January 3, 2023 - National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day | National Drinking Straw Day

Welcome to January 3rd, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the sweet life and having the last straw. If life is a bowl full of cherries, why not have yours dipped in chocolate? Folks in the 1700s knew what a perfect mid-winter pick me up this candy could be. In England they included kirsch or cherry liqueur. Here in the United States the treat evolved into a sweet liquid center surrounded by milk or dark chocolate. Even the National Confectioners Association has been known to recognize National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day as an annual event. But if this candy is a bit too much for your sweet tooth try any combination of cherries and chocolate in cookies, bars or cake. You’ve heard the expression, that’s the last straw! But what about the first? The very first straws were used by ancient Sumerians for drinking beer. And because the beer barrels were too large to pass around, these long, communal drinking straws had to go the distance. The next ones were made from rye grass, which made beverages taste, well, grassy! Thanks to Marvin Stone, the paper straw replaced this kind, and folks began sipping in a more appealing way. We celebrate National Drinking Straw Day on January 3rd because that’s when Marvin received his patent in 1888. But with more than 500 million plastic straws going to waste each day, some people celebrate with new and improved ways to do their part. If you see plastic as the last straw for the environment, try paper ones or reusable straws made of metal, glass or bamboo. 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