National Days in August

Here in the UK, we don’t need a reason to pop open the bubbly or throw a party! We love a good celebration, whether you’ve had a great day at work and decided to treat yourself to a glass of wine (maybe two…) or you’re having a birthday bash to celebrate big 50! This August there are plenty of reasons to celebrate with loads of national and international days that you can get involved with and celebrate to your heart’s content!

INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY
The 2nd of August brings a great start to the month with International Beer Day giving us all a reason to celebrate! Get on down to the pub with the family or friends for a pint, or two… or three! It started in the USA in 2007 and is now a worldwide celebration spanning 207 cities, 80 countries and 6 continents. Specifically, International Beer Day has three declared purposes: To gather with friends and enjoy the taste of beer. To celebrate those responsible for brewing and serving beer and to unite the world under the banner of beer, by celebrating the beers of all nations together on a single day.

PLAYDAY
Play is an essential part of every child’s life. The 7th of August is Playday and is dedicated to children playing! Playday is the national day for play, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. It is the biggest play sector event in the UK, and possibly Europe! As well as a celebration of children’s right to play, Playday is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives. To celebrate Playday, children and young people get out and play at hundreds of community events across the UK. You can celebrate Playday any way you want this August, go to the park, take a trip to the beach or throw a party for your child and all of their friends to celebrate this amazing day!

INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY
For all of you cat lovers out there, the 8th of August is your day to celebrate your little furballs! International Cat Day is a day to raise awareness for our feline friends and learn about ways we can help and protect them. If you have a cat, go and treat them to some catnip and share your favourite photos and videos of them on social media for the rest of the world to admire. Or if you don’t own a cat, head on down to Gables or Woodside to see what you’re missing out on – you might even give a cat their forever home!

CYCLE TO WORK DAY
Cats aren’t all we’re celebrating on August 8th. This day also represents Cycle to Work Day across the UK. Cycle to Work Day is the UK’s biggest cycle commuting event. Every year since 2012 thousands of enthusiastic riders have hit the streets to celebrate everyday cycling. All you need to take part is a bike – new or old – and the desire to ride. You can go solo or be the change your workplace needs and organise an event for you and your colleagues. You can help the environment and get fit at the same time! Whatever you do, however far your ride – have fun!

WORLD ELEPHANT DAY
World Elephant Day is an international annual event on August 12th, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s elephants. The goal of World Elephant Day is to create awareness of the urgent plight of African and Asian elephants and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better care and management of captive and wild elephants. Both African and Asian elephants face extinction within twelve years. You can help by adopting an elephant and help fight illegal wildlife trade, reduce habitat loss and help people live alongside elephants. Visit www.wwf.org.uk to see how you can help today!

INTERNATIONAL LEFT HANDERS DAY
August 13th is International Left-Handers Day. Take the chance to tell your family and friends how proud you are of being left-handed, and also raise awareness of the everyday issues that lefties face as we live in a world designed for right-handers. This international day was launched by The Lefthanders Club in 1992 and it is now an annual event left-hander everywhere can celebrate their sinistrality and increase public awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed. This event is now celebrated worldwide, and in the U.K. alone there have been more than 20 regional events to mark the day in recent years – including left-v-right sports matches, a left-handed tea party, and pubs using left-handed corkscrews where patrons drank and played pub games with the left hand only. These events have contributed more than anything else to the general awareness of the difficulties and frustrations left-handers experience in everyday life, and have successfully led to improved product design and greater consideration of our needs by the right-handed majority.

NATIONAL PROSECCO DAY
Now if there is a day that should be a bank holiday it’s National Prosecco Day! And if you’re as much of a prosecco lover as we here at OM, then Tuesday 13th August is your day to celebrate even if you have nothing to celebrate! Pop open the bubbly and invite the girls over for a catch up because…why not?! Raise a toast to those remaining days of the summer and embrace life’s everyday celebrations.

INTERNATIONAL HOMELESS ANIMALS
International Homeless Animals Day (IHAD) began in 1992 when the International Society for Animals Rights decided to dedicate a day to spreading awareness about pet overpopulation. Since then, events, observances, participants, and positive results have grown every year. Currently, celebrations can be found in more than 50 countries. Pet overpopulation is an epidemic that has spread worldwide. Every year, IHAD sponsors spay/neuter clinics, adopt-a-thons, microchip clinics, and even inspiring speeches from those who work with these animals every day. The millions of homeless animals around the world need humans to look out for them. If we don’t do anything, these animals risk starvation and pain, or euthanisation at overcrowded animal control facilities. The animals depend on us, and thanks to IHAD, we can speak up for them.

WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY
On 19th August photography lovers across the globe will be celebrating World Photography Day. This celebratory day was founded in 2009 by the Australian photographer Korske Ara. World Photography Day is an annual, worldwide celebration of the art, craft, science, and history of photography. The main aim of the day is to inspire positive change across the world; connecting people and raising awareness through the use of photography. Get involved with World Photography Day this August; grab your cameras and head out with the kids to explore the wonders of the South West to celebrate World Photography Day. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re an amateur or professional photographer, just be sure to share your best photos on social media and tag using #WorldPhotographyDay. To find out more about world photography day, visit www.worldphotographyday.com

NATIONAL DOG DAY
National Dog Day is on August 26th and if you’re a dog lover then this is the day for you to celebrate along with your furry friend! National Dog Day celebrates all dogs, mixed breed and pure. The mission for this day is to help the public to recognise the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day…for personal protection, for law enforcement, for the disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage, now they’re detecting cancer and seizures…things even humans cannot do. There are so many ways to celebrate National Dog Day, whether you decide to give your dog loads fuss and a new toy or you want to do something more extravagant; visit www.nationaldogday.com to find out more ways you can celebrate!