Why is today National New Jersey Day? There's a roundabout answer

Today is the first-ever National New Jersey Day.

Stop laughing.

It's also National Chili Dog Day, National Creme Brulee Day, National Refreshment Day and National Scotch Day.

So head to the shore, down a chili dog and a shot, and celebrate the Garden State.

If you think some tourism group is behind this honor, you would be wrong.

Getting a "Day" is kind of like getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — you have to ask (in Hollywood you also have to pay). The folks you lobby are in Mandan, N.D.: They run the National Day Calendar, designating national days, weeks and months.

So if your National New Jersey Day has been made a little brighter knowing that it sits in the middle of National Moth Week or National Hot Dog Month, those are the people you have to thank.

New Jersey, however, didn't even need to ask for its "Day."

National New Jersey Day came about because the National Day Calendar chose to honor all 50 states in the order they joined the union.

We therefore offer belated congratulations to Delaware and Pennsylvania, whose days we missed commemorating.

Delaware was honored July 13 (also National French Fry Day and National Franks 'n' Beans Day), while Pennsylvania was celebrated July 20 (also National Lollipop Day, Get to Know Your Customers Day and National Moon Day, which recognizes Neil Armstrong's walk, not some jerk sticking his butt out the window on the Schuylkill Expressway).