6th February : Significance

Even a lame-duck president can be affected by a clear midterm message if he wants to see his vice president elected and preserve his historical legacy.
Noah Feldman

We've all heard someone referred to as a Lame Duck, but the original meaning of this phrase is often lost. Lame Duck is a term used to describe an elected official who is no longer responsible to his constituency, usually due to the fact that he's on his way out of office and reelection is no longer a possibility.

History of Lame Duck Day

Lame Duck Day celebrates the ratification of the 20th amendment of the United States, an amendment added to shorten the time that the President, Senators, and Representatives spent in office after an election. During this time, especially if the representative was not reelected or is no longer eligible for reelection, they no longer have to concern themselves with the desires of their constituency. While this only happens during certain small sections of time, significant decisions have been made during this period. What kinds of things? Homeland Security is one of the biggest results of a lame duck congress meeting, but there have also been wars started and a president impeached, all under the auspices of a lame-duck session.
Where did the term come from? In the 1700's a Lame-Duck was used to describe those stock brokers who had gauged their investments badly and could no longer pay off their debts. Later, it was extended to include unethical business-men who would find themselves bankrupted, and continue to do business anyway, even though they had no money to pay employees or suppliers. The term has now been extended to include the representatives listed above, and to describe those sessions where the people in session are no longer beholden to those people who elected them.

How to celebrate Lame Duck Day

Lame Duck Day is best celebrated by researching the history of those people you support politically, and find out just how accountable they really are to their constituents. Have they consistently voted their conscience in the past, have they worked to promote the things they were elected to support? It is especially important to pay attention to that period following a re-election, a choice to retire, or when their office has been eliminated, it's this time period where they will most clearly show their true colors. If they remained true to their principles during this time period (their professed principles, odds are good that they'll stay true to their constituents when the hammer comes down.

"Frozen yogurt is tastier than ice cream,
Richelle E. Goodrich

You know what makes every day better? A big old scoop of ice cream, you know what's even better than that? If you said Frogurt, you're absolutely correct! Frozen Yogurt has all the benefits and diversity of ice cream, coming in a range of flavors just as incredible, but its far better for you! Frozen Yogurt Day lets you get your sweet tooth satisfied with cold creamy deliciousness, while helping to keep your heart and body healthy! What could be better?

History of Frozen Yogurt Day

Yogurt is a treat that has been with us since time out of mind, well over 4000 years in fact! It found its start in the Middle East and India, and was used extensively in just about every kind of meal you could imagine. But it wasn't until the 1900's that yogurt found its way to the Americas and increased in popularity so quickly and thoroughly that it's no longer thought of as exotic. It wasn't until the 1970's, as Ice Cream was hitting an all time popularity, that some bright spark knew they could do better, and then they did.

Frozen Yogurt sales exploded after TCBY launched it's first store in 1981, and by 1986 Frozen Yogurt sales reached $25 million dollars. By 1990, it was 10% of the frozen dessert market, and Frozen Yogurt was solidly here to stay. Frozen Yogurt Day reminds us to go out and enjoy this delicious alternative to Ice Cream, and to remember that sometimes the original isn't the best, sometimes it's all about innovation! So if you're looking for a heart healthy dessert that has all the flavor and punch of ice cream, get out there and buy yourself some Frozen Yogurt!

How to celebrate Frozen Yogurt Day

#NationalFrozenYogurtDay can start your celebration, just post that on your Facebook page and other social media, and watch the frenzy ensue! If you haven't had frozen yogurt in a while, get out there and buy yourself an absolute rainbow of flavors, and host a party where everyone brings their favorite toppings. You can even have a frozen yogurt day at your work, encourage everyone to bring in a box of their favorite flavor, and have a little frozen yogurt social right there at lunch time! Don't forget to bring lots of toppings and your appetite! Frozen Yogurt Day may only come once a year, but you can eat it all year round!