April 18, 2022 - National Columnists' Day | National Animal Crackers Day

Welcome to April 18, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate good advice and a box full of fun. Every family seems to have someone who likes to dispense advice to everyone else. The Friedman family of Sioux City, Iowa had two—twin girls Pauline and Esther. The world knows them better as the famous newspaper columnists Abigail Van Buren and Ann Landers, respectively. For decades, these two women published advice columns and helped Americans sort through delicate matters dealing with work, romance, and family life. When the original Abby retired, her daughter took over and continues answering readers’ letters to this day using the pseudonym. It’s National Columnists’ Day, when we celebrate the writers and reporters who entertain and inform us throughout the year. When animal crackers were first made by the Stauffer Biscuit Company in 1871, they came in barrels and had very little detail. The fun shapes caught on in America, however, and were reimagined by the Nabisco Company in 1902. The red box with a string handle became known as Barnum’s Animals after the iconic circus showman. Originally, the box was made as a Christmas ornament and to this day they are made with a handle for hanging. Barnum’s Animals remain a fan favorite and perhaps that’s because the more than 37 different animals are stamped with impressive detail. Only one of these stands out from the rest, as the only animal that’s depicted wearing pants. Who knows why the monkey is special, but on National Animal Crackers Day we celebrate this sweet box of nostalgia that still has a place in our hearts. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices