Day: May 20, 2024

2024 · National Day Calendar

World Bee Day 2024 🐝

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A honey bee is busy getting nectar and pollinating the milkweed in my front yard.

To protect bees and other pollinators, the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association launched a campaign in 2014, calling for May 20 to be designated as World Bee Day. The initiative was supported by the Slovenian Government. In 2015, the initiative was co-opted by the largest international beekeepers’ organization, Apimondia.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food of Slovenia traveled around the world with a pavilion called Bee World, actively promoting the projects. Meetings with representatives of other countries and international organizations involved in environmental projects were also organized by the ministry. In 2017, the United Nations’ Economic and Financial Committee adopted a resolution proclaiming World Bee Day. The resolution was unanimously supported by the General Assembly of the U.N., and May 20 was declared World Bee Day. 115 countries including the United States, Canada, China, Russia, India, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and all E.U. member states, signed on as major sponsors.

Bees, as one of the most important pollinators, contribute to food and food security, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity. Bees also play an important role in climate change mitigation and environmental conservation. It is important to protect bees and the beekeeping industry to combat poverty and hunger, not to mention the significant impact on environmental health and biodiversity. Simply put, without bees, we may never be able to solve the widespread issues of hunger and poverty. These tiny insects are critical to our survival. Scientific studies have proven that bees are becoming increasingly endangered. Every environmentalist and concerned citizen is encouraged to help protect bees and their habitats on World Bee Day.

Resource: https://nationaltoday.com/world-bee-day/

2024 · 🌸🌷 Spring 🌷🌸 · National Day Calendar

National Pick Strawberries Day 2024 🍓

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While there’s no record of when the first National Pick Strawberries Day was celebrated, the history of the activity and the fruit goes way back. In ancient times, wild strawberries were used mainly for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. There are mentions of the fruit in Roman records that date to the first century A.D. In other centuries, the wonders of the fruit were also proclaimed in literary texts, and one prominent example includes the words of William Butler, a 16th-century writer/poet, who said, “Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did”. The great properties of strawberries have also led to other historical figures using them. Madame Tallien, a renowned figure from the French Revolution, took baths in tubs full of strawberries to keep her skin glowing and radiant. Another example is Fontenelle, a centenarian writer from the 18th century, who credited his long and healthy life to his strawberry consumption.

As time went by, strawberries started being cultivated for mass consumption, with the first instance taking place in the 13th century. Initially, strawberries were only found in North and South America. However, globalization led to the fruit traveling great distances to other continents. After several failed attempts to grow the plant in France, the French horticulturalists finally succeeded in their endeavors in the 1750s. The resulting strawberry variety from the 1750s is one of the most produced varieties today. Strawberries are not only enjoyed by humans for their great taste and nutrients but are also used by bees for their nectar and pollination.

Resource: https://nationaltoday.com/national-pick-strawberries-day/