Conversation – 38

NATIONAL LOLLIPOP DAY

July 20 recognizes National Lollipop Day as a way to celebrate this enduring and ever-popular treat. Pick up your favorite flavor to savor!

Ever delightful and sweet, lollipops have satisfied generations of sweet tooths. And it’s possible they’ve been doing that for centuries. However, no one is sure how old the lollipop is. During prehistoric times, a form of lollipop may have preserved nuts and berries in honey. As sugar became plentiful, lollipops appeared much later in 16th century Europe.

In the United States, confectionaries and medicine shops as early as the 1860s sold lollipops in various forms. However, George Smith gave this sweet treat an official 20th-century story in 1908. Smith earns credit for inventing the modern style lollipop. In 1931, Smith trademarked the name which he claims came from his favorite racing horse, Lolly Pops.

Lollipops range in size. For variety, the smaller candies can be purchased by the bagful. Banks, barbershops, and vendors at parades give the sweet treat away to customers, too! Specialty candy shops make giant lollipops in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes. While they are attractive, these lollipops can be cumbersome and often are more than we can handle!

NATIONAL GET OUT OF THE DOGHOUSE DAY

Occasionally, we all need a free pass. National Get Out of the Doghouse Day on the third Monday in July offers the fast track home we all need once in a while.

Generally, when you are “in the doghouse,” you have fallen out of favor with someone, usually your spouse or significant other. However, you can also be “in the doghouse” with a friend or your boss at work. This day uses all those good cliches to get you back in the big house where you belong.

NATIONAL MOON DAY

National Moon Day on July 20 commemorates the day man first walked on the moon in 1969. NASA reported the moon landing as being “…the single greatest technological achievement of all time.”

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 carried the first humans to the moon. Six hours after landing on the moon, American Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface. He spent two and a half hours outside the spacecraft. Buzz Aldrin soon followed, stepping onto the lunar surface. After joining Armstrong, the two men collected 47.5 pounds of lunar material. Their specimens would make the journey back to Earth to be analyzed. In the command module, a third astronaut waited. Pilot, Michael Collins, remained alone in orbit until Armstrong and Aldrin returned.

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Neil Armstrong, Astronaut, Apollo 11

Caught up in the thrill of the adventure, millions of Americans watched the mission from Earth. Televisions around the world tuned in to the live broadcasts. The astronauts had a worldwide audience. National Moon Day doesn’t just celebrate the landmark mission. It also celebrates future missions. Private expeditions are taking humans further into space. Armstrong’s “one small step for man” inspired imaginations and sparked innovation, too, for generations to come. Even future moon missions are planned including manned landings.

Unquestionably, putting men on the moon became a tangible achievement in the space race. It placed the United States in a role to go forth and explore into the deeper reaches of the universe, too. In the months and decades that followed, NASA and the Soviets stepped up their missions.

NATIONAL FORTUNE COOKIE DAY

We see a time when you will enjoy a crunchy, sweet treat on National Fortune Cookie Day! Each year on July 20, Americans celebrate the cookie that is a traditional part of Chinese take-out.

These crisp, folded cookies have a hint of buttery sweetness. Break them open, and you will find a slip of paper tucked inside with a message on it. The phrase will range from profound words of wisdom or tricky riddles to simple bits of common sense. Some fortunes include quotes from famous philosophers.

NATIONAL PENNSYLVANIA DAY

National Pennsylvania Day on July 20 recognizes the second state to join the Union. Once the home of the temporary capital of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is also known as the Keystone State. While the source of the nickname has been forgotten, the meaning is not lost. Bridge builders know leaving the vital keystone out of their structure would be folly, leading to collapse.

Known as the Keystone State, Pennsylvania played many roles that could be considered keystones. To begin with, its vote for independence split between eight delegates. Because of this, the split played a vital role in deciding to move toward independence and cementing the union of the newly formed country. As we know, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed in Philadelphia during its tenure as the temporary capital. It was geographically centered among the 13 original colonies.

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Every July 20, the world celebrates International Moon Day, an official United Nations observance dedicated to lunar exploration and humanity’s enduring fascination with the Moon.
The date commemorates the historic Apollo 11 mission. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the lunar surface while Michael Collins remained in orbit. It was the first time humans reached another world.
For centuries, the Moon has inspired myths, rituals, poetry, scientific discoveries, and countless creatures of the night. It has watched over witches, wolves, dreamers, and lonely souls—and tonight, it shines for all of us.

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