January 16, 2020

JANUARY 16, 2020 | NATIONAL NOTHING DAY | GET TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS DAY | NATIONAL FIG NEWTON DAY | NATIONAL WITHOUT A SCALPEL DAY | NATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY

NATIONAL NOTHING DAY

Each year on January 16th, people across the nation recognize National Nothing Day.

The observance was created as a day to provide Americans with one National Day when they can just sit without celebrating, observing or honoring anything.  (National Day Calendar only reports the Days, sometimes they may contradict themselves.)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on the third Monday of January which means that one-in-seven January 16th’s will fall on the same day as Nothing Day, effectively usurping the nature of Nothing Day.

While it may be a good day to celebrate nothing at all, we suppose putting nothing in a glass and setting it on a table might suffice for celebration. You might leave your diary page blank on every January 16th. Don’t mark anything on the calendar on the 16th, either. It would be interesting to see what would happen if you sent a blank email dated January 16th. How many replies would you get saying, “There’s nothing here.”

For people whose birthday lands on January 16th, wrap an empty box. That should elicit and a nothing response appropriate for the celebration.

When asked, “What are your plans, today?” your response should definitely be, “Nothing.” What else would your answer be on a day like today? Now that we think about it, “Nothing” works well as an answer when recognizing the day.

Q: What’s for supper?

A: Nothing

Q: What are you reading?

A. Nothing. (Even though you’re clearly reading something.)

Q. What’s your homework assignment?

A. Nothing. (As you’re working on your homework.)

Q. What are you drinking.

A. Nothing. (As you sip on the best non-fat latte ever.)

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalNothingDay

NATIONAL NOTHING DAY HISTORY

In 1972, columnist Harold Pullman Coffin proposed National Nothing Day. The day has been observed in all its nothingness since 1973.  The observance is sponsored by Coffin’s National Nothing Foundation, registered in Capitola, California.

GET TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS DAY

Get to Know Your Customers Day reminds businesses to reach out to patrons and get to know them better. The day is observed annually on the third Thursday of each quarter (January, April, July, October). 

When businesses get to know your customers, you also get to know more about what you need to grow. Remember when Main Street businesses were locally owned and operated? The owners knew you by name and knew your shopping habits. Additionally, they typically knew what you wanted to buy. Not surprisingly, if they didn’t have it, they were willing to get it in for you.

With the advent of the Internet and big-box stores, unfortunately, much of the personal attention has gone by the wayside. Get to Know Your Customers Day is a day to turn that around. Make it a point to get to know a little more about your customers. Most importantly, make each of them feel like they are your most important customer of the day.

Tips to Knowing Your Customer:

• Ask your customers questions.Find out what services and products they need.
• Use social media.Get the word out about your specials and new product. Social media is a great tool to find out what your customers like and don’t like about your store. It’s important to respond as quickly as possible. When you do, it will be noticed. remember, fixing a negative customer experience in a positive way can show you stand by your word. In turn, it could transfer into future multiple sales.
• Follow up on a purchase.Ask your customers how their purchase or service worked for them. Not only will you find out about your product, but you will learn more about your customer and the services they need.
• Network with other business.Learning and sharing best practices for getting to know customers from other successful businesses will also grow your business.

HOW TO OBSERVE #GetToKnowYourCutsomersDay

Grow your business by taking the time to get to know your customers. In doing so, you’ll be planting a seed that will flourish! Use #GetToKnowYourCustomersDay to post on social media.

HISTORY OF GET TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS DAY

We have been unable to find the creator of National Get to Know Your Customers Day.

NATIONAL FIG NEWTON DAY

National Fig Newton Day on January 16th annually recognizes a tasty pastry enjoyed across the country. 

A Nabisco’s trademarked version of the fig roll, Newtons are a pastry filled with fig paste. Fig Newtons have an unusual and characteristic shape which has been adopted by many competitors, including generic fig bars.

Up until the 19th century, many physicians believed most illnesses were related to digestion problems. As a remedy, they recommended a daily intake of biscuits and fruit. Fig rolls served as an ideal solution to their advice, which remained a locally produced and handmade product. 

In 1891, Philadelphia baker and fig-lover, Charles Roser, invented and patented the machine, which inserted fig paste into a thick pastry dough. The Cambridgeport, MA – based Kennedy Biscuit Company then purchased Roser’s recipe. They began mass production after purchasing the recipe. In 1891, the first Fig Newtons were baked at the F.A. Kennedy Steam Bakery. The company named the pastries after the town of Newton, Massachusetts.

After recently becoming associated, the Kennedy Biscuit Company and the New York Biscuit company merged to form Nabisco. The new company trademarked the fig rolls as Fig Newtons.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFigNewtonDay

Enjoy a Fig Newton, fig roll or make your own. People of all ages enjoy this tasty bar. It comes in a variety of flavors, but fig seems to be the most popular. Enjoy it with coffee, tea or juice. 

We even found a delicious recipe for you to try and share.

Fresh Fig Newtons

Use #NationalFigNewtonDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL FIG NEWTON DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues to seek the origins of this figurative food holiday. While we may not figure it out, we do sometimes get into a jam. Oh well, we’ll follow the crumbs.

NATIONAL WITHOUT A SCALPEL DAY

Each year on National Without a Scalpel Day January 16th recognizes the opportunities to treat disease without a scalpel. On this day in 1964, pioneering physician Charles Dotter performed the first angioplasty. The ground-breaking procedure to open a blocked blood vessel took place in Portland, Oregon. Not only did the angioplasty allow the patient to avoid leg amputation surgery, but she left the hospital days later with only a Band-Aid.

No surgery, no stitches, no scars…

In doing so, Dr. Dotter created a cutting-edge medical specialty called Interventional Radiology, where doctors treat disease through a tiny pinhole instead of open surgery. These doctors use x-rays and other medical imaging to see inside the body while they treat disease. These advances changed all of medicine.

Today, minimally invasive, image-guided procedures (MIIP) can treat a broad range of diseases throughout the body, in adults and children:

• cancer
• heart disease
• stroke
• aneurysms
• life-threatening bleeding
• infertility
• fibroids
• kidney stones
• back pain
• infections
• blocked blood vessels
• many other conditions

Even though trained specialists perform MIIP throughout the world, many people do not know about MIIP or if they could benefit from these life-changing treatments. The Interventional Initiative was established to raise awareness and educate the public about MIIP.

The Interventional Initiative just completed the pilot episode of the documentary series Without a Scalpel, to be aired on a national network in 2016. Without a Scalpel features real patient stories and their doctors who treat them with life-changing MIIP.

HOW TO OBSERVE #WithoutAScalpelDay

Take some time to learn more about MIIP and share this valuable, life-saving information with someone you love. Post on social media using #WithoutAScalpelDay.

NATIONAL WITHOUT A SCALPEL DAY HISTORY

The Interventional Initiative submitted National Without a Scalpel Day in 2015. If you or someone you know could benefit from MIIP, visit www.theii.org or follow on Twitter @interventional2.

NATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY

National Religious Freedom Day each year commemorates the day the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was signed on January 16, 1786. Each year, by Presidential Proclamation, January 16th is declared Religious Freedom Day. 

Thomas Jefferson’s landmark statute became the basis for Congressman Fisher Ames’ establishment clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Consitution.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

The First Freedom Center in Richmond Virginia commemorates this day by holding an annual First Freedom Award banquet.

The statute guarantees the fundamental freedom to openly practice one’s faith without fear of being harassed, jailed or killed. Additionally, under the statute, each person may freely change their religion without retribution. In the United States, people of different faiths have equal rights to practice their religion.

Around the world, religious restrictions continue to rise. According to Pew research, in the last decade legislation, attitudes, and policies are rising globally. Even those countries usually considered restrictive are increasing their limitations. When looking at countries with the most equality, they too show a change in policies and attitudes toward religious freedom. Religious freedom is a global concern, not only a national one. 

HOW TO OBSERVE #ReligiousFreedomDay

While recognizing the U.S. commemoration, take a broader look. Learn more about religious freedom in the United States and around the world. 

• WatchFirst Freedomon PBS
• Learn about other faiths
• Practice your own faith
• Participate in an interfaith event such as the one mentioned onShare America
• Read about other faiths and their experiences in the United States

Use #ReligiousFreedomDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY HISTORY

Every year since 1993, the President of the United States proclaims January 16th National Religious Freedom Day. 

Want to figure out the date that is exactly fifteen days from Jan 16, 2020 without counting?

Your starting date is January 16, 2020 so that means that 15 days later would be January 31, 2020.

You can check this by using the date difference calculator to measure the number of days from Jan 16, 2020 to Jan 31, 2020.

January 31st, 2020 is a Friday. It is the 31st day of the year, and in the 5th week of the year (assuming each week starts on a Monday), or the 1st quarter of the year. There are 31 days in this month. 2020 is a leap year, so there are 366 days in this year. The short form for this date used in the United States is 1/31/2020, and almost everywhere else in the world it's 31/1/2020.

In some cases, you might want to skip weekends and count only the weekdays. This could be useful if you know you have a deadline based on a certain number of business days. If you are trying to see what day falls on the exact date difference of 15 weekdays from Jan 16, 2020, you can count up each day skipping Saturdays and Sundays.

Start your calculation with Jan 16, 2020, which falls on a Thursday. Counting forward, the next day would be a Friday.

To get exactly fifteen weekdays from Jan 16, 2020, you actually need to count 21 total days (including weekend days). That means that 15 weekdays from Jan 16, 2020 would be February 6, 2020.

If you're counting business days, don't forget to adjust this date for any holidays.

February 6th, 2020 is a Thursday. It is the 37th day of the year, and in the 6th week of the year (assuming each week starts on a Monday), or the 1st quarter of the year. There are 29 days in this month. 2020 is a leap year, so there are 366 days in this year. The short form for this date used in the United States is 2/6/2020, and almost everywhere else in the world it's 6/2/2020.

This site provides an online Days From Date calculator to help you find the date that occurs exactly X days from a specific date. You can also enter a negative number to find out when X days before that date happened to fall. You can use this tool to figure out a deadline if you have a certain number of days remaining. Or read the full page to learn more about the due date if you're counting business days or weekdays only, skipping Saturday and Sunday. If you're trying to measure the number of days between two dates, you can switch to the Date Difference calculator instead.