Spring break has begun for students, staff and faculty at BGSU. Whether taking a trip or relaxing at home, these are five fun holidays anyone can observe this week, according to nationaltoday.com.
March 4: National Snack Day
National Snack Day takes place annually on March 4. The word “snack” comes from the Dutch word “snacken,” meaning “to bite,” and was adopted into the English language in 1402. Nearly 500 years later, at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, snacking became popularized as many timeless treats, like Cracker Jacks, were introduced. The Hershey Company was established ten years later, popularizing chocolate bars in the U.S. Jane Shoemaker-Galloway recognized the country’s cultural love for food and declared March 4 a day to celebrate one of America’s favorite pastimes: snacking.
March 5: National Sportsmanship Day
Since the 1990s, National Sportsmanship Day has been observed every year on the first Tuesday in March. The International Sports Institute first established this day to “encourage fair play, good etiquette and good character.” Celebrate the day by learning about and modeling some of the many examples of good sportsmanship throughout history; for example, Andy Roddick and Fernando Verdasco played a tennis match at the 2005 Rome Masters, during which Roddick was falsely announced as the match’s winner. He called out this mistake and Verdasco went on to win the match.
March 6: No Homework Day
March 6 is No Homework Day: What could be more fitting for spring break? The day was originally created by Thomas and Ruth Roy and “seeks to give students a break from homework assignments.” A lot of research shows that too much homework causes stress and, at some point, does more harm than good. No Homework Day is meant to remind people to occasionally take a break and relax. Students should take this day to do things like enjoy their free time, catch up on sleep or explore their hobbies.
March 7: National Be Heard Day
Every March 7, National Be Heard Day gives small business owners a chance to voice their ideas and tell their stories. National Small Business Week has been observed since the 1960s and usually takes place later in the year, but in 2004, Shannon Cherry created a separate day dedicated to small business recognition. Spend the day shopping locally or finding the courage to speak up on ideas worth supporting.
March 8: International Women’s Day
Honor women this Friday, March 8, “a global day celebrating their historical, cultural and political achievements.” Between the founding of the National Women’s Suffrage Association in 1869 and women winning the right to vote in 1965, German Activist Clara Zetkin proposed a day dedicated to women and their accomplishments in 1911. Thus, International Women’s Day was created to show appreciation to women and their contributions. The day is celebrated annually “with the hope of creating a completely equal society.”
