March 10, 2016 – NATIONAL BLUEBERRY POPOVER DAY – NATIONAL MARIO DAY – NATIONAL PACK YOUR LUNCH DAY – NATIONAL WOMEN AND GIRLS HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

                            NATIONAL BLUEBERRY POPOVER DAY

What better way to start March 10th then with National Blueberry Popover Day? Popovers are light, airy rolls that puff up when baked, popping over the edge of the tin.  They are light and crispy on the outside, while the insides are warm and often hollow. They can be filled with custards, creams and fruits for a sweet treat, especially blueberries.   
Popovers are similar to Yorkshire pudding and can also be served with savory combinations.

Most popover recipes are made using mostly eggs, milk, flour and salt.  When making popovers, using eggs and milk that are at room temperature produces the best result. The resulting batter is thin, but has enough air it that when it bakes the steam expands the batter, causing it to puff up and pop over the tin.  The egg proteins help the pastry hold it’s shape and eventually the crust turns flaky and golden.

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

 

NATIONAL MARIO DAY

National Mario Day is observed each year on March 10th and honors Mario from the popular Nintendo game.
This is a gamer holiday that is celebrated on March 10th because of the way the date appears, when abbreviated (Mar.10),  it looks just like the name Mario.

• Mario, the Italian plumber, first appeared in Donkey Kong in 1981
•  In 1983 Mario got his own game with his brother Luigi
• Mario is known as being the most famous video game character ever created
• Over 210 million copies of the Mario game series have been sold

Mario Andretti (race car driver), Mario Batali (chef) and Mario Lopez (actor) are a few other famous Marios you might recognize.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Have some fun with friends playing video games. You can also do something special for and/or with all people named Mario! Use #NationalMarioDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Our research has found that this day was started by video gamers and Mar. 10 was chosen because of how it appears. However, we were unable to find the names of the original creators of National Mario Day.
 

NATIONAL  PACK YOUR LUNCH DAY

National Pack Your Lunch Day is observed by many people across the country on March 10th of each year.   It is a day to pack your own lunch and take it with you to work, school, on a picnic, to your friend’s house or whereever you are spending the day and enjoy what you have made and packed yourself.
Packing your lunch has benefits you may not expect.  It can help you make healthier choices for lunch.  Instead of choosing fast food or something from the vending machine at work, you have a chance to plan ahead to add a fruit or vegetable that might not be available on those other menus.
By packing your lunch you also save money.  Depending on the menu item, you can save several dollars by packing a lunch instead of ordering off a take-out menu.

• Mickey Mouse was the first licensed character to appear on a lunchbox in the year 1935.
• The 1950 Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox was the first lunchbox based on a television show.

HOW TO OBSERVE
Bring a packed lunch to work, school, or a friends and use #PackYourLunchDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Our research was unable to find the creator and origin of National Pack Your Lunch Day.  We did find that this day is also celebrated by some on other days throughout the year. 
 

NATIONAL WOMEN AND GIRLS HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

Observed annually on March 10th, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day to empower people everywhere with knowledge and information regarding this disease and the often overlooked impact that it has on women and girls.
On this educational day each year, groups, organizations, state and local health officials and thousands of people share the facts regarding HIV/AIDS and the impact on them.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Some of the action that is taken, or can be taken, on this day is:

• Educating women and girls about how to prevent HIV/AIDS
• Encouraging more women and girls to get tested
• Providing services to those living with the disease
• Doing whatever it takes to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS

Use #Women&GirlsHIV/AIDSAwarenessDay to post on social media.
HISTORY

National Woman and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is coordinated by the Office on Women’s Health (OWH) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services alongside many organizations that play a critical role in the observance in communities across the nation.