National Handshake Day is celebrated on the last Thursday of June each year, falling on June 26 this year, and we’re glad that this common greeting is getting a place in the spotlight after all the years it has been around. Not only is the handshake the most universally recognized form of greeting, but it has also come to mean different things in different cultures, which is why learning more about it will come in handy (pun intended). Throughout history and across different cultural contexts, the handshake has been practiced as an expression of peace or goodwill and is almost like a common language that binds us together the world over. It’s no wonder, then, that we want to make a big deal out of this innocuous gesture. Sociologically, the handshake has come to be a symbol of things hidden below the surface, as you can tell a lot about a person from the way they shake hands. Perhaps, for this reason, secret handshakes have also become popular, giving people a sense of belonging to a particular group. However you view the handshake, one has to admit that it deserves its own day, just owing to the sheer frequency of its use in our daily lives.
National Bomb Pop Day
National Bomb Pop Day pops up on the last Thursday of June each year, so this year it will be celebrated on June 26. With its iconic and immediately recognizable trio of colors — red, white, and blue, it was born at the outset of a period of patriotic frenzy in American history. What is a Bomb Pop, though? It’s a frozen confection that is shaped like a rocket and is tri-colored. Each color has a different flavor, with the original flavors being cherry, lime, and blue raspberry. Since the frozen treat is itself reminiscent of star-shaped fireworks, the name ‘Bomb Pop’ isn’t really a point to ponder. Because of the color theme, this frozen treat is now a popular favorite on Fourth of July celebrations, too, so why not kick-start the party by stocking up at your nearest convenience store? Or better yet, take the nostalgic route by chasing down an ice-cream truck and getting your tri-colored treats from there.
National Pecan Sandies Day
National Pecan Sandies Day comes around on June 23 every year, and whether you say it as ‘pee-can’ or ‘peh-kahn,’ we give you all the reasons to be excited about this textured, crunchy, buttery, tree nut. Also, did we mention these are a type of cookie? Cookies make everything infinitely better, so we don’t doubt that this will have you coming back for more. Firstly, what is a pecan sandy, and what’s with the name? The sandy (or ‘sablé’) is a type of sugar or shortbread cookie. The word ‘sablé’ is French, meaning ‘sandy,’ due to the crumbly texture of the cookie, which comes from the sandy, breadcrumb-like texture when mixing the flour and butter. The name also works because of the sandy color of the cookie. The traditional pecan sandy has a toasted pecan pressed into the cookie and is garnished with a flurry of powdered sugar. Furthermore, since this is a type of mildly sweet shortbread cookie, it melts in the mouth and goes amazingly with a glass of cold milk or a hot beverage like tea.