Happy Michigan Day!
Today, January 28th is National Michigan Day! While I doubt there will be any picnics or parades today (we couldn’t get something in summer?) It’s still a great day to reflect on our great, Great Lakes state.
First a grade school refresher course:
Nickname: The Wolverine State
Statehood: 1837; 26th state
Capital: Lansing
Biggest City: Detroit
Bird: American robin
Flower: apple blossom
Drink: NONE
Big Jim’s House brought the idea up on Friday of “What should be the state drink of Michigan?” Things quickly got narrowed down to three choices: Vernors, Faygo Red Pop, and Strohs. Then things got ugly. It was AMAZING listening to the amount of passion people had for Vernors and Faygo! We ALL had an opinion. #teamvernors for me. Faygo is a huge part of Michigan culture and their song is iconic to the history of our great state. However, Vernors was what my mom gave me when I was sick. Vernors has always been that double-up: pop and medicine. What other beverage can say that? Faygo won’t soothe your upset tummy, friends. You can’t mess with Dr. Vernors creation.
Do you know how Michigan got its name? Michigan.gov tells us that the name Michigan is “derived from the Indian word Michigama, meaning great or large lake.”
We have a state motto! Speaking honestly, I had no idea. Michigan’s motto is in Latin, so that’s easy. “Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice,” which translates, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” Pretty fancy, right? Thank God I never had that question come up on a test.