April 18, 2021 – National Animal Crackers Day | National Lineman Appreciation Day

Did You Know That Only One Animal Cracker Is Depicted Wearing Pants?

Welcome to April 18, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate happy crackers and stringing it all together.

When animal crackers were first made by the Stauffer Biscuit Company in 1871, they came in barrels and had very little detail.  The fun shapes caught on in America, however, and were reimagined by the Nabisco Company in 1902.  The red box with a string handle became known as Barnum’s Animals after the iconic circus showman.  Originally, the box was made as a Christmas ornament and to this day they are made with a handle for hanging. Barnum’s Animals remain a fan favorite and perhaps that’s because the more than 37 different animals are stamped with impressive detail.  Only one of these stands out from the rest, as the only animal that’s depicted wearing pants.  Who knows why the monkey is special, but on National Animal Crackers Day we celebrate this sweet box of nostalgia that still has a place in our hearts.   

Songwriter Jimmy Webb was driving across rural Oklahoma, counting telephone poles that he passed. Then, in the middle of nowhere, he saw a lineman on a cherry picker, fixing the lines. That inspired him to write the song Wichita Lineman, which might be one of the most unlikely tributes of all time. We don’t often think about how electricity gets to our homes. In fact, we probably only think about power if it goes out and when the bill comes each month. But linemen have an important job and without them, we’d be sitting in the dark. Heck, we couldn’t even listen to that song. On National Lineman Appreciation Day, remember the folks who keep us connected the good old fashioned way.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.


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