The Time Capsule | Roy Marshall
Next week, on March 1, we’ll celebrate National Pig Day, also known as Pig Appreciation Day. According to researchers at Holiday Insights, an organization that’s compiled and posted a list of odd events, this observance was created in 1972 by an art teacher named Ellen Stanley. Her intent was to “recognize and be thankful for pigs as intelligent domestic animals.”
Ms. Stanley did what she could to bring greater appreciation for the intellect and character of pigs. Congress failed to act, though, so like most of these “national” days, post offices remain open.
Based on what we know about Stanley’s perception of swine, she probably doesn’t celebrate March 7, which is National Crown Roast of Pork Day. Holiday Insights does not know who to credit for this day. Neither do I, but it brings to mind mom’s cousin, Vernon Slane. Vernon, a Missourian, is the only person I know who actually served the dish.
Vernon liked to cook memorable meals for large groups. His favorite special occasion recipe called for 20 squirrels. He also raised hogs, butchered his own, and one year for the family reunion took an entire loin, split it the long way and left about four inches of rib. Placed end to end, he secured the loins in a large circle, inside of the ribs facing out. This really did resemble an oversized crown. When it came out of his pit barbecue, he heaped the thing full of what I’d guess was 3 or 4 gallons of cornbread dressing, nicely domed to represent the top of her majesty’s head. While the result was tasty, it was presentation that made Vernon a legend.
March is full of days set aside for curious purposes. The 5th is Multiple Personality Day, followed by Dentist’s Day. Popcorn Lover’s Day is always the second Thursday. Panic Day is the 9th. March 13 is Ear Muff Day and honors Chester Greenwood, who was said to have had large and sensitive ears. In 1877, at the age of 15, he patented “The Champion Ear Protector.” His business grew into a factory turning out ear mufflers by the tens of thousands. Greenwood was neither born nor died in March, so we wonder why a colder month wasn’t chosen to celebrate his muffs. The answer may be that he wore them the year around.
March 14 is National Pi Day, and this one was actually acted upon by the US House of Representatives. It celebrates a mathematical concept I’m unable to grasp—a number that never ends—and the date was well-chosen as we all know that “pi” is 3.14 (with decimals to infinity) and 3-14 is Albert Einstein’s birthday.
The 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, when we eat corned beef and cabbage and drink green beer. It doesn’t seem right that the very next day is Goddess of Fertility Day, but it is. Even stranger is that Goddess of Fertility Day is also Supreme Sacrifice Day.
Other special days in March include Poultry Day (hug your chicken), Melba Toast Day, Everything You Think is Wrong Day, Chocolate Covered Raisin Day, Waffle Day, Pecan Day, Spinach Day, Clam on the Half Shell Day, Something on a Stick Day, Weed Appreciation Day and Make Up Your Own Holiday Day.
March 20 is one we’ve circled on our calendar—Extraterrestrial Abductions Day. Recently released government files on UFOs may cause this one to get more attention than it has in the past. Researchers at Holiday Insights tell us they have tried diligently to determine the origin, but have not succeeded. They suspect, in fact, that whoever founded the day has been abducted.
Roy Marshall is a local historian and columnist for the Red Oak Express. He can be contacted at news@redoakexpress.com.