January 13 - National Rubber Ducky Day

Happy National Rubber Ducky Day! According to a 1973 Sesame Street calendar, Rubber Duckie’s Birthday is on January 13th. Therefore, around the country it’s National Rubber Ducky Day!

  

The titular song that Ernie sings to his yellow bath time buddy was written by American composer, lyricist, playwright and television writer Jeff Moss and arranged by American composer, songwriter, pianist, television writer and lyricist Joe Raposo. It was first heard by children watching an episode of Sesame Street on February 25, 1970.

The rubber ducky (also spelled duckie) has come a long way from his first concept as a chew toy for children. While the origin of the first rubber ducky is uncertain, many rubber molded toys came about when rubber manufacturing developed in the late 1800s. They had produced a variety of toys from dolls and various animal shapes, including the rubber duck.

  

On April 25, 1925, Landon Smart Lawrence of Yonkers, New York received the earliest patent for a rubber duck toy. However, it was not approved until May 8, 1928. It was issued Patent #1,668,785. Lawrence’s clever design weighted the toy so that when it tipped, it returned to an upright position. The sketch included with the patent was that of a duck.

During World Wars I and II, rubber was a valuable commodity. Rationing became mandatory, and by the 1940s with the advent of plastic, the rubber ducky began being produced in vinyl and plastic.

Russian-American sculptor Peter Ganine created many animal figures. One, a duck, he later designed and patented into a floating toy which closely resembles the rubber ducky we have become familiar with today.

Sales of the iconic yellow rubber ducky that we’ve come to know and love today soared in Great Britain in 2001. Why? A British Tabloid, The Sun, reported that Queen Elizabeth II had a rubber duck in her bathroom that wore an inflatable crown!

In 2013, the rubber ducky became a Toy Hall of Fame inductee. Founded in 1998, the Hall of Fame has only inducted fifty-two other toys.

FUN FACT:

Charlotte Lee (USA) is the Guinness World Record-holder for the largest collection of rubber ducks. Collecting since 1996, her vast assortment contains more than nine thousand duckies! She even told NBC how she sourced them from all over the world, including hard to find duckies from Ducks in the Window. All of her rubber ducks are displayed in glass showcases on the four walls of her dedicated duck room.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Spend time with your favorite rubber ducky. Share photos of your rubber ducky collection. Discover all the different kinds of rubber duckies available. Use #NationalRubberDuckyDay to post on social media.

HISTORY

While the research by National Day Calendar® did not uncover the creator of National Rubber Ducky Day, they are pretty fond of the idea that it has to do with Sesame Street’s Rubber Duckie.

#NationalRubberDuckieDay 

#LargestRubberDuckCollection 

@ducksinthewindow 

@nichecinema 

January 13 - National Clean Off Your Desk Day

Happy National Clean Off Your Desk Day! On the second Monday of January each year, today is an opportunity to begin your new year with a clean and organized workspace.

   

Whether your desk is in a private or shared office, cubicle, home or a make-shift desk on the counter, having your workspace uncluttered and organized will help you work more efficiently. A clean workspace improves productivity and inspires us, too. It often gives us a sense of serenity.

Tips for Getting Organized

• •  Remove everything from your desk. Yes, everything. 
• •  Clean the surface. As you replace items, clean them with the appropriate cleaning supply. Usually, a damp cloth is sufficient, but other electrical items need specific care. 
• •  Get out the shredder and the garbage can. Shred, file, scan documents, business cards, recipes, photos as needed. 
• •  Place all documents and photos in the appropriate locations. 
• •  Shred and toss outdated documents, non-working pens, junk mail.
  
  

HOW TO OBSERVE

Clean your desk and share tips on getting your workspace organized. Use #CleanOffYourDeskDay to post on social media.

HISTORY

While researching the origin of this tidy day, National Day Calendar® staff will be cleaning toss out old coffee cups, sticky notes, and chocolate wrappers.

  

DATES 
January 11, 2021 
January 10, 2022 
January 09, 2023 
January 08, 2024 
January 13, 2025 
January 12, 2026 
January 11, 2027 
January 10, 2028 
January 08, 2029 
January 14, 2030 

#CleanOffYourDeskDay 

@nichecinema 

January 13 - National Stephen Foster Memorial Day

Happy National Stephen Foster Memorial Day! On January 13th, today commemorates the music of the man who composed hundreds of America’s first popular songs.

Born in Lawrenceville, Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1826, American songwriter Stephen Collins Foster, years later, became known as America’s First Composer. He also became known as "the father of American music". Foster’s catchy tunes were based on minstrel songs of which are still known today. 

Despite Foster’s exclusive music contract with Firth, Pond, and Company, when he passed from an accident at the Bellevue Hospital Center in New York, New York on January 13, 1864, he was penniless.  Weakened, he had fallen in his hotel in the Bowery, cutting his neck. His partner, American lyricist George Cooper, found him still alive but lying in a pool of blood. Foster was 37.

While Foster’s songs were wildly popular, the lack of copyright protection and alcoholism left him with nothing of value to show for his work.

During his short life, Foster wrote over two hundred songs. His best-known compositions include “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” “Old Folks at Home,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Old Black Joe,” and “Beautiful Dreamer” are still very popular today.

   

HOW TO OBSERVE

Read about the life of Stephen Foster or watch a documentary. Check out our suggestions below:

• •  “Doo-dah!” (1937) by Ken Emerson 
• •  “Beautiful Dreamer: The Life of Stephen Collins Foster” (2005) by Ellen Hunter Ulken 
• •  Read about the African-American influence on Foster’s music.
  
  

Use #StephenFosterMemorialDay to post on social media.

HISTORY

National Stephen Foster Memorial Day is a United States Federal Observance Day according to Title 36 of the United States Code. It was made law in November of 1966 and was first celebrated in 1967. 

#StephenFosterMemorialDay 

@nichecinema