MDBCs 03 May 2025

Created and organized by the Herb Day Coalition, an organization of five non-profit groups, the holiday encourages people to learn more about herbs and use them more extensively in their daily lives.

The holiday, which first began in 2006 in the United States, brings together herbalists, gardeners, manufacturers of herbal products, culinarians and home cooks, and the general public. It attempts to spread knowledge about the medicinal, culinary and cosmetic benefits of herbs.

Different From Spices

Botanically, herbs are green parts of a plant that are used in food, medicine or as additional flavoring. They are usually leaves and can be used fresh or dried. Herbs are distinct from spices, which are usually dried or processed non-leafy – seeds, barks, roots, or stems – parts of a plant or a tree.

Worshiped Plants

People around the world use herbs for cooking and for medicinal purposes. Some cultures consider herbs as having spiritual qualities and extensively use them during religious ceremonies. In India for example, basil is considered to be a holy plant and is worshiped in many parts of the country.

How to Celebrate?

Learn more about different kind of herbs and their uses.
Start a small herb garden in your kitchen – herbs are easy to grow and they will make your kitchen smell nice.

Did You Know…

…that some people perceive the taste of cilantro or coriander as being soapy and like eating bugs? Studies have shown that this is because they have a special olfactory receptor gene called OR6A2, that makes them sensitive to the aldehyde chemicals found in the herb.

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Free Comic Book Day

The first Saturday of May every year is celebrated around the world as Free Comic Book Day. On this day, participating specialty comic book stores give out free comics to anyone visiting their stores.

The holiday has three main aims – to create new comic book readers, to show appreciation to current comic book fans, and to bring back former comic book readers by reminding them about the joy of reading comic books. The holiday also encourages people to get acquainted with the art and science of comic books and to patronize their local comic book stores.

The unofficial holiday was first observed in the United States and Canada in 2002. It has now become a popular holiday around the world.

Following the footsteps of Free Comic Book Day, German, Austrian, and Swiss comic book industry and stores started their own version of the unofficial holiday in 2010. Gratis Comic Tag as the holiday is called, is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of May.

Comic book stores in the Netherlands and Belgium celebrate Free Comic Book Day on the first Saturday and Sunday of May.

How to Celebrate?

Visit your local participating comic store and get your free copy of a comic.
If you have kids in your life, why not take this day to introduce them to the world of comic books?

Did You Know…

…that typographic symbols used in comics to represent profanity are known as grawlixes?

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Astronomy Day

Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

In the spring, the holiday is held on the Saturday closest to the First Quarter Moon between the months of April and May, while in the fall (autumn) it occurs on a Saturday closest to the Quarter Moon between September and October.

Created in 1973

Astronomy Day was created in 1973 by Doug Berger, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. The unofficial holiday is an attempt to raise the interest of the general public in astronomy by giving them easy access to astronomical instruments such as telescopes.

The holiday also seeks to bridge the knowledge gap by giving the public a chance to interact with astronomers and space scientists.

Observe the Sky

On the day, museums, observatories, universities, and astronomy clubs around the world set up easily accessible telescopes in public spaces including schools, parks, and shopping malls to allow people to observe the skies during the day and night. Other events include lectures and conferences, educational outreach, exhibitions, and essay competitions.

An Ancient Science

Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies and non-Earthly phenomena. It deals with objects like the planets, stars, and asteroids as well as events such as eclipses and meteor showers.

Studied since ancient times, the field of astronomy originated and evolved over millennia due to the need for humans to understand the history and science of the Earth and to comprehend the causes of celestial events.

Until very recently, astronomy and astrology were seen as related fields of study. It was only in the 17th century that they separated ways. Today, astrology is seen as a field that deals with spirituality rather than science.

How to Celebrate?

Attend a local Astronomy Day event. Bring family and friends with you and spend some time gazing at the sky through the lenses of a telescope.
Learn more about astronomy and how to study it as an amateur astronomer. You can start here.
If you have children in your life, today is the perfect day to introduce them to the magic of astronomy. Who knows, they may grow up to become the next Carl Sagan or Carolyn Shoemaker!

Did You Know...

...that we can actually see the past? Light from distant stars take a very long time to reach the Earth, so when we look at a star through a telescope we are looking at the light that left the star several hundred, thousands or even million years ago!

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I had an inauspicious start as a dog groomer when one of my first clients bit me. Noticing my pain, my boss voiced her concern.

"Whatever you do," she said, "don’t bleed on the white dogs."

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A letter I received from my son stationed in Baghdad:

Mom,
Yesterday I was part of a security detail for Kid Rock, Kellie Pickler, and comedian Lewis Black. This morning, I had breakfast with the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders. War is hell.
Johnny

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A guy drives into a ditch, but luckily, a farmer is there to help. He hitches his horse, Buddy, up to the car and yells, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy doesn't move.

"Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy doesn't budge.

"Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing.

Then the farmer says, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse drags the car out of the ditch.

Curious, the motorist asks the farmer why he kept calling his horse by the wrong name. "Buddy's blind," said the farmer. "And if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try."

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Max the little camel walks into his parents' room at 3 a.m. and asks for a glass of water.