All over the country today someone is celebrating the very existence of a fruit, vegetable or meal menu item. It is hard to miss unless one listens to regular television or radio news reports. The local grocery store’s weekly flyers might have a proclamation in bold print reminding one to take advantage of National Pickle Day, or National Pie Day. The honored fruit, vegetable or baked good will be made available in a wide variety of products for sale that day. Unaware of what qualifications had to be met before a special day could be proclaimed, most of us seem to go along with it, particularly if there is a deal included. Making sure their customers have samples for their customers to taste, such as deep-fried pickles or a nibble of one’s favorite pie, is usually part of the celebration.
Finding out the origin of the honorific “National” would be not be too tough, as asking a smart phone such questions makes it easy. One can’t be too certain that the information will be totally accurate yet being able to attach such an official-sounding declaration is sure to get most everyone’s interest. National advisory councils and boards affiliated with each product work hard year round to get the word out, and traditionally most of the products have been easy to highlight on store shelves. The key component is generating interest, to get more customers to buy the featured item. It continues to be a way of drumming up business. It doesn’t really matter if anyone hadn’t indulged in the particular taste treat on sale.
Using this merchandising trick to divert one’s attention is common. Parents and teachers soon become aware that some of the tools used by marketing and public relations people work really well with children. Try asking a group of bickering kids to guess the category of the chosen item for national recognition that day. It shifts their focus and the more fun you have with them giving them clues, the longer you can keep them all interested. This works best at the end of a long day during what many families call “witching hour.”
“Come on guys, I bet you can’t guess what kind of day it is today. We have already celebrated National Donut Day this week, so what do you think it could be?” That question to everyone is a good way to start a conversation. Someone might know the real answer, so the sillier the conversation the better. Playing this game will not only stir up one’s imagination, it could be the only surefire way to put a different spin on words such as national. Happy National Potato Day is soon to arrive!
By DOLLY VISCARDI
Special to the Herald Times
