Madagascar Independence Day - June 26

Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off Mozambique in East Africa. It includes the island of Madagascar, which is the fourth largest island in the world, and a large number of smaller peripheral islands.

Madagascar has a very diverse variety of animals and plants. According to continental migration theory, the island of Madagascar belonged to the Gondwana continent, which separated from India about 88 million years ago, causing local plants and animals to develop in isolation. As a result, in Madagascar you will find animals and plants unique only to her. Over 90% of the wildlife in Madagascar is not found anywhere else on earth.

In the photo: a cute lemur living in Madagascar

The official languages of Madagascar are Malagasy and French. On June 26, 1960, Madagascar gained independence from France, which had ruled it since 1885.

The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo, and it is also the largest city (about 2.1 million inhabitants). In total, Madagascar has about 26,000,000 inhabitants.

In honor of Madagascar's Independence Day, get the best reasons to travel there and spend your next vacation there:

1. The natural swimming pool at Isalo National Park

Madagascar has so many amazing views. In the Oslo National Park you will see some of them and also be pampered in the cool and pampering natural water pool.

Source: Follow your plan

2. Ile Saint Marie 

The coast of Madagascar is a tropical paradise. The island of St. Mary, also known as Nosy Boraha, is a 57-mile-long granite island off the east coast of Madagascar. The island used to be a hiding place for pirates so you can visit there in their cemetery. The island is full of tropical vegetation, has a wonderful coral reef (it is a highly recommended dive point) and is also home to the hampback whales that come to it during their breeding season and stay there for over four months.

mada-photo The humpback whale

3. The Hot Springs of Antsirabe

Antsirabe is the third largest city in Madagascar. It is located 167 km south of the capital Antananarivo in a mountain range 1500 meters above sea level. Due to the high location Antsirabe is the coldest city in Madagascar and the temperature in winter can reach 0 degrees Celsius. Its markets are vibrant and colorful, as everywhere on the island.

Hotels in the city of Antsirabe

4. The Baobab trees

The baobab trees are best known for Antoine de Saint-Exupery's book, The Little Prince. In Madagascar you will see them a lot because these amazing trees are part of the natural vegetation.

Baobab trees in Madagascar meltour.voyages

5. Railway of Fianarantsoa-Côte Est

The railway was built by the French when they ruled the island, between 1926 and 1936. It will take you on an amazing journey through some of the most endangered habitats in the world, by cyclones, floods and mudslides. Many of the trains traveling on this line still bear their date of manufacture from 1893. Maintaining the train helps prevent deforestation of 97,400 acres. The train is still running, but the line is suffering from disruptions due to broken rails caused by cyclone storms and obsolescence.

didimateos

6. Antennarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar and is located on a mountain ridge in the Antananarivo district in the heart of the country. Antananarivo, called Tana for short, is a beautiful city full of colorful houses and streets, markets, parks and gardens. It is recommended to visit it at the Queen's Palace, the market and the botanical gardens.

only.tiana_aurely

7. Tsingy Rouge Red Tsingy Park

The red tsingi is a red stone formed by the erosion of the Irodo River in the Diana region of northern Madagascar. It is located about 60 km south of Antsiranana near the city of Sadjoavato.

furretosa

8. Our Lady of La Salette Cathedral, Antsirabé

Not all Madagascar wonders are the product of nature's creation. The cathedral of Antsirabe was built as a small clay church in 1900 by a French priest. At the beginning of the 20th century, the missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette arrived and upgraded it to a church 22 meters long, 16 meters wide and 8 meters high, with a 14 meter high bell tower. In 1921, with the establishment of the Diocese of Antsirabe, the church was rebuilt for the growing Catholic community in Madagascar. Today the length of the church is 60 meters, its width is 16.77 meters and its height is 14 meters. The height of its bell tower is 45 meters.

Antsirabé Cathedral from the inside, photo source: vincekbz

9. The special animals of Madagascar

Among the special animals in Madagascar you can meet the lemurs, which are the official animal of the island, the fossa, which is a reddish brown predator that resembles both cat and mongoose, the panther chameleon that lives in the forests of Madagascar, which is one of the largest chameleons, frogs, crocodiles , Butterflies, insects and more.

fossa

panther chameleon

10. Girls of the Sakalava tribe

The people of Madagascar are known as warm and kind people, and among them are different and fascinating ethnic groups with traditional tribal customs. One of the ethnic groups are the Sakalava tribe. The number of members of the tribe is estimated at about 600,000. Their name means "the people of the long valleys." They live mainly along the western end of the island of Toliara in the south to Sambirano in the north.

mada.photo

10. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park 

The park, also known as the Perinet Special Reserve, is located about 100 kilometers east of the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo. In the park you will meet the indri, the largest breed of lemur, and other animals. The most worthwhile hours to visit in the park are the morning hours, when the lemurs are alert and active and you can hear their cries from all sides.

A visitor to the park is pampered by Lamour who fell in love with her Chelsea Nowlin

Besides there are lots of other good reasons to come to Madagascar, like its beautiful tropical beaches, nice people, insane nature and more. To get to Madagascar you need an entry visa.

Flag of Madagascar

June 26 is also Beauticians' Day and 

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 

World Rainforest Day - June 22nd

The rainforests keep our planet alive. They are home to half the species of animals in the world, they provide us with fresh water, and are essential for maintaining our climate stability. And yet every second an acre and a half are lost, and every year 78 million acres of precious rainforests are destroyed. This is why World Rainforest Day was created - to take decisive action to fight the creation of forests, to reduce the effects of climate change on them and to protect our rainforests for future generations.

World Rainforest Day was first created in 2017 by the Rainforest Partnership. This organization works with indigenous peoples living in the vicinity of the rainforests and launches projects that will help heal and renew the rainforests with the local communities. Rainforest Day is about raising awareness of the importance of the existence of rainforests and what they do for us.

Hundreds of events take place on this day, from events in local communities to international virtual events, school education initiatives, charity projects, and hundreds of small private individuals.

The Rainforest Partnership has many community-based projects in the Amazon, but today itself is backed by the involvement of over 70 global partners, from environmentalists to the media, all of whom strive for positive and defining action that preserves the rainforest. The slogan for the event is "Because the world can not wait", a strong statement and call for action for people around the world.

A monkey in a rainforest on the island of Borneo in Asia. Most of the island's formerly covered by tropical rainforest is now used for the oil, wood, and palm oil industries.

The main focus of the day is to stay optimistic and focus on what we can do to save the rainforest.

Our rainforests have sustained us for thousands of years. They produce oxygen, keep local communities alive, absorb carbon dioxide and keep water fresh and clean.

The Amazon Forest (Portuguese: Floresta Amazonica) is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. The forest has existed for about 60 million years. It was formed when the Atlantic Ocean expanded enough to create a tropical climate in the Amazon Basin. After the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, it is estimated that a wet climate developed that led to the spread of the rainforest. The Amazon rainforest is located in the tropical region of South America. Its area is 7,769,994 square kilometers (although its exact borders are controversial), and it covers nine countries: Brazil with about 60% of its total area, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The forest is named after the Amazon River that flows through it and the variety of species in it is the largest in the world.In 2011, after a selection process that lasted four years, the forest and the river that flows through it were chosen as one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

The forest is inhabited by various Native American tribes who subsist on hunting animals, fish and insects that serve as food for them, build huts for themselves and make their clothes from plants, skins and feathers.

So why is the disappearance of the rainforest so dangerous? Leading factors in forest creation include deforestation, mining and industrial development, as well as land clearance for animal husbandry. As wider areas are cleared for deforestation and cattle grazing, more infrastructure is needed to create road areas and store large machinery. The natural habitats of the animals and the homes of the indigenous peoples are being significantly destroyed. The extent of deforestation can cause climate change, floods, desertification and soil erosion - all of which threaten our planet and our way of life.

Rainforests account for about 28% of the world's oxygen production

How to mark World Rainforest Day?

A great way to mark this day is to enrich your knowledge by reading about rainforests on the National Geographic website.

If you are buying products that contain palm oil, an oil that is used to cut down palm trees and damage the habitats of many animals (such as monkeys, for example), look for the RSPO standard symbol - a unique standard for controlled use of palm oil. Share the information about the importance of rainforests on social media.

 June 22 is also Onion Rings Day and World Camel Day

Nature Photography Day- 15 June

Nature Photography Day was created by the Society of Nature Photographers in North America in 2006 to promote the beauty of nature photography and to promote the preservation and protection of plants, wildlife and landscapes around the world. 

Since then, people around the world have discovered many ways to observe and enjoy the Nature Photography day. If you want to celebrate the day, why not leave the city and look for beautiful places in nature, with flowers and landscapes. Also within the city you can find places with a piece of nature easily, flowers, sea, birds, trees, grass, parks and more. You can also go up to the roof of a tall building and photograph the landscape. Nature photography can be uploaded to the Flickr site, where there are groups of photographers that can be joined to receive feedback and feedback from other people, or to Facebook where you can get a lot of likes and more.

Nature photograph in the city

The sea- a view from the train

Photograper: Yoel Yaron

June 15 is also World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Bee Day - May 20

In 2007, beekeepers around the world discovered that 40 billion bees had disappeared from their hives. If the disappearance of the bees continues, we will be in serious trouble.

Bees are one of the most important animals for the continued existence of humans, and in recent years there has been a fear of their extinction because their numbers are declining. The bees are pollinating animals, the ones that transfer the pollen of the plants from the males to the females, in order to reproduce them, and without them this process will be harmed. Bees also help warn of environmental hazards and when a local ecosystem is not functioning properly.

The extinction of bees will not only result in a worldwide shortage of honey, but also of fruits and vegetables.

Photo courtesy of: Yoel Yaron

The dangers facing bees are invasive insects, pesticides and land use for uses other than agriculture, and thus their nutrients are reduced and bee colonies are under serious threat.

Following the discernment of the declining bee population, initiatives have arisen to protect them. One of these initiatives is World Bee Day, announced by the UN in 2017.

The date of May 20 was chosen because it is the birthday of Anton Janša, the pioneer of the bee industry who was involved in beekeeping and honey production. Janessa was born in Slovenia in the 18th century, and was the first beekeeper in the world.

How to mark Bee Day around the world?

Plant wildflower seeds (from which the bees produce nectar), and grow plants in the garden that do not need much water or special chemicals to grow.

Get to know the local beekeepers and learn from them about the craft of making honey.

Buy / prepare / eat honey or foods that contain honey.

Read and learn about bees and other pollinators, and how we can stop bee extinction.

May 20 is also Quiche Lorraine Day

Garden Meditation Day - May 3

One of the things that can soothe the best mind in life is to cultivate a garden. It does not matter if it is in the yard of a private house or on the balcony of an apartment, a green garden is peaceful and contributes to health and the more well-kept it is, the better. The quiet dripping sound of the water, the buzz of the insects pollinating the flowers, the chirping of the birds among the trees, it all makes you feel like you have a piece of mid-life paradise. So what better place to sit and relax and meditate?

Garden Meditation Day encourages us to take time and enjoy our decency by connecting to our self.

Garden Meditation Day was developed by C.L., known as "Lady Garden" from www.gardenlady.com. At her site you will see her great devotion to the wonders of the plant world and the wonderful things we can do in our home with gardens. She believes that gardens can help connect us to ourselves and the natural world, and also to each other in deep and exciting ways. That is why she decided to set up a whole month of holidays in honor of the gardens, and the day of meditation in the garden is one of those days.

Gardens have a long history that is found in every country and time period around the world. Throughout history gardens have been used for many purposes, from simple backyard gardens used as playgrounds for family games and parties, to extensive and complex gardens, designed just and called 'official gardens', such as gardens of royal and noble families that were a magnificent display of their high status.

Even if you have a small and modest garden, the green it brings into your life can give you lots of peace in the middle of the stressful day activities and the meditation day in the garden is designed to sit you in your garden and relax through meditation.

How to celebrate Meditation Day in the Garden?

Meditation has a long history as a way to calm our minds and spirits, and garden meditation truly connects you to nature and humanity at the same time. You can enter the garden for a private moment of self-observation, or you can join others in meditations in public gardens organized all over the world. Want to spread the love of gardening and maybe show off a little in your garden? You can organize a meditation in your private garden and invite friends and family to come and join you for a day of relaxation and peace of mind.

Floor Pillow, Square Meditation Pillow

May 3 is also Two Different Colored Shoes Day

Happy Arbor Day greeting cards

 Here are some greeting cards for Arbor day to share with your friends and family on the net.

Plant a Flower Day - March 12

 One of the most beautiful and fascinating things on earth is the flower. There are more than 400,000 species of flowers in the world, all without exception beautiful! Have you ever seen a flower is not beautiful?

Flowers have such a rich variety of colors and shapes, from the simple daisy that grows in the fields and along the roadsides to the elegant rose that symbolizes to many people love in its many facets. There are the colorful wildflowers that dot dots of fields and forests and there are cultivated and domesticated flowers that are beautifully arranged in rows in the gardens and courtyards. The flowers add so much beauty to the world - they are simply a gift of nature for all of us!

The history Plant a Flower day

The flowers have been around for at least 150 million years. From the dawn of history they have been a major component in various cultures all over the world and have also served other purposes besides decoration, such as medical use.

As early as 2,500 BC the ancient Egyptians used flowers to decorate large tables and halls, to pay homage to the living and the dead. In the tombs of the pharaohs, high priests and other wealthy citizens many remains of flowers were exposed.

In ancient Greece and Rome flowers were also used for the same purposes, and in some they were also used as medicinal plants.

Flowers are used as herbs to this day, through herbal teas, medicines and spices.

Butterfly pea flower tea known as "blue tea" is an infusion of the petals of the butterfly pea plant that originates in the tropical region of East Asia. The plant flowers are also used as herbs in Ayurveda. What is interesting about this tea, which has become popular over the years, is that the liquid changes color depending on the level of acidity (PH) of the substances added to it - its hue turns from blue to purple to burgundy the more acidic it is.

Chamomile tea is known for its calming effect on the body, and its help in preventing inflammation and disease, pain and digestive problems. This ancient drink has been known for thousands of years.

Throughout history, flowers have carried different symbolic meanings, among different peoples, religions and mythologies. In Hinduism, the oldest religion in the world, the lotus flower is considered an important spiritual symbol. Roses have been seen for many years as a show of love and affection and poppies are used to commemorate soldiers who died in the war.

The flowers were and are also an integral part of our traditions and ceremonies. Can you imagine ceremonies and holidays without bouquets on the table?

The flowers have also inspired many poets and painters in countless works of art such as Van Gogh's sunflowers, Monet's water lilies and so many more.

Flowers even have an impact on the economy. In the 17th century in the Netherlands in a period known as the 'Tulip Mania', tulips were considered so valuable that they were worth more than gold. People would take out loans just to buy tulip tubers and when tulip prices dropped sharply, this led to an economic crisis. The concept of the tulip craze is considered the first economic bubble and economists and capital market people sometimes use the term "tulipmania" as an example of an economic bubble.

The saffron, which is the expensive in spices, is made from dried crocus flowers.

Flowers also have a very great ecological importance. With their bright colors and magical scents, they not only illuminate the world around us but also attract and maintain pollinators like bees, butterflies and birds. They entice them with sweet nectar and hand out their precious powder in return. And once reproduced, flowers bear a sweet fruit that animals and humans can enjoy.

Important tips for planting flowers

Never underestimate your garden planting flowers. Always research when and where it is best to plant the flowers you want. Each type of flower has its own needs and preferences. Find out what type of soil they need, how often they need irrigation and how much light they need to flower and survive. When flowers wither, remove them and keep the stems pruned.

In general, flowers need soil with good drainage. Wildflowers, on the other hand, bloom best in poor quality soil.

Some flowers need to keep their tubers in a cool, dark place to simulate winter and plant them only when it is cold outside.

If you are a novice gardener, the flowers that are right for you to plant are geraniums, sunflowers, daffodils and lavender. The Tropaeolum majus (garden nasturtium, Indian cress, or monks cress) is a sure recipe for beautiful orange flowers in your garden. All it takes is to scatter their seeds and do nothing - just wait until spring for their blooms. 

It is always advisable to look for perennials as these types of flowers will last for at least two years. And even if you do not have a garden, you can always buy flower pots and grow flowers at home.

How to celebrate Plant a Flower Day?

The best way to celebrate Plant a Flower Day is to plant a flower, or even some flowers. Take some time today to plant flowers that are appropriate for the season and the environment you are in. You can also hook up with neighbors and plant flowers in public areas to add color spots to places that look gray.

If you have children, this is the perfect day to take them out and explain to them about this magic of nature. What helps plants grow, why we need them and what we can do to help protect our earth's biodiversity. Incorporating a sense of wonder into the world in your children will help them appreciate the planet and make them more aware of their environment. In addition - what is better than quality time with the children outdoors, in the pleasant air outside the screens?

Want to get inspired to grow flowers? Join Facebook groups that deal with gardening. There are lots of people out there who will be happy to help you with anything you will need to plant flowers so that they will grow in the best way and admire the flowers that will bloom in your garden or pots. Also on YouTube you will find available flower arranging courses to help you get started.

The flowers add color to life. If you are feeling depressed, try to add this pleasant beauty and scent to your life. It sure will do you good.

March 12 is also Mauritius Independence Day

National Geographic Day - January 27th

On January 27, 1888, National Geographic was founded. The goal of the organization was to explore the world and promote knowledge in the general public. Nine months after it was founded, its first magazine was published and since then it has been published regularly, once a month, 12 times a year.

The first director of National Geographic was Alexander Graham Bell, the British scientist and inventor who invented Bell's phone (many think he was the one who invented the telephone, but there is controversy over this and some consider Antonio Mauchi the inventor of the telephone prototype).

For almost 130 years, the magazine has reviewed and published thousands of topics, presenting its readers with articles and pictures of distant lands, remote islands, magical and breathtaking landscapes, rare animals, wonderful plants and special and exotic customs of people from other cultures.

At first the magazine consisted of many text articles and few drawings. But when they saw that the popularity of the sheets containing many images was greater, the publishers switched to extensive pictorial content.

Thousands of issues have covered the magazine since its inception. From beautiful dancers on the island of Bali to brutal killing of animals by hunters. Thanks to the magazine people got to know new things that never occurred to them and were not even able to imagine. Thanks to him the distant and unfamiliar world became closer and closer.

The articles published in the monthly deal with a variety of topics such as history, science, geography and geology, and from time to time a special edition is published dedicated to a particular topic. Recently, the magazine has been particularly vocal on environmental issues such as deforestation and endangered species. The magazine has won many accolades for the beautiful and quality photography and the quality of the booklets and is well known due to the detailed maps that are published alongside articles about various places around the world.

On September 1, 1997, the National Geographic television channel was founded, which is a documentary channel that deals mainly with geography, hiking, animals and science.

One of the most famous stories of the magazine, is the story of the girl who scribbled exile from Afghanistan. In 1985, a photo of photographer Steve McCurry was published on the front page, showing the face of an Afghan girl with bright green eyes and a penetrating look. The girl's figure became famous all over the world. After the United States invaded Afghanistan, they began searching for it and in 2002 it was identified as an exile, an refugee of Afghan origin who fled to the United States during the war. The story of her life was published in the March 2003 issue and a documentary series was made about it on the National Geographic television channel. The organization has set up a foundation named after Sharbat Gola, whose funds have established a number of schools in Kabul, Afghanistan, and has promoted the education of girls in Afghanistan and other countries in the region, including food and drink concerns.

The Afghan Girl - Link to the article  

The organization has supported other important and significant projects such as the North Pole Expedition of Robert Piri and Matthew Anson, Antarctica Exploration by Robert Barlett, the excavations at Hiram Bingham's Machu Picchu, the first flight over Richard Byrd's South Pole, the Underwater Diving of Jacques Costo, Jane Goodall's Chimpanzee Exploration, Diane Pussy's Gorilla Exploration, George Bass' Archaeological Exploration, Robert Blard's Decked Titanic Discovery, Paul Zerno's Dinosaur Exploration and more. 

In honor of National Geographic Day, look for issues of the magazine at home or at your parents 'or grandparents' house. In many libraries you can also browse the magazines. If you have the TV channel, watch interesting shows. We tend to take the existence of the National Geographic for granted, but when you think about it, its contribution to humanity is so important, enormous and significant and without it we would have known much less and perhaps the development of humanity would have been slower.

Link to National Geographic website

National Geographic title page (source)  

January 27 is also International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Chocolate Cake Day

Squirrel Appreciation Day- January 21st

 January 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day, a day created to recognize the role that the squirrel plays in nature and its contribution to the environment.

The Squirrel Day was created by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife restorer in North Carolina, USA, from the Western Nature Center in North Carolina on January 21, 2001.

The squirrel family in the world has about 50 types of squirrels that are divided into about 270 species.

A fossil study has found that the squirrel family originated in the northern hemisphere. Their earliest remains were found in the North American continent and date to about 36 million years ago. A fossil has been found in Europe from 23.8-33.7 million years ago.

Squirrels are not shy creatures, they have no problem getting out during the day, making them one of the rare wild mammals we often see, even on city streets and parks.

In honor of Squirrel Day, get 20 fun facts about them:

1. The squirrel family is common all over the world except Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.

2. In Greek the word "squirrel" means skioros - "tail". Gave them the name of the Greek philosopher Aristotle.

3. The most prominent behavior of squirrels is the storage of nuts and acorns for the winter. What is needed for squirrel species that do not fall asleep this season.

4. The hind legs of squirrels are double-jointed, giving them the ability to run up and down trees very quickly.

5. In 2007, Iran claimed that 14 squirrels found near the country's borders were in fact spies.

6. The mating season of squirrels is from February to May, with a gestation period of 44 days. Usually two to four young squirrels are born in each litter.

7. Squirrels have 4 front toes, which are extremely sharp and are used to hold bark while climbing. They also have 5 toes on their hind legs.

8. In addition to living in the eastern United States, eastern gray squirrels are found in many western countries, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa.

9. Squirrels can eat food at their body weight each week, which is about 1.5 kg.

10. Squirrels can fall from a height of 30 meters, without harming themselves. In jumping, or falling, they use the tail both for balance and as a parachute!

11. A male squirrel can smell a female in heat up to a distance of about 10 miles.

12. Arctic ground squirrel (a type of ground squirrel native to the North Pole) is the only warm-blooded mammal capable of withstanding freezing body temperatures during hibernation (winter sleep).

13. The squirrels' eyes are positioned in a way that allows them to see behind them.

14. In 2013, authorities shut down a campsite in the Los Angeles National Forest when they found an infected squirrel living there. The infection actually killed a 15-year-old boy from Kyrgyzstan, who was bitten by a mountain squirrel. A closure on 100 people had to be carried out for this infection to disappear.

15. Squirrels are smart creatures and can learn to navigate many obstacles to find the most effective way to eat, they are also quite good at finding shortcuts.

16. Squirrels can jump up to 20 meters. They have long, muscular hind legs and short front legs that work together to aid in leaping.

17. In the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from 2005, in the squirrel scene, the squirrels were not animated but real, and were professionally trained by Walnut Animal Trainer Michael Alexander and his team who spent 19 weeks training these squirrels for this one scene.

18. In 1963, a bridge called Nutty Narrows was built in Longview, Washington. The 60 feet total length bridge made the city the capital of squirrel-loving America. In the city of Longview, a squirrel festival is held in August every year.

19. Since 2004 the squirrels have been divided into five subfamilies: Xerinae (ground squirrels), Ratufinae (Oriental giant squirrel), Sciurillinae (Neotropical pygmy squirrel), Sciurinae and Callosciurinae (beautiful squirrels).

20. Squirrels have a great ecological impact. They are miners from burrows where rodents and reptiles live, they dig in the soil and extract from it substances that help the plants, but are also a bit harmful because they eat their plants and seeds. They are used as food for many predators like foxes, ferrets and birds of prey.

How to celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day?

The best way to celebrate this special day is to learn about the types of squirrels.

There are so many interesting things about squirrels that we did not mention, like the Japanese dwarf flying squirrel which are small furry creatures (20-30 cm) and sweet, with big eyes and a long hairy tail. They are common in China, Japan, Northern Europe and Asia and are also adopted as pets .

Share the information about this day with friends and express love to squirrels! You can also buy squirrel-themed gifts like a doll or a miniature.

  January 21 is also Hugging Day

Bird Day - January 5

There are so many species of birds in the world, that one day celebrating in their honor is definitely not enough.

One of the days of celebration in honor of the birds is National Bird Day, a U.S. holiday celebrated in honor of the birds on January 5 each year, beginning in 1894. It is the first holiday invented in honor of the birds, and was founded by Charles Almenzo Babacok, who supervised Schools in Oil City, Pennsylvania.

This day is meant to promote the conservation of birds as a moral value. National Bird Day is a special day that has millions of fans celebrating through bird watching, learning about birds and other bird-related activities. Bird adoption and rescue is a particularly important Bird Day activity. 12 percent of the bird species are endangered from the world.

On this day many activities are held that teach how to behave properly birds and what they need. How to give them the best living conditions. People who adopt birds need to know that they are screaming, biting, soiling, need constant interaction, space to fly in and a varied diet.

The Avian Coalition National Campaign in the United States aims to improve the well-being of other parrots and birds that live in humans by encouraging their adoption rather than buying them as commercial pets, and encourages support for wildlife conservation programs and captive birds.

Source: Avian Welfare Coalition

January 5 is also Whipped Cream Day