Awarenesses African American History MonthNational Cancer Prevention Month
National Cancer Prevention month is focused on helping everyone understand the screening habits, healthy choices, and other lifestyle changes that can lower the risk for several types of cancer. While there’s no sure way to prevent cancer, you can help reduce your risk by eating right, staying active, not smoking, and getting screened.
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month is a unified effort among Jewish organizations across North America and beyond, to raise awareness and foster acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities and mental health conditions and those who love them. Begun in 2009, February has been dedicated to recognizing people with disabilities and ensuring that they and their families are included in Jewish communities around the world, striving to meet the needs of the community and support uniting, empowering, and bringing all of us together.
National Cat Health Month
National Cat Health Month encourages cat parents to focus on their cat’s physical and emotional well-being, and educate themselves on signs of unhealthy behavior or illness. Take this month to prioritize your cat's health and take part in the many activities that focus on your cat's health.
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month was founded in 2002 by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (A.S.P.C.A.). Rabbits are the third most common pet found at area animal shelters and they need loving homes. They can be great companions! Why not consider adopting a rabbit?
Holidays and Observances
World Cancer Day is February 4th, an internationally observed day marked to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. The primary goal of World Cancer Day is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by cancer.
Safer Internet Day is observed on February 7, an international education and awareness-raising effort, celebrated in over 100 countries. It’s a day to bring communities together to discuss the challenges families face navigating the digital world and empowers them to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically, and creatively. National Donor Day focuses on five points of life: organs, tissues, marrow, platelets, and blood. Many health groups use this day to sponsor blood and marrow drives and organ/tissue sign-ups. National Donor Day was started in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and its partner, the United Auto Workers. It is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and many nonprofit health groups. Random Acts of Kindness Day was initiated in 1995 in Denver, Colorado by a nonprofit organization called The Random Acts Of Kindness Foundation. The idea behind it is to make the world a better place by spreading a little light around and making kindness a part of our everyday lives.
Word Day of Social Justice was established by the United Nations as an international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. February 20 was chosen by the General Assembly, and adopted on 26 November 2007, with observance of the World Day of Social Justice beginning in 2009. Fun DaysFebruary has a LOT of dedicated days to food items, so let's get ready to set our plates!
February 2 is The Day of the Crêpe in France and is associated with the Catholic feast of Candlemas. On this day households all over France make crêpes. This is because it is believed that crêpes symbolize prosperity. February 3 is Carrot Cake Day, an annual celebration thought to have started in the Middle Ages to combat the high price of sugar by using carrots as a natural sweetener. Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day is February 4, the first Saturday in February. It is thought that the unofficial holiday was first created in the 1960s by Florence Rappaport in Rochester, New York as a way to entertain her children on a cold and snowy morning. Also celebrated on the 4th is Stuffed Mushroom Day. Assuming, that is, that you have an appetite after breakfast. February 5 is Chocolate Fondue Day, an excuse, if one is needed, to enjoy some gooey chocolate. Bagel and Lox Day is February 9. This holiday's origins are unknown, but it's also often known as National Bagel Day or Bagel Day. In 2018, Thomas', a division of Bimbo Bakeries USA, decided to move the date of National Bagel Day from February 9 to January 15 to avoid competing with National Pizza Day. But we say why not celebrate both? Don't Cry Over Spilled Mik Day is February 11, an annual reminder that nothing good ever comes out of holding on to regrets. February 15 is Gumdrop Day. Treat yourself to a bowlful of this colorful, chewy, and delicious candy. The United States National Confectioners Association has declared that Chocolate Mint Day be observed on February 19. For their sake, do your part. International Dog Biscuit Day is on February 23, so your furry friend can have fun celebrating this month, too.
February 24 is Tortilla Chip Day. Tortilla chips were first popularized as a way to reuse misshapen tortillas by Rebecca Webb Carranza whose family owned the El Zarape Tortilla Factory in the 1940s.
If you're low on iron, you might consider celebrating World Sword Swallowers Day on February 25, but we remind you that this is a day for professionals only. It was created by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) in 2008.
February 26 is Pistachio Day. It encourages people to add pistachios to their daily diets and take advantage of their health benefits.
Historical Events
This month has an amazing constitutional history when more than 1/5 of the amendments were adopted. It is second only to December, which saw twice as many (including the famous first ten, the Bill of Rights).
February 3, 1870: The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, which guarantees the rights of citizens to vote, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. February 3, 1913: This day of the month also saw the ratification of the 16th Amendment, which grants Congress the authority to collect income taxes. February 6, 1788: Massachusetts became the 6th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, which would go on to replace the Articles of Confederation. February 6, 1933: 145 years to the day after the Massachusetts ratification of the Constitution, the 20th Amendment was adopted, which set the date of the Presidential Inauguration to be January 20; and set the official opening of Congress as January 3. February 7, 1795: The 11th Amendment of the Constitution was ratified. It prohibited federal lawsuits against individual states. February 10, 1967: The procedures clarifying presidential succession in the event of the disability of a sitting president were set by the ratification of the 25th Amendment. February 25, 1950: Ratification of the 22nd Amendment occurred, limiting the president to a maximum of two elected terms, and a maximum of 10 years in office.
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