Official Kids Mag

February 16 Here's a day when the fun really "stacks up! " Also known as Johnnycakes, griddle cakes or hotcakes, this batter-y breakfast item dates back more than 30,000 years. In fact, it may be the oldest breakfast food in history, going as far back as the Stone Age and even found in the stomach of Otzi the Iceman, whose human remains are estimated to be 5,300 years old. The first recorded mention of pancakes dates back to ancient Greece and comes from a poet who described warm pancakes in one of his writings. Ancient Greeks and Romans made what were called Alita Dolcia or "another sweet" with wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk. The practice of pouring batter on a pan and frying it is common in nearly every culture around the world. In 1931 Bisquick was first introduced in the United States and cooks began using it to make fluffy pancakes. In 1985 Bisquick became the official sponsor of National Pancake Week, a celebration of all things pancake. International House of Pancakes got in the act starting in 2006, by giving guests a free short stack of Buttermilk pancakes. In return for the free pancakes, diners are asked to consider leaving a donation for a local charity. Fun fact: The largest pancake to ever be flipped was in Rochdale, United Kingdom. It, measured 16.4 yards across and weighed 3 tons. February 12 lunar New year 2021 year of the ox If you made some New Year's resolutions that you didn't keep, fear not. On February 12, you can start over! That's the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. It's celebrated with festivals around the world: not only in mainland China, but also in regions and countries with large Chinese populations, like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, North America, and Europe. A full 20% of the Earth's population celebrates this day by eating good food and share red envelopes with money in them with their families. It is also traditional for people to clean their houses from top to bottom, in order to sweep away bad luck and to make way for a lucky new year. There are parades and fireworks—lots and lots of fireworks. In fact, it's a day that uses more fireworks than any other day of the year. Every Chinese Year is named for an animal of the Chinese zodiac. The animals are, in order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The Ox is very hardworking, and 2021 is going to be a year when hard work will be rewarded. So study and work hard this year! February 14 Valentine's day This is a day to show our love for others with cards, flowers and other gifts of our affection. Valentine's Day is believed to have originated from the feast for the patron saint named Valentine by the Catholic Church in 496 AD. This festival was celebrated at the beginning of spring and paid homage to the Roman God of Agriculture, Faunus, on February 15. It was during the 1400s that the day became associated with romance. Messages, or 'Valentines' as they were called, began to appear. Hand written letters and poems declaring love became more and more popular. In the mid-1800s, Valentine's cards began to be produced and traditional gifts were candy and flowers, especially red roses, which symbolized love and beauty. Today, Valentine's Day has become a day to show friends and family how much you care for them. create some sweet treats in the kitchen to give to those you love, with the recipes on page 8 or, use centrifugal force (and your creativity) to make your own valentines with some spin art Hearts, instructions on page 12. February 22 National Walking the dog day This day combines two of the great things in life: dogs and exercise. So grab your walking shoes, a leash, and some treats for the road, and take your favorite pooch for a walk to celebrate! Try a different trail or visit a nearby park. Dogs love to explore new sights, scents, and sounds. Don't have a dog of your own to walk on National Walking the Dog Day? Maybe it's time to visit your local animal shelter. Take some dogs in need of adoption on a stroll, or even better, ask about adopting, and then enjoy walking your dog, every day. Meet Kobe, a dog who loves walks, on page 43. February 27 National Pokemon Day Happy birthday, Pokémon! The popular franchise was "born" on this day in 1996. You could say the pocket monsters' fame started with the birth of the man who invented it, Satoshi Tajiri, who was born August 28, 1965 in Machica, Tokyo. Satoshi liked to catch insects and tadpoles near his home in suburban Tokyo. Over time, he decided to put his idea of catching creatures into a video game, to give other kids the same thrills he had as a child. On February 27, 1996, Pokémon met the world when the first Pokémon video games, Pokémon Red and Green, were released for the original Nintendo Game Boy. They allowed players to catch, train and trade 151 creatures and become Pokémon Masters. Soon, a Pokémon Trading Card Game was developed. The first set of cards was released on October 20, 1996, and contained 102 cards. There were many generations, spin- offs, merchandise, a TV and film series, books, manga, comics and more to follow, including in May 2019, when the first live-action film of the beloved Pokemon character, Pikachu, was released. The Pokémon phenomenon is still going strong after all these years. Most recently, in 2016, Pokémon Go, a mobile game for smartphones was released, introducing even more people to the world of Pokémon. Celebrate National Pokémon Day by playing some Pokémon! National Pancake Day officialKidsMag.com • FeBruary 2021 • 7

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