Among the alcoholic drinks in the world, beer is the oldest and most widely consumed. It is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. People all over the world definitely love beer so much so that International Beer Day (IBD) was created and is now celebrated on the first Friday of every August.

This celebration was founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California which has grown from a small localized event in the western United States into a worldwide celebration spanning 207 cities, 50 countries and 6 continents. International Beer Day has three declared purposes:

1. To gather with friends and enjoy the taste of beer.
2. To celebrate those responsible for brewing and serving beer.
3. To unite the world under the banner of beer, by celebrating the beers of all nations together on a single day.

Since 2007 until 2012, International Beer Day was celebrated on August 5. The holiday was moved to the first Friday of August after IBD 2012 when the founders took a poll of fans and chose to move the date.

Celebrations are observed throughout the United States as well as in Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, England, France, Greece, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.

Some of the events included during International Beer Day are as follows : tapping of new or rare beers, all-day happy hours, beer flights, trivia nights, binge drinking and other games (such as beer pong), beer/food pairings and beer gear giveaways.

Have you tried joining the IBD celebrations? What was your most exciting experience?

“For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older — places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity.”

— President Ronald Reagan

Elderlies or the Senior Citizens, deserve all the love and respect in the world. Thanks to the late US President Ronald Reagan for declaring August 21 of each year as the National Senior Citizens Day in the United States of America; under proclamation 5847 on August 19, 1988. The celebration aims to recognize contributions senior citizens make in communities across the country.

How is National Senior Citizens Day observed in the US?

National Senior Citizens Day was established to honor senior citizens in the US who made positive contributions in their communities. The day was also created to bring awareness of social, health, and economic issues that affect senior citizens. This is an observance and not a public holiday in the US.

Some people spend time with the senior citizens they know to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day. Various events and activities are also organized to raise awareness of supporting older people and recognizing their achievements. Some people raise awareness through social media and news stories, while others organize special community gatherings inviting senior citizens, their families, friends and volunteers. Some businesses give special discounts or deals and promotions to senior citizens on or around August 21.

National Senior Citizens Day may also be a good day to volunteer at a retirement home and share smile with those who may not otherwise get a visitor during the day.

There are a lot of ways to let our elderlies know that they are appreciated and loved. Let’s make the most of this day to let them feel their importance and the difference they have made in today’s world.

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia became the sixth province of Canada in 1871. Its capital is Victoria and its largest city is Vancouver.  The province has a resource dominated economy which is centered on the forestry industry. In the first quarter of 2017, British Columbia has a population of over 4.7 million.

In 1974, with the aim to create a statutory holiday and recognize the pioneers in the province, the British Columbia Day Act was first introduced to the Legislative Assembly. The act gained royal assent in 1996 giving way to the British Columbia Day celebration every first Monday of August. British Columbia was the last province to establish an August Monday holiday. This yearly statutory holiday in the province gives Canadians the chance to celebrate with family and friends. This year, British Columbia Day falls on August 7.

During the long weekend, people grab the chance to make short trips out of town and spend time into one of the areas with beautiful scenery in the province. Some of the activities people do during the long weekend are camping, walking on the parks, hiking or canoeing. The first Monday in August falls in the middle of the summer season that is why people incorporate the holiday into their summer vacation. In most urban areas, various celebrations are organized which features fireworks displays, parades and cultural festivals. Events are held in appreciation of Canadian’s contributions in the areas of sport, technology, cuisine and Canadian-Japanese culture.