February 26, 2016 – NATIONAL TELL A FAIRY TALE DAY – NATIONAL PISTACHIO DAY

                                             NATIONAL TELL A FAIRY TALE DAY

On February 26 have a happily every after kind of day. It’s National Fairy Tale Day.
What were once oral histories, myths and legends retold around the fire or by traveling story tellers, have been written down and become known the world over as fairy tales.
The origins of most fairy tales were unseemly and would not be approved or rated as appropriate for children by the Association of Fairy Tales by today’s standards. Most were would be told as a way to make children behave, teach a lesson or to pass the time much like ghost stories around a camp fire today.
Many of the stories have some basis in truth. For example, some believe the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is inspired by the real life Margarete von Waldeck, the daughter of the 16th century Count of Waldeck. The area of Germany where the family lived was known for mining. Some of the tunnels were so tight they had to use children – or small people such as dwarfs- to work the mines.
Margarete’s beauty is well documented, and she had a step-mother who sent her away. She fell in love with a prince, but died mysteriously before she could have her happily ever after.
For more information, visit the National Day Calendar page for National Tell A Fairy Tail Day.
 

National Pistachio Day – February 26

NATIONAL PISTACHIO DAY

February 26th recognizes all things pistachio.  It’s National Pistachio Day!  It is a day that has been set aside for all pistachio lovers to eat their favorite nut all day long.  For those who do not eat pistachios, buy some and give them to someone who does.  Crack them open and eat them up or enjoy them in ice cream or your favorite pistachio dessert!
Pistachios arrived in the United States sometime in the 1880s but they have been cultivated in the Middle East since Biblical times.
The pistachio tree grows to about 20 feet tall needing little or no rain and must have high heat.  In Iran, they claim they have pistachio trees still living that are 700 years old!  A new tree takes between 7 and 10 years to mature and bear fruit.
Pistachio Facts:

•  All pistachio shells are naturally beige in color.  Some companies dye nuts red or green if nuts are inferior or for consumer demand.
• California produces about 300 million pounds of pistachios each year, accounting for 98 percent of America’s production.
• Pistachio shells typically split naturally when ripe.
• The kernels are often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and either salted or unsalted.
• In the Middle East people call the pistachio the smiling nut.
• In China people call the pistachio the happy nut.

For more information, visit the National Day Calendar page for National Pistachio Day.