Independence Day - The Declaration of Independence from Great Britain was passed by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on this day in 1776. It is also the beginning of Freedom Week. See our special Independence Day page for a complete list of ideas from around the site this month.

Pauline Esther and Esther Pauline Day - Pauline Esther and Esther Pauline Friedman were born on this day in 1918. Pauline Esther’s pen name was Abigail Van Buren, and she wrote the “Dear Abby” newspaper advice column. Her twin sister, Esther Pauline, wrote the "Ann Landers" advice column. Read some of Ann Landers' columns and Dear Abby's columns today. Discuss other famous twins.

Oh! Susanna Day - Stephen Foster was born on July 4, 1826 - an Independence Day baby. Start the day off with a Coffee Hour with Stephen Foster. Share a short biography and read about how important his music was from I Hear America Singing. Then, plan a sing-along and sing a few of Stephen Foster's songs - like Oh! Susanna , Camptown Races , Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair , Swanee River , Beautiful Dreamer , My Old Kentucky Home and some lesser-known songs as Nelly Bly and Old Dog Tray . Print this SONG SHEET for your sing-along.

P.T. Barnum Day - It is P.T. Barnum's birthday (1810). Plan a "Golden Age of the Circus" discussion today. Learn more about P.T. Barnum. Serve Barnum's Animal Crackers during your discussion. Also, see our It's Puzzling page for a Mixed-Up Circus word unscramble.

Tour de France Begins - Opening ceremonies for the 94th Tour de France will be held today in Trafalgar Square in London. The race will officially begin tomorrow. Print out a map of the course and follow along each day, ending at the Champs-Elysées on July 29.

Drumstick Day - It is National Fried Chicken Day and Drums & Percussions Month. Serve drumsticks and play drum music today.

A Perfect 7 Day - It is the 7th day of the 7th month of the year 2007. Watch The Magnificent Seven today. It's also a perfect excuse to party. Plan a "Seventh Heaven" party. Decorate with lots of sevens, serve seven kinds of cookies and drinks - you get the idea.

Tanabata (Star Festival) in Japan - Tanabata is one of the oldest Japanese festivals. Several days before July 7th, people write their wishes or poems on strips of colored paper and hang them on branches of bamboo. Then, on the night of the 7th, the branches are put out in the garden. (These are attractive enough to be called summer Christmas trees.) Colored threads are also hung on the bamboo branches. Learn more about Tanabata. Plan a Japanese luncheon today. Decorate with Japanese lanterns and colorful streamers. Ask residents to write their poems or wishes on strips of paper and hang the strips on a large plant (such as a ficus tree).

Friday the 13th - (From our April 2007 page.) Friday the 13th is considered the unluckiest of days, unless you were born on Friday the 13th. If you were born on this day, then Friday the 13th is your lucky day! Plan a "Friday the 13th Party." Decorate with such things as pictures of black cats and pieces of broken mirrors. Serve a cake with 13 candles. Seat guests at tables of 13. Discuss the History of Friday the 13th and Why Friday the 13th is Unlucky. Pass out copies of Good Luck - Bad Luck and see who knows the most about superstitions. Make copies of the Friday the 13th crossword puzzle for everyone to solve. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th. Play a "Phobia Game." Using the Phobia Dictionary, see who can guess the meaning of the different phobias. Every year has at least one Friday the 13th, but never more than three. This year has two - the other has already happened - April 13, 2007.

Cat’s Meow Day - The first official cat show in Great Britain took place at the Crystal Palace in London on the 13th of July, 1871. It was organized by writer, artist and cat lover Harrison Weir. Plan your own cat show today.

It's Your Serve Saturday - In celebration of Tennis Month. Play a game of table tennis or use a badminton set and play simulated tennis during your exercise class today. Try solving the Tennis Word Search #1 or Tennis Word Search #2 (easier version). See Tennis Terms Tuesday (July 10) for more.

Sundae Sunday - In celebration of National Ice Cream Month. Get all the ingredients to make sundaes and have people put together their own concoctions. Then ask them to name their creations - Paula's Pig Out Sundae, Sam's Sundae Supreme, etc. Try solving the Lick-ety-Split Ice Cream Crossword puzzle today. See Creative Ice Cream Day (July 20) and Ice Cream Cone Day (July 23) for more ideas.

Barbara Stanwyck Day - Actress Barbara Stanwyck was born Ruth Stevens on this day in 1907 (100 years ago). She appeared in 83 movies but is probably best remembered for her role in the TV show "The Big Valley." In 1944, the government listed her as the nation's highest paid woman, earning $400,000 per year. Show one of her movies today.

March to the Beat of a Different Drummer Day - Don't get in a rut. Try something new today. Try solving the Bang the Drums Slowly word search or the Percussions Word Search today.

Red Skelton Day - Red Skelton was born on this day in 1913. See our Lighten Up! page for "Hats ON to Red Skelton" - a wonderful activity idea.

Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day - Mix different ice creams together to make your own flavors. For example, try mixing cherry and strawberry to make a "very berry" flavor. For diabetic individuals, make this low-sugar Frozen Berry Ice Cream. Share some Ice Cream History and other interesting information with your group this month. See our Alzheimer's Focus page for the directions for making ice cream in tin cans and plastic bags. FYI: We also celebrate Sundae Sunday (July 15) and Ice Cream Cone Day (July 23) this month.

Parents Day - Celebrated the 4th Sunday of July. Being a parent is the most important job in the world. Plan a special "Parents Party" for staff and families today. Play family games and make it a special day for everyone.

Spoonerism Day - In celebration of the birth anniversary of Reverend William Archibald Spooner, whose frequent slips of the tongue led to coinage of the term "spoonerism." A spoonerism is the accidental misplacement of the initial consonants of two words. For example, if you accidentally say, "gad moat" instead of "mad goat," you've just said a spoonerism. For more examples, check out fun-with-words. See our Games People Play page and play a game of "Spoons" today.

Cousins Day - Ask residents to share their family history today. Who has the most cousins?

Ice Cream Cone Anniversary - Charles E. Minches of St. Louis invented the ice cream cone and sold it to his customers at the St. Louis World's Fair on this day in 1904. The story goes that he ran out of dishes, so a nearby waffle vendor began to roll his waffles in the shape of a cone to hold the ice cream. As a tribute to this wonderful discovery, make yourself an ice cream cone today. For something a little different, make Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes. For the Fourth of July, make Frozen Uncle Sams.

Humdrum Hump Day - It's the last Wednesday of Anti-Boredom Month. Beat the humdrums with all of our "upbeat" ideas this month.

George Bernard Shaw Day - Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was born on this day in 1856. After those of William Shakespeare, Shaw's plays are some of the most widely produced in English language theater. Share some of his quotes today. Read one of his plays (Pygmalion or Caesar and Cleopatra) or watch one of the movies adapted from his plays.