Single Parent's Day- March 21

Single Parents' Day falls on March 21 in the United States to empower, respect and cherish the single mothers and fathers who raise children alone and to appreciate the hard work, dedication and sacrifice involved in single parenting. When a parent is single, all responsibility is placed on him or her without sharing the burden with anyone else. Whether it is by choice or out of necessity, single parents carry a heavy burden on their shoulders. They need to maneuver between work, school, medical care and household management without sharing roles with anyone else.

A single parent is defined as a man or woman who is raising one or more children alone. Single parenting is usually the result of changes in the two-parent model: separation, divorce, widowhood, and a being single.

Many single parents have family support. Many are assisted by grandparents, siblings and other extended family members. Fortunately, today there are also support groups for single parents on social media where you can get advice and help.

Single parents sometimes have relief and help from the state.

The history of Single Parents' Day

In 1984, Janice Muglan of the United States wrote a position paper in which she expressed the wish that just as Mother's Day and Father's Day should be recognized, the single parent's day should be recognized. The single parent day was announced by President Ronald Reagan on March 21, 1984.

How to celebrate single parents' day?

Although single parents' day is a day declared in the US and celebrated there, we all actually know a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker who is a single parent. Today is the day to support and appreciate them. Make this day a special day for single parents you know. Use the hashtag #NationalSingleParentDay to post on social media to express and support them.

March 21 is also International Fragrance Day,  Down Syndrom Day and Nowruz

Down Syndrome Day - March 21st

 World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), which falls on March 21, is a World Awareness Day that has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The goal of Down Syndrome Day is to raise awareness that people with Down Syndrome can be integrated into society, to make their voices heard And fight for their rights.

The date 21 in the third month (March), was chosen to mark the uniqueness of the trisomy 21st chromosome that causes Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is due to the fact that in the DNA of every cell in the body there are three copies of chromosome number 21, instead of only two. The syndrome was first described by John Langdon Down in 1866 and is therefore named after him.

Down syndrome sufferers usually have a unique appearance that includes slanted eyes, small ears, a flat face and a broad forehead, straight hair, a short neck and a lower-than-average height. They used to be called Mongols because of their resemblance to the Mongol people.

People with Down Syndrome may also suffer from low IQ, between 40 and 75 IQ, childishness and lack of independence and verbal impairment. They may also have heart defects. The syndrome cannot be cured, but the syndrome can be diagnosed already in pregnancy, using ultrasound tests: in Nuchal scan tests and systems review and in  amniotic fluid test.

In recent years, there has been progress in the treatment methods for children who have Down Syndrome and they are able to achieve achievements that allow some of them to integrate into society. Their life expectancy now stands at 60 years, unlike previous years (in the 1980s it was only 25). In order for them to be able to progress and recover, they need adapted medical care, a normative and enriching environment and intensive care from an early age.

March 21 is also International Fragrance Day, Nowruz and Single Parent's Day

Fragrance Day - March 21

Fragrance Day is a holiday designed to remind us how much the pleasant scent adds positive sensations to life.

Smell is a term that contains within it all the types of smells that are perceived by our sense of smell, and it also includes the unpleasant smells called "stink". The term “fragrance” on the other hand is used to describe a pleasant scent, and March 21st is today to celebrate the fragrances that add pleasant sensations to our lives. The fragrances can come from perfumes, flowers, delicious food and lots of other things. Fragrance is a subjective concept and everyone has their favorite fragrances, and as the famous saying goes - "There's no accounting for taste", that is, there is no quarrel whether smell is good or not, because everyone has their own opinion and there is no right or wrong. There are those who like certain scents because they make them think of something they like or feel positive about. This is why some people like the smell of candles after lying down or the smell of a wet dog, the smell of fuel or the smell of fresh paint. 

Fragrance has always played an important role throughout history. The Book of Exodus in the Bible describes the anointing oil - a sacred perfume consisting of liquid myrrh, fragrant cinnamon, bow and cane perfume.

The first documented chemist in the world to make a perfume was a  woman named Tapputi, who was mentioned on a stone tablet from 1,200 BC in Mesopotamia.

In the past bathing was not a matter of routine, so people would walk around with unpleasant body odors. To keep away the unpleasant odors perfumes were used. Doctors would argue at this time that perfumes keep diseases away from humans.

In the 18th century the kings of France were the most ardent consumers of perfumes. There are stories about Queen Marie Antoinette that it was impossible to get close to the rooms in which she stayed without holding her breath because of the heavy scents of her perfumes.

Over the years the bathing custom has become common and the use of perfumes has become less massive. At some point, about 150 years ago, men stopped using them at all, except for shaving water and deodorants.

At the beginning of the 20th century, chemistry developed to such an extent that almost any desired odor could be artificially created, mimicking the smells of natural substances and even inventing new odors by creating unique compounds.

How to celebrate International Fragrance Day?

There are lots of scents that can be considered pleasant aromas - the smell of the sea, flowers, perfume, chocolate, the smell of money, the smell of book pages, the smell of a new car, the smell of pine wood, incense, mint, the smell of after rain, fried onions, smell Of smoke and more. There are billions of scents in the world. What is your favorite scent? Try to add your favorite scent to your day to enhance it. Go to the place where your favorite scent exists and inhale it with deep aspirations. The mind knows how to connect the smell with the good memories and improve the mood.

Whatever you do, remember that your nose knows best and that you will have a wonderfully fragrant day!

March 21 is also Nowruz, World Down Syndrome Day and Single Parent's Day

Nowruz, Persian New Year - March 21

Nowruz (Persian: New Day) is the Persian New Year and Spring Day. It begins on March 21 or 20, the spring equinox and lasts 13 days during which Iranians go on national holiday. On the 13th day of the holiday everyone goes out to celebrate and have picnics, this day is called ‘Sizdah bedarer’ and it concludes the holiday.

The holiday Nowruz is an ancient holiday that is over 3,000 years old. It belongs to the Zoroastrian religion, the ancient Persian religion that existed before Islam. The calendar of the Zoroastrians is according to the sun and therefore it is customary to celebrate the beginning of the year on the day of equality that heralds the beginning of spring.

March 21 is also World Down Syndrome Day , Single Parent's Day and International Fragrance Day

Ravioli Day- March 20

March 20 is the day of the famous and delicious Italian dish, the ravioli.

Ravioli is a dish made from two layers of pasta dough filled with different mixtures of meat, fish, seafood, egg yolks, cheese, potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, pumpkin, chestnuts, artichokes and more.

Some interesting facts about the ravioli:

The word ravioli is reminiscent of the word riavvolgere in Italian (meaning "wrap"); The word may also be related to the Italian word rava (turnips).

The shape of the ravioli can be rectangular, triangular, crescent or round.

In the picture: set for ravioli

The sauce that is usually served with the ravioli is tomato sauce. Fine fillings require more delicate sauces such as sauces based on butter and sage leaves or pesto.

At the US Veterans' Dinner on 11 November, Ravioli serves as a main course.

As a dessert for a meal, you can make ravioli from chocolate dough. (Recipe link)

The shape of the ravioli can be rectangular, triangular, crescent or round.

March 20 is also French Macaron Day, International Day of Happiness and World Frog Day

World Frog Day - March 20

World Frog Day is a special and festive day in honor of the frogs, which falls on March 20 every year.

Frogs are amphibians that divide their lives both on land and in water. The frog family that belongs to the tailless family has lots of species and the most common types we are familiar with are the Levant water frog and the Pool frog.

When you walk around a water source and hear croaking, you are likely to hear the river frog.

Frogs prey on insects and play a vital role in preserving the environment. But in recent years, different species of frogs are endangered for various reasons. Some of the reasons are related to the human who destroys the environment in which they live or hunt them for food, and some of the reasons are related to nature such as climate change or a deadly fungus that has caused the extinction and significant reduction of hundreds of frog species.

World Frog Day is a day designed to raise awareness for the conservation of frogs and concern for a safer environment for them to survive.

World Frog Day has been celebrated since 2009. There is no exact mention of the person or organization that initiated this awareness day. In addition to World Frog Day, there is also the Frog Rescue Day which falls on April 28th.

In honor of International Frog Day, get some interesting facts about frogs:

There are over 5,000 species of frogs in the world. Each species has its own unique croaking, and there are croaking of frogs that can be heard from miles away!

Frogs should not drink water because they absorb it through the skin.

Some frogs can jump over 20 times their body length; It's like a person jumping 30 meters high.

In Egypt the frog is the symbol of life and fertility, and in Egyptian mythology the cat is the one that comes in the form of a frog representing fertility. (Source: Wikipedia)

Many species of frogs care for their offspring (tadpoles). For example, Poison dart frogs tend to lay their eggs on the ground and then secrete poison on them to protect them from predators.

There are females of several species of frogs that guard their offspring (tadpoles) and provide food for them. If there is not enough food in the area, they will keep their eggs unfertilized to feed them on.

The Tree frogs build their nests on the trees above the water so that when the tadpoles hatch they fall straight into the water.

Frog eggs

The largest frog in the world is the Goliath frog. It lives in West Africa and can reach a length of 35 centimeters and a weight of 3 kilograms. Its bounce is so strong that it can reach a distance of 3 meters in one bounce.

One gram of the toxin produced on the skin of a Golden poison frog can kill 100,000 people.

Golden Arrow Frog

A frog sheds its skin once a week. The old, dead skin, she usually eats.

When the first offspring of the Darwin frog hatch, the father frog swallows them. It keeps the tiny tadpoles in its vocal cords for 52 days to allow them to grow and then it begins to "cough" and emit whole tiny frogs.

When a frog swallows its prey, it blinks and thus pushes its eyeballs onto its mouth, which helps it push the food down its throat.

The North American tree frog freezes in winter and thaws in summer. When winter temperatures drop, the body of the tree frog goes out; Breathing, heartbeat and muscle movements stop. The water in the body's cells freezes and is replaced by glucose and urea to prevent the cells from collapsing. As the temperatures rise, the frog warms up, its body functions resume and it leaps as if nothing has happened.

The Glass frog has transparent skin so that its internal organs, bones and muscles can be seen through the skin. You can even see her heart beating and the process of digesting food in her stomach.

Indonesia has a frog that has no lungs at all. She breathes completely through her skin.

The Waxy monkey tree frog, a frog that lives in the rainforests of South America, secretes wax from its neck and uses its legs to rub the wax on all parts of its body to prevent the skin from drying out in the sun.

Why are frogs important?

Frogs feed on large numbers of insects, including those that transmit deadly diseases to humans (such as malaria or Nile fever). The amphibian's skin is permeable, and can easily absorb toxic chemicals. Therefore, for protection, they produce a wide range of secretions some of which have the potential to be used as drugs. Because of their high sensitivity to environmental changes, they are considered good bioindicators and indicate the local environment in which they are located.

How to celebrate World Frog Day?

The best way to celebrate Frog Day is to learn about frogs, their habitats, their types and the environmental roles they play. It is important to raise awareness of the declining frog population in the world and the importance of rescuing them. Anyone can make a change in their life that will help reduce environmental pollution, and if everyone takes the step, the impact of the majority will be tremendous. 

March 20 is also International Happiness Day, French Macaroni Day and Ravioli Day

International Day of Happiness - March 20

International Happiness Day was presented by the UN General Assembly in 2012 and celebrated for the first time in 2013, through seminars, lectures with educational tips and tools aimed at educating and raising public awareness of the benefits of happiness.

International Happiness Day was presented by the UN General Assembly in 2012 and celebrated for the first time in 2013, through seminars, lectures with educational tips and tools aimed at educating and raising public awareness of the benefits of happiness.

So who is the happiest country in the world? At the top are the Scandinavian countries, with Finland starring in first place. This is the top ten in the happiness index: 1. Finland, 2. Denmark, 3. Norway, 4. Iceland, 5. The Netherlands, 6. Switzerland, 7. Sweden, 8. New Zealand, 9. Canada, 10. Austria. 

The saddest countries in the world are the sub-Saharan countries of Africa, Syria, South Sudan and Yemen.

Source: World Happiness Report

The ranking is based on six criteria: national product, health expenditure, freedom of residents, generosity, social support and lack of corruption in government and business.

International Happiness Day is a useful reminder to all of us that general happiness does not necessarily stem from buying and consuming, or from being famous or glamorous - but often from friends, family and emotional well-being.

The commercials tell us that if we buy as much as possible we will be happy, the celebrities present us with a glamorous picture of beauty and happy smiles, but is it real? What really makes us happy?

In honor of Happy Day, we wish you a happy day!

March 20 is also French Macaron Day, Ravioli Day and World Frog Day

French Macaron Day- March 20

French macaron day is a day of celebration in honor of the French cookies, baked light, made from two interlinked cookies with cream.

The macaron is a general name for light-baked cookies whose dough contains no flour, butter, oil or margarine, and is based on protein foam and sugar. The day of the French macaron is a festive day for French cookies, lightly baked, made from two cookies. 

Who invented the French macaron?

The French macaron was invented by Pierre Desfontaines, a confectioner from the delicatessen of Lourdes in Paris. He invented the idea of a cookie consisting of two layers of macaron dough with different fillings that hold the layers together, such as butter cream, jam or ganache.

French macaron are not only tasty and have a delicate and addictive texture, but come in a variety of colors and flavors, a real feast for the eyes.

Macaroni in Gift Box (link)

 

In honor of the day of the French macaron, make colorful macaron or buy a delicious pastry bakery and do not forget to offer me some too.

March 20 is also Ravioli Day, International Day of Happiness and World Frog Day