International Turtle Day - May 23

International Turtle Day, which falls on May 23, is designed to raise awareness of the world of turtles, and how to help protect them and let them live, reproduce and thrive.

This day was announced by the American Tortoise Rescue.

Fun facts about the turtle:

The tortoise is an endangered protected animal and should therefore not be adopted and raised at home or in the yard.

The lifespan of a turtle is very long and can reach several hundred years.

The body parts of the turtle do not age.

Man used to use the tortoise's armor as a raw material for the production of jewelry, combs, fans and resonator instruments in ancient musical instruments, such as the pound.

Turtles are reptiles that evolved during the Mesozoic era, the period when dinosaurs ruled the world, from 245 million years ago to 65 million years ago.

Turtle soup is a soup or stew made from turtle meat. The dish exists in certain cultures and is perceived as a luxury or a delicacy. In Singapore and the United States (19th century) it was customary to eat turtle soup made from the green turtle. East Asian cuisines like Chinese cuisine still use soft turtles to make turtle soup.

How to celebrate World Turtle Day? 

Learn about the turtle from books or movies, tell people about the turtles and the danger of extinction they are in and what to do to protect them. Tell people that a tortoise is a protected animal that should not be captured and certainly not eaten.

Sherlock Holmes Day- 22 May

Sherlock Holmes is the most famous literary detective in the world.

The character of Sherlock Holmes was created by the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887.

In 2011, Sherlock Holmes fans announced the May 22, the birthday of Arthur Conan Doyle (born in 1859), as Sherlock Holmes Day.

According to the biography of Sherlock Holmes, his date of birth is January 6, 1854.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, said that the character of Detective Sherlock Holmes was inspired by Joseph Bell, a surgeon at the Royal Edinburgh Clinic where Doyle worked as an assistant.

Like Holmes, Bell was also famous for his ability to draw broad conclusions from small observations.

The first book of Sherlock Holmes was first published in 1887 and sequels continued to be published for the next forty years, until shortly before the author's death (in 1930). During this period, the detective underwent countless adventures, usually accompanied by his loyal friend and assistant, Dr. Watson.

How to celebrate Sherlock Holmes Day?

You can read Sherlock Holmes books, watch movies and series, dress up detectives and solve puzzles yourself.

Sherlock Holmes Books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (link)

The stories of Sherlock Holmes received many adaptations on stage, in film and on television. These are some of them:

The film "Sherlock Holmes," directed in 2009 by Guy Richie and starring actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and the 2011 sequel, Sherlock Holmes: The Shadow Game.

Link

In 2010, a mini-series called "Sherlock" was shown on the BBC, which tells the story of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in the 21st century, starring Benedict Kamberbach and Martin Freeman.

In 2012, a series called "Elementary" was released, which also tells the story of Holmes and Watson in the 21st century. In this series, Watson is represented by a woman named Joan Watson.

The film "Mr. Holmes" was directed by Bill Condon in 2015, with actor Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes.

If you feel like being a bit more active, Sherlock Holmes Day can be the perfect time for a little detective game, with friends or with yourself. Is there a mystery in your life that you want to solve? It's time to decipher it. Do you have the feeling that someone at work steals your meals from the refrigerator? You're being sent messages from unknown numbers and you're dying to know who it is? It is today to decide that the truth is revealed behind the mysterious acts.

Another option to celebrate Sherlock Holmes Day is to go to the Sherlock Holmes escape room.  

If you have kids, Sherlock Holmes Day is the perfect day to show them this real literary classics, which never gets old.

Rapture Party Day - May 21

In recent decades there have been predictions that on May 21, 2011, the end of the world will come.

This prediction is the work of a man named Harold Camping, a Christian radio broadcaster, who said that on that date Jesus would return to the world and then be taken to heaven in the form of "ecstasy", with fireballs, sulfur and other plagues landing on the earth. Until October 21, 2011, the day the world will be finally eliminated.

Well, May 21, 2011 came and brought with it neither Jesus nor the end of the world, but in the US there are those who celebrate this date today ecstasy in parties of happiness and joy accompanied by enthusiasm and dancing to this day. The parties are called in English "Rapture Parties".

Harold Camping passed away in December 2013. His prediction did not come true to our delight, but at least he gave some people a new reason to party.

World Bee Day - May 20

In 2007, beekeepers around the world discovered that 40 billion bees had disappeared from their hives. If the disappearance of the bees continues, we will be in serious trouble.

Bees are one of the most important animals for the continued existence of humans, and in recent years there has been a fear of their extinction because their numbers are declining. The bees are pollinating animals, the ones that transfer the pollen of the plants from the males to the females, in order to reproduce them, and without them this process will be harmed. Bees also help warn of environmental hazards and when a local ecosystem is not functioning properly.

The extinction of bees will not only result in a worldwide shortage of honey, but also of fruits and vegetables.

Photo courtesy of: Yoel Yaron

The dangers facing bees are invasive insects, pesticides and land use for uses other than agriculture, and thus their nutrients are reduced and bee colonies are under serious threat.

Following the discernment of the declining bee population, initiatives have arisen to protect them. One of these initiatives is World Bee Day, announced by the UN in 2017.

The date of May 20 was chosen because it is the birthday of Anton Janša, the pioneer of the bee industry who was involved in beekeeping and honey production. Janessa was born in Slovenia in the 18th century, and was the first beekeeper in the world.

How to mark Bee Day around the world?

Plant wildflower seeds (from which the bees produce nectar), and grow plants in the garden that do not need much water or special chemicals to grow.

Get to know the local beekeepers and learn from them about the craft of making honey.

Buy / prepare / eat honey or foods that contain honey.

Read and learn about bees and other pollinators, and how we can stop bee extinction.

May 20 is also Quiche Lorraine Day

Quiche Lorraine Day- May 20

Quiche Lorraine is a pastry dough topped with cheese, butter, foie gras and onions. It is believed that the origin of the Lorraine is in the rural region of Lorraine, France.

Originally, Quiche Lauren was kneading an open cake of bread dough filled with pudding and smoked bacon.

To cook the original tap, use a cast iron pan.

When I was a child, a long time ago in the 1980s, my mother used to make quiche loren according to the budget, you could call it Quiche Lauren for the poor: with yellow cheese, white fried onions and pastrama. True, it was not the same but it was delicious!

Despite our in-depth research, we did not find the reason why this day was chosen as Quiche Lauren's day, but still, in honor of May 20, it is today to find a recipe and prepare a quiche Lorraine for the whole family. And if you don't eat meat, you can use vegetarian sausages.

May 20 is also World Bee Day

Scooter Day - May 19

May 19 is Scooter Day. The scooter day was announced in 2015 by the American company Micro Kickboard, which distributes scooters, kickboards and other innovative means of transportation.

The scooter is a  is a human-powered street vehicle with a handlebar, deck, and wheels propelled by a rider pushing off the ground. The scooter day was announced in 2015 by the American company Micro Kickboard, which distributes scooters, kickboards and other innovative means of transportation.

The scooter is a vehicle built from a narrow surface parallel to the ground, with two wheels and a steering handlebar attached to the front wheel.

In congested cities around the world, where parking is very difficult to find, scooters are a popular solution to the transportation problem.

To ride a scooter you have to stand on it with one foot and push it with the other foot, while holding the handlebars.

A scooter with 3 wheels and two surfaces is called a Wiggle Scooter and to ride it you have to stand with both feet on both surfaces, hold the handlebars, push with one foot and lift it to the surface. To move the wiggle scooter one has to move the legs to the right or left side.

There are also motorized scooters that run on electricity or fuel.

Who Invented the Scooter?

It is not known who invented the first scooter, but it is known that it has been used since about 100 years ago in urban areas in Europe and the United States. The first scooters were handmade, homemade, usually as play items designed for children to roam the street. At the end of the twentieth century, companies began to manufacture scooters industrially and sell them.

Scooter Day is the day of celebration for small vehicles on both wheels.

So in honor of Scooter Day, ride your scooter with pleasure and caution!

Copyright: Cathy Yeulet

Museum Day- May 18

Museum Day is a day where you should soak up culture and art and visit any museum, no matter which one.

This day has been declared by the International Council of Museums as a day dedicated entirely to museums, on May 18 each year.

Each year, the council dedicates a particular theme to Museum Day, and many museums around the world hold special days on the subject. More than 30,000 museums around the world participate in Museum Day, a day founded in 1977.

May 18 is also Visit Your Relatives Day and No Dirty Dishes Day

No Dirty Dishes Day - May 18

No Dirty Dishes Day is celebrated on May 18 every year, to give us all a break from the usual daily routine of washing dirty dishes after every meal.

It is not known who invented this day, but it was probably someone who did not like to wash dishes. He or she probably thought of how much it is Sisyphean: work hard and then enjoy a clean sink, and after a short time again see the sink full of dirty dishes because people ate at home. Annoying, isn't it?

So much money, time and energy is invested every day in washing and drying dishes, and then arranging them back in place, so one day a year is allowed to be freed from that need.

How to celebrate No Dirty Dishes Day?

There are several options to celebrate this day.

1. Do not wash the dirty dishes and wait with them until tomorrow. 

2. Eat outside so that there are no dirty dishes at home. 

3. Eat with disposable dishes (to be earth-friendly use disposable utensils made of consumables) 

4. Eat the food straight from the box, as in dishes that come packaged like pizza Or a hamburger and fries, or eating small meals that do not require dishes like a banana or a hard-boiled egg. 

5. Another option is to take the idea in the opposite direction and make sure all day that the sink is clean and shiny by washing the dirty dishes all the time. 

If you liked the idea, you can share photos and thoughts on social media using the hashtag #NoDirtyDishesDay.

May 18 is also Visit Your Relatives Day and Museum Day