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

Weed Appreciation Day - March 28th

Weed Appreciation Day is celebrated on March 28 every year. This day is designed to learn how herbs are actually beneficial to us and our ecosystem. We usually treat weeds as a nuisance, something that needs to be weeded and eradicated, but weeds also have a lot of value. The herbs have been used by humans as food and herbs for most of the documented history.

Many herbs have healing properties and have great nutritional value:

Nettle - Nettle can be found almost anywhere where weeds grow, even on your lawn. Nettle has prickly hairs at the bottom of the leaf that contain acids, which causes a strong burn if touched with exposed skin, so it is recommended to pick it with gloves. Nettle is rich in iron and therefore good to eat in cases of anemia, hair loss, skin and muscle problems. It also has a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The nettle leaves are cooked, for example in nettle soup or a vegetable omelet with nettles.

Mallow - The mallow is also known as "Malva". You can pick it and eat it fresh and you can also put it in stews, omelets and pastries. It is rich in antioxidants and soluble fiber and good for digestive, respiratory and urinary diseases.

Rosemary - Rosemary can also be found in many public or private gardens, a free and wild plant. The medicinal rosemary is an evergreen perennial shrub with blue flowers. It is resistant to harsh conditions of climate and air pollution. It also contains antioxidants and antiseptic properties and is believed to help in cases of fatigue, headaches, migraines, vascular problems and more.

Oxalis- Who among us did not like to eat Oxalis when we were a child? The Oxalis also grow on the side of the road almost everywhere. It is fun to eat their fresh stems which are sour, but care should be taken not to eat too much, because their sour taste comes from the oxalic acid they contain, which in large quantities is harmful to the digestive system. 

March 28 is also Black Forest Cake Day

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

Bean Day - January 6th

Beans are a very common superfood around the world and for good reason: they are rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals and are also delicious. The beans are a legume that is usually an addition to the main meal, such as in soup, or as a stew in tomato sauce, etc.

In Japan, however, red beans are commonly used as an ingredient in desserts.

In China there are sweets that incorporate red beans or mung beans.

Soy is also a type of bean that originated in China. Soybeans (red) can be used as a tasty and healthy snack and tofu is also made from soy.

The soy sauce, which many use in the kitchen for seasoning, is made from soy. Japanese miso is made from fermented rice and soy.

In Mexican cuisine, beans are the star of many dishes, and in the days of the Wild West in the United States, residents often liked to eat beans.

 

Bean Day was set for January 6 in memory of the geneticist, also known as the "father of genetics," Gregor Mendel, whose experiments with the pea plant were the basis of modern genetics. The bean day was created in his memory by Paula Bowen who wanted to celebrate a day in honor of Mr. Bean and besides, her father was a farmer who grew beans. The day she found for the celebration was in January, a month she found to be poor on holidays, so she decided it would be the day of Gregor Mendel's death which fell on January 6th 1884.

Why you should eat beans? 

Here are the nutritional benefits of beans:

Beans are an excellent plant source of protein - beans are a healthy substitute for meat, chicken and fish. It contains lots of protein and many nutritionists recommend preferring the protein from the plant over the protein from the animal.

Beans are good for the heart - they are full of soluble dietary fiber that helps lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thus balancing blood fats.

The beans are good for the digestive system - the beans are rich in dietary fiber that helps regulate the digestive process and prevent constipation.

Beans are good for the diet - beans on any issue contain between 2% and 3% fat and do not contain cholesterol (as long as it is not processed or cooked with other components that contain fat).

Beans balance sugar levels - Beans have a low glycemic index and a good amount of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber that slows down the digestive process, which helps maintain blood sugar levels. Maintaining a balance in the sugar level helps prevent fatigue and nervousness and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Beans fight the accumulated fat in the abdominal area - the soluble dietary fiber in beans helps get rid of the layer of fat around the abdomen that increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease.

Convenient to use beans - beans are a legume that is easy to obtain and cook. It can be obtained at any grocery store in its dry, frozen form or in a can and it will not be expensive.

Beans are rich in nutritional values: Beans have protein, complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, B vitamins and minerals such as iron, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

After all the benefits of the beans we have listed, there is no doubt that beans are a food that deserves a special day of its own. In honor of Bean Day, incorporate it into your daily menu. So Happy Bean Day!

January 6 is also the Epiphany