By Aaron London
Jan. 20 is Penguin Awareness Day.
Not a Hallmark moment holiday to be sure, and it's doubtful there is a penguin section in the greeting card aisle, but it's a holiday nonetheless. Given the attraction we humans have to these formal-wearing birds -- from movies to cartoons to commercial advertising -- it's surprising how little most people know about penguins.
For many, the idea of penguins in the wild conjures up images of the little birds sharing a refreshing beverage with their polar bear friends in a Coca-Cola commercial.
Or maybe it's the campy portrayal by actor Burgess Meredith of the villainous Penguin in the 1960s "Batman" television series. Of course, for others Meredith will forever be Rocky Balboa's craggy trainer in the first several dozen "Rocky" movies, and Danny DeVito is the only actor they recall as portraying the hook-nosed criminal in the "Batman" movies.
But for me, there is only one true penguin to recall on Penguin Awareness Day 2010. The only cartoon character that when he cries produces little ice cubes and is on a constant search for warmth -- Chilly Willy.
Now Chilly Willy wasn't just another animal come to life on the storyboards of some artist. His cartoons, while mainly focused on his single-minded focus on warming his cold bones, -- something we can all understand and appreciate after our recent bout of winter -- but a true artist in his own right.
For much of his "career" after his creation in 1953, Chilly did not speak, but expressed himself with a wide variety of non-verbal communication -- mostly by crying ice cubes.
But he also made it to the silver screen, albeit in name only, with a quick reference made to him in the 1988 film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Unfortunately, the scenes that included Chilly Willy were left on the cutting room floor.
And Chilly Willy even came close to an extra 15 minutes of fame when the 1955 cartoon starring the little bird called "The Legend of Rockabye Point" was nominated for an Academy Award.
There is another famous cartoon penguin of course, everybody's friend Tennessee Tuxedo.
Along with his walrus friend Chumley, Tennessee managed to get himself into trouble nearly every episode but managed to make his way out it, usually with the help of friends.
Created after the then-chairman of the Federal Communications Commission lamented television was becoming a wasteland, Tennessee and Chumley offered their pint-sized viewers a small dose of education in every episode on subjects ranging from science to nature.
Of course, the creators of these Saturday morning cartoon heroes were a bit fast and loose with the facts of real penguin life and led many to believe that penguins hobnob with polar bears and walruses up at the North Pole.
But these flightless aquatic birds actually live almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere. And while the largest of the species, the Emperor Penguin lives way, way down south in Antarctica, there are many varieties of the penguin that live in much warmer climes near the equator as well.
In all, there are about 17 species of penguins, from the Emperor standing at around 3¤½-feet tall, to the less than foot and a half tall -- and aptly named -- Little Blue Penguin.
But unlike my friend Chily Willy, penguins do "talk."
In fact, three main penguin calls have been identified by scientists, including the contact call, which penguins use to recognize colony members; the display call, used by partners in a colony to distinguish themselves from all the other similarly attired birds; and a threat call, to warn of danger. And, of course, real penguins do not cry little ice cubes.
But penguins have also pervaded popular culture in many ways.
The noble bird is the unofficial symbol of the Libertarian Party and was an early mascot for Kool cigarettes.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions in the National Hockey League -- residing in the decidedly non-Antarctic town of Pittsburgh -- are known as the Penguins, as are the varsity teams at the Yale of the Midwest, Youngstown State University.
The New England Conservatory of Music is the home of the Fighting Penguins -- most likely because they are always ready for a recital performance -- and at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., the penguin is the unofficial mascot of the school and its library. In an effort to provide full disclosure, my brother is a professor at Carelton and assures me that the penguin moniker is apt, given the prevailing temperature on campus these days.
Penguins have also found their way into popular music with the 1973 Fleetwood Mac album "Penguin" and since 1936 readers have enjoyed the work of authors published by Penguin Books.
But besides shining a much-deserved spotlight on these waddling birds, Penguin Awareness Day also serves as a clarion call for more festivals and holidays devoted to our friends in the animal kingdom.
While the holiday calendar is full of observances relating to animals, most all of them are more focused on ways to cook and eat them. There are a few days here and there devoted to celebrating the animals themselves.
Perhaps the most famous -- next to Penguin Awareness Day of course -- is the Feb. 2 celebration of Groundhog Day. Centered on the antics of Punxsutawney Phil, the holiday purports to forecast the remaining winter days and gives people up north something to do on an otherwise cold and dreary February morning.
There are other reasons to celebrate animals as well. February is also the month for the Cat Festival, while March boasts the Feast of the Excited Insects and Swallows Day.
In May you can celebrate Stork Day in Denmark and Whale Day as well.
June has Bald Eagle Day and July offers the Festival of the Three Cows.
August has its Canadian Goose Festival for enjoyment and in September you can celebrate both Draft Horse Day and Bird Day.
And in an effort to include all of our favorite barnyard friends, Oct. 2 has been designated World Farm Animal Day.
But for today, I will pop some popcorn, don my old tux jacket and commiserate with my cold friend Chilly Willy and his search for comfort and warmth.
Jan. 20 is Penguin Awareness Day.
Not a Hallmark moment holiday to be sure, and it's doubtful there is a penguin section in the greeting card aisle, but it's a holiday nonetheless. Given the attraction we humans have to these formal-wearing birds -- from movies to cartoons to commercial advertising -- it's surprising how little most people know about penguins.
For many, the idea of penguins in the wild conjures up images of the little birds sharing a refreshing beverage with their polar bear friends in a Coca-Cola commercial.
Or maybe it's the campy portrayal by actor Burgess Meredith of the villainous Penguin in the 1960s "Batman" television series. Of course, for others Meredith will forever be Rocky Balboa's craggy trainer in the first several dozen "Rocky" movies, and Danny DeVito is the only actor they recall as portraying the hook-nosed criminal in the "Batman" movies.
But for me, there is only one true penguin to recall on Penguin Awareness Day 2010. The only cartoon character that when he cries produces little ice cubes and is on a constant search for warmth -- Chilly Willy. Now Chilly Willy wasn't just another animal come to life on the storyboards of some artist. His cartoons, while mainly focused on his single-minded focus on warming his cold bones, -- something we can all understand and appreciate after our recent bout of winter -- but a true artist in his own right.
For much of his "career" after his creation in 1953, Chilly did not speak, but expressed himself with a wide variety of non-verbal communication -- mostly by crying ice cubes.
But he also made it to the silver screen, albeit in name only, with a quick reference made to him in the 1988 film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" Unfortunately, the scenes that included Chilly Willy were left on the cutting room floor.
And Chilly Willy even came close to an extra 15 minutes of fame when the 1955 cartoon starring the little bird called "The Legend of Rockabye Point" was nominated for an Academy Award.
There is another famous cartoon penguin of course, everybody's friend Tennessee Tuxedo.
Along with his walrus friend Chumley, Tennessee managed to get himself into trouble nearly every episode but managed to make his way out it, usually with the help of friends.
Created after the then-chairman of the Federal Communications Commission lamented television was becoming a wasteland, Tennessee and Chumley offered their pint-sized viewers a small dose of education in every episode on subjects ranging from science to nature.
Of course, the creators of these Saturday morning cartoon heroes were a bit fast and loose with the facts of real penguin life and led many to believe that penguins hobnob with polar bears and walruses up at the North Pole.
But these flightless aquatic birds actually live almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere. And while the largest of the species, the Emperor Penguin lives way, way down south in Antarctica, there are many varieties of the penguin that live in much warmer climes near the equator as well.
In all, there are about 17 species of penguins, from the Emperor standing at around 3¤½-feet tall, to the less than foot and a half tall -- and aptly named -- Little Blue Penguin.
But unlike my friend Chily Willy, penguins do "talk."
In fact, three main penguin calls have been identified by scientists, including the contact call, which penguins use to recognize colony members; the display call, used by partners in a colony to distinguish themselves from all the other similarly attired birds; and a threat call, to warn of danger. And, of course, real penguins do not cry little ice cubes.
But penguins have also pervaded popular culture in many ways.
The noble bird is the unofficial symbol of the Libertarian Party and was an early mascot for Kool cigarettes.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions in the National Hockey League -- residing in the decidedly non-Antarctic town of Pittsburgh -- are known as the Penguins, as are the varsity teams at the Yale of the Midwest, Youngstown State University.
The New England Conservatory of Music is the home of the Fighting Penguins -- most likely because they are always ready for a recital performance -- and at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., the penguin is the unofficial mascot of the school and its library. In an effort to provide full disclosure, my brother is a professor at Carelton and assures me that the penguin moniker is apt, given the prevailing temperature on campus these days.
Penguins have also found their way into popular music with the 1973 Fleetwood Mac album "Penguin" and since 1936 readers have enjoyed the work of authors published by Penguin Books.
But besides shining a much-deserved spotlight on these waddling birds, Penguin Awareness Day also serves as a clarion call for more festivals and holidays devoted to our friends in the animal kingdom.
While the holiday calendar is full of observances relating to animals, most all of them are more focused on ways to cook and eat them. There are a few days here and there devoted to celebrating the animals themselves.
Perhaps the most famous -- next to Penguin Awareness Day of course -- is the Feb. 2 celebration of Groundhog Day. Centered on the antics of Punxsutawney Phil, the holiday purports to forecast the remaining winter days and gives people up north something to do on an otherwise cold and dreary February morning.
There are other reasons to celebrate animals as well. February is also the month for the Cat Festival, while March boasts the Feast of the Excited Insects and Swallows Day.
In May you can celebrate Stork Day in Denmark and Whale Day as well.
June has Bald Eagle Day and July offers the Festival of the Three Cows.
August has its Canadian Goose Festival for enjoyment and in September you can celebrate both Draft Horse Day and Bird Day.
And in an effort to include all of our favorite barnyard friends, Oct. 2 has been designated World Farm Animal Day.
But for today, I will pop some popcorn, don my old tux jacket and commiserate with my cold friend Chilly Willy and his search for comfort and warmth.
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