February 19, 2022 - National Lash Day | National Arabian Horse Day

Welcome to February 19th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate animals that inspire nobility and lash envy. Arabian horses were the first breed of horse ever domesticated. About 5,000 years ago, the Bedouin people broke wild horses and used them for transportation in the deserts of the Middle East. Because of generations of being raised in such harsh conditions, Arabian horses are renowned for their endurance. Though this beautiful and regal animal can have many different color coats, its skin underneath is black, which is another evolution from living in the desert—the dark skin helps to protect the horse from overheating. On National Arabian Horse Day, we celebrate this noble steed and the ways it continues to inspire us. When it comes to thick, beautiful eyelashes, one animal stands head and shoulders above the rest. It turns out that giraffes have special lashes that are perfect for protecting their peepers. In the natural world, lashes that are too long can cause evaporation. Eyelashes that are too short don’t protect from dust and wind. And thick lashes make it hard to see. But giraffes have just the right “Goldilocks effect.” They have several rows of thick eyelashes that filter out sunlight and dust, which is very important when you’re standing around in the bright African plains. Their lashes are essentially built in sunglasses. On National Lash Day we celebrate the beauty and function of eyelashes, and try not to have lash envy for animals who don’t worry about losing their sunglasses. 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