Every four years, February grants us an extra day, February 29. Now I don’t get the popularly-held belief that this is truly an “extra day” to do as we wish. Oh, if that were so…! Unfortunately, editors, pets, kids, and the trashmen still expect me to work as if it were any other Friday.

That doesn’t mean, however, that you have to ignore the day altogether. There are plenty of ideas for “Leap Day” around the Web. Here are just a few:

• From “eMoms at Home,” some Leap Day activities and treats
• From “Times Online,” How to Spend a Green Leap Day
• From Scholastic.com, 15 Math and Science activities for Leap Day
• From the Wisconsin State Government site, How to make an origami frog

^{(image © Christopher King/Dreamstime.com)}

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Leap Day

February 28 is Kalevala Day in Finland. The day marks the anniversary of the publication of the “Kalevala,” Finland’s epic, national poem, in 1835. Written by Elias Lönnrot (above), the 20,000 verse poem recants Finnish folk tales collected by Lönnrot as he traveled on foot around the countryside. The work’s publication marked a turning point in Finnish literature; up to that date, very little had been written in the Finnish language.

Kalevala Day is honored with parades and concerts.

^{(photo © Elissa Ernst/cc license)}

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Kalevala Day in Finland

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National Polar Bear Day

February 26 is National Pistachio Day. How much do you know about Pistachios? Did you know that:

• Pistachios grow on trees, each one producing an average of 50,000 nuts every two years.
• Pistachios have existed for 80 million years.
• Each nut weights around 1 gram.
• Iran is the world’s leading grower of pistachios.
• Most pistachios sold in the United States come from California, whose pistachio industry began in 1976.
• Pistachios turn golden yellow or red when ripe and pop open by themselves.

^{(photo © Monica Adamazyk/Dreamstime.com)}

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National Pistachio Day

February 24 is Flag Day, or Dia de la Bandera, in Mexico. A public holiday since 1937, the day is marked by the displaying of the Mexican flag, public ceremonies, and honoring the nation’s fallen heroes.

The current tri-color flag, used since 1821, is the fourth flag in the country’s history. The green band represents hope; the white band, purity; and the red, the blood of Mexico’s national heroes.

(pictured above is the Mexican flag flying in Mexico City’s Zocalo.)

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Mexican Flag Day

February 23 is Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia. This day marks the anniversary of the formation of the Red Army in 1918 during the Russian Civil War. The holiday is marked with parades, military displays, and the laying of wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers.

The day has had many names, beginning as Red Army Day and becoming Red Army and Navy Day during the Soviet Regime, and Defender of the Fatherland Day since 1991.

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Defender of the Fatherland Day

February 22 is George Washington’s birthday, the second half of the February “Presidents Day duo.” To honor the birth of the United States’ first president, here are a few Washington facts: How many do you know?

• Washington was the only president to not live in Washington DC. Although he helped to plan the city, the nation’s capital was in New York City during his presidency.
• In addition to the capital, one state, 31 counties, and 17 cities are named for Washington.
• Washington had red hair, but he powdered his hair as was the fashion during his time.
• George and Martha Washington had no children together, but George raised her two sons, Daniel and John, from her previous marriage.
• Washington’s teeth weren’t really wood, they were made of ivory.
• Washington did not attend college.
• Washington was the only US president to be elected unanimously.

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George Washington’s Birthday

February 22 is also National Margarita Day. What an inspired idea for a holiday! There are a myriad of margaritas–traditional, lime flavored ones, peach margaritas, strawberry margaritas, even chocolate margaritas. To help you celebrate, here are a few links to my favorite margarita recipes:

• Traditional Margarita
• Frozen Peach Margarita
• Cranberry Margarita
• Pommegrante Margarita

Here’s to a happy Margarita Day!

^{(photo © istockphoto)}

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National Margarita Day

February 22 is Teddy Bear Day, a celebration of that cuddly, stuffed animal, named for the 26th president of the United States, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt Jr.

How did the bear get to be named “Teddy”? The name stems from an incident on a presidential hunting trip to Mississippi in 1902, where Roosevelt refused to shoot a tethered bear, citing it was unsportsmanlike. A subsequent political cartoon gave the incident racial overtones, but that was forgotten when Brooklyn store owner, Morris Michtom displayed a stuffed bear in his shop window, calling it “Teddy’s Bear.”

At the same time German toymaker, Steiff imported more than 3000 bears to the United States. The bears were a huge hit and Michtom went on to found the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, which still exists today.

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Teddy Bear Day

February 20 is National Cherry Pie day, a part of February’s being National Cherry month. Cherry pie is the fifth most popular pie in America (behind apple, pumpkin, lemon meringue, and chocolate). That doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of cherry pies, however. According to the American Pie Council, if you lined up all of the pies bought annually in American grocery stores, they would circle the globe and then some. (And that’s just store-bought pies!)

Bake a cherry pie for someone you love on this National Cherry Pie Day. If you don’t have a family recipe, here’s one courtesy of the Cherry Marketing Institute:

Classic Cherry Pie
Ingredients:
1 package refrigerated pie crusts or two homemade pie crusts for 9-inch pie
2 (20 or 21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:
Line a 9-inch pie pan with pie crust. Trim crust along pan edge. Pour cherry pie filling evenly into crust. Sprinkle with almond extract, if desired.

Place second crust over filling. Wrap excess top crust under bottom crust. Press edges together with a fork. With a knife, cut slits in top crust.

Bake in preheated 400-degree oven 35 to 40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Cover edge of crust with strips of foil, if needed, to prevent overbrowning.

Note: If desired, 1 cup of dried cherries can be mixed with the cherry filling before baking for added cherry flavor.

Makes 6 to 8

Nutrition Info:
Nutrition Facts per serving: 269 cal., 2 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 60 g carbo., 2 mg chol., 1 g pro., 1 g fiber, 69 mg sodium. Daily RDA values: 8% vit. A, 10% vit. C, 2% calcium, 2% iron.

^{(photo © istockphoto)}

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National Cherry Pie Day