What to Celebrate December 9 thru 15, 2019
Celebration Ideas for December 9 – 15, 2019
Yikes! Just 3 weeks ‘till the end of the year! Are you ready?
Actually, it doesn’t matter if you’re ready! It’ll come no matter what you do. So stop worrying so much. Then make sure any big things are done & stop stressing over the little stuff. Use that time to enjoy some noodle ring & cocoa. Sponsor a wreath for a veteran’s grave. And get nostalgic with some Magnum P.I. (the original!).
There’s plenty more to help you get your mind off the stress of the season too. And a few things to help you enjoy the season.
So jump right in to take a peek and plan your week. And as always …
Enjoy!
Celebrate All December Long
December is a fun and delicious month no matter how you look at it. And Bingo & buckwheat help make it a little more of both. But we also want to keep the fun safe, so we remind ourselves (and others) to stay out of the drivers seat if we’re impaired in any way.
And if you haven’t already, plan to be part of the annual Christmas Bird Count starting soon.
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month: Don’t let your holiday festivities end with a DUI/DWI. Or worse. If you plan to be drinking, plan to have a ride home, too. And if you weren’t planning to drink but did anyway, have a plan for handling that too. Because a safe holiday makes for Happy Holidays.
Buckwheat Month: All month long we get creative with this versatile seed (not wheat & not a grain!) that works equally well for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And since it’s full of fiber and lots of other good-for-you stuff, you’ll want to keep it in your recipe rotation all year long.
Bingo’s Birthday Month: Play Bingo all month! Regular Bingo, holiday-themed Bingo, Bingo with cards you create yourself. Whatever makes it most fun for you. And your Bingo buddies, of course. ‘Cause Bingo by yourself is kinda boring. Parents & teachers might also like to create some cards geared specifically to their kids’ interests.
And the Audubon Christmas Bird Count starts at the end of the week, on the 14th. It runs into January, and each counting circle counts on a specific day during that time. If you haven’t signed up for a counting circle yet, there’s still time! Well, unless the circles near you are full. If that happens, set yourself a reminder to get signed up earlier next near!
Weekly Celebrations for December’s 2nd Week
The weekly celebrations are a bit light for December. Apparently we have other things to keep us busy! But computer science is both fun (yes it is!) and useful. So let’s get it into classrooms everywhere (no, it’s not actually in classrooms everywhere yet).
Computer Science Education Week (December 9 – 15, 2019): This week aims to get students everywhere excited about computer science. Its organizers encourage teachers to bring an “Hour of Code” event into their classrooms. But even if you’re not a student, consider signing up to learn at least basic coding somewhere. We can all benefit from more computer science education!
Celebration Days coming up for Dec. 9 thru Dec. 15
As we move further into the hectic holiday season we pause to remember it’s not really about the material things. So we do things like honor our deceased veterans with wreaths on their graves. And reconnect with people we haven’t spoken with in a while.
We also celebrate animal rights, human rights, and horses. And we enjoy tongue-pleasing delights like ambrosia, bouillabaisse, and cocoa. Plus much more.
Of course we do this after we’ve gone a little crazy again, saving more money on more stuff for Green Monday.
Just make sure it’s all good stuff! And then have another fun-tastic week.
December 9:
Green Monday: The 2nd Monday in December is yet another chance to save some green (money)! And it’s also just about the last chance to order online & be sure your gifts get to you before Christmas (without paying extra for expedited shipping).
International Anti-Corruption Day: Corruption affects communities in all countries. And no matter where it happens it can have serious consequences for social & economic growth and security. This day raises awareness of the problem and asks us all to help fight it.
Weary Willie Day: Celebrate clowns! But not just any clowns, and especially not happy clowns. No, this day celebrates the sad clowns. Sad clowns like Weary Willie, the very first clown to frown. We celebrate Willie & his sad clown brethren on the day his creator, Emmett Kelly, was born in 1898.
National Pastry Day: Make & eat your favorite pastries for this day. Or buy & eat your favorite pastries. Your choice. But if you are able to make your own you get the extra benefit of the amazing aroma of baking pastries filling your home. Mmmmmm.
December 10:
International Animal Rights Day: On this day we recognize that all sentient beings have the right to be treated with kindness & respect. This is true for domestic animals, farm animals, and wild animals alike.
Human Rights Day: Every person, regardless of gender, age, nationality, race, etc. has certain inalienable rights. This day reminds us to stand up for those rights. The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10, 1948.
Dewey Decimal System Day: Do you know the Dewey Decimal System? It is the numerical system your library most likely uses to organize its books. And even in today’s increasingly digital world it’s an important tool. We celebrate on the birthday of its creator, Melvil Dewey. Maybe use the day to learn morea about what that string of numbers (the “Call Number”) means?
National Lager Day: Wind down with a refreshing lager to celebrate this day. You might also want to learn more about what makes a lager a lager and even how to cook with it!
December 11:
Magnum PI Day: Anyone who can’t get enough of Tom Selleck’s Magnum PI will definitely want to celebrate the anniversary of the show’s debut on December 11, 1980. And for anyone who’s only ever known Jay Hernandez as Magnum, consider checking out some original episodes.
National Sobriety Day: December is also National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. But during this time of holiday merriment, where alcohol (and other mind-altering substances) flows freely, we can’t have enough reminders of the benefits of sobriety (and drinking responsibly). This particular day celebrates those who have kicked their addictions and are taking their sober lifestyle one day at a time.
National App Day: How many apps do you use every day? These days there’s an app for almost anything. So the answer is probably “a lot”! If you can handle yet another app, check out the Santa Photo App the day’s founders put out to celebrate last year’s App Day. Maybe there’ll be something new for this year too …
National Noodle Ring Day: Have you ever had a noodle ring? No, not little ring-shaped pastas. Pasta baked in a ring mold or Bundt pan! This doesn’t seem like something you’re going to be able to pick up at the grocery store, so you’re just going to have to make a noodle ring to celebrate the day right.
December 12:
National 12-Hour Fresh Breath Day: When your mouth is clean & healthy you can easily achieve 12 hours of fresh breath (24 hours even!). Use the day to learn a bit about some causes of bad breath & how to fix them.
National Ding-A-Ling Day: We used to call stupid or foolish people ding-a-lings. But that’s not what this day is about. It’s actually about hearing the ding-a-ling of a ringing telephone! (Although these days most ring-tones don’t ding-a-ling!). We’re supposed to call people we haven’t heard from in a while to reconnect. And isn’t the holiday season the perfect time for connecting & reconnecting with loved ones?
National Ambrosia Day: Enjoy a dish of the fruit salad known as ambrosia. The basic recipe includes fruits (typically pineapple & mandarin oranges), coconut, and marshmallows. Many people also like adding nuts. And sometimes you’ll see whipped topping in place of marshmallows—or in addition to marshmallows. And heretics will leave out the coconut. If you feel the need to leave out the coconut, please find a different celebration to enjoy! 😉
Gingerbread House Day: ‘Tis the season for gingerbread. And for this day we fashion our gingerbread into walls, doors, & roofs. Of course we then put these pieces together to create a house. And decorate it all with icing, gumdrops, & other favorite candies. If you need a recipe for your house, try this one.
December 13:
National Day of the Horse: This day recognizes the important contributions horses have made to the history and economy of the US. Senate Resolution 452 declared this day in 2004. Do something horsey for the day: ride one, donate to a horse rescue or sanctuary, learn more about how horses helped shape this country. Or whatever your horse-loving heart desires.
National Salesperson Day: On the 2nd Friday in December we thank salespersons! Of course, they deserve thanks for their hard work on any day of the year. But especially in the final days leading up to Christmas. So if you go shopping on this day (IF?!), thank all the salespeople who help you.
Pick a Pathologist Pal Day: Apparently pathologists are fun—and a good reminder that we never know if we’ll get another tomorrow—& we should all have at least one pathologist pal.
National Guard Birthday: On December 13, 1636 the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s General Court created the first militia regiments in the country. Although they weren’t called the National Guard then, those first regiments—and those that followed as the country grew—eventually became unified under the National Guard name.
National Cocoa Day: Mmmm … what better way to warm up on a cold December day than with a steaming mug of hot cocoa? Although technically the day is “Cocoa Day” not “Hot Cocoa Day,” so we could use cocoa in pretty much anything to celebrate the day. But why? What better way to use cocoa on a cold December day than making hot cocoa? We can’t think of one!
December 14:
National Wreaths Across America Day: On this day we lay wreaths on veterans’ graves all across the country (and abroad & at sea). Be a part of the day by helping to lay wreaths, sponsoring a wreath, or making a donation.
International Shareware Day: Celebrate the software that coders let you use for free. And celebrate the coders too, because without them the software wouldn’t exist! If you’ve been using a shareware program or 2 that you really like, consider making a donation to it creator in honor of the day. Or, if it has an “upgrade to a paid version” option, consider doing that! Learn a bit more about shareware & its history here.
Monkey Day: Celebrate all things monkey for this day. Maybe visit the monkeys at the zoo. Or learn about monkeys … and other non-human primates too. If you’re artistic, draw or paint monkeys. If you’re feeling charitable, find a primate sanctuary to donate to (yes, those exist!).
National Bouillabaisse Day: Make & eat a big pot of this delectable French fish stew for dinner. It’s the only way to celebrate this day properly! Try this recipe and enjoy.
December 15:
Cat Herders Day: Tom & Ruth Roy created this day for all the people who feel as if they’re trying to herd cats as they go about their days. If you know anyone like that, offer some sympathy. If this describes you, let everyone know about this day (and how well it fits your life) so you can also get some sympathy.
Bill of Rights Day: This day celebrates the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights. It was on this date in 1791 that the states ratified these amendments and they became part of the Constitution. Celebrate by exercising at least one right found in the Bill of Rights.
National Wear Your Pearls Day: If you own pearls, wear them for this day. And whether or not you’re wearing pearls, remember that no matter what irritations life throws your way you have value. Just like those pearls, which form when a grain of sand irritates an oyster.
National Cupcake Day: Cupcakes! Yummy little single-serving cakes. What’s not to love? Especially since they let you eat a whole cake by yourself without any guilt! Bake a batch of Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes & indulge.
