January 16, 2022 - National Nothing Day | National Fig Newton Day

Welcome to January 16th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate deep thoughts and a bite of cookie history. According to some philosophers, there is no such thing as nothing. With the very idea of thinking of the concept of nothingness, you’re proving that it doesn’t exist. That may sound like a big concept, but I think we can all relate. In the middle of our hectic lives, there’s almost no time for nothing. But the truth is we need to take a step back and relax— and basically, do nothing. Turn off your phone, stay away from social media, take a nap. Embrace the nothingness. It’s not often that you can get away with it, but on National Nothing Day, you’ve got the perfect excuse. When someone asks you what you’re doing, feel free to tell them to buzz off because you’re busy doing nothing. Which is actually something. Kinda. 19th Century physicians believed that most illnesses were caused by digestive problems. The remedy they most often prescribed was a small biscuit or cookie. So when Charles Roser invented a machine to fold fig jam into dough, the Kennedy Baking Company saw an opportunity. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts they were already naming cookies after nearby cities. When they purchased the recipe for Roser’s fig cookie in 1891 they had a few choices for the name. One was Shrewsbury. And thank goodness they had the sense to choose Newton, Massachusetts instead. And that is how Fig Newtons got their name. No offense to Shrewsbury—the Fig Shrewsbury just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. On National Fig Newton Day, pour yourself a glass of milk and enjoy this bite of cookie history. I’m Anna Devere and I’m John McClain. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices