(The Latin word for “shade” or “shadow” is umbra).

Umbrellas have always been a part of human history, though in ancient times
they were used only by the nobility and by the rich. In many cultures,
umbrellas were used as part of religious ceremonies and rituals.

Fashion Accessory

In the 18th century, umbrellas became a popular women’s fashion accessory
and by the end of the 19th century, umbrellas had become a household item.

It is thought that Englishman Jonas Hanway was the first male Londoner to
carry an umbrella and that he was responsible for the popularity of umbrellas
as an accessory among men in Europe and elsewhere.

More Practical

Today, with advances in technology, umbrellas have become smaller, lighter,
easier to carry and more resilient to wind and strong rain.

Last year Americans ate over 4.5 billion tacos! That’s 490,000 miles of tacos,
which could take you to the moon and back or, if you prefer, could, at 775-
million pounds, equal the weight of two Empire State Buildings. The word
taco is the Mexican equivalent of the English word sandwich.

Trivia: Thought Taco Trucks were new ?
One of the first taco trucks is thought to have started in New York when in
1966 two New York housewives operated an early version of the taco truck. Although the truck (below) did not have a full kitchen, it was available for
catering.
​

National Voter Registration Day is a national holiday celebrating our
democracy. It was first observed in 2012 and has been growing in
popularity every year since. Held on the fourth Tuesday of September,
National Voter Registration Day has been endorsed by the National
Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). It is further supported by
the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED), the U.S.
Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the National Association
of Election Officials (The Election Center).

National Cheeseburger Day on September 18th honors America’s favorite
sandwich with a slice of cheese.

There are many theories to the beginning of the cheeseburger dating back
to the 1920s.  One story suggests that Lionel Sternberger is reputed to have invented the cheeseburger in 1926 while working at his father’s Pasadena, California sandwich shop, The Rite Spot.  During an experiment, he dropped
a slice of American cheese on a sizzling hamburger.

There are other claims of the invention of the cheeseburger:

• A cheeseburger appeared on a 1928 menu at O’Dell’s, a Los Angeles restaurant, which listed a cheeseburger, smothered with chili, for 25
  cents.
• Kaelin’s Restaurant – Louisville, Kentucky says it invented the
  cheeseburger in 1934.
• Denver, Colorado – 1935 – A trademark for the name “cheeseburger”
  was awarded to Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In.
• According to its archives, Gus Belt, founder of Steak n’ Shake,
  applied for a trademark on the word “cheeseburger” in the 1930s.

                                                                                        (National Day Calendar®)

Then & now: Cracker Jack and its signature sailor mascot have
evolved over the years.

One of the oldest American forms of junk food, the Cracker Jack was invented
and trademarked in 1896 when the brothers who formed F.W. Rueckheim &
Bro., mixed molasses-flavored, caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts together.

Fredrich William Rueckheim

   
Louis Rueckheim
           

Today,January 19, celebrates all of the different ways the corn-based treat      
popcorn can be enjoyed savory or sweet, caramelized, buttered or plain.

The Popcorn Board, a non-profit started in 1998, says Americans consume
13 billion quarts of popcorn a year, more than any other country in the
world.