What to Celebrate December 31, 2018 to January 6, 2019
Celebration Ideas for December 31, 2018 – January 6, 2019
Happy New Year!
Well almost, anyway.
As you gear up for your New Year’s Eve celebrations, remember to leave some energy for the other celebrations happening on the 31st. And those coming up in the new year.
Some can help you with those resolutions (do you make those?). Like getting exercise by walking your dog. Or taking better care of yourself by treating yourself to some uninterrupted silence. Or laughing when things go wrong.
Others are just more of the fun & deliciousness you’ve come to expect from these unofficial celebrations. So fill up at the buffet, indulge in some chocolate-covered cherries, and enjoy your favorite science fiction.
There’s serious celebrations, too. So train your dog, make sure pets are safe when traveling in the car, and take part in the Universal Hour of Peace.
Plus much more.
So for the last time in 2018, take a peek and plan your week (for 2019!). And remember to always …
Enjoy!
Celebrate All January Long
The beginning of the year is going to the dogs! In a good way.
It’s a month for bonding with your dog(s). Training and walking them both make great bonding experiences. They also make for happier humans and dogs.
And having your dog inside with you allows for lots of loving interactions. Training also makes it easier for your dog to behave appropriately inside.
National Train Your Dog Month: Did you get a puppy over the holidays? Or any dog, really. Now’s the perfect time to get started on the training! Puppies can start learning good manners by around 7 weeks. And even older dogs can benefit from learning how to listen. Of course, if you’ve never trained a dog, you may benefit most of all by learning the best way to help your dog mind you.
National Walk Your Dog Month: You and your pooch can both keep your New Year’s resolutions to get healthier and exercise more! And this celebration goes well with Train Your Dog Month. After all, walking your dog is much easier when it’s also well-trained!
National Unchain a Dog Month: This month is for bringing dogs inside. Don’t leave your dog chained outside all the time. And if you know of dogs in your neighborhood who are chained all day & night without proper shelter, help them. (Just make sure they’re actually neglected … some dogs do love to spend hours playing in the snow.) This is especially important when it’s freezing outside. But it’s also important no matter the weather. Because dogs want to love and be loved by their humans. Leaving them chained outside deprives them of that joy.
Weekly Celebrations for January’s 1st Week
Once we’ve rung in the new year, the 1st week of January is all about silence and laughter. So enjoy plenty of both. Even when you must laugh at yourself.
Silent Record Week (January 1 – 7): Enjoy regular moments of silence for this week. And then consider making it a regular practice throughout the year. Because silence is good for you.
Someday We’ll Laugh About This Week (January 2 – 8): Most of the horrible, embarrassing, mortifying, and frustrating things that happen to you eventually become something to laugh at. So for this week, practice recognizing that & maybe feeling a bit less embarrassed or frustrated when things go wrong. Then maybe you can laugh at it sooner.
Celebration Days coming up for Dec. 31 thru Jan. 6
Of course this week starts with New Year’s Eve. But there are plenty of other things to celebrate on the last day of the year. Some of them even go quite well with your New Year’s celebrations … like National Champagne Day!
Then we go on to celebrate over-used words, artistic works entering the public domain, and trivia. Cats get their very own mew year’s day, and birds deserve our protection. Science fiction and JRR Tolkien also get their days.
Throughout the week we enjoy chocolate-covered cherries, shortbread, and cream puffs. We eat at buffets and toss fruitcake.
So let’s make one New Year’s resolution we can keep … to make this 1st week of the year a fun-tastic one!
December 31:
National Champagne Day: On this day you must drink Champagne! Which shouldn’t be too hard if you’re celebrating the new year. But make it the real Champagne if you can. Some are quite affordable. Not cheap, but affordable. Not sure where to start? Try this list of top champagnes and similar sparkling wines. The page includes approximate prices for each.
No Interruptions Day: On the last work-day of the year (assuming you haven’t taken it off!) you must (try to) clear off your workspace & be ready to start the new year fresh and organized. So turn off your phone(s) and close the door … And probably turn off the light and be quiet as a mouse, because if anyone knows you’re there, they’ll be interrupting you! Good luck. 😉
Universal Hour of Peace: From 11:30 pm on Dec. 31 to 12:30 am on Jan 1 celebrate peace. Preferably in peace. You don’t need total silence. Just peace. You might meditate on your own or gather with family & friends for quiet reflection. The School of Metaphysics also encourages us to recite the Universal Peace Covenant at midnight.
Make Up Your Mind Day: On this day you must make up your mind about things you may have left undecided. And then follow through on what you decide. This seems like a good celebration for making up your mind on which New Year’s Resolutions you will make … And follow up on!
And set the table for St. Basil on this evening, in case you are the pure heart he chooses to spend the evening with. Then celebrate him all day on Jan. 1.
January 1:
St. Basil Day: Have a feast and bless St. Basil’s Bread (Vasilopita). And embody the spirit of the man who cared for the poor by doing the same. You could volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, or find another way to help.
Z Day: For this day you must celebrate all people whose names start with “Z.” Treat them to dinner or lunch. Flip “alphabetical order” for the day so “Z” goes first. Celebrate things & places that start with “Z” too. Get creative with the day!
Public Domain Day: Whoo-hooo! The US gets to fully celebrate Public Domain Day this year! In most countries works enter the public domain every Jan. 1 as their copyrights expire. But for decades only works from before 1923 were public domain here in the US. But in 2019 all works from 1923 become public domain. Yes, this is more exciting than it sounds at first. Artists, writers, composers, and anyone at all can take those old works and build on them, update them, make something even better. And they can do it all without asking permission or paying a fee.
New Year’s Dishonor List Day: Since 1976 Lake Superior State University has published a list of words the Unicorn Hunters has decided should be banished from the Queen’s English (do we actually use the Queen’s English these days?) for “Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness”. You can find the archive of banished words lists here. And hopefully the 2019 list will show up here on Jan. 1.
January 2:
Happy Mew Year for Cats Day: Cats get their very own new year’s celebration! So help your favorite feline get a “mew” start to the year. A new catnip toy or favorite treat seems like the perfect way to celebrate! ❤️
National Science Fiction Day: Celebrate the creativity of science fiction and Isaac Asimov’s birthday.
National Pet Travel Safety Day: This day is your annual reminder to make sure your pet is always safely restrained when traveling in the car. The best place for your furry baby is in a secured crate.
National Buffet Day: Take a break from cooking and eat at buffets all day! A nice, relaxing start to the year.
National Cream Puff Day: After you’ve had your fill at the buffet, have a cream puff or 2 for dessert. Either buy them or make some yourself. And enjoy a few bites of cream puff trivia!
January 3:
National Chocolate Covered Cherries Day: Eat chocolate covered cherries! A delicious day indeed.
Drinking Straw Day: This day commemorates the day in 1888 when Marvin G. Stone received a US Patent on the paper drinking straw. To celebrate use paper drinking straws for the day. As a bonus, paper straws are more environmentally friendly than plastic!
JRR Tolkien Day: Celebrate the author and professor’s birthday (Jan. 3, 1892) with a toast. You might also have a movie marathon of the Lord of the Rings. And possibly be a Hobbit & have a 2nd breakfast, Elevenses and afternoon tea in addition to your regular meals.
January 4:
World Braille Day: It’s the birthday of the man who created the “reading” code that bears his name, Louis Braille. He created it when he was still just a boy, but the world didn’t really start using it until after he’d died.
National Trivia Day: For this day trivia buffs get to annoy family, friends, and coworkers with random bits of trivia all day! Although it might be safer to just share trivia with other trivia lovers. Or delight yourself by learning some new trivia.
World Hypnotism Day: Learn what hypnotism really does for this day.
January 5:
National Bird Day: Learn about birds & help to protect them to celebrate this day. Yes, there’s still lots of birds out there, but the number keeps dropping. If we ignore the problems they’ll only get worse.
National Fruitcake Toss Day:This is the day to toss any disgusting fruitcakes that may have entered your life this holiday season. But don’t just toss it in the garbage. Throw it around … either playing catch with it or seeing who can throw it the farthest.
National Whipped Cream Day: Celebrate the birthday of Aaron Lapin, inventor of Reddi-wip by adding whipped cream to everything! Or at least have a dessert that includes whipped cream. For the most authentic celebration, use Reddi-wip. If you prefer the freshest flavor, whip up some whipped cream yourself.
Twelfth Night: Celebrate the 12th day of Christmas, the eve of Epiphany.
January 6:
Cuddle-Up Day: Cuddle with your sweetie, your pet(s), or just up in a cozy blanket for the day. No pressure for this day; just warm comfort. Enjoy!
National Bean Day: Eat a variety of beans for this day. Make chili with beans. Or a bean stew. Bean burritos and/or refried beans, too. Make them however you like them, just make them!
National Shortbread Day: Enjoy shortbread cookies! You can buy them, but they’re pretty easy to make. Try this recipe.
Epiphany: Celebrate the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child.
