October 10 - National Cake Decorating Day

Happy National Cake Decorating Day! On October 10, today recognizes the creative artist who elevates cake design to another level.  

Many professional cake decorators started their careers as hobbyists. It allows them to express themselves in an edible form.  

We make or purchase decorated cakes for many of life’s events, from baptisms and birthdays to weddings and anniversaries. Decorated cakes help carry out the theme of any party or event. 

Did you know cake decorators use at least six different types of icings? Depending on the kind of cake, they may use more than one type. 

Some help keep the layers together like glue. Others form designs better. And still, other types of icings or frosting add details. 

5 Types of Icing or Frosting 

• • Butter Cream – This soft and very spreadable icing is tasty and preferred by bakers. It’s made with sugar and either lard, butter, or margarine. 

• • Cream Cheese Frosting – By combining Butter Cream frosting and cream cheese, this rich and soft frosting pairs well with cupcakes and red velvet cake. 

• • Fondant – Made with gelatin, glycerine, shortening, and other ingredients, this sculptable and moldable frosting builds a variety of designs on cakes. 

• • Meringue – Egg whites, cold water, and granulated sugar beaten to a frothy consistency create a beautifully light and airy frosting. The final product may be served chilled or cooked to a crisp. This frosting often will be found on top of tarts or pies. 

• • Royal Icing – A paste-like frosting, Royal Icing dries to a hard shell. Made from egg whites, icing sugar, and lime juice, this icing readily accepts colors. 

We ooh and awe at a beautifully presented meal or dessert. Cake decorators take the challenge and offer us works of Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Frank Lloyd Wright, Julia Morgan, and Frida Kahlo in pastry form.  

 
Not only do we celebrate with dark chocolate ganache, but our eyes can’t imagine the feats before us. 

At times, cake artists also create sugar art as well. They delight us with their flavors and inspiring designs. 

 
HOW TO OBSERVE 

 
Decorate a cake. Thank your favorite cake, decorator. Give them a shout out and let them know you appreciate their hard work and dedication. Share your favorite designs or your memories of past cakes that impressed you.  

 
What would you like to see in cake design? If you’re a cake decorator, share with us your most impressive decoration. Show off! And while you’re at it, pat yourself on the back, flour print and all. 

 
Be sure to invite someone to #CelebrateEveryDay with you and enjoy a delicious decorated cake. Use #NationalCakeDecoratingDay to post on social media. 

 
HISTORY 

 
National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of the sweet and creative food holiday.  

 
#NationalCakeDecoratingDay 

@bettycrocker 

@Pillsbury 

@DuncanHines 

@nichecinema 

October 10 - National Chess Day

 

Happy National Chess Day! Checkmate! The second Saturday in October recognizes the game of which challenges players mentally while also breaking down barriers through the centuries.    

Chess developed in India during the fifth century. As the strategic game spread across continents, the pieces and rules evolved. It also shifted between classes.  

Once, only the upper class could afford to linger over a long, challenging game. However, the merchant class would later introduce the game to the rest of the population as they traveled around the world trading their wares. 

In the game of chess, two opponents go head to head with sixteen playing pieces each. 

These pieces include eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen and one king in each color. Their objective is to capture the opponent’s king through a series of strategic moves. 

The day celebrates the long history of chess and recognizes the role chess plays in connecting people across societies.  

The game has broken many barriers – class, language, and cultural – simply by two people sitting down to play one of the most mentally challenging games in the world. 

Chess is such an old game that it is hard to determine the exact origins of the game. Some believe chess was invented around 200 B.C. in China.  

The inventor, a commander named Han Xin, supposedly came up with the game to represent a particular battle. Unfortunately, the game was forgotten until the 7th century when it resurfaced with new rules.  

Chess eventually made its way from China to India and Persia. Others believe the game of Chess began in North India during the 6th century and then spread throughout Asia. 

Chess Facts 

• • It’s a mental game. However, the game can end as quickly as two moves. 

• • The longest possible chess game in terms of the number of moves is 5,949! 

• • Checkmate derives from the Persian phrase Shah Mat. The phrase means “the King is dead.” 

• • In 1989, a chess match between Ivan Nikolic and Goran Arsovic in Belgrade ended in a draw. It was recorded as the longest official check game and lasted two hundred and sixty-nine moves! 

• • The playing board used today with the alternating light and dark squares first appeared in Europe in 1090. 

FUN FACTS 

 
Shortest Game 

 
The shortest game in a world championship was the 21st match game in the World Chess Championship 1963 between Mikhail Botvinnik and Tigran Petrosian. The players agreed to a draw after the tenth move by White (Petrosian). 

 
Longest Game 

 
The longest tournament chess game (in terms of moves) ever to be played was Nikolić–Arsović, Belgrade 1989, which lasted for two hundred and sixty-nine moves and took twenty hours and fifteen minutes to complete a drawn game.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

 
Play a game of chess. Find a tournament near you and join it.  Create an event to teach others to play chess. Use #NationalChessDay to post on social media. 

http://www.uschess.org/index.php/Clubs-Tournaments/ 

National Day Calendar® also revealed 7 Stories Behind Our Favorite Games. Come check it out! 

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/7-stories-behind-our-favorite-games/ 

HISTORY

38th U.S. President Gerald Ford declared National Chess Day on October 9th, 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.  

More information can be found on this day due to the work of David Heiser. You can find his investigative work here. 

http://www.uschess.org/index.php/July/The-Origins-of-National-Chess-Day.html 

"For both professionals and amateurs, chess is a game that sharpens the mind, tests human faculties and encourages healthy competition. 

It has captivated the attention of players and spectators world-wide and will continue to do so as long as competition and excellence challenge mankind." ~ President Gerald Ford ~ October 1976 

Our founding fathers played chess, including George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Franklin was exceptionally skilled and wrote one of the earliest books on chess.

 

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

#NationalChessDay 

@uschess 

@nichecinema