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8 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2016 Did You Know? By Micki Rosen DID YOU KNOW THAT FEB. 3 IS CARROT CAKE DAY? Carrot cake has been made since the Middle Ages, when sugar and other sweeteners were rare and very expensive so people used sweet vegetables to flavor their puddings. This technique became practically obsolete for several hundred years, but resurfaced in the 20th century. During World War II, the British government rationed many luxury foods and household staples including sugar. To appease the nation's sweet tooth, the Ministry of Food promoted recipes for carrot puddings, carrot-filled pies and carrot cakes. Today, many families in the UK still serve carrot cake on Christmas Day. DID YOU KNOW THAT FEB. 6 IS ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST DAY? Ice Cream for Breakfast Day was created in the 1960s by housewife Florence Rappaport from New York – the exact year is unknown, but it is suspected that it could have been 1966, as an enormous blizzard hit that area that year. The idea behind the day was simply that Florence's six children were exceptionally bored one cold and snowy February morning, and she had to come up with something to entertain them. The following year, Florence's children reminded her of the day so they could celebrate again, and the day became a tradition from then onward. The holiday really caught on thanks to Florence's grandchildren, who have traveled extensively – the day has been celebrated all around the world! DID YOU KNOW THAT FEB. 8 IS OPERA DAY? Operas have been captivating audiences since the sixteenth century, and this highly revered art form continues to gain new enthusiasts today. There is no better time to celebrate your passion for opera than Opera Day. If you have yet to develop a passion for opera, this is the perfect day to begin. If you can't find an opera locally, check YouTube for performances by the likes of Verdi, Mozart and Wagner. DID YOU KNOW THAT FEB. 27 IS STRAWBERRY DAY? Strawberry Day was created to celebrate those little red fruits bursting with sweet perfection. A gift from Chile in the 1700s, garden strawberry plants made their way to North America in the 1750s. The plant is fairly easy to grow and seems to flourish anywhere in the world. If you'd like your own homegrown strawberries this summer, make sure your plant has full sun and sandy soil. Strawberry fields forever! DID YOU KNOW THAT FEB. 18 IS DRINK WINE DAY? A glass of wine a day keeps the cardiologist away, or so they say. That may be the reason there is such a thing as Drink Wine Day, but who's to say we needed a reason to gurgle down a glass of our favorite zesty Bordeaux anyway? Well, whoever thought of proclaiming a Drink Wine Day certainly pleased the gods, and one in particular: Dionysus, or Bacchus to the Romans – god of merry making, wine, theatre and ecstasy. Santé!