Although there are only 11 days out of every 365 that the U.S. Congress has designated as legal holidays, almost every day of the year is an observance or celebration of something.
While Talk Like a Pirate Day, No Pants Day, National Corndog Day, nor Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day have hit the bar to be recognized for the closure of government institutions, banks, businesses or schools, and slip by without house decorating, family get-togethers, or the exchange of gifts, there are a few special days, that while not legal holidays, have become an indelible part of American culture.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are official observances by virtue of presidential proclamations, and Halloween and Valentine’s Day are two of the year’s most observed days, and yet not one of those will get you out of work or school.
Then there are those days that, thanks to our television friends, have become faux festivities Among the most well-known of these pseudo-celebrations is “Festivus,” which was introduced by Jerry Stiller character of Frank Costanza in a 1997 episode of “Seinfeld.”
There is also the nine-day observance of “Chrismukkah,” launched by Adam Brody’s Seth Cohen on “The O.C.” in 2003, Best Friends Day, the Feb. 19 day to recognize and honor the relationship formed between friends that came about in a 2007 episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” when Patrick Star celebrates his friendship with SpongeBob through the gift of gum, and the Feb. 13 celebration of Galentine’s Day, instituted by Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope during a 2010 episode of “Parks and Recreation.”
The purpose of the Valentine’s Day eve holiday of Galentine’s Day is to recognize and honor the relationships shared between female friends.
Described by Knope as being “The best day of the year. When women just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. Like Lilith Fair… minus the angst… plus frittatas,” Galentine’s Day has become one in which women meet for brunch, to enjoy one another’s company, or to gather for a shared purpose or activity.
Although frittatas were not on the menu, young women, known as Ticktockers, from the Burbank Chapter of National Charity League did recently convene for a brunch of pizza and confectionery goods to celebrate Galentine’s Day.
The term “Ticktocker” stems from the early days of NCL when young girls weren’t a part of the organization but would often accompany their mothers to NCL meetings and events. The young ladies would get so fixated on the clock as they waited for their mothers to finish their meetings they were dubbed Ticktockers, a nickname that stuck once NCL became a mother and daughter organization with mothers called Patronesses.
As for the shared purpose and activity the Burbank Ticktockers engaged in as they celebrated Galentine’s Day, revelers decorated mugs and put together gift bags of coloring books, crayons, sketch pads, colored pencils and markers to be disturbed as Valentine’s Day gifts to patients and staff at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA).
The mission of NCL is to foster relationships between mothers and their daughters through membership in an organization committed to community service, leadership, development and cultural experiences. Established nationally in 1925 and incorporated in 1958, the Burbank Chapter was organized in 1959 and chartered in 1960 with 41 Patronesses and Ticktockers.
Today, Burbank joins more than 170 NCL chapters nationwide who engage in hands-on volunteerism and other activities that inspire social awareness and empower young women with confidence and skills including team building, event planning, conflict resolution and parliamentary procedure. Each year, the mothers and daughters of the Burbank Chapter give more than 10,000 hours of community service to local philanthropies.
Among the organizations they support thorough volunteerism are the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley, the Burbank Community YMCA, the Burbank Coordinating Council, Burbank Family Services Agency, the Burbank Public Library, Burbank Temporary Aid Center (BTAC), Home Again Los Angeles, Jacaranda Housing, the Kid’s Community Dental Clinic, Kiwanis Club of Burbank, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association.
Beyond their volunteer work, the Burbank chapter also raises funds through the hosting of an annual gala fundraiser. This year’s event, which will be presented under the theme of “A Speakeasy Social and Casino Night,” will take place on March 8 at DeBell Golf Club and benefit BTAC.
The organization is also in the process of conducting their annual membership drive which will close on March 1. Membership is open to women with daughters who are currently in grades 6 through 9. For more information on tickets to the upcoming gala or membership, visit nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/burbank/.
DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
First published in the February 16 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
