16th July : Significance

Snakes have gotten something of a bad rap over the past few thousand years. What with that one snake tricking that nice lady nice lady into eating an apple way back when, thus condemning the entire human race to mortality, snakes have been mistrusted if not flat-out feared. And while it is understandable that people may fear an animal that can easily kill them, we think these fascinating, diverse creatures that range from several inches to 30 feet long, and from friendly and docile to aggressive and deadly, deserve for people to find out more about them.

The History of World Snake Day

The snake is one of the oldest mythological characters and has been revered by civilizations the world over. There are about 3,458 species of snakes known so far, ranging from the semi-frozen tundra of northern Canada to the steamy jungles of the equator and most of the world's oceans. Snakes are highly effective predators and play a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature in each of these realms. Snakes are also fascinating in that they have a prehistoric lineage, thus giving us a glimpse back to a prehistoric time when the earth was ruled by reptilesmany people have no idea that modern reptiles are literally the living, breathing cousins of dinosaurs.

The species that seem to fascinate people the most are the King Cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world most people have seen in movies being coaxed out of a basket by a snake charmer; the Rattlesnake, that has forced countless people to suck its poison out of the bite before it's too late; and the Reticulated Python, the world's longest snake that kills its prey by strangling it.

World Snake Day was created to help people learn more about these animals and how much they contribute to the world as we know it.

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How to Celebrate World Snake Day

Have you ever thought about having a pet snake? Snakes may not be the right pet for everyone, but if you have it in you to take on the challenge it is to own and care for a pet snake, World Snake Day may be the time to make that decision. If not, however, you can take advantage of this day to learn some more about these incredible animals. Here are some interesting facts to help you do that:

1. Where do snakes live?

Snakes are found in every continent except Antarctica in the sea, forests, deserts, prairies, and even your backyard or garage.

2. What do snakes eat?

Snakes consume many different animals including insects small rodents and frogs. Snakes eat their prey whole because their lower jaw can separate from the upper jaw. Very large snakes can even eat small deer, pigs, monkeys, and even primates.

3. How do snakes behave?

Snakes rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature. They spend as long in the warm sun as they need to in order to get warm, and when they become too warm, they find shade to cool off. They are generally not aggressive unless they are hunting or feel like they need to defend themselves. They shed their skin three to six times a year.

4. How do they defend themselves?

Snakes use a variety of techniques defend themselves, including camouflage, biting and envenoming those they feel are threatening them. Sometimes they simply curl up in a tight ball to hopefully avoid being seen.

5. Why are some snakes endangered?

Fortunately, snakes are not widely hunted, but their numbers are still declining due to deforestation and climate change causing the deterioration of their habitats and a declining amount of available prey.

Each year on July 16th, National Personal Chef Day is observed. This day celebrates the dedication and hard work of personal chefs across the United States who prepare delicious meals for households, seniors and in many other settings.

A personal chef prepares meals in clients' home kitchens, based on the client's needs and preferences. A personal chef may also prepare dinner parties and other special events.

A personal chef differs from a private chef in that the private chef is employed exclusively by one client and may even live in the clients home.

Now our Personal Chef is our Mother since our birth!!

No, kids and husbands, it's not the same thing as Mothers Day!

The United States Personal Chef Association (USPCA) proudly offers you your chance to serenade the single-minded, single-handed, solo pan handler and knife brandisher in your life.
They say most chefs could start a fight in an empty room so give yours some love on Personal Chef Day. The chances are you're their only fan and also their only critic on a daily basis. Has the relationship become stale? Why not enliven it in the obvious fashion- by cooking them a meal and telling them not to hold back their opinions. Then, as a few pieces of your finest china go whizzing past your ear you can feel happy that you've allowed your go-it-alone gastronaut to let off steam.

More seriously, if you're lucky enough to have a personal chef in your life, treat him extra nicely. For others, maybe there's someone out there whom you take for granted on the food front and deserves some pampering. A school cafeteria goddess, the tea person at work or, most obviously...YOUR MOTHER!!! She doesn't even get a fancy job title or a pretentious hat. You know what to do diners.