Root Beer was invented on this day in 1866 by Charles Elmer Hires.

Root beer was a traditional beverage and herbal medicine. The beverage was often alcoholic, usually around 2%. As a medicine it was used for treating cough and mouth sores. Commercially prepared root beer was developed by Charles Elmer Hires on May 16, 1866. He presented root tea powder at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibition.

In 1893 Hires began selling bottled carbonated root beer. There was a dramatic increase in the popularity of root beer in the United States during the period of prohibition in the early 20th Century.  Local breweries resorted to brewing root beer since other, alcoholic, beverages were outlawed.

World Red Cross Day remembers and recognizes the efforts of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide. According to the Red Cross website, this day recognizes "worldwide efforts to advocate for the relief of human suffering, whether from disease, famine, disaster, or war.”

The Red Cross provides humanitarian efforts and disaster relief around the world, wherever it is needed. There are millions of Red Cross volunteers.

You can celebrate World Red Cross Day and World Red Crescent Day in a variety of ways:
•    Become a Red Cross volunteer
•    Donate blood today
•    Learn more about the Red Cross
•    Send a donation to the Red Cross
•    Support Red Cross programs and efforts
•    Thank Red Cross volunteers for their service.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day dates back to 1922. At that time, the Czechoslovakia Red Cross National Society proclaimed a three-day truce at Easter to promote peace. The goal is to recognize one day every year to advocate for the relief of human suffering from disease, and the humanity of seeing a world free from suffering due to war.

May 8th was chosen, as it is the birthday of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross.

The first Tai Chi & Qigong event began in 1999.  The first event inspired the global event that was held in Kansas City, Missouri in 1998. The Kansas City Tai Chi Club held a mass Tai Chi exhibition and teach-in involving nearly two-hundred people.  CNN Headline News covered the event.
 
The mission of this day is to expose people to the growing body of medical research related to traditional Chinese medicine and direct them to teachers in their home towns.

Origin of Tai Chi & Qigong Day: As specified above.

Zucchini Bread Day is a day to enjoy Zucchini bread.

Zucchini is also called Courgettes, Marrows and Summer Squash.  According to the National Gardening Association, it is not one of the top ten vegetables grown in home gardens (the tomato tops that list). This might be because when you plant zucchini, you end up with enough of the vegetable to feed a small army.

In the summer months, the prolific zucchini plant produces more fruit than gardeners can use. As summer progresses, everyone becomes sick and tired of the eating zucchini. But, the harvest goes on, day after day, after day. By midsummer, gardeners are resorting to all sorts of tricks to get rid of the mountains of fruit produced in their gardens. Some even stealthily leave zucchini on neighbors' door step in the middle of the night.

So here we are in the middle of April and Zucchinis are not in season.  Go Figure!

Zucchini Bread Recipe

•    3 eggs
•    3/4 cup applesauce
•    1/4 cup oil
•    2 cups sugar
•    1 Tablespoon vanilla
•    1 cup whole-wheat flour
•    2 cups all-purpose flour
•    1 teaspoon salt
•    1 teaspoon baking soda
•    1/4 teaspoon baking powder
•    1 Tablespoon cinnamon
•    1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
•    1/2 teaspoon cloves
•    1/2 teaspoon allspice
•    1/4 teaspoon ginger
•    2 cups zucchini, grated
•    1 cup nuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 large loaf pans

In a large mixing bowl cream together the eggs, oil, and applesauce. Add sugar and vanilla.

Add all of the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in zucchini and nuts last.

Bake about 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before removing from pan. This bread freezes well.

Origin of Zucchini Bread Day: Bizarre Food Holidays proclaims these special days on their website.

Laboratory Day celebrates the place where great discoveries, inventions, and medical cures are born. It is also where mad scientists dwell. Perhaps the most well-known thing to come out of laboratory was ... Frankenstein!

Countless ideas, concepts and theories are tested in laboratories. Most of the world's greatest medical treatments and cures were discovered and perfected in laboratories, after endless study and testing. Products coming out of laboratories have helped and aided mankind in many, many ways.  

Origin of Laboratory Day:  Research did not find the creator or the origin of this day.

Garlic Day promotes the many uses of Garlic. Garlic is both a vegetable and an herb. It is used in recipes around the world.

Garlic was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, chewed by Greek Olympian athletes, and thought to drive vampires away. It's also good for keeping your heart healthy and warding off colds. With all of these benefits, who's going to worry about a little bad breath!

As a medicinal herb, garlic is said to do the following:

•    Helps fight off colds and flu.
•    Lowers blood cholesterol levels.
•    Phytochemicals in garlic provide protection against heart disease and cancer. (Specifically, stomach and colorectal cancers.)
•    Reduces the buildup of plaque in arteries.
•    Helps treat acne and warts.
•    Helps soothe toothaches

Celebrate National Garlic Day by using it heavily in your meals and snacks today. Spend some time researching its medical benefits. You might find you want to add more garlic to your menu every day.

Did you know?  We all have fears. As a matter of fact, there are so many phobias, that psychologists can hardly keep track of them all. Alliumphobia is the fear of garlic.

Origin of Garlic Day:  Bizarre Food Holidays proclaims these special days on their website.

Celebrate today with a cheese ball.

 Pineapple Cheese Ball Recipe

•    1 (16 Oz.) Package Cream Cheese, Softened
•    1 (8 1/2 Oz.) Can Crushed Pineapple, Well Drained
•    2 Cups Chopped Pecans
•    1 Teaspoon Salt
•    1/4 Cup Green Pepper, Chopped
•    2 Tablespoons Green Onion, Chopped

Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl only 1 cup of the nuts.

Shape into a ball and roll in the rest of the nuts (use a cookie sheet or waxed paper).

Cover in plastic wrap or foil. Chill overnight and serve with your favorite crackers.

 Origin of Cheese Ball Day:  Bizarre Food Holidays proclaims this special day on their website.

RELAX!!!Today is Stress Awareness Day. This is your opportunity to recognize that there is plenty of stress in your life ... as if you didn't already know.

Today is an opportunity to learn and to do something about the stress.

April is also designated as Stress Awareness Month.

Origin of Stress Awareness Day: Stress Awareness Day and Stress Awareness Month are sponsored by the Health Resource Network (HRN). They started this holiday in 1992 to increase public awareness of the causes and cures of stress.

Do you suppose that April 16 was also designated as Stress Awareness Day because it is the day after taxes are due?