May 29, 2015 – NATIONAL PAPERCLIP DAY – NATIONAL COQ AU VIN DAY – NATIONAL HEAT AWARENESS DAY

                                         NATIONAL PAPERCLIP DAY

National Paperclip Day is observed each year on May 29.  Yes, even the paperclip has it’s own day of honor. It is about that well-known piece of curved wire that keeps our papers together and helps keep us organized.
However there are much earlier claims to invention of the paperclip, according to the Early Office Museum, the first patent for a “bent wire paper clip” was presented to Samuel B. Fay in the United States in 1867.   The original intention of Fay’s clip was to attach tickets to fabric, however the patent recognized that it could also be used to attach papers together.
Along with Fay’s patent, there were as many as 50 others that received patents for similar designs prior to 1899.   One other notable name receiving a patent for his paperclip design in the United States was Erlman J. Wright in 1877.    At that time, his clip was advertised for use in fastening  newspapers.
The Gem paper clip, which was most likely in production in Britain in the early 1870′s by “The Gem Manufacturing Company” , was never patented.  It is the most common type of wire paper clip and is still in use today.  It was introduced to the United States around 1892 and in 1904, Cushman & Denison registered a trademark for the “Gem” name in connection with paper clips.  Paperclips are still sometimes called “Gem clips”.
Today, paperclips come in various sizes, shapes and colors and can make your paperwork look more fun and lively.
Paperclips are not just for holding papers together, there are many other things that you can do with them!
NATIONAL PAPERCLIP DAY HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to find the creator or the origin of National Paperclip Day, an “unofficial” National holiday.

NATIONAL COQ AU VIN DAY

Annually celebrated on May 29 is National Coq au Vin Day.   Coq au vin is French braise of chicken, cooked with wine, lardons (salt pork), mushrooms and garlic.
Coq au vin is a French staple that literally translates to “rooster with wine.” It’s a rustic, peasant-style dish that is easy to serve when entertaining because a lot of the work can be done in advance.

Different legends tell of coq au vin back in the days of Gaul and Julius Caesar however the first documented recipe was in the early 20th century.   There was a somewhat similar recipe, poulet au vin blanc, that appeared in an 1864 cookbook.

Following is a “tried and true” recipes for you to enjoy:
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/coq_au_vin/
NATIONAL COQ AU VIN DAY HISTORY
Our research was unable to find the creator of National Coq au Vin Day, an “unofficial” National holiday.

NATIONAL HEAT AWARENESS DAY

National Heat Awareness Day is observed each year on the last Friday in May.  Resulting in numerous fatalities each year, heat is one of the leading weather related killers in the United States.

• 1980 – Heat wave claimed 1,250 lives
• 1995 – Heat wave claimed more than 700 lives in Chicago (the deadliest weather event in Chicago history)
• 2003 – August, record heat wave in Europe claimed an estimated 50,000 lives

Most American summers see heat waves in one or more parts of the United States.  Some parts combine high temperatures and high humidity however some of the worst heat waves have been dry.
The following advisories may be issued from the National Weather Service:

• Excessive Heat Outlooks
• Excessive Heat Watches
• Excessive Heat Warning/Advisories

There are precautions that can be taken when weather heat advisories are issued:  stay hydrated (drink lots of water), avoid alcohol, caffeine drinks and extra sugar,  avoid over exertion and find a cool place to stay in.
For more weather safety information and first aid and safety tips, see:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
http://www.weather.gov/safety