August 3, 2022 - National Grab Some Nuts Day | National Watermelon Day

Welcome to August 3rd, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate protein on the go and Summertime’s juiciest fruit. Nuts have been a healthy snack for thousands of years. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon featured pistachio trees. And the Ancient Greeks believed that hazelnuts could cure baldness. But here in America, the most popular nut is actually a legume. Thanks to the cartoon character known as Mr. Peanut, this snack has enjoyed one of the best ad campaigns of all time. In 1916 young Antonio Gentille submitted his drawing of the character for a contest run by Planters. The company paid him five dollars for his design, but later paid his college tuition, after realizing the value of this icon. Mr. Peanut still appears in Super Bowl ads and on National Grab Some Nuts Day we celebrate this healthy way to get some protein on the go. Summer wouldn’t be the same without a slice of juicy watermelon. Most of us look forward to the season when the round or oval melons can be seen stacked one on top of one another. Unless you’re in Japan. There, the watermelons are square. It’s not some weird mutation—the fruit is intentionally grown this way. When the melons are still small, they are put into square boxes made of tempered glass. As they grow, the fruit takes on the shape of the box. This makes for easier storage and display in grocery stores. But no matter how you stack it, National Watermelon Day is the perfect time to enjoy this refreshing treat. I’m Anna Devere and I’m John McClain filling in for Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices