National Koi Day By Sharon Schweitzer National Koi Day celebrates the Japanese Koi fish and brings attention to the exotic beauty of the fish. As a symbol of courage, patience, perseverance, and strength, the Koi fish has been celebrated in the Japanese culture for centuries. The word "koi" comes from nishiki-goi, which means colored [...]
International Day of Parliamentarism By Sharon Schweitzer Parliamentary diplomacy is a way to build relationships and promote cooperation between national parliaments. Many parliaments encourage their members to participate in inter-parliamentary organizations, bilateral exchanges, and other parliamentary diplomacy initiatives. In this way Parliamentarians can represent their countries' interests, foster dialogue and cooperation with counterparts [...]
Anthony Bourdain Day By Sharon Schweitzer “Southeast Asia has a real grip on me. From the very first time I went there, it was a fulfillment of my childhood fantasies of the way travel should be.” -Anthony Bourdain Anthony Bourdain-chef and writer, traveled the world with humility, humanity, curiosity, humor, and with [...]
Honoring Old Glory: Flag Protocol on National Flag Day By Sharon Schweitzer Annually, on June 14, the United States celebrates the Star Spangled Banner on National Flag Day. Celebrated on the anniversary of the Flag Resolution, signed by the Second Continental Congress in 1777, US citizens are called to hoist the stars and [...]
International Clothesline Week By Sharon Schweitzer International Clothesline Week was first started in 2006, and is celebrated from the first Saturday of June to the next, all around the world. This year it takes place from June 1st-8th. It is a week-long celebration initially created to enlighten people about more sustainable living. Do [...]
National Women’s Health Week By Sharon Schweitzer Every May beginning on Mother’s Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) leads National Women’s Health Week (NWHW). This year, NWHW takes place May 12 – 18th. This observance aims to highlight women’s health issues and priorities and [...]
Global Pay It Forward Day By Sharon Schweitzer If you’ve believed in paying back kindness all your life, allow us to introduce you to a more refined and helpful initiative — paying kindness forward! This day is celebrated in over 80 countries, encouraging us to collectively perform random acts of kindness in a [...]
International Sculpture Day Mother Sculpture by Frantisek Uprka By Sharon Schweitzer Every year on the last Saturday in April, International Sculpture Day raises awareness, appreciation, and enjoyment of sculpture. It’s also a day for sculptors around the world to showcase their artistic talents. Sculpture is a type of visual arts that [...]
International Earth Day/Keep America Beautiful Month By Sharon Schweitzer John McConnell, of Davis City, Iowa founded International Earth Day. It was initiated to make the inhabitants of our planet aware of their responsibility to care for the planet. This care includes environmental and natural resources. Everyone needs to take an active role, big or [...]
Universal Day of Culture By Sharon Schweitzer Universal Day of Culture is the product of an international pact to ratify a legal recognition of the conservation of cultural objects and works of art. Known as the Treaty on the Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historic Monuments, or the Roerich Pact, it [...]