What to Celebrate December 3 to 9, 2018
Celebration Ideas for December 3 – 9, 2018
The final month of the year is here!
And as usual it’s chock full of holiday cheer. And holiday stress. Why not relieve some of the stress by celebrating things like socks, cotton candy, and time traveling?
There’s serious holidays here too. Like wildlife conservation, driving safety, and remembering Pearl Harbor. But those don’t have to be stressful. If they’re causes you care about, do what you can … even just spreading the word about the day can help!
So in the spirit of fun, generosity, and relaxation we invite you to once again take a peek and plan your week.
And whatever you choose to do, remember to always …
Enjoy!
Celebrate All December Long
For the month of December we try to help homeless animals have a brighter holiday and future. We eat buckwheat and pears. And we do it all while wearing ties!
Operation Santa Paws (December 1 – 24, 2018): This 3-week drive helps bring a little holiday joy to animals stuck in shelters. Consider donating or making your business a drop-off location for toys, food, and treats.
National Tie Month: Wear ties all month. Don’t know how to tie one? Learn! Or get crafty & make things like belts or purses with old ties. Do you consider the bolo tie to be a real tie? At least one state does!
Buckwheat Month: For the whole month of December get creative with the tasty, nutritious and gluten-free seed we use as a grain: Buckwheat! It’s not just for cereal. It adds fantastic flavor to any meal.
National Pear Month: Learn about, eat, cook with, and bake with pears all during December. And don’t just stick with your tried & true. Try some varieties you’ve never had before, too.
Weekly Celebrations for December’s 1st Full Week
This week we exchange cookies and wash our hands before eating them. We promote computer science education for our youngsters and safe driving for our elders.
Cookie Exchange Week (December 3 – 7): Cookie exchanges let you simplify your baking. Make big batches of just 1 or 2 cookies and end up with smaller batches of a dozen or more different kinds of cookies! It all depends on how many people you get in your exchange group. If you haven’t already planned an exchange for this year you might only have time for a small one. If you can’t hold it this week, then plan it this week & have it next week. Here are some tips for helping it go smoothly (and for planning a bigger one for next year!).
Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (December 3 – 7): It can be hard to admit when you or a loved one may be losing the ability to drive safely. Staying active and being able to get out & go places, either necessary or fun, is important at any age. But as we age we may need to find options other than driving ourselves.
Computer Science Education Week (December 3 – 9): Help promote computer science learning for students at all levels. With the importance of computers to almost all aspects of life these days, it’s surprising CS courses aren’t more widely available in K-12 classrooms.
National Handwashing Awareness Week (December 2 – 8): It’s cold & flu season, and washing your hands can help lower your chances of getting sick. You’re more likely to get infected by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching a contaminated surface than by getting sneezed on. So always wash those hands before touching your face!
And don’t forget National Cookie Cutter Week. It runs until next Friday!
Celebration Days coming up for Dec. 3 thru Dec. 9
In the midst of food planning & prep for your “regular” holiday celebrations, don’t forget to celebrate other food holidays too. Like the days devoted to cookies, gazpacho, and brownies. Also soil, which isn’t a food but is essential for growing lots of our food.
It’s also the season to be grateful. And to start the week off we can be grateful for the little things. (Cookies are little things … right? 😉 )
But that’s not all! No. There’s so much more. Like socks & dice & bathtub parties.
You’re sure to find something to help you have another fun-tastic week!
December 3:
National Roof Over Your Head Day: Thanksgiving may be over, but there are still plenty of opportunities to be thankful. Like this day, which reminds us to be thankful for the basics … like having a roof over our heads. Because many people don’t have even that.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities: This UN-created day promotes “the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development …” The theme for this year is Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.
December 4:
National Cookie Day: Cookies! Enjoy your favorite(s) in honor of the day. Cookies in some form or other have been around at least since humans began baking. But this day has only existed since 1987, when Blue Chip Cookie Company’s Matt Nader created it. Did you know the word “cookie” comes from the Dutch “koekie”?
National Sock Day: Celebrate socks! Especially a pair of socks, still together and keeping your feet warm in all their matching glory. And check out the day’s creator, Pair Of Thieves, spreading holiday cheer and socks at the Honest Company & others in 2016.
Wildlife Conservation Day: Crimes against wildlife still threaten to make already endangered animals around the world disappear forever. Park rangers are being killed trying to protect these animals. And local communities suffer the loss of the animals. Learn more and take the pledge to help stop wildlife crime at wildlifepledge.org.
National Dice Day: Dice are an important part of many games, so play your favorite one for this day! Even better, choose a game where the dice are the game! Here are some different ones to try. They’re betting games, but you don’t have to bet anything extravagant! (It should go without saying, but if you have a gambling problem please choose something else to celebrate on Dec. 4).
December 5:
World Soil Day: Healthy soil is critical to life. Without it we’d have less food, fewer trees, and poorer lives. Yet about 1/3 of the world’s soil is degraded. This day was first proposed in 2002, and the world finally celebrated the 1st World Soil Day in 2014.
Sachertorte Day: Also called Sacher Torte Day, this day celebrates a special chocolate cake. One created for Prince Wenzel Von Metternich of Austria. Apprentice chef Franz Sacher created the torte at the prince’s request in 1832. Interested in making one? Try this recipe.
Bathtub Party Day: Tom & Ruth Roy of Wellcat.com want you to skip the shower for this day. Instead, take a nice relaxing bath. Have a party for one! Or, check out the Roy’s suggestions for a successful Bathtub Party Day with friends. 😲
December 6:
St. Nicholas Day: Celebrate the feast day of the real man who gave rise to Santa Clause (not a real man! Or elf …). The 4th century bishop was a kind (and rich) man who enjoyed helping those less fortunate.
National Miners Day: On this day we honor the people who work hard below the earth and often die there too. The December 6 date is in memory of America’s worst mining disaster on Dec. 6, 1907, when 361 miners died in Monongah, West Virginia. Congress officially proclaimed this day in 2009.
National Microwave Oven Day: Yes, there’s really a day to celebrate the microwave oven. And why not? They’re convenient for everything from heating leftovers to making popcorn … quickly and with very little mess! What’s not to love? Try some of these simple recipes for this day.
National Gazpacho Day: We’re not sure why we’re celebrating a cold soup during cold weather, but here you go! Enjoy a bowl or 2 of this delicious chilled vegetable soup. Never made it? Try this recipe.
December 7:
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: 2018 is the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. The attack killed 2,403 people, both service members and civilians. Events are held around the country commemorating the day.
Faux Fur Friday: On this day pledge to only wear/buy faux fur any day of the year. Because fur makes a beautiful coat or accent. But real fur belongs on real furry animals. These days quality faux fur looks just as good, and it doesn’t involve inhumane treatment of animals on fur farms.
National Cotton Candy Day: Celebrate the light, airy confection originally called fairy floss. Four different men created a version of the stuff around the same time, and it’s not clear who was actually first. But John C. Wharton & William Morrison did get the 1st patent on a cotton candy machine.
December 8:
Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day: Who’s your favorite time traveler(s)? Dr. Who? Sam Beckett? Marty McFly & Doc Brown? Pretend to be that person for the day. Or just be someone from either the past or the future. But don’t tell anyone you’re a time traveler! Just be amazed/confused/disappointed/terrified by the things you see. This day apparently started in 2007 (just 2 years after the Dr. Who reboot. Coincidence?!).
National Brownie Day: Enjoy your favorite brownies for this day. Do you like the popular chocolate brownies? Or do you prefer blondies? Swirled brownies? Minty brownies? And of course, whatever the flavor you must always decide if you want them with or without nuts. So many choices!
National Lard Day: Apparently this is the very 1st official National Lard Day. There was one last year, but it was unofficial. Both years the celebration coincides with the announcement of the winners of the Coast Packing Company’s #LardLovers Recipe Contest. Yep, minimally processed animal fats (like lard!) are making a comeback since we’ve recognized things like artificial trans fats are some of the worst things you can put in your body.
December 9:
National Pastry Day: Enjoy your favorite pastries for this day. Have a turnover, Danish, tart, pie, or whatever other pastry your heart desires.
World Choral Day: The 2nd Sunday in December is for spreading peace and understanding through music. This year the day also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Weary Willie Day: What the heck’s a weary Willie? He’s a sad clown created by Emmett Kelly. When Mr. Kelly first came up with the idea, nobody wanted a sad clown. White-faced happy clowns were the norm. But during the Great Depression Weary Willie struck a chord. December 9 is Emmett Kelly’s birthday (1898).
