Today – May 14

It is May 14 already! 2020 is flying by like a shooting star. It is a long year ahead just like the months that went by. The days that passed have taught us many things and we are going to rock the rest of the months as well. We bring to you the different reasons we should be celebrating each day through this Today column so read on to know why you should.

NATIONAL BUTTERMILK BISCUIT DAY

There is nothing quite like a flaky, buttermilk biscuit paired with butter, molasses, light sugarcane syrup, sorghum syrup, maple syrup jelly, jam, or honey. These carby, flaky treats emerged in the pre-Civil War era as an inexpensive addition to the meals. Supermarkets offer canned biscuits that are refrigerated until ready to be baked. In 1931, Ballard and Ballard patented these refrigerator biscuits. Biscuits have been a staple of the

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Southern United States cuisine for many years and is often made with buttermilk and served as a side dish with butter. Thus every year on May 14 we celebrate this delicacy!

What did you say? How to celebrate? From celebrating at your favorite restaurant to whipping up a gourmet batch at home, there are ample ways one can pay homage to this Southern staple. You can try something new today. Just mix your cookery skills with ordinary buttermilk biscuits and turn them into an extraordinary dish.

DANCE LIKE A CHICKEN DAY

Get up and move your body! It is Dance Like a Chicken Day today. Yes, May 14 is a unique day!

So, what is the history of the Chicken Dance? Written in the 1950s by Werner Thomas, a Swiss accordionist, the Chicken Dance didn’t even make it to the United States until sometime in the 1970s. The Chicken Dance is associated with polkas or oom-pah-pah music. Originally written with the name Der Ententanz (The Duck Dance), rumors suggest the song was written as a drinking song for Oktoberfest. The song’s title later changed to Vogeltanz (The Bird Dance).

Upon arriving in America in the 1970s, the song acquired choreography with repetitive beak, wing, and tail motions. As well as the new name, The Chicken Dance. But, why chicken dance? In 1981, the dance came to Oktoberfest in the United States. Due to a complete lack of duck costumes anywhere near the event, they settled for chicken costumes instead. The result is its new name.

Dance like a chicken. Invite your friends for a chicken dance today and serve chicken nuggets, fried chicken, chicken fries, and chicken fried steak so that they see chickens dancing everywhere around them. Make a beak with your hands squawk them four times in beat with the music and then make wings and flap them. We have found that the phrase “dance like a chicken” existed long before the dance. It often described someone in trouble or upset, usually in the political or sports arena. The phrase often compares the offender to a “chicken with their head cut off” as they dance around trying to get out of their trouble. Others describe a chicken on a hot surface, such as a griddle or frying pan. However, no identification is being made about the creator of this celebration.

NATIONAL CAESAR DAY

This day celebrates our favorite, cocktail of Canadians. Did you know? Caesar became the national drink when Parliament made it official. Make up a Caesar for yourself and celebrate. But remember, drink responsibly and do not drink and drive. National Caesar Day has been celebrated since May 14, 2015. Bartender Walter Chell of the Westin Hotel (Calgary Inn) in Calgary reportedly invented the spicy vodka drink in 1969. So, let us see what all you need to make this for yourself. You need a lime wedge, 1-1.5 ounce vodka, 4 dashes Worcestershire sauce, Celery salt, 6-ounce Clamato Juice, 2 dashes hot sauce, 1 crisp Celery stalk, and freshly ground pepper. Collect the ingredients and gear up to make this cocktail on this day.

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