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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:14:07 GMT
Visit the Zoo Day – December 27, 2021~U.S.
Visit the Zoo Day is celebrated on December 27 each year. Although the origins of the day are unclear, we do know that the idea of the zoo stretches as far back as a couple of millennia. The word ‘zoo’ is, in fact, the shortest way to refer to a zoological park or garden. Zoos are typically home to a range of species and function as protective shelters for the animals housed within them.
HISTORY OF VISIT THE ZOO DAY
An early form of the zoo or zoological garden was called a ‘menagerie’. It is said to have been much smaller than the more modern zoo. The first iterations of zoos were private collections and acted as a show of power. Excavators discovered remnants of a menagerie in Egypt, which they believe dates back to around 3500 B.C. Famous kings such as Alexander the Great of Greece, King Solomon of Israel, and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia were known animal collectors from their respective times. Evidence of such zoos or collections of animals has also been found in places like China and Rome.
The first ‘modern’ zoo was built in 1793 in Paris, France. This idea of the modern and public zoo appears to have become popular in the 18th century, during the Age of Enlightenment, when science became more of a central pillar to society. Individuals wished to study animals, to better understand their anatomy and behavior, among other things. The city of London also saw its first modern zoo being opened in 1828. Animals from the Tower of London menagerie were added to its collection in due course, with the zoo eventually opening to the public in 1847.
The focus of early modern zoos was not on functioning as natural habitats for the species housed in them. Instead, they were more like museums of living animals kept in small display areas. Zoos today work towards educating and entertaining members of the public, while also furthering scientific research and promoting the conservation of species.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:15:48 GMT
National Short Film Day – December 28, 2021~U.S.
The birth of the motion picture industry is celebrated on National Short Film Day on December 28. In particular, this holiday commemorates the event when a public audience viewed a series of short films for the first time ever. Since then, people have experienced love, tragedy, and drama through movies. Accessible to all, and the best in visual entertainment, movies allow viewers to live vicariously through different characters and stories.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SHORT FILM DAY
There was no one person behind the invention of cinema. However, there were a few people integral to its take-off and success. In 1891, a prototype of the kinetoscope was demonstrated successfully by the Edison Company. This device allowed the viewing of motion pictures by one person at a time. Three years later, the kinetoscope became a sensation and led to the establishment of public parlors worldwide.
It was the Lumière brothers who presented moving pictures through a projector for the first time to a paying audience of 33 people in Paris, France in 1895. The contraption used for playing the films was their own invention, the ‘Cinématographe’, which was a 3-in-1 camera, projector, and printer. The two brothers, Louis and Auguste Lumière ignited the world’s fascination with cinema. 10 short films were projected, each of them just under a minute in length. This was an extraordinary moment in history, as the seed of ‘watching movies’ was planted on this day. Fast-forward to the present day, and we have short films in various styles, genres, and duration. Not only do short films entertain, but they are also a quick way to educate and inform on subjects through storytelling. These documentary films provide insight into the lives of real people around the world.
National Short Film Day was initiated by Film Movement on December 28, 2019. Established in 2002, Film Movement is the distributor of many award-winning indie films set in New York City. With more than 250 shorts and feature films in their portfolio, their movies have been played at distinguished film festivals worldwide. National Short Film Day was created to mark the importance and resilience of the great short-film industry.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:18:41 GMT
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Proclamation Day – December 28, 2021~Australia
Proclamation Day, which falls on the first working day after Christmas, celebrates the founding of the government in South Australia as a British province. South Australia marks Proclamation Day as a public holiday. However, it is the only state in Australia that officially celebrates the day as a public holiday, and many people don’t know why! An Australian survey found two out of three Australians don’t know what Proclamation Day is, so, on this day, it’s a chance for many South Australians, especially students, to learn about it.
HISTORY OF PROCLAMATION DAY
There are an array of Proclamation Days around the globe, as it is the name of the official or unofficial holidays that commemorate an important proclamation. In this case, South Australia, the fourth-largest of Australia’s states and territories, marks Proclamation Day as the day the vice-regal proclamation to establish South Australia as a British province was first read.
South Australia itself was officially established and proclaimed as a province in 1834 as a result of the passing of the South Australia Act by the British Parliament. This authorized King William IV to name South Australia a British province and to arrange for its colonization and government.
In 1836, this act was ratified when King William issued letters patent founding the province. Captain John Hindmarsh — a British naval officer and the first governor of South Australia — announced the establishment of government as he stood beside The Old Gum Tree in the current suburb of Glenelg North. The proclamation also stated the same protection under the law for the local indigenous Australians as well as for the settlers.
An annual ceremony is conducted at The Old Gum Tree site on Proclamation Day, in which the presently elected governor reads out Hindmarsh’s original speech. The tree itself, most likely a red gum, has been dead since 1907. However, in 1963, its outer surface was enclosed in concrete to preserve it. As of 1980, the site has been listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.
In 2015, Australian Native Title and Reconciliation members held a peaceful protest outside the reserve and called for the protection of Aboriginal land and the acknowledgment of Aboriginal people through advisory committees. Proclamation Day still holds a special place statewide for South Australians, with celebrations also including the Bay Sports Festival drawing thousands to Glenelg.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:21:19 GMT
Pledge of Allegiance Day – December 28, 2021~U.S.
For many of us, the Pledge of Allegiance was something we knew by heart and recited each morning in school. With our right hands over our hearts and our eyes cast upward at the flag on the wall, we were taught to show our patriotism. The history of the Pledge is long and fraught with controversy in recent years, so no individual American’s experience with it is universal! Today, the Pledge of Allegiance goes as follows:
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
HISTORY OF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DAY
The first iteration of a patriotic Pledge of Allegiance was penned in 1885 by Civil war veteran Colonel George Balch, but it shares almost no similarities to the Pledge of Allegiance many of us learned in grade school! It wasn’t until 1892 that Francis Bellamy, an editor at the children’s magazine “The Youth’s Companion”, was asked to write a patriotic verse to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus touching down on the continent that the official original version of the Pledge was written.
Bellamy, who was both a former Baptist minister and a Christian socialist, was inspired by the French concepts of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity” while writing the Pledge. What he came up with is similar to what is recited in schools today, excluding the phrase “under God” — but we’ll get around to explaining that.
Over the late 1800s and early 1900s, the pledge was widely adopted in schools, and Balch’s Pledge was dropped. Small tweaks were made in the text, but the meaning remained unchanged. For example, today we say “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,” which wasn’t always the case! The National Flag Conference added the phrase “of the United States of America” in 1923 and 1924. Congress formally adopted the Pledge in 1942, declaring that it should be recited with one’s right hand over one’s heart.
One of the more significant changes occurred in 1954 when President Eisenhower asked Congress to add the controversial phrase “under God” to the text. This was an effort to differentiate the American way in communist times. There has also been great debate over whether schools should require children to recite the pledge — even before the religious addition. One 1940 ruling, which compelled children to say the pledge, was quickly overturned by a 1943 ruling. Jehovah’s Witnesses presented significant challenges to the mandatory pledge in the 1930s and 1940s, as they found it to be a form of idolatry and went against their religious beliefs.
In 2004, there was a ruling that children did not have to stand for the pledge. This followed a 2002 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case in which an atheist, whose daughter would soon start school, argued that the pledge was an unconstitutional endorsement of monotheism. Between 2006 and 2015, there have been over 5 significant court cases challenging- or somehow related to the phrase “under God” — the most recent 2015 ruling stated that the phrase did not violate any atheist rights.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:23:13 GMT
Card Playing Day – December 28, 2021~U.S.
Shuffle your cards and cut the deck on Card Playing Day, December 28. It is the ideal activity to spend time with your  without having to chatter away or go on some big outing. The Christmas hustle and bustle is over, there is still time off from work, and the excitement from opening presents has diminished. There’s nothing like a slow-paced game of cards to relax while having fun!
HISTORY OF CARD PLAYING DAY
Card Playing Day doesn’t exactly have a founder or origin, it is just a go-to activity that is quickly turning into a tradition after the busy holiday season. game night is already a thing, but elaborate board games can be too competitive and take longer to set up. It doesn’t take much to start playing a game of cards.
Playing cards have been around for a long time, but they didn’t start out as the 52-card deck we have today. It all began in 9th Century China when people from the Tang dynasty began developing games using paper and objects. These were nothing like the modern, sturdier cards, but they did spread from China to different parts of the world. In India, the card game Ganjifa played by The Great Mughals had 10 suits in a deck. Court artists would hand-paint detailed scenes onto each of the 120 cards. From Egyptian cards featuring geometric Mamluk designs to the arrival of playing cards in Europe during the Renaissance, the deck eventually evolved and was divided into four suits of swords, cups, sticks, and coins.
These four suits were further developed into the modern deck we all know today, featuring hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. There are different ideas on how this happened. One theory says that these symbols represent the aristocracy, clergy, peasantry, and military. Another suggests that the four suits represent the four seasons. As for why there are 52 cards in a deck, it is believed that this number represents the total weeks in a year.
Today, thousands of card games are enjoyed by people around the world. The most popular card games include Spades, Hearts, Solitaire, Gin Rummy, Black Jack, and, of course, Poker.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:25:12 GMT
National Download Day – December 28, 2021~U.S.
December 28 is National Download Day. Once slow and cumbersome, smartphones have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. It’s hard to imagine going anywhere without our phones, which now also serve as cameras, maps, guidebooks, banks, personal assistants, and entertainment centers.
Most of these extra functions are accessed through downloadable apps — programs designed for mobile phones that streamline specific functions. You can find thousands of free and paid apps for your mobile device including productivity boosters, games, photo editing software, and shopping apps. You can even connect apps to wearable technology to monitor your heart rate, distance walked, and more.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL DOWNLOAD DAY
Modern cell phones are less phones and more tiny, portable computers. In fact, when’s the last time you actually made a phone call on your mobile device? Most of our screen time is spent on apps — software designed for smartphones that lets us do everything from play games to make banking transactions.
The first cell phones were just that: phones. Early mobile users had to charge their phones for about 10 hours, and were limited to 30 minutes of phone calls a day. These rudimentary devices didn’t have the power or battery life to handle more complex tasks.
Needless to say, our screen time has gone up a bit since those days. Today, the average mobile phone user has 60 to 90 apps installed on their phone.
When mobile phones got smaller and more powerful, they began their transition from a phone and messaging device to a pocket computer that can do everything your PC can. Apple’s iPhone arguably ushered in a new era for apps, as its large, multi-touch display, digital keyboard, and fully functional web browser opened up new possibilities for what can be done on a phone.
In addition to the iPhone, Apple also changed the game when the App Store, a one-stop shop for digital apps, went online in 2008. In 2010, the American Dialect Society named “app” its word of the year, acknowledging how embedded it had become in American culture.
Today, one in five people around the world has a smartphone, and 85% of users say they prefer their mobile devices to desktop computers.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:26:52 GMT
National Chocolate Candy Day – December 28, 2021~U.S.
Face it. We love chocolate. Many of us can’t help but add a bar or two while we’re checking out at the grocery store — that is, if we don’t already have a bag of fun-sized chocolates in the cart. Snack all you want on December 28 because it’s National Chocolate Candy Day. So if you missed the treats on Halloween or need a last sugary fix before the new year, spend some quality time with chocolate candy!
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:28:26 GMT
National Call a Friend Day – December 28, 2021~U.S.
Christmas is over and New Year’s is on its way. But in the meantime, December 28 is National Call a Friend Day! Between the stress of the daily grind at work, the needs of your , and ensuring you have a little time for yourself, our lives can get awfully hectic. National Call a Friend Day reminds us all to take a few minutes, pick up the phone, and call that friend you’ve been meaning to get back in touch with. In modern times, technology has the capacity to unite us more than ever before. The internet isn’t fazed by distance, time zones, or how much money you have in the bank. But in our day to day lives of whizzing from one task to the next (or even multi-tasking on all our projects at once), technology often has the opposite effect. Checking emails, answering texts, responding to Facebook notifications, and other tech-based tasks can fill up our lives and actually make us feel less connected to the people we’re spending all our time connecting with! So with the holiday season rapidly drawing to a close this year, make an effort on December 28 to reach out with a phone call and connect, voice to voice, with a good friend.
What, there’s a National Call a Friend Day? Make the most of this meaningful holiday with our best tips and gift ideas.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 28, 2021 17:31:13 GMT
Holy Innocents Day – December 28, 2021~International
Holy Innocents Day, also known as the Feast of the Holy Innocents, is commemorated on December 28 every year. On this day, the Catholic Church honors the first martyrs. These were the children of Israel killed by King Herod in his quest to find baby Jesus. This day is also known as Childermas. According to the Bible, Herod was afraid of the prophesied King of Jews and was angry that he hadn’t heard from the Magi who had come to him initially seeking a newborn king. Furious that Jesus had escaped, Herod ordered the killing of all baby boys under the age of two in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas, hoping to kill Jesus.
HISTORY OF HOLY INNOCENTS DAY
The story behind Holy Innocents Day is part of the nativity narrative in the Gospel of Mathew in the Bible, which describes Herod’s violence. Furious that the prophesied King of Jews had escaped him, the angry King Herod orders the murder of all boys under the age of two in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas, where Jesus is supposed to be.
These children are the first Christian martyrs according to the Catholic Church. They have been referred to also as the patron saints for babies.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents or Childermas or Innocents Day was celebrated together with Epiphany. But by the 5th century, this had become a festival by itself. In Ancient Rome, it was a traditional day of fasting and mourning.
There have been many changes in the way Holy Innocents Day has been celebrated over the years. From mourning to being a part of the Feast of Fools, which was a day when children were encouraged to have fun and play pranks. In the Middle Ages, playing pranks was later condemned and changed around 1400 in some parts of Europe. Today kids are encouraged to play tricks in parts of Spain and South America, and the Philippines.
While churches may not use ‘Gloria’ or ‘Aleluia’ until the day of the feast, it is still a day to celebrate children and encourage them to be happy and play. In Trinidad and Tobago, children get to have their toys blessed during Mass on Feast Day.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 29, 2021 14:13:53 GMT
Still Need To Do Day – December 29, 2021~U.S.
The Christmas rush is over, and you should be feeling calm. So what’s that subtle itch deep inside you? That one that’s tugging at you, haunting you, reminding you that despite all the holiday successes, you still never fixed that leaky faucet like you said you would. Lucky for you, the year’s not over yet, and there is in fact a day tailor-made for you. On December 29, don’t forget to take advantage of Still Need To Do Day, when folks across the country will use what remaining time they have in the year to make some final checks on their year-long “to do” list. In the downtime between opening presents and banging pots and pans, consider what you can get done in 24 hours this December 29.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 29, 2021 14:16:27 GMT
Tick Tock Day – December 29, 2021~U.S.
Tick Tock Day is celebrated on December 29 every year. This day serves as a reminder that the year is coming to an end, so get around to finishing pending tasks on your to-do list! With the holiday season beginning in November, it is only natural that life becomes super busy and a lot of work gets pushed aside for later. Maybe you’ve wanted to clean up your home, or you’ve got to figure out your plans for New Year’s Day. Whatever the task, Tick Tock Day is a reminder that there are only two more days left of the year and you’d better get around to finishing the tasks you need to.
HISTORY OF TICK TOCK DAY
Thomas Roy an American film, television, and voiceover actor was the creator of Tick Tock Day together with his wife Ruth Roy. The couple also came up with over 80 special days which are in the “Chase’s Calendar of Events.” One of those is Tick Tock Day. The day reminds people to get down to work on all the things they meant to accomplish before the year ends.
At the beginning of every year, people make resolutions for the New Year, taking the opportunity to look at what they want to change about themselves and their lives. Throughout the year they put in the work, but things slide when things get busier.
And nothing is busier than the holidays. From November, holidays are back to back, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, keeping people busy with planning and preparation from the beginning of November till Boxing Day. Tick Tock Day lets you relook at pending tasks. Try to see how many of those things need crossing off the list.
While Tick Tock Day is an opportunity to tie up any loose ends, it is also time to look at what tasks go into the new year and what should be crossed off from the list entirely.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 29, 2021 14:19:19 GMT
Constitution of Ireland – December 29, 2021~Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland was formed on December 29 and every year on this day, Ireland celebrates its ratification. Are you wondering why the Constitution is so important? Well, because without a solid Constitution set in place, the country becomes a lawless land. In fact, it is this very document that decides the rights of the citizens, the proceedings of the court, and the laws that a country follows. And since Ireland’s Constitution is within the tradition of liberal democracy, it is definitely something that needs to be celebrated!
HISTORY OF CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND
Since its independence, the Constitution of the Irish Free State was the document used to govern the country. However, in 1937, this was replaced by the Constitution of Ireland since the Statute of Westminster 1931 granted parliamentary autonomy to the six British Dominions. The Irish Free State constitution on the other hand, was associated with the controversial Anglo-Irish Treaty which many had opposed. The new Constitution further dismantled some previous acts, and new and improved amendments were added. The Constitution of Ireland is a symbolic document that changed everything into Irish as well as English. This was done by recognizing English as a second official language in the Constitution.
Among other things, the Constitution of Ireland granted women the right to vote, as well as a right to citizenship on an equal basis with men. Article 41.2 states that the State recognizes that by her life within the home, a woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. The State shall, therefore, endeavor to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labor to the neglect of their duties in the home.
Furthermore, the Constitution of Ireland guaranteed freedom of worship, and forbade the state from creating an established church. Articles such as these have a great impact on the perception of the citizens over a period of time. Moreover, the Constitution also decides all legal and other human rights commitments made by Ireland, including treaties under the United Nations, the European Convention of Human Rights, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 29, 2021 14:22:16 GMT
Mongolia Independence Day – December 29, 2021~Mongolia
Mongolia Independence Day, celebrated every December 29, is a day of great glory and happiness for the Mongols, who gained freedom after years of being under the Qing China rule. Also known as National Revolution of Freedom and Independence Day, this holiday commemorates Mongolia’s autonomy. This day is all about showing love for Mongolia, raising the national flag, dining out, and of course viewing some awesome fireworks! This year, step up your game and celebrate the amazing day like never before. After all, the country’s independence is something that should be cherished and applauded till the end of time.
HISTORY OF MONGOLIA INDEPENDENCE DAY
Mongolia had been under the Chinese Qing dynasty rule for quite some time. However, due to several differences with the Chinese rulers, the Mongolians craved a state of their own. Like any other nation that is taken over, the biggest problem Mongolia experienced was the fight for the retention of their culture, which was slowly being replaced by the Chinese way of life. During the 20th century, the fire for independence grew and the Mongols started to take action to free the nation from the Qing dynasty.
In May 1911, the Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China. Seeing that the Chinese had problems of their own, the Mongols utilized the opportunity and managed to free themselves from Chinese rule. On December 29, 1911, Mongolia officially declared its independence from China. The spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists was proclaimed the head of state. He was given the title of Bogd Khan of Mongolia. Unfortunately, Mongolia was only able to maintain a few years of peace and freedom before the Chinese returned to Mongolia and forcefully occupied the capital city. In fact, the Chinese also pushed the Mongolian government to sign a document that forfeited their autonomous status. At this point in time, Russian Bolsheviks stepped in to aid the Mongols.
The Outer Mongolian Revolution took place in 1921 — a revolution that was fought with the help of Soviet troops. After the troops reclaimed Ulaanbaatar from the Chinese, Mongolia was declared independent once again. From 1921 until 1924, Mongolia worked to establish a new government.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 29, 2021 14:25:24 GMT
National Pepper Pot Day – December 29, 2021~U.S.
National Pepper Pot Day is celebrated every year on December 29. It is meant to celebrate a soup that was nicknamed ‘The Soup That Won The War.’ The war here refers to the American Revolutionary War for independence from Britain. The Philadelphia Pepper Pot soup is a thick soup made up of beef tripe, whatever vegetables are available, and of course, peppercorns. This peppery soup has a long history and probably originates from the Caribbean. It was brought over to America by enslaved people, who later sold the soup out in the streets.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PEPPER POT DAY
The Philadelphia Pepper Pot soup was not unknown before the American Revolutionary War (also known as the American War for Independence). This thick soup made of tripe, vegetables and seasoned heavily with pepper could have been brought to the U.S. by people enslaved from the Caribbean Islands.
The soup was made popular by African-American Philadelphians who would sell it right out in the street. The traditional recipe is said to have had cassava as well as the soup thickener.
According to popular retellings of the story, the Pepper Pot soup became central to the American Revolutionary War efforts because of Christopher Ludwig. He was the baker general of the Continental Army and a German immigrant to Philadelphia.
The baker worked in Philadelphia, which is likely how he knew the food of the city. He was a staunch supporter of the American Revolution and was a great friend of President George Washington. Christopher Ludwig was even given a certificate of conduct due to his service to the army. His efforts were invaluable and appreciated so much that his certificate was handwritten by President Washington himself.
During the war, in 1777, the winters were harsh, and the farmers refused to sell food to the Continental army, and instead sold it to the British. Christopher Ludwig was the baker general, which meant that his primary task was to bake bread for the troops. But in this scenario, with no grain to eat insight and faced with the prospect of starvation, George Washington put Christopher Ludwig in charge of feeding his men. And Christopher Ludwig presented the Pepper Pot soup.
This soup was what the army ate to survive that winter, and it’s how it earned the nickname ‘The Soup That Won The War.’
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Post by pennmom on Dec 30, 2021 17:41:22 GMT
National Bacon Day – December 30, 2021~U.S.
Gather-round the frying pan everybody because National Bacon Day is December 30 and it’s enough to make any bacon-lover squeal. Just saying the word makes us hungry. It’s an incredibly versatile food. You can eat it on a burger if you’re ready for a major calorie-fest. Or, you can crumble it over a salad if you’re trying to be kind of healthy (but let’s be honest, nothing is healthy with bacon on it). You can even make it the star of the show by simply pairing it with eggs. No matter what you do, bacon is greasy, delicious, and the most beautiful thing we’ve ever seen strip. If you, too, want to climb a tall building and scream at the top of your lungs, “I love bacon,” then please join us in celebrating National Bacon Day on December 30.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL BACON DAY
Though the holiday was created in 1997 as a way to take a break from celebrating the traditional winter holidays, the consumption of pork dates back thousands of years to 4900 B.C. where the Chinese domesticated pigs and preserved pork bellies with salt. This practice is believed to have made its way to the Romans and Greeks through conquests in the Middle East and by 1500 B.C. had largely impacted both production and preservation of pork in the Roman Empire. Ancient Roman’s early form of bacon, or “petaso,” was pig shoulder broiled with dried figs, browned and served with wine.
The word “bacon” can be traced back to various languages from before the 12th century. Most notably from the French word “bako,” the Germanic “bakkon” and the Old Teutonic word “backe,” all of which specifically refer to the rear of the pig. During the 16th Century, the word “bacoun” was used to refer to any kind of pork. And it wasn’t until the 17th Century that “bacon” was used solely to refer to the salted and smoked pork belly that we know today.
Considering how easy and cheap it was to own pigs, its no wonder during Medieval Times bacon was very common among Anglo-Saxon peasants. Each and butcher had their own recipe for curing and smoking bacon. The sheer variety of bacon, sausage, and black pudding that you could buy in Victorian England created an almost golden age of pork.
The popular phrase “bring home the bacon” can be traced to the 12 century, in the English town of Dunmow. The church promised to reward a side of bacon to any married man who swore before God and the congregation that he would not quarrel with his wife for a year and a day.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 30, 2021 17:43:35 GMT
National Resolution Planning Day – December 30, 2021~U.S.
National Resolution Planning Day is on December 30 and we are getting a headstart on setting goals for next year! Did you know that one in three people fail their New Year’s resolutions in the first month? And only 10% of people are successful at keeping their resolutions throughout the year? While there are many reasons for this, it is necessary that you set- and commit to your resolutions before the new year actually begins for a better chance at success. But how did the start of a new year become the de facto ‘fresh start’?
HISTORY OF NATIONAL RESOLUTION PLANNING DAY
It is better to start thinking of your resolutions ahead of time rather than wait for January 1 to come around, as by then it is probably already too late to decide on them. If you plan your resolutions on December 30 then you’ll be good to go when the New Year arrives.
The ancient tradition of making resolutions for the new year started at the Babylonian festival of Akitu over 4,000 years ago. Spanning 12 days, the ‘rebirth of the natural world’ would be celebrated by the Babylonians. A new king would be crowned, crops would be planted, and promises would be made to the gods. They believed that if these promises or resolutions were kept and fulfilled, the gods would be happy instead of vengeful.
In 153 B.C., to honor the god Janus, January 1 was declared as the start of the new year by the Roman Senate. Janus was an entity with two faces who had the ability to look backward and forward in time — this symbolized the end of one year and the beginning of another. But it wasn’t until 100 years later, in 46 B.C., that the concept of the new year being on January 1 was made official and effective by Julius Caesar. Just like the Babylonians, the Romans would pledge promises to their god Janus about their behavior for the coming year.
During the Middle Ages, the ‘Peacock Vow’ would be renewed at the end of each year. Essentially, these were resolutions that knights committed to in order to uphold the code of knighthood. Knights would place their hands on a cooked peacock and renew their oaths to protecting honor and chivalry.
The phrase ‘new year resolution’ appeared for the first time in a Boston newspaper in 1813, and from there onwards, modern resolutions became a thing.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Dec 31, 2021 13:23:37 GMT
Hogmanay – December 31, 2021~U.K.
Hogmanay is a Scottish word meaning “the last day of the year.” It’s celebrated in Scotland on New Year’s Eve, when Scots host house parties and exchange gifts. The celebrations are often followed by parties on both New Year’s Day and January 2, which is a bank holiday in Scotland. While the origins of Hogmanay are hard to pinpoint, its roots are thought to lie in Norse and Gaelic traditions.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Dec 31, 2021 13:26:18 GMT
Make Up Your Mind Day – December 31, 2021~U.S.
On December 31 every year, people across the United States observe Make Up Your Mind Day, deciding on some important resolutions for the coming year. It is an important day to encourage people to review their goals, achievements, and progress, and then come up with better strategies to achieve them in the new year. By formally making a set of resolutions on this day, people are more likely to stay committed to them throughout the year.
HISTORY OF MAKE UP YOUR MIND DAY
Make Up Your Mind Day motivates people to make important life decisions and stand to it. As the holiday season approaches, we start planning out our resolutions for the coming year. And Make Up Your Mind Day is a great way to decide which resolutions to keep and pursue in the new year. This day is also a great opportunity to think about those decisions that you have already made in your personal or professional life. Changes at work and major decisions can be quite difficult to make. People keep on exploring more options and are unable to make a final decision. As a tradition, Christians at the beginning of a new year used to reflect on their past mistakes and think about how to avoid them in the future.
In the 1700s, English cleric John Wesley founded the Covenant Renewal Service, which was held every year on New Year’s Eve. People sang hymns and prayed instead of the traditional frolicking celebrations that were held during New Year’s Eve. This tradition is still followed by many Baptist and African American Protestant churches.
In recent times, instead of making any major spiritual promises to God, people make small life decisions on New Year’s Eve, to make positive changes in their overall personalities. In a recent research study, it was revealed that out of 45% of Americans that make resolutions, only 8% do not renege. Nevertheless, Make Up Your Mind Day is still a great way to learn from your past decisions and become a better decision-maker and have fun while making some of the biggest life-changing decisions.
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pennmom
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[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
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Post by pennmom on Dec 31, 2021 13:30:23 GMT
National Champagne Day – December 31, 2021~U.S.
National Champagne Day, celebrated informally on December 31, is all about enjoying sipping on this bubbly beverage. It comes at a perfect time on New Year’s Eve, especially for champagne lovers, giving us an even better excuse to pop open a bottle — or two!
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHAMPAGNE DAY
Before everyone was mentioning it with hashtags on social media, National Champagne Day was introduced in a few books during the mid-2000s. In 2007, the books “Practically Useless Information on Food” and “Drink Wine Enthusiast” both recognized the holiday on August 4. However, National Champagne Day doesn’t have an official registration date. Since this bubbling drink is traditionally popped on New Year’s Eve, the majority of the world unwittingly celebrates it in that way!
After first appearing on Twitter in 2010, the hashtag #NationalChampagneDay has since increased in popularity, especially during December and January. Restaurants and alcohol traders take full advantage of this national holiday by hosting events centering around champagne to attract customers.
But where did champagne originate from? You could probably imagine yourself sipping it somewhere in the countryside of France, which would be pretty accurate because this type of wine came from north-eastern France. It has transformed from originally being a pinkish, pale still wine to the sparkling one that is associated with the region today. The Romans planted the first champagne vineyards and had begun cultivating them by around the 5th century, or earlier.
After the death of Louis XIV of France in 1715, the court of the Duke of Orléans, Philippe II, made the sparkling version of champagne the drink of choice among the French aristocracy. During the 19th century, the modern champagne industry began to take shape. This period saw the establishment of several of today’s famous champagne houses, including Krug, Pommery, and Bollinger. However, the two World Wars in the early 20th century caused major stumbling blocks for the rise of this industry. The Russian and American champagne markets were also lost due to the Russian Revolution and Prohibition.
Fast forward to the modern era, and champagne’s popularity surged once again. The wine was once more associated with both extravagance and celebration, and sales quadrupled since 1950. Today, the Champagne region of France — made up of the Aube, Marne, Haute-Marne, and Ardennes departments — produces over 200 million bottles with a worldwide market, enticing French authorities to look into expanding the 86,5000-acre region to facilitate more production.
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without having to chatter away or go on some big outing. The Christmas hustle and bustle is over, there is still time off from work, and the excitement from opening presents has diminished. There’s nothing like a slow-paced game of cards to relax while having fun!