11/13/26 - 13th, Sadie Hawkins Day, Thanksgiving Desserts and Balloons
Friday 11/13/26
Celebrate:
Actor's Day
National Bread Pudding Day
National Indian Pudding Day
Start a Rumor Day
Symphonic Metal Day
World Kindness Day
Sadie Hawkins Day - originated from Al Capp's comic strip, Li'l Abner, which ran from 1934 to 1977. In the comic strip, Sadie Hawkins was the homely-looking daughter of Hekzebiah Hawkins, and at the age of 35 she had not yet married. In an effort to marry her off, Hekzebiah brought together all the unmarried men of the town of Dogpatch, and had them run out of town while being pursued by Sadie Hawkins. Whoever lost the foot race had to marry Sadie Hawkins, and this ended up being John Jonston.
The unmarried women of Dogpatch thought the day was a good idea, and Sadie Hawkins Day became a yearly event where unmarried women chased bachelors, who had to marry the women who caught them if they were dragged across the finish line before sundown.
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Today is also Friday the 13th. Are you superstitious??
The "Number 12" Completeness Theory: Numerologists and ancient cultures viewed 12 as the number of completeness (12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 hours on a clock, 12 gods of Olympus). Because 13 breaks that symmetry, it was historically viewed as irregular and unsettling.
In Christian tradition, 13 people attended the Last Supper (with Judas as the 13th guest), and Jesus was crucified the following day on a Friday.
In Norse mythology, the trickster god Loki crashed a banquet in Valhalla as the uninvited 13th guest, leading to the death of Balder, the god of joy and light.
Official Phobias: The clinical fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia (from the Greek words for Friday, 13, and fear) or Friggatriskaidekaphobia (named after Frigg, the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named)
Global Variations: In Spain and Greece, Tuesday the 13th is the unlucky day. In Italy, it is Friday the 17th (the Roman numeral XVII can be rearranged to spell VIXI, which translates in Latin to "I have lived," a common phrase on tombstones).
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Anthony Clark, Yes, Dear and Boston Common star, dies at 62
His death was announced by friend and Yes, Dear castmate Mike O’Malley, who remembered him as “so unique” and “a hilarious guy.”
In a comment on O’Malley’s Instagram post, fellow comedian Dane Cook wrote of Clark, “He was one of the best live acts I’ve ever seen. Destroyed to a point he made you wanna quit right then and there while watching him do it effortlessly. This is really terrible to hear.”
Dan Hicks, Legendary NBC Sports Announcer and Husband of ESPN’s Hannah Storm, Dies Unexpectedly at 64.
The Arizona native’s voice became synonymous with Notre Dame and PGA Tour broadcasts on NBC in the decades following, during which he also called NBA and NFL games on the network throughout the 1990s. Hicks also helped cover Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics events for NBC throughout his career.
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NPR this past weekend had a piece about Recession pop is back. Music from 2008-2010 is big with younger audiences.
The majority of songs that came out during the Great Recession wax poetically about partying and optimism.
Think Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Katy Perry - they were known for making these dance pop songs that just encouraged you to move and dance.
TikTok is seeing GenZ throw back to the late 2000s.
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Thanksgiving is closer than you think, and besides the big meal, the football, there's the Macy's parade!
This year's new balloons for the 100th parade include Joe Cool and Woodstock (one of Snoopy's alter egos), Hello Kitty, and Bluey! (he's 47 feet tall!!) Also Earl the Squirrel, Scorcerer's Apprentice Mickey Mouse, Underdog, Billie Brightpaw, and Buckeroo Bob the Minion.
The balloons took to the skies for a practice run on Saturday, Nov. 7, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before the main event, which will be held on Nov. 26 in Manhattan, New York City, according to ABC 7.
Today's Useless Fact of the Day - Former executive parade producer Amy Kule said the balloons, which are made from nylon cloth, are “very well secured,” so none have floated away over the years — but they used to be set free.
“We actually used to let them go at the end of the parade, but then we decided we should keep them so we could reuse them. It also became a safety issue,” Kule said. “But up until 1931, if you found one in your yard, you could bring the tag to Macy’s and receive a special gift.”
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Speaking of Thanksgiving, What's your dessert?
Mental Floss is out with America's Favorite Thanksgiving Desserts by state, based on DoorDash orders across the country.
#1 is surprising - It's not Pumpkin Pie (#4), not Apple Pie (#2); it's Chocolate Cake!
#3 is Cheesecake
#5 Pound Cake
#6 Chocolate Pie
#7 Strawberry Cake
#8 Pecan Pie
#9 Cherry Pie
#10 Vanilla Cake
By the way, Georgia favors Key Lime Pie.
Consumer Trend expert at DoorDash Cristen Milliner says, “Pumpkin pie is polarizing—you either wait all year for it or you take the smallest slice on the table. Chocolate cake is something nobody turns down, and when you're feeding a mix of adults, kids, and the one cousin who doesn't like pie, that matters more than tradition does."
Our states?
Pennsylvania prefers Pound Cake
New York likes Apple Pie.
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Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz was rushed to the hospital after a crash during practice at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to multiple reports.
Muniz, 40, was set to compete in a charity race at the Daytona, Fla., race track on Wednesday night and was running practice laps when the crash occurred.
Update, he was released from the hospital and is feeling "a little sore." he also thanked the hospital staff who had taken care of him.
The actor-turned-race car driver previously told PEOPLE he first took an interest in racing after getting behind the wheel in 2004. He began his professional career in 2006 and later joined Team Reaume as a full-time driver in 2025, taking part in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
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