May 19 - National May Ray Day

Happy National May Ray Day! On May 19th, if your name is Ray (or Rae) give everyone permission to call you…well…Ray. It is National May Ray Day. 

The idea is, everyone may call you Ray on this day instead of “Hey you!” Or maybe Rays sometimes get called “Sweetheart” or not so nice things.  

The holiday is all about getting out into the sunshine and saying, “You can call me Ray.” (I don't know when National Al Day is). 

There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors and the warmer days as summer approaches.  Whether your place under the sun is at the park, a rooftop or your own back yard find a way to enjoy the nicer weather.   

If mother nature isn’t cooperating, there are several days in May remaining.  National May Ray Day can be used to plan a day outside. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Find a spot under the sun, soak up some warmth, and be sure to say, “Hi Ray!” Use #NationalMayRayDay to post on social media. You can also download and print this May Ray Day color page. 

You can download and print the page by visiting the website below: 

HISTORY 

In 1977, the Broadway Fun Spot (a nickname for a residence on Broadway) of St. Joseph, Michigan founded this celebration. 

Richard Ankli, also the creator of You’re Welcomegiving Day in November, came up with the idea in honor of his brother Ray who was born on May 19. 

Do you know someone named Ray? How can you observe or acknowledge them today? 

#NationalMayRayDay 

#ADropOfGoldenSun 

@nichecinema 

May 19 - International Dinosaur Day

Happy International Dinosaur Day! Are you ready for the biggest, targets, giganticest holiday of the year? Today we celebrate those large, extinct reptiles: dinosaurs.  

  

Scientists believe that they first appeared about 245 million years ago, at the beginning of the Middle Triassic Epoch, and existed for about 180 million years, going extinct about 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period.  

  

The period when they lived is called the Mesozoic Era. During this time, they went through many changes, and various species of dinosaurs replaced other species. 

  

http://www.playideas.com/25-dinosaur-activities-for-kids/ 

  

Some dinosaurs were bipedal, meaning they walked on two legs, and some were quadrupedal, meaning they walked on all fours.  

  

Some switched back and forth. Some were covered with feathers, while others had what was almost like body armor. Some ran fast, and others were slow; most were herbivores, but some were carnivores.  

  

It is estimated that there were at least seven hundred species of dinosaurs, and possibly more than one thousand. 

  

There were big biotic changes at the end of the Cretaceous Period, and many other animals and plants died at that time as well.  

  

There are many theories as to why dinosaurs died out, including disease, heat waves, cold spells, changing sea levels, a large amount of volcanic activity, the emergence of egg-eating mammals, or from X-rays from an exploding supernova.  

  

One other common theory is that an asteroid smashed to earth, spread ash widely, and shifted the earth's climate. However, it is not believed that all dinosaurs died out at the same time.  

  

Rather, it is believed they had been declining during the last part of the Cretaceous Period. Scientists also believe that some dinosaurs may have evolved into birds. 

  

In 1842, English biologist, comparative anatomist and paleontologist Sir Richard Owen came up with the word "Dinosauria". 

The word comes from the Greek word "deinos," meaning "terrible" or "fearfully great", and "sauros," meaning "reptile" or "lizard".  

  

He applied the term to three animals that fossilized bones had been found over the previous few decades. The remains came from reptiles that were both larger and had more vertebrae than any found before.  

  

The earliest known published record of dinosaur remains was in 1820, and many fossils were found in the 1820s and 1830s. 

Many other kinds of dinosaurs were found in the years following the 1842 naming as well. Fossils of dinosaurs have now been found on all seven continents. 

  

HOW TO OBSERVE 

  

The best way to celebrate the day is to visit a museum or other dinosaur-related attraction, where fossils or bones may be viewed. 

  

https://www.fodors.com/news/family/worlds-best-spots-for-dinosaur-fans 

  

You could also watch a documentary about dinosaurs, or a film that features dinosaurs, such as Jurassic Park. If you have children, there are many dinosaur related activities they could do today. 

  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_featuring_dinosaurs 

  

http://www.playideas.com/25-dinosaur-activities-for-kids/ 

  

What is your favorite dinosaur(s)? 

  

#InternationalDinosaurDay 

@naturalhistory 

@FordorsTravel 

@theplayideas 

@nichecinema