Welcome to January 2nd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a feast for everyone and a voyage of the imagination. 

In the mid 16th Century Swedish folks gathered around a Brannvinsbord, where they enjoyed a pre-dinner array of schnapps or shots of alcohol. This evolved into the smorgasbord or casual offering of appetizers and snacks before a more formal dinner. When the Swedes rolled out this food showcase at the 1939 New York World’s Fair it was an instant hit. Although the English speaking crowd preferred the term “buffet” which was the French word for the sideboard serving table in a dining room. I can just imagine how that went down. After a few rounds of schnapps everyone sounds like the Swedish chef. On National Buffet Day, head to the feeding table where there’s something for everyone.

Jules Verne is famous for books like Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. He’s also known as the Father of Science Fiction. And his novels weren’t only exciting for his time, they also imagined technology that didn’t yet exist. Things like helicopters, submarines, space travel, and even videoconferencing! Though he probably didn’t foresee us having business meetings in our jammies. As a rule, science fiction blends technology with imagination, but Verne almost seems like a time traveler with the accuracy of his predictions. They say art imitates life, but in the case of Jules Verne, maybe it’s the other way around. On National Science Fiction Day celebrate with your own voyage of the imagination.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! 

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