Los Angeles Times
The New York Liberty beat the Los Angeles Sparks in the inaugural game of the Womens National Basketball Association on this day in 1997
Success
As the first rays of the sun filter in, from the East, we welcome the light with the sound of a gong. NATIONAL DAY OF THE GONG rings in summer with echoes and vibrations. Can you hear that majestic ringing?
As today is a very long day it is appropriate to observe NATIONAL DAYLIGHT APPRECIATION DAY. From here, grab your deck, roll down the road and celebrate GO SKATEBOARDING DAY. If you are a little thirsty after all of that skateboarding, how about mixing up NATIONAL SMOOTHIE DAY? Put your favorite ingredients in the blender and enjoy. Of course, we may need to refuel, so why not show some love for NATIONAL COOKIE DOUGH DAY. I know, some say it’s not healthy, but just try and mix up a batch and not eat any.
On the topic of summer celebrations, I have turned to an eyewitness and participant of Sweden’s MIDSOMMER festival with her first-hand account of what this event is all about.
Midsummer originated in Sweden (but is celebrated worldwide) and is known there as Midsommar. The solstice is the longest day of the year and it is celebrated on June 24th; a day meant to appreciate all the gifts that Nature gives us. It is a day of great festivities in northern Sweden. In every town and village there is a maypole with streamers, and everyone from toddlers to the elderly dance around it to the music from musicians or CDs. Accordions are very popular in northern Sweden, and are played for almost any festive event, and people dance to whatever is playing, with whomever is nearby and willing. There is always more food than could possibly be eaten, and people gather at picnic tables to eat, watch the dancing, or just relax on a summer day.
The festivities wind down but continue at a slower pace through the evening with people talking, and often someone will be playing a nickel harp (or key harp as it is often known). This instrument is known mostly in northern Sweden, where my mother’s cousin made them, for 50 years, and taught others to make them.
During the festivities, girls make rings of flowers to wear on their head, and some adults put the wreaths on the front of their cars!
Submitted by Patricia Deardorff
Don’t forget to mark the day’s festivities with NATIONAL SELFIE DAY. Sometimes we should put the phone down, but not today. Snap those special pics so you will have a record of the day.
NATIONAL TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY encourages you to grab your lunch and your pooch as you head out the door to the job. These kinds of days sound great – if your dog is well behaved – if not – well that could lead to some interesting chats with the boss.
NATIONAL TAKE BACK THE LUNCH DAY sounds a little dramatic to me. It makes it sound like we have to stage a demonstration or something. Lunch is very important, and while some people look at it as if they are too busy to be bothered you can always make time to take a little break and refill.
What better way to top off the day than with NATIONAL PEACHES ‘N’CREAM DAY? Sweet and creamy, this dessert is the perfect choice to end the perfect day.
Sneak Peek at Tomorrow’s Events and Celebrations
National HVAC Tech Day
Chocolate Éclair Day
National Kissing Day
Onion Ring Day
Summersgiving
On This Day
1834 – Cyrus McCormick receives the patent for the reaper
1893 – George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. unveils his new attraction at the Chicago World’s Fair – The Ferris Wheel
1945 – Japanese forces are defeated on Okinawa
1964 – Three civil rights workers – Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney – are murdered in Meridian Mississippi by a Ku Klux Klan mob and their bodies thrown in pre-dug graves. This led to an FBI investigation when they came up missing and the bodies were found with the help of an informant. An outraged nation took notice and this event helped to bring the movement into the spotlight.
1997 – The first Women’s National Basketball Association game takes place with the New York Liberty beating the Los Angeles Sparks
2004 – Mike Melvill is the first civilian to fly an aircraft into space as he pilots SpaceShipOne into sub-orbital flight
2008 – The Academy Award winning WALL-E hits the theaters
Happy Birthday to…
Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)
He won international acclaim for his landscape and Biblical paintings
Daisy Turner (1883-1988)
From slave to famous storyteller and poet
Ron Ely (1938- )
He played Tarzan (1966-1968) on TV and Doc Savage (1975) on the big screen. He did his own stunts, which resulted in quite a few injuries and managed to replace Bert Parks in hosting the Miss America pageant.
Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)
She was the first female leader of a Muslim nation. Serving two terms as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, her administration was embroiled in controversy and scandal while she sought to make social and economic changes for the betterment of her country. She would be assassinated while campaigning for a seat in the Pakistan Parliament.
Juliette Lewis (1973- )
From Cape Fear (1991) to What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) to Mixed Nuts (1994) – this lady has quite the acting range
Chris Pratt (1979- )
From Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) to Jurassic Park (2015), to Parks and Rec (2009-2015), this guy never fails to entertain.
Prince William of Wales (1982- )
Born to King Charles and Princess Diana – he is next in line to lead the country
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the season that is summer. It is a time for life to flourish and greenery to abound. May You keep us safe as we play in the sun, travel abroad and work in the heat. Amen.
Enjoy the day and make it your own
Thank you to National Day Calendar; National Today; History.com; Britannica.com; Wikipedia; on this day.com
#PeachesandCreamDay #Midsommer #DaylightAppreciationDay #CookieDoughDay #DayoftheGong #GoSkateboardingDay #TakeBacktheLunchDay #TakeYourDogtoWorkDay #NationalSmoothieDay #NationalSelfieDay #Enjoythedayandmakeityourown
Happy Birthday to #HenryTanner, #DaisyTurner, #RonEly, #benazirBhutto, #JulietteLewis, #ChrisPratt, #PrinceWilliam
Kev's daily take 
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