantly colored fruit grows on an herb in southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. They are also commercially produced in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
The mildly flavored fruit tastes subtly like a cross between a mango and a peach when ripe. It pairs well with spices and makes a delicious salsa. Papaya can be enjoyed in smoothies and savory dishes as well.
Be sure to take advantage of the papaya’s health benefits. Whether it’s used to enhance the skin or eaten to gain the rich vitamin A, C, E, potassium, and antioxidants, you can’t go wrong.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Enjoy papaya fresh or in a recipe. Use #NationalPapayaMonth to share on social media.
During National Garden Month in April, gather up your tools. You have permission to get dirty!
Like any other gardener, you’ve spent the last few months paging through catalogs dreaming and planning the next big adventure. The time has come. Whether you dream in color, spice or flavor, the all-important pleasure is getting to place those seeds or plants in the ground and nurture them along their way.
As gardeners know, we learn from each other and find joy in improving our skills. Working the soil and seeing the result of our labor is more than just satisfying. Being able to hand the seeds of life to another generation brings joy beyond measure.
HISTORY
The National Gardening Association declared April National Gardening Month.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Sharpen your tools. Collect your seeds. Prepare your beds. It’s time to plant! Use #NationalGardenMonth to share on social media.
Each year around this time, friends and families begin mailing their holiday cards. Christmas Card Day on December 9th serves as a reminder to get your stamps, envelopes, and cards together so you can share your holiday cheer.
Sending a card during the holidays hasn’t always been a tradition. In Victorian England, sending Penny Post was inexpensive and frequent. It was also considered rude to ignore a written message. One particularly popular Victorian invented the holiday card out of necessity. Sir Henry Cole received frequent letters, and it left him little time for other responsibilities. In 1843, he asked his friend J.C. Horsley to illustrate a design he had in mind. Soon, Cole was off to the printer, and he mailed the first Christmas card in the Penny Post to friends, family, and many acquaintances.
Today, we mail a variety of cards at Christmastime. The tradition of Christmas cards continues in a broader sense. Social and electronic media keep us connected in this modern world more than ever before. However, the Christmas card continues to be a part of our annual tradition, even if it takes on a different style or pattern.
These holiday cards may be the only communication we receive all year long from a friend or family member. Even if we spent an abundance of time with them once, these once-a-year notes touch us with a bit of meaning this time of year. We take the time to connect once again and say, “We’re thinking of you.”
While the origins of Christmas Card Day continue to be researched, Sir Henry Cole does receive credit for creating the first Christmas Card in 1843. However, the idea took several years to find its way to the United States. In 1850, Louis Prang immigrated from Prussia and opened a print shop in Boston. He mastered many methods of lithography from around the world, and after encouragement from his wife, he began producing floral Christmas cards in 1875.
Update your mailing list. Gather the stamps and pick out your favorite card. Will you be writing personal notes on each card? Or will you send a mass letter? Dress up the pets or family members for a last-minute photo, too. Get ready to be glitter bombed as the holiday cards begin pouring in your mail studded with Ho Ho Hos! and holiday greetings of all kinds. Share your favorite Christmas card style by using #ChristmasCardDay on social media.
Faux Fur Friday, observed on the first Friday in December, provides a stylish way to wear and buy faux fur.
Also known as fake fur, the textile made its debut in 1929. Initially made from alpaca wool, faux fur increased in quality as synthetic fibers became available. The fibers not only allowed for more variety and texture, but they also provided warmth. While the neo fur didn’t breath as well as animal fur, nor did it insulate as well, it lasted longer. Animal fur required refrigeration to avoid degrading.
Whether you call it fake, imitation or simulated, faux fur has found a place in fashion. Designers use it as an accent on clothing. They also create decor and entire ensembles. Faux fur comes in every color imaginable, too.
Throw a faux fur style show or shop for a faux fur deal. Wrap yourself in a soft, furry throw or poncho. Add some faux fur to a denim jacket or jazz up pillow in your room. Share your faux fur secrets and use #FauxFurFriday to post on social media.
