By Mallory Sherwood, Features Editor

Face the Facts

I was dismayed when I found out I had missed National Pancake Week last week. When else can you celebrate eating delectable pancakes covered in a plethora of toppings such as: chocolate chips, whipped cream, syrup, peanut butter, blueberries and other fruit?

But more than celebrating pancakes, who thinks of celebrating pancakes? I did a little research and found the celebration of the pancake dates back to when English settlers began to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Now it has evolved into its own week.

According to the International House of Pancakes Web site, pancakes were the meal of choice because the flour, milk and eggs in the pancakes symbolized life, innocence and rebirth in the settlers’ lives. They ate pancakes the day before Lent began because the ingredients were forbidden to eat during Lent season.

Several centuries later, people around the world celebrate Pancake Day with pancake dinners, special pancake recipes and pancake flipping and racing competitions.

Does anyone else wonder what other holidays are celebrated? Here is a list of my top 20 favorite holidays that we probably didn’t know existed.

*Love your pet day-Feb. 20

*Stop smoking day-March 12

*No housework day-April 7

*Get a different name day-Feb. 13

*International goof-off day -March 22

*Be late for something day-Sept. 5

*Bathtub party day-Dec. 12

*Sarcastics Awareness Month-October

*International dog biscuit appreciation day-Feb. 23

*Hot diggity dog day-July 10

*Dad and daughter take a walk day-July 6

*Happy birthday to the birthday song day-June 27

*Be bald and free day-Oct. 14

*Hug an Australian day-April 26

*Save the rhino day-May 1

*Take your pet to work day-June 24

*No socks day-May 8

*National hot dog month-July

*International flirting week-Feb. 14-20

*Make your own holiday day-Mar. 26

Make your own holiday day? It is not as easy as it sounds. All of these days, plus more than 300 other random and bizarre celebrated days have actually been verified as holidays.

Those creative souls (or maybe just those twisted and lonely minds) in our world have actually gone to the trouble of either being sponsored by an organization with a lot of money, or they have gone to their local congressman and had the holiday signed in Congress as a bill.

Before anymore time passes, I urge each of you to contact your local congressman before March 26 and have your holiday passed into law. There is no guarantee that it will indeed survive, but if there is a “National If Pets Had Thumbs” day, then surely your day will make it.

Write to Congressman Randy Neugebauer today:

500 Chestnut St .

Room 819

Abilene ,TX 79602