December 31, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 31

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december31.html

National Champagne Day If that bubbly is from Italy, California or even the South of France, it isn't technically Champagne. The real deal comes only from France's Champagne region.

Kir Royale
Champagne-Infused Strawberry Soup
San Diego-Style Champagne Margarita
Champagne-Poached Salmon With Tarragon & Capers
Pink Champagne Cake
Champagne Chicken
Seared Scallops With Champagne Saffron Sauce
http://www.food.com/food-holidays/champagne-day-1231

Make Up Your Mind Day What is this holiday about?
It's about making up your mind and sticking to it. It's time to stop being indecisive and make up your mind. No more putting off your decision, todays the day to finalize your thoughts and take a stand! Just remember- making up your mind makes life easier. http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/make_up_your_mind_day.html
New Years Eve

No Interruptions Day The bad news: The average office worker is interrupted — by coworkers, emails, or phone calls — every 11 minutes. Even worse is that it takes basically that much time to refocus on the task at hand. On this last business day for 2010, turn off your phone and tell that chatty coworker to buzz off. If he doesn't listen? Sneak around, says Gina Trapani, a FastCompany.com Work Smart blogger and project director at Expert Labs. "At a software job years ago, people constantly stopped by to ask questions, and it was impossible to work," she says. "I started booking a conference room for an hour or two. I worked in total peace while the rest of my office mates thought I was in another meeting." Deceptive, yet effective. — Stephanie Schomer http://www.fastcompany.com/1706458/no-interruptions-day

Universal Hour of Peace Day This is how it began -- an idea, an ideal, a vision, and a practice that had the power to uplift the consciousness of every individual on Earth who chose to participate. And the ideal was that every sentient being on Earth would participate by dedicating one hour a year to peace. This would be the same hour all around the world and there would be an incredible unity of consciousness.

The vision of the Universal Hour of Peace to unite all people of the Earth toward a common pursuit of peace of mind was motivating and inspiring. Immediately individuals began to imagine how this simple act of an hour of peaceful thought and action could change their world and how that would increase in power with thousands of others of like mind participating as well. The potential was immense.
At the hour of 4 am in Los Angeles, noon in London, 5 pm in New Delhi, or 9 pm in Tokyo millions of people would be creating a common consciousness and action of something as holy as peace. What a transformative experience for an individual’s growth in consciousness and in building a true connection with others. And the benefits to humanity as a whole would then follow from the individual’s elevated thinking. This could be the shift needed to bring about a world free from war, a world in which people respected and valued others for their special understandings, a world in which aiding others became the common theme rather than fighting crime. These, and many more benefits are results of a peaceful heart and mind. http://www.peacedome.org/UniversalPeaceCovenant/UniversalHourPeace/UHPStory.html

World Peace Meditation Day. People all around the world gather at noon greenwich mean time to join in meditation for peace on the planet. This is a powerful experience of being able to connect in consciousness with others around the world to bring healing and peace to the planet. The meditation starts at 4am for us on the west coast.It is early but it is well worth getting out of bed. http://www.castanet.net/events/world_peace_meditation_-_world_healing_day_dec_31/79019

December 30, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 30

National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day (Baking Soda) December 30 is National Baking Soda Day.

While this holiday may not exactly make you want to stick a spoon in the baking soda jar, don't forget that this little white powdery miracle is what makes all of your favorite baked treats come to life.

Baking soda is a leavening agent, meaning it releases carbon dioxide and has a nifty way of poofing up batter, especially in treats like cakes and pancakes. It also enhances the texture of fried foods and gives them a little uplift.

You can use baking soda for things other than actual cooking, like exfoliating or removing a tough stain. Back in the day, it was also cooked with vegetables to make them soft and completely lacking in nutrition.

Chances are, if you can think of one of your favorite sweet treats, it has a bit of baking soda in the middle of the ingredient list. Crack open just about any cookbook or flip through the family recipes and we're sure you'll find something to make in honor of "bicarbonate of soda." http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/12/30/breakfast-buffet-national-baking-soda-day/

Falling Needles Family Fest Day

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december30.html

December 29, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 29

Pepper Pot Day Authentic Pepper Pot Soup
"The authentic version uses tripe. I have never cared for tripe, myself, and I have always substituted chicken, beef, turkey, sausage or even ham instead." http://allrecipes.com/recipe/authentic-pepper-pot-soup/


Tick Tock Day December 29th is Tick Tock Day, a day to review your dreams and goals and start making them into a reality! The end of December is a popular time for looking back on the year’s accomplishments — a helpful process when it comes to shaping your resolutions for the coming year. http://theyearoflivingunofficially.com/12/29/tick-tock-day/


http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december29.html

December 28, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 28

National Chocolate
Candy Day December 28 is National Chocolate Candy Day – a day to celebrate one of the most popular sweets in the world. More than 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate are consumed annually in America. Though we often think of it as a sweet indulgence, chocolate has been shown to have some health benefits. It is often shown to be heart-healthy because it has anti-inflammatory properties which reduce cardiovascular risk. Also, the pleasure that you get from eating chocolate doesn’t just come from its wonderful taste and rich texture. Researchers have confirmed that chocolate affects serotonin levels in the body, triggering feelings of well-being. At the same time, chocolate increases blood flow to the brain and helps to reduce fatigue and increase alertness.

- See more at: http://www.visitfrederick.org/what-to-see-and-do/national-chocolate-candy-day#sthash.8riNi0RH.dpuf

Endangered Species Act Day The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 7 U.S.C. § 136, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.) is one of the few dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation." The U.S. Supreme Court found that "the plain intent of Congress in enacting" the ESA "was to halt and reverse the trend toward species extinction, whatever the cost."[1] The Act is administered by two federal agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december28.html

December 27, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 27

Howdy Doody Day Howdy Doody is an American children's television program (with circus and Western frontier themes) that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir[1] and telecast on the NBC network in the United States from December 27, 1947 until September 24, 1960. It was a pioneer in children's television programming and set the pattern for many similar shows. One of the first television series produced at NBC in Rockefeller Center, in Studio 3A, it was also a pioneer in early color production as NBC (at the time owned by TV maker RCA) used the show in part to sell color television sets in the 1950s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howdy_Doody


Visit The Zoo Day If you visited the zoo prior to the twentieth century you would most likely have seen the animals behind bars in cages. But in the early 1900s Carl Hagenbeck decided he wanted to display animals in a more "natural" venue. After years of working in his family's wild animal trade business he created his "Tierpark" in Stellingen, Germany. http://blog.library.si.edu/2010/12/december-27visit-the-zoo-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december27.html

December 26, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 26

National Candy
 Cane Day Created around 1900, candy canes are now big business: Almost 2 billion are made each year for Christmas. The largest one ever created? A whopping 51-feet long. http://www.food.com/food-holidays/candy-cane-day-1226

Boxing Day Boxing Day is a holiday traditionally celebrated the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradespeople would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers,[1] in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, South Africa, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and other Commonwealth nations. Today, Boxing Day is the bank holiday that generally takes place on 26 December.

In South Africa, Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in 1994. Due to the Roman Catholic Church's liturgical calendar, the day is known as St. Stephen's Day to Catholics, and in Italy, Finland, and Alsace and Moselle in France. It is also known as both St. Stephen's Day and the Day of the Wren or Wren's Day in Ireland. In many European countries, including notably Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and those in Scandinavia, 26 December is celebrated as the Second Christmas Day.[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day

National Thank-you Note Day Today is National Thank You Day, the perfect opportunity to pause and express your gratitude for the people in your life. While an email is nice, and a phone call is fine, take five minutes and go the extra length with a hand-written note. It doesn’t have to involve expensive stationery and a fountain pen; even a sheet of binder paper and a pencil will do the trick.

The beauty of a handwritten note is that it’s a tangible and personal expression of your appreciation. It signifies that you took the time to focus solely on them, that you cared enough for the recipient to create something meant only for their eyes. They say that letter-writing a lost art, and like any artist, you are creating something that will last, both on a piece paper and in a person’s memory. http://pencils.com/noteworthy-thoughts-with-thanks/

National Whiner's Day National Whiner's Day is on December 26th, the day after Christmas. It's supposed to encourage people to be grateful for what they already have. http://www.answers.com/Q/What_day_is_National_Whiners_Day

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december26.html

December 25, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 25

National Pumpkin 
Pie Day Apples get most of the attention, but pumpkins are truly America’s pride! They’re indigenous to North America and have been cultivated for more than five millennia. http://www.food.com/food-holidays/pumpkin-pie-day-1225

A'Phabet Day or No "L" Day A'phabet Day or No "L" Day is a pun on "Noel." Get it? Say "Noel" out loud. Celebrate by speaking or texting without using the letter "L." http://holidaywhiz.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-aphabet-day-no-l-day-grav.html

Christmas Christmas or Christmas Day (Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass&quot is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ,[6][7] observed most commonly on December 25[4][8][9] as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.[2][10][11] A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is prepared for by the season of Advent or Nativity Fast and is prolonged by the season of Christmastide and the Octave of Christmas. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world's nations,[12][13][14] is celebrated culturally by a large number of non-Christian people,[1][15][16] and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.

The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins.[17] Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, an exchange of Christmas cards, church services, a special meal, and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.[18] Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.

While the month and date of Jesus' birth are unknown, by the early-to-mid 4th century, the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25,[19] a date later adopted in the East,[20][21] although some churches celebrate on the December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which, in the Gregorian calendar, currently corresponds to January 7, the day after the Western Christian Church celebrates the Epiphany. The date of Christmas may have initially been chosen to correspond with the day exactly nine months after early Christians believed Jesus to have been conceived,[22] or with one or more ancient polytheistic festivals that occurred near southern solstice (i.e., the Roman winter solstice);[23][24] a further solar connection has been suggested because of a biblical verse[a] identifying Jesus as the "Sun of righteousness".[22][25][26] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

Christmas Pudding Day Sweet treats for the Christmas season, including puddings, pies, trifle and cheesecake. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/festive-dessert

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december25.html

December 24, 2014

When 59 Children Died On Christmas Eve 1913, The World Cried With The Town Of Calumet, Michigan

A little-known piece of history that Woody Guthrie documented in his haunting song, "1913 Massacre."

In July 1913, over 7,000 miners struck the C&H Copper Mining Company in Calumet, Michigan. It was largely the usual issues of people who worked for a big company during a time when capitalists ran roughshod over their workers — a time when monopolies were a way of life. Strikers' demands included pay raises, an end to child labor, and safer conditions including an end to one-man drill operations, as well as support beams in the mines (which mine owners didn't want because support beams were costly but miners killed in cave-ins “do not cost us anything.&quot

Six months without work left many miner families with little food for the holidays and no money for presents, so the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Western Federation of Miners held a Christmas party for the kids. 500 children and 200 adults showed up that day, Christmas Eve 1913. It was held on the second floor of Calumet's Italian Hall; the only way in and out was a very steep stairway.

As darkness fell and people began to go home to their family celebrations, some of the children gathered around the stage as presents were passed out — for many, it would be the only gift they'd receive this year. In the middle of this festive celebration, someone — possibly more than one person — opened the door at the bottom of the staircase and yelled, “FIRE!"

Chaos ensued. As everybody headed down the stairs to the exit, the door was blocked from the outside, and children and adults were trampled, then suffocated, by the throng of bodies trying to escape the “fire" — which didn't actually exist.

http://www.upworthy.com/when-59-children-died-on-christmas-eve-1913-the-world-cried-with-the-town-of-calumet-michigan

December 24, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 24

National Egg Nog Day Today is National Eggnog Day! Eggnog is one of the most popular beverages served during the holidays, so it is very appropriate that this occasion is celebrated on Christmas Eve!

The traditional recipe for eggnog is milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs, spices, and sometimes alcohol. The type of alcohol depends on the country where it is made. In Europe, eggnog is traditionally made with white wine. Americans drink it with bourbon or rum while Peruvians use pomace brandy and Germans use beer.

There are a few theories about how eggnog actually got its name. One story claims that eggnog was first called "egg n' grog," which was eventually shortened to "eggnog." According to other sources, the name comes from the Old English word for strong ale, "nog." This theory suggests that the combination of the words "egg" and "nog" refers to any drink that contains both eggs and strong alcohol.

Regardless of how eggnog got its name, it has been a favorite holiday beverage for centuries! Make some today to toast the holidays and celebrate National Eggnog Day!
http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/national-egg-nog-day
(in case anyone hasn't figured it out... I eggnog) and here is a recipe for eggnog pie.

http://www.midwestliving.com/food/desserts/pie-recipes/?page=4

The Feast Of The Seven
 Fishes W hat is the Feast of the Seven Fishes? According to Mario Batali, "It's what Italians do when they say they're fasting." More precisely, the Feast is a meal served in Italian households on La Vigilia (Christmas Eve). In many parts of Italy, the night is traditionally a partial fast, during which no meat should be served. But in true Italian style, this proscription has morphed into something very unfastlike indeed: course after course of luxurious seafood dishes, often as many as 7, 10, or even 13. "No one's quite sure of the significance of the number," says Batali. "Some families do seven for the sacraments. Some do ten for the stations of the cross. And some even do 13 for the 12 apostles plus Jesus."

Regardless of the religious symbolism, for most people the main point of the meal is to gather family and friends and enjoy delicious food. In Batali's Italian-American family, his grandmother used to host the feast, with everyone pitching in. "She would let us kids help her make fresh pasta," Batali recalls. "Then she'd lay it out on towels on our beds to dry for the day." After dinner, they'd open half their presents, saving the rest for Christmas Day. http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/christmas/batalisevenfishes

Christmas Eve 17 Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas
Looking for ideas for new Christmas Eve dinner traditions? Browse our collection of Christmas Eve recipe favorites, including recipes for seafood, lasagna, soup and more.

Read more: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/holiday---celebration-recipes/christmas-recipes/christmas-eve-dinner-ideas#ixzz3MnaBxjDJ

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december24.html

December 23, 2014

Daily Holidays - December 23

National Pfeffernuesse Day Pfeffernüsse are tiny spice cookies, popular as a holiday treat in Germany, Denmark, and The Netherlands, as well as among Ethnic Mennonites in North America.[1][2][3][4] They are called pepernoten in Dutch (plural), päpanät in Plautdietsch, pfeffernuesse or peppernuts in English, and pebernødder in Danish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pfeffernüsse

Festivus Welcome! "Happy Festivus" is the traditional greeting of Festivus a holiday featured in "The Strike" episode of Seinfeld. The episode first aired on December 18, 1997. Since then many people have been inspired by this zany, offbeat Seinfeld holiday and they now celebrate Festivus as any other holiday.

According to the Seinfeld model, Festivus is celebrated each year on December 23rd. However many people celebrate it other times in December and even at other times throughout the year. http://festivusweb.com

Human Light Celebration HumanLight is a secular holiday on December 23rd. It’s designed to celebrate and express the positive, secular, human values of reason, compassion, humanity and hope. HumanLight illuminates a positive, secular vision of a happy, just and peaceful future for our world, a future which people can build by working together, drawing on the best of our human capacities.

The 23rd was chosen so that it would not conflict with other existing holidays, but would still be in the thick of the holiday season, when many gatherings of friends and family occur and people might be off from work. We've always said that it can be celebrated "on or around" December 23, in order to avoid any rigid rules about dates. http://americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-how-to-celebrate-humanlight-a-december-holiday-for-h

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/december23.html