Local History

It’s December! Let’s celebrate!

December can seem to be all about Christmas, although many celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa this month. Plus, of course, there’s New Year’s Eve.

But, did you know that in December you can celebrate every day? There’s World AIDS Day, National Ding-A-Ling Day, National Underdog Day, and Forefathers’ Day. The first Monday of the month is Walt Disney Day, the first Saturday Coats and Toys for Kids Day and the third Saturday marks National Wreaths Across America Day. 

There’s at least one day for everyone to celebrate during the month, and many will find a reason to cheer on more special days. We found some to choose yours from.

Kick it off

Start off the month giving kudos to that brave lady on Rosa Parks Day! If you need to justify early decorating, the 1st is National Christmas Lights Day. Want a snack after putting them up? Be healthy for Eat a Red Apple Day, or indulge for National Pie Day.

Thanks to a late Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday is December 2. Take a break from clicking in your orders, though, to reflect on International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. Be sure to give your pups some extra pats for National Mutt Day, even if they have a pedigree.

If you didn’t do it on the 1st, put some apples into a crust for National Apple Pie Day. While it bakes, get into the spirit of Giving Tuesday, or Make a Gift Day. Speaking of giving, share an embrace for Let’s Hug Day, December 3.   

On the 4th, Santa’s List Day and National Cookie Day seem to go together like, well, Santa Claus and cookies. While it should happen 24/7/365, today is also set aside as Wildlife Conservation Day.

Break out the mac and cheese! The 5th is National Comfort Food Day. Take some to a shut-in, because it’s International Volunteer Day. While it is also Day of the Ninja, let’s hope you don’t need fighting techniques to talk to them on National Communicate With Your Kids Day. 

Don’t nuke the cold soup on December 6, just because it’s National Gazpacho Day, as well as National Microwave Day. Make more Christmas preparations on National St. Nicholas Day, and warm up someone’s hands for Mitten Tree Day. 

Take a moment to remember

Remember President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous quote “A day that will live in infamy,” as you take a moment to observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on the 7th. Munch a Bosc or Anjou for National Pear Day, or enjoy a spun sugar treat for National Cotton Candy Day, while you update correspondence; it’s Letter Writing Day.

If you’re not ready to decorate on the 8th, National Christmas Tree Day, you can skip back or forward to another one, because this is Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day. Also, just in case you needed an excuse to have one, it’s National Brownie Day. 

Get writing; it’s Christmas Card Day! Missed a brownie yesterday? Don’t despair, the 9th is National Pastry Day. If the pastry comes in plastic, recycle, as it is also Green Monday. This pseudo ruminant grazer gets something to chew on with its own National Llama Day.

People person? Animal person? Doesn’t matter, as it’s both Human Rights and International Animal Rights Day. Use a library? Help it celebrate Dewey Decimal System Day. Congratulate the prestigious award winners on Nobel Prize Day. Sip a cold one afterwards, December 10 is also National Lager Day. 

The 11th, appropriately, is both the UNICEF Birthday and UNICEF Day for Change. You could climb one for International Mountain Day, or just look it up, since it’s also National App Day.

Chocolate, clerks and chestnuts

December 12 is The International Day of Neutrality, so it’s okay if you can’t decide between putting out the flowers for National Poinsettia Day or baking, building, and icing for Gingerbread House Day. When finished, check your policies on International Universal Health Coverage Day.

Friday the 13th can’t be unlucky, because you can have your chocolate cold for Ice Cream Day or hot for National Cocoa Day. Give harried store clerks a smile; it’s National Salesperson Day, and thank anyone serving for the National Guard Birthday. Don’t say ‘neigh’ to the National Day of the Horse, or hit a false note on National Violin Day.

On the 14th, get a cozy fire going, it’s National Energy Conservation Day, plus you can use it for Roast Chestnuts Day! Get those packages sent, today is also National Free Shipping Day. If you feel like acting up, go for it on Monkey Day.

Thank the Founding Fathers on Bill of Rights Day, December 15. If you’re going out to celebrate National Cupcake Day or International Tea Day, be sure to accessorize, it’s National Wear Your Pearls Day. 

Is it odd or appropriate that Boston Tea Party Day is just after International Tea Day? You decide, while you make sweet choices for National Chocolate Covered Anything Day on the 16th. 

Flying anywhere on the 17th? A good day for it, being Wright Brothers’ First Flight Anniversary, as well as Pan American Aviation Day. If you’re staying home, flip some pancakes for National Maple Syrup Day. 

Buddy the Elf and ugly Christmas sweaters

If you know how, do it, on Answer the Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day. The 18th is also Bake Cookies Day, and two can do it better on National Twin Day. 

Get out in the woods on National Evergreen Day, and gather more greenery for Holly Day. When you’re done, have the right snack for National Oatmeal Muffin Day, all on the 19th.

Drag ‘em out and put ‘em on, you know you’ve been waiting for December 20, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day! Wear yours for Go Caroling Day or Games Day. When you’re finished, relax with National Sangria Day. And, shouldn’t we make every day International Human Solidarity Day? 

Being one, I’m all in for National Short Girl Appreciation Day on the 21st. Turning yours on for National Flashlight Day can help you with Look on the Bright Side Day. All in favor of Don’t Make Your Bed Day, read in it for National Short Story Day, or sharpen your pencil for National Crossword Puzzle Day. 

Cookies, the exchange, and Festivus

Those cookies made a few days ago? Good thing you have them on the 22nd, for National Cookie Exchange Day. No cookies? How about National Date Nut Bread Day? Yesterday was for girls, today everyone can celebrate National Short Person Day. Maybe your height is due to someone remembered on Forefathers’ Day.

The 23rd is Festivus, ‘the festival for the rest of us,’ so if you haven’t celebrated anything so far, here’s your chance. If you got these cookies in the exchange, enjoy them on National Pfeffernusse Day, while you’re digging through your family tree on National Roots Day. 

December 24th  is Christmas Eve. You needn’t be Italian to follow their tradition of The Feast of the Seven Fishes. With it, a hearty quaff with your spice of choice for National Egg Nog Day. 

Wish family, friends, and neighbors Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah, which starts on the 25th this year. Enjoy a festive dinner, and be sure to include this traditional dessert on National Pumpkin Pie Day.

December holidays continue on the 26th; give a special wish to those celebrating, Kwanzaa. It is also the traditional Boxing Day. Complain about gifts you didn’t (or did) get, because it’s National Whiners Day. Soothe the pain with a sweet holiday favorite because it’s National Candy Cane Day.  

Fruitcake with no interruptions

On the 27th, whether it was or wasn’t a white Christmas, you can snip up a storm for Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day. Love it or hate it, either way, it’s National Fruitcake Day. Don’t let anything pause your endeavors on No Interruptions Day.

The 28th will be busy, if you honor all its traditions! Nibble a bonbon for National Chocolate Candy Day, while having a hand of gin rummy for National Card Playing Day. Make sure to stand for Pledge of Allegiance Day. Add to your files on National Download Day, and then take time to watch a flick for National Short Film Day. Don’t forget to reach out to someone on National Call a Friend Day!

If you have undone projects on Still Need To Do Day, maybe Tick Tock Day will get you in rhythm to finish. Play the strings for International Cello Day. December 29th is a dark day to remember, it was the Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890.

End the year with bacon and champagne

If you haven’t made one yet, the 30th is National Resolution Planning Day. Maybe you have, and maybe it’s to eat more or less (although we can’t imagine anyone doing that!) of this breakfast and sandwich treat on Bacon Day.

Last but far from least, December 31st is National Champagne Day, so make sure you have yours for the midnight toast! Don’t feel bad if you can’t decide where to go or what to do or what to wear or who to ask along for the evening’s festivities, after all, it is National Make Up Your Mind Day.

Dipping into January, because, of course New Year’s Day is National Bloody Mary Day and National Hangover Day, we leave you to nurse the one with the other, if need be, while you look back on how you celebrated December’s month of holidays! •