Asalha Puja falls on the sixth lunar month (typically July), and commemorates Buddha’s first sermon after enlightenment. The festival offers a chance for Buddhists to reflect on the sermon’s four noble truths: there is suffering, suffering is caused by attachment, there is a plane beyond attachment, and the way to that plane is the Noble Eightfold Path. While there are many strains of Buddhism, all strains accept the four noble truths as central doctrine—making Asalha Puja one of the religion’s most important celebrations, this year on July 10.
National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
National Vanilla Ice Cream Day is celebrated on July 23 and marks a special occasion for the simple, yet all-time favorite dessert. Vanilla is traditionally made by combining cream, sugar, and of course, vanilla. In fact, vanilla is added to other ice cream flavors as it helps to enhance their taste. Vanilla ice cream has a wide fanbase as it is the single most popular ice cream flavor around the world. The cold dessert’s subtle flavors allow you to enjoy it in a variety of ways. You can have it pressed between two biscuits, or you can enjoy it with pancakes, brownies, or cake. For the food adventurers who do not shy away from trying something new, you can even try putting it between a plain chicken/bacon burger. Vanilla ice cream was so adored that Thomas Jefferson, who is often credited with the ice cream’s popularity in America, had it served to almost every guest at the White House.
National Gorgeous Grandma Day
Maybe you call her Nana. Maybe you call her Granny. Maybe you call her when you’re in trouble because you know she’ll be there for you at the drop of a hat. Whatever the case may be, today is her day. But it’s not just Grandma Day—oh no. This July 23, we celebrate National Gorgeous Grandma Day. Today’s the day to tell ol’ Granny just how stunning she really is. She looks fly for an eighty year old, you have to admit. We bet all the grandpas are dying to get with her.