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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 16:20:09 GMT
Jay-Z’s Birthday – December 4, 2021~Other
Jay-Z and his wife, Beyonce Knowles, form one of the most powerful couples in the music industry. He has recorded 13 hip-hop records and released more than 100 singles. He was born on December 4 and raised in New York and burst on to the music scene in 1996 with his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, which was a critical and commercial success. In addition to his music career, he also owns a fashion line and a sports entertainment company. He is the recipient of 21 Grammy Awards.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 16:21:57 GMT
Global Fat Bike Day – December 4, 2021~International
Global Fat Bike Day has taken place on the first Saturday of December annually since 2012 — this year it falls on December 4. It’s a special day for fat bike enthusiasts who celebrate it the best way they know how — riding on their fat bikes! The day falls on a Saturday, mostly since it’s a popular day for riding and allows people to go on longer rides. But this isn’t set in stone, so you can choose to ride on Friday or even Sunday, depending on your commitments. You and your fat bike have the entire weekend! All this day asks of you is to find the time to ride.
HISTORY OF GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY In just under a decade, Global Fat Bike Day has become a phenomenon. But who kickstarted this spectacular idea? The concept took off, not from one eureka moment but over a series of conversations and scattered rides. It began when a bunch of passionate fat bike enthusiasts in the U.K. started organizing a few rides. “Just grassroots stuff,” they called it. The dream was to gather amazing people and bikes in one place. Due to factors beyond their control (costs, conflicting schedules, etc.), the plan never took off.
At some point, the idea of a global gathering to celebrate old mountain bikes took shape. The premise was simple. Agree on a specific time and date, get on your bike, and ride – wherever you may be in the world. All you had to do was ride when the set hour rolled by in your respective time zone. Bikers could choose to ride solo or with friends, and they could hit an epic mountain trail or bike around the city. It was all good! Fat biking usually happens in areas where December is chilly, with perhaps a little snowfall. Snow on the trail always makes for a memorable ride, but you can also have a memorable ride on the sand.
Soon, the idea had takers across countries and spread like wildfire online. And here we are today. It remains an online holiday but has grown in scale over the years. A day that started in Britain has now gained popularity in Canada and the United States as well. It’s a way for the fat bike community to share experiences and celebrate their love for these splendid bikes.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 16:52:55 GMT
National Cookie Day – December 4, 2021~U.S.
National Cookie Day is December 4 so get ready to refill your cookie jar. Maybe you prefer your cookies to have a crunchy snap, or maybe you’d rather bite into soft and chewy sugary heaven. Either way, eating cookies brings us happiness, and we should all do it more often. Just don’t tell your doctor.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL COOKIE DAY In America, a cookie is described as a thin, sweet, small cake. By definition, a cookie can be a variety of hand-held, flour-based sweet cakes, either crisp or soft. Each country has its own word for “cookie”. In England and Australia they’re referred to as biscuits, in Spain they’re galletas. Germans call them keks and in Italy they have several names to identify the various forms of cookie. In America, the Dutch word “koekje” was Anglicized to “cookie”. The sweet treat came to America through the Dutch in New Amsterdam in the late 1620s. The earliest reference to cookies in America is in 1703, when the Dutch in New York provided 800 cookies for a funeral.
Hard cookie-like wafers have existed for as long (and maybe even longer) as baking has been documented. However, they were not sweet enough to be considered cookies by modern standards. They appear to have some origins in 7th century CE Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain. By the 14 century, they were common in all levels of society throughout Europe, from royal cuisine to street vendors.
With global travel becoming widespread at that time, cookies made a natural travel snack, a modernized equivalent of the travel cakes consumed throughout history. One of the most popular early cookies, which traveled especially well and became known on every continent by similar names, was the jumble: a relatively hard cookie made largely from nuts, sweetener, and water.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 16:55:55 GMT
Chester Greenwood (Earmuff) Day – December 4, 2021~U.S.
Chester Greenwood Day, also known as Earmuff Day, falls on the first Saturday of December each year. This year, it’s on December 4. Yes, there’s a day for that! Every year, the town of Farmington in Maine celebrates its famous resident. Greenwood first designed the earmuff when he was 15. He came up with the idea so his ears wouldn’t catch frostbite while ice skating. With a little help from his grandmother, the first earmuffs were born — tufts of fur sewn between loops of wire! The rest is history.
HISTORY OF CHESTER GREENWOOD (EARMUFF) DAY Chester Greenwood grew up in the town of Farmington in Maine. We know Maine gets cold in the winter, but the average temperatures were significantly harsher during the 19th and 20th centuries. The local ponds would regularly freeze up. Like every other teen, Greenwood looked forward to winter days and ice skating with friends and . Although he loved the sport, Greenwood couldn’t stay out on the ice for too long because he found that his ears were more prone to frostbite than others. At the time, most people wore wool caps with ear coverings that worked to protect the ears, but they didn’t work for Greenwood since he was allergic to the wool caps.
But frostbite and allergies wouldn’t stop him. He decided to solve this dilemma and roped his grandmother in on the plan. Greenwood asked her to sew flannel pads onto the ends of a wire ring that could go around his head. And that’s how the first version of the earmuffs was born! These little ear protectors became a rage with his friends, who recognized the sheer brilliance in their simplicity. Soon, everyone in town was wearing them.
Greenwood improved the original design by replacing the wire with bands. He introduced velvet pads instead of flannel. The new design also came with a hinge that allowed more pressure against the ear. Much later, Greenwood set up a small factory in Maine to produce ear muffs. The factory provided jobs and steady incomes to people for over 60 years – especially when it began supplying earmuffs to overseas troops during World War I. Despite having machines for manufacturing, Greenwood still employed women to hand-stitch velvet pads to the bands at home. It was a way of thanking his grandmother, who brought the first earmuffs to life in the same way.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 16:59:37 GMT
Cabernet Franc Day – December 4, 2021~U.S.
Cabernet Franc Day is on December 4 each year, and we’re happy this exquisite wine gets the spotlight for once. Wine lovers have their favorites, but every day would be Cabernet Franc Day if it were up to us. It has lived in the shadows of the Cabernet Sauvignon for too long. Did you know that Cabernet Sauvignon would not exist without Cabernet Franc? It’s just one of several reasons we love it.
HISTORY OF CABERNET FRANC DAY Also called Cab Franc Day, the first-ever celebration took place in 2015, but it all began in southwest France sometime in the 17th century with Cardinal Richelieu’s love for a particular blue-black grape. He loved them so much that he transported vine cuttings from Bordeaux to the Loire Valley. The berry has been growing and thriving there ever since. Today, Cabernet Franc is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world. To remember Cardinal Richelieu’s legacy, we celebrate Cabernet Franc Day on December 4 – the anniversary of his death. Without his passion for the grape, the world would be bereft of the Cabernet Franc.
But that’s not all. If it weren’t for Cabernet Franc, we wouldn’t have the Cabernet Sauvignon either. DNA analysis has proven that Cabernet Sauvignon was ‘born’ after accidental contamination between the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. So, we can safely say that Cabernet Franc is the father wine of Cabernet Sauvignon. We love the fruits (excuse the pun) of this happy accident.
Cabernet Franc is among the top three grape varieties grown for wine manufacturing today. It can be vinified on its own or blended with the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon a la Bordeaux. The grapes also make fantastic ice wine. Cabernet Franc wines contain delicate sweet-savory flavors and each sip tastes of herbs and peppery earthiness. The wines are also aromatic with red fruit scents of strawberry, , cherry, and tomato. Since the wine has medium-to-high acidity, it makes a delightfully refreshing drink. Over the years, Cabernet Sauvignon has dominated the industry. Now, Cabernet Franc finally gets its much-deserved day in the sun.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 17:02:25 GMT
International Cheetah Day – December 4, 2021~International
International Cheetah Day is on December 4 and we’re getting ready to celebrate mother nature’s breathtaking, built-for-speed machines — cheetahs. Cheetahs are incredibly fast and absolutely gorgeous beasts. But, did you know that cheetahs are the most endangered big cats in Africa? This day is a reminder that we should honor and preserve these magnificent animals!
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL CHEETAH DAY The story of how International Cheetah Day was born is worthy of a movie adaptation. It all started in 1977 when American Zoologist, Dr. Laurie Marker took Khayam, a cheetah she raised from a cub at Wildlife Safari in Oregon, to Namibia. It was a part of an experiment to determine whether captive cheetahs could be taught to hunt and live in the wild on their own again.
The experiment was a success, and she and Khayam returned home to the U.S. But during her stay in Namibia, Dr. Marker noted that livestock owners posed a threat to the cheetah population in the wild. They were eliminating cheetahs vigorously because they were becoming a threat to their livestock.
Determined to help resolve the rift between Namibian farmers and cheetahs, Dr. Marker vowed to preserve the wild cheetahs and founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund in 1991. She negotiated with the locals and educated them about wildlife preservation. In honor of his memory, Dr. Marker chose Khayam’s birthday as the day to promote cheetah conservation. Since 2010, the world has been celebrating International Cheetah Day on December 4 to raise awareness about the threat of extinction that they face.
Sadly, due to excessive hunting of wild cheetahs for their fur, and the loss of their habitat due to increased human settlements, as of 2020, there are only around 7,100 cheetahs left in the wild. This is a shocking 50% decline in the last four decades. So, let us recognize this as the day to respect and conserve cheetahs.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 17:05:46 GMT
Candle Day – December 4, 2021~U.S.
Every year on the first Saturday of December, falling on December 4 this year, it’s Bath & Body Works’ Candle Day. Stock up on your favorite calming scents for the lowest prices of the year. The day only comes around once annually, so make sure it’s on your calendar!
HISTORY OF CANDLE DAY Every year since the day’s 2013 inception, candle lovers across the nation gather on the first Saturday of December to take advantage of Bath & Body Works’ annual candle sale. Three wick candles that usually retail for around $25 will only be $9.50. Some locations will extend their operating hours so that they open earlier and close later, giving their customers ample time to go to the store and sniff out their favorite candles.
From the earliest of times, candle makers added scents to produce the best smelling candles. It started in China with their candle “time clocks”. Incense sticks were often inserted into the wax to add relaxing aromas. Sometimes incense was placed sporadically throughout the candle so that the scent was constantly changing. In the 1980s and 1990s, a rebirth in candle popularity became an international phenomenon, This was due partly to their decorative value, but also their ability to allow the stressed out, modern, over-worked homeowner an opportunity to create a relaxing environment using the aromatherapy of scented candles.
Bath & Body Works, an American retailer under the L Brands umbrella, was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio. The company’s first store opened in a Cambridge, Massachusetts mall in September 1990. In 1997, a secondary brand called Bath & Body Works at Home was launched. Soon it was renamed to Slatkin before settling on the name we know it as today, White Barn Candle Company. The company launched a seasonal catalog, a website, and launched its first television commercial advertisement in 2006. Net sales as of January 28, 2006, were $2.3 billion, significantly higher than all other L Brand companies other than Victoria’s Secret.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 4, 2021 17:08:41 GMT
’s List Day – December 4, 2021~U.S.
’s List Day is on December 4 every year. In a world of excessive list-making, this is the list that counts! It’s the day when puts together his list of naughty or nice children. The ones on the nice list receive toys, candy, and other presents on Christmas Eve. The naughty children may find coal in their stockings or not much at all! But how can one man pull this off? He has help, of course. ’s trusty elves keep watch all year and make toys for nice children. Despite the two lists, remains jolly and generous, in keeping with the season’s spirit. Still, being nice is always a good thing.
HISTORY OF ’S LIST DAY The story of ’s List Day and how it began has several versions. Perhaps like the story of the man himself, ’s List Day is an amalgamation of numerous histories and folklore traditions. ’s List Day marks the day he makes a list of naughty and nice children, and the proverbial list lets him decide what to bring each child for Christmas. To understand how ’s List Day began, let’s delve into the history of the man himself. The origins of Claus are steeped in folklore. We know him as the jolly man in red who brings presents to children each Christmas; however, his story goes back to numerous Christmas traditions. Most people believe that Claus was a monk named St Nicholas who lived during the third century. Over time, St Nicholas became known as the protector of children and sailors. The story of St Nicholas adapted through the age. By the 18th century, the legend of St Nicholas made inroads into American popular culture when Dutch families gathered to honor the death anniversary of ‘Sinterklaas’ (Dutch for St Nicholas). Gift-giving and Claus’ role in all of it became a part of Christmas tradition in the 19th century. Claus was everywhere – from the streets of New York to shopping malls and advertisements.
But the defining moment came with Clement Mark Moore’s poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The poem describes a jolly old man flying from house to house, shimmying up and down chimneys with ease to leave presents for deserving children – also known as the ones on his nice list.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 5, 2021 15:31:12 GMT
Sacher-Torte Day – December 5, 2021~U.S.
We get to indulge our sweet tooth on Sacher-Torte Day every year on December 5. The cake is famous worldwide for its taste, and this day is set aside to appreciate this culinary delight and how it has satisfied millions of people for hundreds of years. Tortes are similar to cakes, and many regard them as a cake variant. The difference lies in the ingredients — the torte incorporates several components that give it a tighter crumb and a heavier base than cake.
HISTORY OF SACHER-TORTE DAY The Sacher-Torte ranks among the most celebrated culinary creations in Vienna. Sacher-Torte is a special kind of chocolate cake invented under equally special circumstances in 1832 by Austrian pastry chef, Franz Sacher, for the Austrian State Chancellor, Prince Clemens Lothar Wensel Metternich.
A huge fan of novel dishes, the Prince ordered the creation of a new cake. With the head chef out sick, the kitchen staff immediately went into panic mode. No one had any idea what to prepare — and then Franz Sacher had a culinary revelation. Despite being a 16-year-old, Sacher gathered his wits and the available ingredients, then set about to create what has since become a famous chocolate cake. The prodigy would go on to run several restaurants and cafes. The Sacher-Torte was by far his most notable creation; it established his genius and made him prosperous. In 1876, Franz Sacher’s son, Eduard Sacher, opened a luxury hotel in Vienna which bore the name. The Sacher-Torte unsurprisingly became the staple of the Sacher Hotel. The hotel would rise in popularity under the management of Eduard’s wife, Anna Sacher. Famous for her love of cigars and dogs, Anna Sacher transformed the hotel into a hotspot for diplomats, aristocrats, and socialites.
Sacher-Torte Day was created to celebrate this amazing dessert and its unique origins. Food lovers worldwide can testify to the superb taste of what many call the best chocolate cake ever made. Longtime admirers and first-timers alike get to enjoy this yummy holiday every year as the holiday season looms. What a treat!
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Post by pennmom on Dec 5, 2021 15:39:01 GMT
World Soil Day – December 5, 2021~International
World Soil Day is held annually on December 5. How often do we appreciate the ground beneath our feet when we know our futures depend on healthy soil? Isn’t it odd that we don’t talk about it enough? Vastly underrated yet incredibly vital — the world would have no food security without soil. Thankfully, there’s a day dedicated to the importance of healthy, sustainable soil management and keeping it that way. We’re here to give you the dirt on why we should pay more attention and how soil is one of the most magical things on earth!
HISTORY OF WORLD SOIL DAY All life begins and ends from the soil. It’s the source of food, medicine and filters our water, among others. Most of us take soil for granted and assume it will always be around. But that’s far from the truth. It takes more than 1,000 years to grow 0,4 inches of soil.
In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences recommended creating an international day to celebrate and generate awareness around soil. It was a movement led by the kingdom of Thailand under the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. His vision and passion for this most precious natural resource led, shaped, and guided the movement.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United States supported the formal establishment of World Soil Day. The idea was to create a platform to raise global awareness of the importance of healthy soil. In 2013, the FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day and requested its official adoption at the 68th U.N. General Assembly. In 2014, the U.N. General Assembly designated December 5 as the first official World Soil Day. The day also happens to be the official birthday of the late King of Thailand, who officially sanctioned the event. It honors his memory and respects his incredible work to make the day a reality.
Since then, World Soil Day has been vital to advocate for sustainable soil management resources. All around the world, people use the day to inform and inspire. And there’s a different theme to focus on each year. It reminds us to appreciate this incredible natural resource — the source of our food, the anchor of ecosystems, and that’s merely scratching the surface.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 5, 2021 15:41:02 GMT
International Ninja Day – December 5, 2021~World
Back in 2003, Ninja Burger created International Ninja Day on December 5 as a way to celebrate the Ninja “speed” with which their burgers are delivered. Aside from that, ninjas are awesome. We all love them and secretly wish we were one. On this day, wear a ninja mask to work to plague your co-workers with ninja-ness and throwing stars! Got the day off? Dress like a ninja at the mall or run wild in the streets.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL NINJA DAY It’s said that December 5 was chosen for the first International Ninja Day because the Tom Cruise movie “The Last Samurai,” which featured a ninja-vs-samurai battle, was released on that day. In the years since the celebration has grown and gained press in stages, its creators playing on the fascination Americans have always had for the black-clad assassins, from the original issues of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” back through swordplay-focused games like the old table-top “Dungeons and Dragons,” not to mention a slew of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris films from the 60s and 70s.
But the satirical website and its creators’ motivations are secondary to the intention: December 5 is the one day a year where you won’t catch strange looks for saying “Haiii-yah!” as you swoop in and grab a donut out of the box in the meeting room. Get in fake-karate fights, throw paper clips as if they’re shuriken, heck, grab a cup of sake after work. On Day of the Ninja, you hold the key to the mystical power!
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Post by pennmom on Dec 5, 2021 15:42:50 GMT
National Repeal Day – December 5, 2021~U.S.
Back in 1933, following the signature of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the United States ended its 13-year experiment with the increasingly unpopular nationwide prohibition of alcohol, meaning yay, it’s National Repeal Day on December 5! If you enjoy alcohol, then this is a great opportunity to celebrate your legal freedom to consume it. While popular opinion tends to suggest that prohibition failed, it did succeed in cutting overall alcohol consumption in half during the 1920s (although that also meant tax revenues from alcohol were zeroed out). Giving a dangerous, flapper-style edge to the consumption of alcohol in illegal speakeasies also may have contributed to a whole cult around alcohol consumption, further glamorizing it. And if there’s one thing we really like when we’re consuming alcohol, it’s an element of glamor! So if you own any flapper-style costumes, this is the time to pull it out…
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Post by pennmom on Dec 5, 2021 15:45:19 GMT
Bathtub Party Day – December 5, 2021~U.S.
Bathtub Party Day is a unique event celebrated on December 5 each year. Yes, you read it right; there’s a holiday for that! Few things measure up to the relaxation power of a long soak in the bathtub, wouldn’t you agree? Since its invention, the bathtub has played an important role in our lives for sanitation and fun. Whether it’s a party for two with scented candles and rose petals, or a crowded splash around, Bathtub Party Day is all about having some good old bathtub fun.
HISTORY OF BATHTUB PARTY DAY A bathtub party is a perfect opportunity to let go of all your tension and stress. Combining the relaxing effect of a soak in the tub with the excellent company will have you purring with delight. This observance emphasizes the importance of taking time to pamper yourself. Life can be a tough journey, so let off a little steam as you throw yourself a bathtub party today!
It’s no secret that a beautiful bathtub can significantly improve the aesthetic of your bathroom. An elegant bathtub can also work wonders in terms of boosting property value. Prospective homeowners are usually on the lookout for -friendly fixtures like a bathtub. Bathtubs have been an integral fixture in homes all over the world. The earliest mention of the bathtub comes from Crete in 1700 B.C. However, John Michael Kohler officially invented the first bathtub in 1883. Kohler was the co-founder of the Kohler company. He fixed a cast-iron horse trough with decorative feet combined with an enamel finish, creating the claw-foot design.
The history and creator of this holiday are subject to debate. Some claim Wellcat Holidays founded the holiday, but it’s unclear when the holiday was first celebrated. The early 2000s seem to be the safest bet for when the holiday was created. However, one thing is for sure; Bathtub Party Day is here to stay. Take advantage of this holiday to reconnect with your fun side. Get your favorite bath bomb and be lost to the world for a time.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 6, 2021 13:10:23 GMT
National Miners Day – December 6, 2021~U.S.
Despite federal efforts to ensure safe working conditions for miners, they have one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs you can imagine. To recognize their efforts, Congress has declared December 6 National Miners Day. Why? Our entire economy depends on them. On this holiday, we should all take a moment to think about the many ways that miners play a role in our daily lives. Mined materials contribute to things like roads, houses, cars and computers. We wouldn’t be able to get much done without their hard work.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 6, 2021 13:17:44 GMT
Walt Disney Day – December 6, 2021~U.S.
Walt Disney Day falls on the first Monday of December each year, on December 6 this year, and it’s an occasion that no one can or should ignore. We all grew up watching cartoons and movies by Disney, and they are an essential part of our childhood. Also, the theme parks such as Walt Disney World and Disneyland are a rage worldwide! Hundreds of lucky people have been there and have hundreds of memories linked to the magical lands. Feeling nostalgic already? If yes, now is the perfect time to relive the fun days once again by celebrating Walt Disney Day.
HISTORY OF WALT DISNEY DAY The famous Walt Disney (Walter Elias Disney) was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago. However, the talented Disney we know did not emerge until 1919, when he began his career as an illustrator. In 1928, Disney created Mickey Mouse, a character he sketched while on a bus. Can you imagine one of the most famous characters in the world being created like that? Today, the cartoon character is the centerpiece of the entire Disney brand.
However, things weren’t always so easy for Disney. In 1923, his first business venture called Laugh-O-Gram Studios went bankrupt. At the time, he had only $20 to start over, so Disney decided to head to Hollywood, where he created a few cartoon characters with his brother. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to attain legal copyright for them. Then Mickey Mouse and other memorable characters such as Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald Duck arrived. From thereon, there was no turning back.
After a few years, Disney began developing feature-length cartoons such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, and Mary Poppins. Disney made these animated creations during the 1940s to1960s. Due to the success of these cartoons, it was not a surprise when Disney won 22 Oscars for his role as an American animator, film producer, and voice actor. But as we know, Disney didn’t stop there. He also opened theme parks in 1955. The Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, was under construction when Disney passed away. In 2018, the theme parks had already hosted over 157,3 million guests from across the world.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 6, 2021 13:22:18 GMT
St. Nicholas Day – December 6, 2021~World
St. Nicholas Day on December 6 celebrates of course carries some connection to Christmas and Clause, but there is much more to this holiday and St. Nicholas than that. Although St. Nicholas partially inspired the Christmas and Clause that we all know and love, St. Nicholas actually derives from a different kind of tale. Let’s learn about St. Nicholas and what this day is truly about.
HISTORY OF ST. NICHOLAS DAY St. Nicholas derived from Nicholas of Myra and was a bishop in 4th century Greece. He was known for selling off his own items and then giving the money to the poor. He would commonly leave coins in people’s shoes and dedicated his entire life to serving people who were sick and suffering. This is how he gained his saint status, and is what inspired St. Nicholas Day (also commonly known as Feast Day or the Feast of St. Nicholas).
One well-known story of St. Nicholas involves a dowry for a father’s three daughters. In the third century, it was common for fathers to offer money to prospective husbands. However, one poor father with three daughters did not have money to do this. St. Nicholas paid for all three daughters’ dowries by leaving gold in their shoes.
As time passed St. Nicholas Day began in different ways. In Italy, this day was celebrated with feasts, gift-giving, and festivals. In other European countries like Germany and the Netherlands, children would leave their shoes or special St. Nicholas boot in front of the fireplace or front door at night and find presents in them in the morning. The history of St. Nicholas and his good deeds was part of the inspiration of the modern-day Claus and Father Christmas, which is why there are some current traditions of leaving gifts in people’s boots or shoes (or stockings).
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Post by pennmom on Dec 6, 2021 13:24:11 GMT
Put on Your Own Shoes Day – December 6, 2021~International
Put on Your Own Shoes Day is held annually on December 6. Since the origins are not completely known, the creator has given us free rein to use our imaginations. You could see this day as a metaphor for proudly strutting your stuff or teaching a toddler to put on their shoes. The beauty is that it’s up to you.
HISTORY OF PUT ON YOUR OWN SHOES DAY Shoes have been a component of the human wardrobe since ancient times. In fact, the oldest preserved shoe in the world was discovered in Armenia and is estimated to be around 5000 years old. Historically, shoes were quite basic and were simply used for practical reasons such as to protect the feet from the elements, rather than for comfort and fashion. It was actually not until the 1800s that shoes began being made specifically for the left and right feet. Footwear has come a long way since then and has changed drastically over the centuries.
Made from palm leaves, papyrus fiber, and raw leather, the first sandals, which were stretched and tied at the end of the foot, appeared in ancient Egypt. Initially, only clerics and the pharaoh wore sandals but, later, all ancient Egyptians began wearing them and they came in various colors, which symbolized the different social classes.
During the Renaissance period, European royalty often wore shoes with high heels as high as 30 cm to show off their superiority. This also allowed them to casually walk through puddles. These were the first examples of modern platform shoes. King Louis XIV of France played a significant role in spreading the popularity of high heels. Even now, men’s high heels are referred to as French shoes by many fashion historians.
Footwear wouldn’t start being truly fashionable until around the baroque period when the design of a person’s shoe was a key indicator of their social class. The higher their heels, the higher their class. Anyone walking around without any shoes on probably wasn’t doing so well.
The biggest boom in the production of footwear occurred during the Industrial Revolution. Inventors and craftsmen in the United Kingdom and North America developed a footwear sewing machine and began mass-producing shoes made of fabric. Jan Ernst Matzeliger came up with a shoemaking method that allowed about 700 pairs of shoes to be produced each day. Footwear became accessible to everyone and, finally, from the middle of the 19th century, shoes were customized for left and right foot!
Today, shoes are a multi-billion dollar industry.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Dec 6, 2021 13:27:28 GMT
National Pawnbrokers Day – December 6, 2021~U.S.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PAWNBROKERS DAY The word ‘pawn’ comes from ‘patinum,’ the Latin word for ‘cloth’ or ‘clothing.’ Pawnbroking history goes back thousands of years to the ancient Roman and Greek empires and China in the East. Pawnbrokers provide cash loans in exchange for goods and property as collateral.
The pawnbroker returns the collateral after the person repays the loan with interest. If clients don’t pay up, they forfeit their property, and the pawnbroker can sell it to recoup the loan.
But pawnbrokers can also play the role of a charitable organization. In Perugia, Italy, a Franciscan friar, Barnaba Manassei, started the Monte di Pietà initiative in 1450. The movement offered financial aid to people, giving them no-interest loans for pawned items. The idea was to get people to make donations to the church as opposed to paying interest. The idea gained popularity in Italy and then spread to other regions in Europe. It might surprise you to know that musical instruments are among the most pawned items over the centuries. On Pawnbrokers Day, pawnbrokers often donate the forfeited instruments to schools or charitable organizations who need them, which allows children who wouldn’t ordinarily have access to these instruments the opportunity to use them. Talk about modern-day heroes!
But they weren’t always considered heroes. From 1603 until 1872, an act was passed against brokers that aimed to undermine counterfeit brokers throughout London. Brokers in this category were referred to as fences. In England, the Pawnbrokers Act of 1872 established regulations that protected pawnbrokers who unwittingly sold stolen items. It also established the interest rate on pawned items and general guidelines that define the industry to this day.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Dec 6, 2021 13:33:22 GMT
Mitten Tree Day – December 6, 2021~U.S.
We celebrate Mitten Tree Day on December 6 as a fun holiday that encourages using and giving mittens. Mittens are the perfect solution to keep our hands warm when playing in the snow and building . But mittens are also the perfect gift for those who do not have a heater or fireplace to keep them warm. So, purchase (or knit) some creative and colorful mittens that you would love to sport when you step out of the house — plus a few extra for someone less fortunate than you.
HISTORY OF MITTEN TREE DAY We don’t know the details of the history of Mitten Tree Day, but there is a belief that school teachers formed it during Christmas time. The idea of Mitten Tree Day is said to have emerged as a fun class activity, which they named after a book called “The Mitten Tree.” The book’s author, Candace Christiansen, focused the storyline on a woman who missed her grown-up children.
In the book, the lady walks through the cold winter weather and spots a few children waiting at the school bus stop. The lady notices that the children want to play in the snow but can’t because they don’t have any mittens to protect their hands. Feeling sorry for the kids, she knits a basket full of mittens and hangs them on a tree near the bus stop. The woman continues to knit mittens for the kids of her town and no longer drowns in the memories of her children.
According to sources, the name ‘mittens’ comes from the Old French word ‘mitaine.’ It was an old pet name for a cat, and at that time, mittens were made of animal fur. The earliest mittens found are said to date back to 1000 A.D. Mittens were also very common in medieval Europe. However, since they were hard to make, they were often worn as a fashion statement by the wealthy. Today, we make mittens from different materials like wool, leather, fur, or polyester. They also tend to be warmer than gloves because our fingers generate more heat when they are together.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Dec 6, 2021 13:35:35 GMT
National Microwave Oven Day – December 6, 2021~U.S.
National Microwave Oven Day takes place every year on December 6 to celebrate one of the most influential kitchen appliances. Microwave ovens serve a variety of uses, such as making popcorn, heating leftovers, melting chocolate and butter, and even heating water. These days, you can even make microwave fudge or cake! Microwave ovens also use less energy than conventional ovens, sometimes up to 80% less. There’s no doubt that microwave ovens change our lives for the better. So, it’s no surprise that we have a day dedicated to celebrating the microwave’s usefulness.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL MICROWAVE OVEN DAY Percy Spencer, a self-taught American engineer, developed a means to prepare food with microwaves safely. In 1945, he realized a candy bar in his pocket was melting while working with active radar. Amazed by his discovery, Spencer set out to make popcorn in the microwaves. He then attempted to cook an egg. The egg test performed far worse than the popcorn test, and blew up in his coworker’s face! Nowadays we know that we can use microwave ovens to cook or even poach eggs.
Spencer, who worked at Raytheon, experimented with numerous ways to cook food with microwaves safely. He discovered that he could direct the magnetron’s power into a metal box and trap it there. He also noted that food placed in the box quickly heated up. Raytheon submitted a patent for a microwave oven on October 8, 1945. Raytheon introduced the Radarange microwave in 1947, which stood nearly 6 feet tall and cost $5,000. In 1955, Raytheon outsourced its patents to Tappan, which launched a microwave that still wasn’t applicable for domestic use, and cost $1,295 at the time. Raytheon bought Amana in 1965 and released a countertop microwave for $495 in 1967. Shortly after, Litton invented a microwave oven with a design similar to those used today, which helped promote home microwaves even more. In the United States, there were around 40,000 microwaves in use in 1971, rising to one million by 1975.
Although some early models leaked, giving them a negative reputation, their popularity grew. Recipes for microwavable meals were abundant throughout the 1980s, as were consumer goods like cupcake kits but the majority of these items were of poor quality. Nonetheless, by 1986, around 25% of American households owned a microwave, and by 1997, that figure had climbed to 90%.
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