Petition: Make the Day After the Big Game a National Holiday

Almost every year someone pitches the idea to make the day after the Super Bowl a national holiday. A study revealed that 19 million Americans may take the day after the big game off. This year, the ice cream brand Drumstick started a petition with the hopes of everyone getting to take February 12 off. A day that doesn't involve taking PTO or "forged doctor’s notes."

"February 2024 marks Drumstick's first-ever Big Game commercial, and the brand believes the excitement shouldn't melt away when the game does," they said in a news release. "While taking off after America's favorite football game is nothing new, Drumstick is putting their spin on it, officially dubbing it #DrumstickMonday and encouraging Americans to maximize their time off with a dose of unexpected fun."

Drumstick is set to fulfill one #DrumstickMonday wish. Participate by signing the Change.org petition and visiting Drumstick's Instagram. Find the post regarding the #DrumstickMonday sweepstakes and share your dream #DrumstickMonday in the comments. Even if you don't win the grand prize, every signature contributes to the cause of officially designating the Monday after the Big Game as a national holiday.

Looking at the petition site Change.org, several petitions since 2017 have been created asking Congress, the president, or the NFL to make the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday.

Over the years, Congress and the president have established 12 federal holidays, such as New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Christmas, and most recently, Juneteenth. In June 2021, a bill was passed to make June 19 a federal holiday, marking the symbolic end of slavery in the United States, and President Joe Biden signed it into law. However, despite being federal holidays, they are not classified as "national holidays" and only apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia, according to a Congressional Research Service report from July 2021.

The report highlights that each state has the authority to determine its legal holidays. For instance, some states have designated Juneteenth as an official paid holiday for state employees. Meanwhile, some states incorporate federal holidays as state holidays. However, the majority of states may simply observe or acknowledge the holiday.

There are also petitions pitching for the other sports to follow suit with big events. In 2014, Budweiser, in collaboration with Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, endorsed a White House petition advocating for the designation of Major League Baseball's opening day as a national holiday.

What an exciting time for football. And with the Super Bowl around the corner, you might as well make sure you have your appetizers and snacks in order. Whether you're excited about the game, the insane commercials, or the halftime show, it's certain that most people will be chowing down on apps.

Last year, a study found that appetizers make up most people’s diets on gameday. Interestingly, 70% of people skip the entrée and stick to appetizers on Super Bowl Sunday. This study also found that 41% say they tend to overeat.

Another study found that more than half of people look forward to game day parties because of the food. Also, highlighted is that 74% of people plan to make food at home. Meanwhile, 26% plan to order from restaurants. Either way, there will be food.

Taste of Home compiled a list of what they consider to be the best of the best when it comes to apps. Their top five include an antipasto platter with meat and cheese cubes, pepper jelly hogs in a blanket, beef Wellington fried wontons, fruit charcuterie board, and ham and Swiss sliders.

There’s something for everyone from last-minute party throwers to ambitious hosts. If you're looking for something quick chips and dip is a go. If you're looking for something with a bit of pizazz, maybe try a quesadilla ring.

This year's Super Bowl will be held on Sunday, Feb. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. Whether you're tuning in for the game, watching for the commercials, or just want to see Usher's halftime show, make sure you have your snacks ready to go.

There are many game day apps you can add to the menu, from wings, dips, and sliders, to desserts, and breads. Check out these appetizers that will make watching the game even more fun.

Whether you're going store-bought or homemade, chicken wings are a definite crowd pleaser. They're easily customizable from a simple dry rub to a tossed-in sauce moment. And if you are trying to keep things somewhat on the healthier side, you can always bake your wings instead of frying them.

Nachos are a game-day favorite for many. You can go all out with toppings or keep it simple if you need to make something quick. The main ingredients include tortilla chips, cheese, and toppings. These toppings can be meat, tomatoes, black olives, black beans, corn, onions, among others.

Buffalo chicken dip features chicken mixed with your favorite buffalo sauce and cream cheese. If don't feel like cooking the chicken, you can always grab a rotisserie chicken. It can be paired with tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted baguette slices.

These are a budget-friendly option that can be made with ingredients that you probably already have on hand. It's a more effortless appetizer made with the crispy skins of a baked potato filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream, and chives. To make it more of an appetizer, you can opt for smaller potatoes.

This appetizer is like a miniature bite of comfort food. They're creamy balls of mac and cheese that are crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. And they are made with a few ingredients including pasta, cheese, milk, flour, eggs, panko, and seasonings.