March 16, 2022 - National Artichoke Hearts Day | National Panda Day

Welcome to March 16th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate irresistible vegetables and bears. In the early 1900s, millions of Italians immigrated to the United States. And with them came the demand for foods from their homeland. One of the most popular items was the artichoke, which wasn’t easy to grow in America and had to be imported. Ciro Terranova, a New York City gangster, started a racket in which he’d force importers to sell him artichokes at a fraction of the cost. Then the Artichoke King—as he became known—would turn around and sell them to restaurants at a much higher cost. Terranova became such a problem that the mayor of New York had to outright ban the sale of artichokes until the cops could crack down. Which only made the vegetable more popular. On National Artichoke Hearts Day, we celebrate a delicacy that’s so good it’s practically criminal. National Panda Day celebrates one of the world’s most beloved bears. And if you’ve ever seen one in person, count yourself lucky. These guys like to keep to themselves. Pandas can only produce cubs every few years, so the odds are not exactly in their favor. But conservation groups take their job seriously, and research over the last three decades has revealed that by preserving bamboo forests, pandas stand a fighting chance. Contrary to the popular kung fu cartoons, pandas graze on bamboo leaves and not on steamed dumplings. They are very shy and it’s recommended that you whisper around them when visiting the zoo. On National Panda Day share your love for these rare bears that inspire people around the world. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices