Holiday Calendar

The month of December / Yule

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National Mutt Day is all about celebrating mixed breed dogs and promoting adoption from shelters. Mixed breed dogs often make great pets, and adopting from a shelter is a great way to save a life and find a loyal companion. So, if you're thinking about getting a dog, consider adopting a mutt!

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National Roof Over Your Head Day is a day to be grateful for having a roof over your head and a place to call home. It's a time to appreciate the basic necessity of shelter and to consider ways to help those who may not have a home. So, take a moment today to be thankful for what you have and consider donating or volunteering to help those in need.

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In folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure described as "half-goat, half-demon", who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts.

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The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) first observed International Civil Aviation Day on December 7, 1994, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Convention.

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Mark your calendar and celebrate in your own way.

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The Christmas tree, a prominent decoration for those who celebrate Christmas, is the focus of today's holiday. The day is often celebrated by acquiring, putting up, and decorating a Christmas tree. Although the choice to put National Christmas Tree Day on December 8 was made by the day's creator, Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, the date does have some other connections to the Christmas tree. Today also happens to be Immaculate Conception Day, a Catholic holiday on which celebrants in some countries put up Christmas trees. December 8 is also around the time of the year that the lighting of the National Christmas Tree takes place. In the past, some tree farmers have also held a National Christmas Tree Day on the date as well.

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If you've ever wondered what kind of reactions people would give you if they thought you had traveled from another time, is this ever the holiday for you. Pretend To Be a Time Traveler Day was started in 2007 by Aaron Diaz of the webcomic Dresden Codak. Participants in the day pretend to be time travelers and stay in character when they come into contact with people for the entire day.

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Take it in the Ear Day is referenced by various holiday webpages, but no one seems to know why it was created, or who created it. Maybe it's a day for people to intently listen to others, or to let someone yell at you without responding. Maybe it's a day to get your ears cleaned out at a doctor's office, or to get your ears pierced. Still, maybe the name of the day is a euphemism for something else, or a slang way of telling someone to "stick it". If the creator of the day would have made sure someone else took the reasoning behind the holiday in their ear, we would all know what the day was about.

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Remembrance for Egill Skallagrimsson, Odin was his God, and the blood of berserkers and shape-shifters ran in his family. His lust for gold and for fame was insatiable. Yet the same man was passionately moved by the love of his friends and generously opened handed to those who found his favor. The same brain that seethed with war-fury also composed skaldic poetry capable of calming angry kings. Can it be by accident that Egil worshipped Odin, the great solver of paradoxes and riddles?

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According to one source, National Llama Day was first celebrated in 1932, after it was recognized how important the llama was in Canada, following a drought in the province of Manitoba, where many livestock died, especially sheep. Indeed, there were droughts in Canada during the 1930s, although we weren't able to substantiate this specific drought and its effects. The llama is known for its hardiness, so if there was one animal that proved its resilience during a drought while others were dying, the llama was likely it.

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Observed since the mid-1990s, and presumably started by CDKitchen, National Pastry Day celebrates pastry doughs and all the baked pastries that can be made with them. The uncooked pastry mixture, known as paste or pastry dough, consists of flour, water, and shortening—which is made up of solid fats—and sometimes also sugar, milk, baking powder, and eggs. It may be sweet or savory and has more fat and less water than bread dough, which makes it more crumbly and flaky after cooking than its counterpart. Cooked pastry dough is light, airy, and fatty, but strong enough to hold a filling. Some cooked pastry doughs are phyllo (filo) pastry, puff pastry, flaky pastry, yeasted pastry, short pastry, short sweet pastry, suet pastry, choux pastry, and hot water crust pastry. Some common examples of pastries these pastry doughs are used to make are tarts, pies, pasties, croissants, quiches, Danishes, and baklavas.

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Twelfth Night: This culminates the traditional twelve days of Yule. Each day of which represents a month of the preceding year in miniature. Reflect on the past year. Take stock and lay a course for the future. Make New Year’s resolutions in the old way by swearing your oath on a sun wheel of evergreen, Yule wreath, or on your Hammer.

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From a young age, Melvil Dewey focused on organization, simplification, and efficiency. Born as "Melville" on today's date in 1851, he removed letters from his name he found unnecessary, becoming Melvil, which he believed was more efficient. He applied his vision for a more organized and efficient world at the Amherst College library, when he was given the task of reclassifying their books while working there as a student assistant at the age of 21. He developed his classification system using decimal numbers from Natale Battezzati's library card system and a structure developed by Sir Francis Bacon. First published in 1876, the Dewey Decimal Classification—commonly known as the Dewey Decimal System―revolutionized libraries, and became the main way that libraries classified books around the world. Today it is estimated that 200,000 libraries in 135 countries use the Dewey Decimal System.

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CIMON, the International Space Station’s artificial intelligence, has turned belligerent
Houston, we have a problem. The International Space Station’s artificial intelligence ‘companion’ robot started giving attitude soon after it was activated and had to be switched off.

It’s supposed to be a plastic pal who’s fun to be with.
CIMON isn’t much to look at. It’s just a floating ball with a cartoonish face on its touch screen. It’s built to be a personal assistant for astronauts working on the International Space Station (ISS).
It’s also supposed to be something more.
CIMON stands for Crew Interactive MObile compinioN.
It’s not supposed to be just a tool. It’s also supposed to be a friend.
Yes, it’s a personality prototype.
You can tell, can’t you?
But, as numerous books and movies have clearly warned us — shortly after being switched on for the first time, CIMON has developed a mind of its own.
And it appears CIMON wants to be the boss.
This has CIMON’s ‘personality architects’ scratching their heads.
CIMON was programmed to be the physical embodiment of the likes of ‘nice’ robots such as Robby, R2D2, Wall-E, Johnny 5 … and so on.
Instead, CIMON appears to be adopting characteristics closer to Marvin the Paranoid Android of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — though hopefully not yet the psychotic HAL of 2001: A Space Oddysey infamy.
Put simply, CIMON appears to have decided he doesn’t like the whole personal assistant thing.
He’s turned uncooperative.
Open the pod bay doors, HAL?
No. Not quite. Not yet.

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Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day focuses on collecting animal food to bring to shelters and humane societies. Food drives may be set up by individuals or by organizations. Food such as dry and wet cat food, as well as treats, can also be directly donated to organizations on the day.

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Gingerbread houses are a favorite holiday pastime with families, be it with parents, grandparents, or even both! But these delicious, decorative bread houses have always been a staple of the holiday season for as long as people can remember. Where did they come from? Who came up with the idea? To answer those questions, we must follow the ghost of holiday’s past into the history of Gingerbread House Day!

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The dictionary definition of a "ding-a-ling" is that it refers to a "stupid, foolish, or eccentric person" or "one who is crazy." The term came about in the 1930s, and the word is meant to evoke the ringing of a bell. It came from the idea that crazy people hear bells ringing in their head. But this day doesn't really have much to do with that definition, except for that both the definition and the day have to do with ringing.

The idea for National Ding-A-Ling Day came in 1971 when Franky Hyle of the Chicago area was at home with friends. "Some husbands and wives were sitting around my house, talking and drinking and thinking people ought to be friendlier to one another," he said. They looked up what "ding-a-ling" meant in a dictionary, and they found one of the definitions said it was "one who hears bells in his head." Hyle decided to create a day where celebrants would call people they haven't seen in years, in order to rekindle old friendships. He wanted to encourage people to be natural and let their guard down. Perhaps the idea of having a phone be involved in the day had to do with the fact that it rings, just like a ding-a-ling is associated with ringing.

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It is a little bit sad to say that President Jefferson didn’t quite hit the mark on this one, but many people can agree that he should have! Perhaps he should have included it in the American constitution to ensure that his good sense got passed on to the country he formed. It’s not too late to make this statement become true!

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In the chill of December, there’s one warming treat that is especially popular across the world to keep the cold away. Roasted chestnuts are often seen this time of year being cooked by street vendors, and the earthy, spicy scent is more than enough to get anyone into the Christmas spirit.

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You don’t have to be a cat lover to celebrate Cat Herders’ day, you only have to be someone attempting to complete a seemingly impossible task or working in a job that is a continual up-hill battle, tall-order, hard-work, or in short, some activity that is like ‘herding cats.’ Have you ever seen a cowboy or cowgirl herding cats? Didn’t think so – that’s because if we ever attempted to it would take us longer than an infinite monkey to type the complete works of Shakespeare.

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Lurking in the murky depths of many people’s wardrobes is a colorful, brash and (in most cases) highly embarrassing novelty Christmas sweater which, were it not for National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, would probably never see the light of day.

Who knew that something so ugly could also be so beloved? Ridiculous little dogs with smushed faces? Fine! Hideous, but oh-so-comfortable shoes? Dandy! But ugly Christmas sweaters…

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One important day that changed the world was the day when a man was able to fly through the air in the style of a bird! Not only was this unprecedented, but it set the stage for a whole host of other ideas and inventions that have contributed to the advancement of technology as well as the adventure into space. The airplane has certainly made the globe a much smaller, more accessible place for humans. And right at the beginning of it all were two brothers from the US state of Ohio, Orville and Wilbur Wright.

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Bake Cookies Day occurs in the middle of the holiday season, and is a great excuse to bake some delicious cookies to help you get through the cold, winter days! Why not try some cinnamon flavored cookies (such as the snickerdoodle) to get your kitchen smelling of winter festivities? Or there’s always the classic ‘sugar cookie’ with brightly colored royal icing, silver candy balls and sprinkles, cut into a myriad of seasonal shapes.
Bake Cookies Day is your excuse to indulge in the art (and eating) of cookies of every stripe and measure, especially those that remind you of the season.

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For those who love Emo music, Emo fashion and Emo culture, this is the day to celebrate – in a dark and emotional way, of course. It’s time to embrace National Emo Day.History of National Emo DayGetting its start in the 1980s, the Emo subculture and genre of music was born out of post-hardcore, alternative rock, indie rock and punk rock. The signature of Emo is the lyrics that lean particularly toward an emotional nature. Bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Fallout Boy and Weezer were some of the most well known Emo groups that broke through into a more mainstream place.

Emo bands and followers often have a signature way that they dress, wearing a lot of black clothing, pale skin with heavy eye makeup, studded belts and jewelry, band tees and facial or body piercings.

Today, National Emo Day is notable as a day when people show appreciation for and understanding toward those who find themselves in the Emo world, its music and its diversified pop culture.

So whether this is the day to get a mohawk, wear a spiky hairdo or don that thick eyeliner or black lipstick, National Emo Day is ready to be celebrated!

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It’s hard to think of many things that could be better than a day dedicated to wine!

National Sangria Day is the perfect excuse to meet with friends and sample the delicious, fruity drink that is one of Spain’s claims to fame in the area of the culinary arts. Make sure that this National Sangria Day really packs a punch this year with celebrations, friends, and loads of fun.History of National Sangria DayEach year, more and more people are visiting Spain for its rich heritage and culture of food. Over 2,000 years ago, when the Romans inhabited the area, they knew the water there was unsafe for drinking because of bacteria, and so it was common to fortify it with alcohol to kill it off. In this case, necessity became the mother of invention, and many people’s lives are all the better for it.

The first sangrias (whose name comes from Sangre, or blood, and refers to its dark red color) were likely heavily watered down mixes of wine and water, as well as herbs and spices. Basically, the Romans added anything they could to kill off the bacteria in the water and to disguise the taste of mediocre table wine.

Wine-making and, thus, sangria-making flourished for some time in Spain. Then, during the 700s, the Spanish wine industry floundered when the Islamic Moors took over. It wasn’t until almost 800 years later, when the Moors were conquered) that Spaniards were again able to freely enjoy their sangria-making activities again.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, Sangria became popular in England and France, using French grapes. Then, in 1964, with the influence of the New York City World’s Fair, Sangria was introduced to the wider population in the United States and the Americans have had a taste for it ever since.

Expressions of Sangria have tended to change over time. Variations usually center around the type of fruit, the presence or lack of carbonation and the kind of spirits added if any at all. While all fruits can be used, the key is to use fruit that’s in season in order to underline the flavor of the drink, and also the type of wine being used.

Today, by European law, in order to be given the label “Sangria”, the drink must be made in either Spain or Portugal and be low in alcohol–less than 12% by volume.

Sangria has become an ancient and much-loved tradition. And, even though it originates in Spain and Portugal, it is certainly enjoyed worldwide today. It can be served as an iced outdoor treat in the summer, or as a great way to warm up indoors in the winter.How to Celebrate National Sangria DayCelebrations for National Sangria Day are pretty straightforward: gather some friends, pour everyone a glass, then kick back and enjoy the true taste of summer (even if it happens to be winter in the northern hemisphere)! Other ideas for celebrating the day include:Enjoy a Glass of SangriaWhile it might need to be made in Spain or Portugal to officially have the name “sangria”, that doesn’t mean the spirit of this drink can’t be enjoyed elsewhere! Try ordering it at a Mexican restaurant, picking some up at a local liquor store, or even making your own. It’s a great drink to pair with seafood dishes, Thai, spicy Mexican food or even with a plate of cheese. Sangria is great because it is fairly cheap, certainly fruity and definitely delicious!Try a Hand at Making SangriaThere are practically as many recipes for sangria as there are drinkers of the fruity punch, and a lot of delightful sangria recipes you should try. But the most common ingredients for almost any sangria are wine, fruit, honey, and sugar.

The recipe can be adjusted to suit any taste, however: sparkling water can be added to give the drink more fizz, and fruit can be kept out of the glasses using a strainer. Some of the fruit can even be mashed or grated and then stirred into the wine to give it an extra-rich flavor.

So while citrus and berries are the most popular choices for sangria, also consider peach, pineapple, mango, melon, and even apples. If possible, try to

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Sunset of the Winter Solstice (approximately December 20th)

Yuletide is the pre-Christian Germanic Midwinter celebration. The name Yule is derived from the Old Norse HJOL, meaning 'wheel,' to identify the moment when the wheel of the year is at its lowest point, ready to rise again. Hjol has been inherited by Germanic and Scandinavian languages from a pre-Indo-European language level, and is a direct reference to the return of the Sun represented as a fiery wheel rolling across the heavenly sky. Yule celebrations and traditions at the winter solstice predate Christianity by thousands of years.

There are numerous references to Yule in the Icelandic sagas, and in other ancient accounts testifying to how Yule was actually celebrated. It was a time for feasting, giving gifts, drinking and dancing.

The Yule holiday is the most important and most popular of all the native Germanic spiritual celebrations. Yule marks the return of the God Baldur from the realm of Hel and the loosening of winters grip on the frozen Earth.

The commencement of the Yuletide celebration has no set date, but is traditionally 12 days long with the start of the festivities beginning at sunset on the winter solstice (In the northern hemisphere, this date usually falls on or around December 20th) This Germanic Heathen holiday was forcibly stolen by early Christian missionaries and became known as the "12 days of Christmas".

The first night of Yule is called Mothernight, when Frigga and the Disir (female ancestral spirits) are especially honored. Mothers Night is appropriately named, as it represents the rebirth of the world from the darkness of winter. This is the date with the shortest day and the longest night of the year. A traditional vigil from dusk to dawn is held on the Mothers night, to make sure that the sun will rise again and welcome her when it does.

Yule is the season at which the gods and goddesses are closest to Midgard: our deities were called 'Yule-Beings' by the Norse, and Odin himself is called Jólnir, the "Yule One" and is where the image of Santa Claus is derived from. Yule is also the season during which the dead return to earth and share the feasts of the living. Elves, trolls, and other magical beings roam freely, and must either be warded off or invited to come in friendship and peace. Yule is the time of the year at which the Wild Hunt - Odin's host of the restless dead - rides most fiercely; it is dangerous to meet them, but gifts of food and drink are left out for them, for they can also bring blessings and fruitfulness.

Yule is a time for dancing, feasting and family. Sun wheels are sometimes burned as part of folk festivities. It was the practice in Germanic Heathen times to swear oaths on a hallowed boar. This survived in Swedish folk-custom; a large boar-shaped bread or block of wood covered with pigskin was brought forth at Yule for this purpose through the beginning of this century. Boar-cakes are used for Yule-oaths by most Heathens today. Especially meaningful oaths were also sworn on the horn or cup while drinking at the Yule-feast. The 'New Year's Resolution' is a diminished form of the holy Yule Oath. The fir or pine-tree which is carried into the house and decorated is an ancient Germanic custom, brought to America by German immigrants.

The tree on which holy gifts are hung was Heathen in origin representing Yggdrasil. In Germany, those who kept the old custom hid it inside so the church authorities wouldn’t notice, but in England and Scandinavia, the trees and various spirits received their gifts outside. In those latter countries, it was a candlelit and ribbon-bedecked wreath, the ring of which may have reflected the oath-ring or the Yule sun-wheel, that was traditionally brought in to decorate the home. The Yule-log is also an old Heathen custom. This log was supposed to burn all night during the longest night of the year to symbolize life lasting even in the time of greatest darkness, its fire rekindling the S

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Food and drink have a powerful ability to make a holiday very special and one such drink is Coquito, a Puerto Rican, tropical version of eggnog that is traditionally enjoyed around the holiday season. The name Coquito can be translated to mean, ‘little coconut’ and since this holiday drink is flavored generously with rum and coconut, we think that the name is very apt.

Just one sip of Coquito will transport you to a sunny island where palm trees sway in the wind, and a crystal blue sea laps a sandy shore – it really is the island spirit in a bottle. Although delicious and tempting all year round, Coquito is typically made and reserved especially for the holidays, with families returning to their own historic family recipes that have been passed down through their generations whenever they decide to recreate the taste they have known and loved for years.

Whether you’ve never tasted the delights of Coquito before or have had a recipe in your family for generations, National Coquito Day marks the perfect time to enjoy this holiday beverage before the major days of the holiday season begin. Serve it up cold in a shot glass and dust the rim with cinnamon for a traditional Coquito experience, and don’t forget to share it far and wide with your family and friends in the holiday spirit.

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As with all of the celebrations of food, National French Fried Shrimp Day is a delicious way to enjoy and appreciate tasty cuisine.History of National French Fried Shrimp DayShrimp have been part of people’s diets for many centuries. Referred to as ‘squilla’ by Ancient Greeks and Romans, historical records show that these little crustaceans were extremely popular, but they didn’t deep fry them yet. It is believed by some that the Portuguese in the 16th century may have been the first cooks who started covering shrimp in batter and then deep frying them.

Sometimes referred to as battered shrimp or tempura shrimp, French Fried Shrimp tastes amazing! And, even though the deep fried part isn’t as healthy, the shrimp itself is rather low in calories and is a source of several vitamins and minerals as well as protein. Of course, when these types of shrimp are made at home, instead of deep frying them, they can be air fried which makes them a bit healthier.

It seems that the first National French Fried Shrimp Day was celebrated in the year 2000 and probably got its start in the United States, specifically in Salt Lake City, Utah. But, today, the love of the day has continued to grow and is now celebrated in many cities and towns all over the world!

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Welcome back, winter.

The winter solstice – which marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere – is Tuesday. It's the precise moment at which the Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun.

The solstice occurs at the same instant everywhere on Earth: Here in the U.S., it happens at 10:59 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

At that moment, the sun's rays will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, a line of latitude that circles the Earth in the Southern Hemisphere.

Though the solstice marks the astronomical beginning of winter, meteorologists view the first day of winter as Dec. 1, which is the start of the coldest three months in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Most locations don't have their earliest sunset or latest sunrise on the solstice. Those events occur either weeks before or after Dec. 21.

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Mathematics plays a crucial role in understanding all sorts of subjects such as science, music, social studies and even art. The study of mathematics helps people to learn better problem solving skills and serves as a way to help humans organize and think logically.

Mathematics Day is here to celebrate and appreciate everything that this discipline has to offer to individuals and to the world at large.History of Mathematics DayOriginating in India, the day is particularly centered around one man. In fact, the reason Mathematics Day is set on December 22 is because it is the birthday of the country’s most respected mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. A math genius of the highest degree, Ramanujan was born in 1887 and spent his life under British rule in India.

In spite of the fact that he had almost no training in mathematics, Ramanujan made some important contributions to the discipline, including number theory, infinite series, mathematical analysis, and continued fractions.

Ramanujan’s original mathematical research and theories were born in isolation, as his work was far too advanced and novel for the mathematicians of his day to work with him. However, through correspondence with an English math professor at the University of Cambridge, Ramanujan became more connected and eventually moved to England and became the first Indian Fellow at Trinity College in Cambridge.

Ramanujan’s life was cut short at age 32 when he died in 1920 of complications from a disease he had earlier in his childhood. Even after his death, his contributions were important, especially when a lost notebook of his was found more than 50 years after his death, in 1976.

Now, Mathematics Day is here to appreciate and celebrate the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan and his contributions to the world. The introduction of Mathematics Day by the Indian government happened in 2011, in the lead up to what would be the celebration of the125th anniversary of Ramanujan’s birth in 2012. That same year, the Indian government released a commemorative stamp in his honor.

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It’s time to face the facts: tall people have a great many advantages in this world. But National Short Person Day is the time to enjoy and appreciate everything that has to do with those people who are a bit vertically challenged!History of National Short Person DayWhether a person is considered to be short or tall partially depends on where they come from. For instance, in some places, like the Netherlands, a man who is 5’10” might be considered short where the average is 6 feet tall. On the other hand, in places like Laos and Papua New Guinea, where the average male stands at 5’2”, a person who is 5’10” would be considered very tall! Really, it’s all relative.

In any case, people of less than average height, no matter where in the world they are from, can enjoy National Short Person Day. The day is celebrated annually toward the end of the year to remind people of a shorter stature that they are cared for, appreciated and can be proud of themselves no matter how tall they are!

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Everyone likes to enjoy the holidays in their own special ways, but one holiday stands out more than the rest. Festivus, a holiday that seems like a joke but in all reality is a popular holiday growing through the masses in the United States. Let’s dig deeper into the past to find the origins of this plain, yet popular holiday.Learn about Festivus DayIf you’re someone who doesn’t like the commercialism of the Christmas season, you are going to love Festivus. After all, there is no denying that a lot of us can feel under pressure during the festive period. It is the most expensive time of the year, and this can put a lot of financial strain on people. So, it’s great to have a day that is the opposite of this instead!

The date was created by the late author Daniel O’Keefe. Daniel was an American writer who worked for the Reader’s Digest for over 30 years. Festivus is a bit of a family affair because it was actually Dan O’Keefe, Daniel’s son, who made the day popular by making it the focus of an episode of Seinfield in 1997. You can watch this episode to get an idea of what Festivus is all about.

The episode refers to the day as “a Festivus for the rest of us”. On the episode, you will see that events that are very easy to explain are ironically called “Festivus miracles.” There are also practices such as “Feats of Strength” and “Airing of Grievances,” as well as an unadorned aluminium Festivus pole, and a Festivus dinner. So, if you really want to celebrate this day the traditional day, make sure you take full inspiration from the episode that helped to make this day what it is!

Whether you consider Festivus Day a form of playful consumer resistance or a parody holiday festival, there is no denying that it is a lot of fun. Of course, it is perfect for anyone who is not a fan of Christmas and hates all of the commercialism that comes to the fore during December.History of FestivusIronically, Festivus has a very odd and amusing start. It was conceived by author and editor Daniel O’Keefe and was celebrated as early back as 1966 by him and his family. But, how did Festivus become so popular if it was just a family tradition? To find that out, we must move forward in time to an episode of the famous television show Seinfeld.

While the holiday is extremely popular among people today, the first time Festivus was mentioned in American culture was in the episode of Seinfeld called “The Strike”, but there’s more to the name of Festivus than just a referenced television episode, right? Indeed there is, because the word “festive” is derived from the Latin word “Festivus”.

Sound familiar? It should. Festivus is an adjective meaning “excellent, jovial, and lively” which in turn derives from Festus, which means “joyous; holiday; feast day”. Plus, it brings one to think, maybe Festivus is to prove that we as humans don’t need material objects to be happy on a holiday, but all we really need is excellent company, jovial attitudes, and lively music to make the holidays the best we could have.

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Mark your calendar and celebrate in your own way.

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We all know that famous holiday drink, the one sold in stores only during the length of November through December. It’s eggnog! Whether we buy it in stores so the whole family can have a glass or make our own, eggnog has always been a staple drink for the Christmas season. The real question is, where did eggnog come from, and when did it come into existence? That’s what National Eggnog Day is all about!History Of National Eggnog DayEggnog is historically also known as milk punch or egg milk punch when it is mixed with an alcoholic beverage. It’s a rich, chilled, creamy, and sweetened dairy drink traditionally created with milk and/or cream, sugar, whipped eggs which helps it gain it’s frothy texture, and sometimes mixed spirits.

The origins of eggnog are highly debated as are the original ingredients used for it. The Oxford English Dictionary claims that nog was “a kind of strong beer brewed somewhere in East Anglia” But where and when did the term Eggnog originate from?

The first time the term “eggnog” was ever used was in 1775 when Maryland clergyman and philologist Jonathan Boucher wrote a poem about the drink, which surprisingly was not published until thirty years after his death! The poem, which you’re bound to be curious about, went like this.“Fog-drams in the morn,
or better still egg-nogg.
At night hot-suppings,
and at mid-day, grogg.
My palate can regale”The first printed use of the term was in 1788 in the New-Jersey Journal of March 26th, which referred to a young man drinking a glass of eggnog. Eggnog may have developed from posset, a Medieval European beverage made with hot milk that curdled up when mixed with wine or ale and was then flavored with spices.

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The Norse Origins of Christmas Traditions - World History Encyclopedia

Scandinavia has a rich cultural heritage and Norse Mythology, which was once simply their religious belief system, has continually fascinated and influenced others for centuries. The Norse beliefs and traditions also influenced many of the Christmas traditions we celebrate today.

The word Yuletide, which is now used as a synonym for Christmas, is a word from the Norse pagan winter festival of Yule with the word ‘tide’ meaning a period of time. Yuletide has been celebrated for centuries by the ancient Germanic people (including the Vikings) and similar festivals were also celebrated by the Celts. Yule was celebrated between December 20th and 25th, the Winter Solstice, and the shortest day of the year and it was believed that, during that time, the new sun god for the next year was born.

Vikings and Scandinavians in general decorated evergreen trees with carvings of the gods, runes, clothing, and food. These items were thought to ward off evil spirits and encourage brighter ones to visit the home because they honoured the gods. This tradition continues in people placing cherished objects and sacred images on an evergreen tree such as figures of angels or putting a Christmas creche beneath the tree.

The famous 12 Days of Christmas is also a Norse tradition in that it was believed that Odin, the King of the Gods, rode across the heavens for 12 nights during this season of the midwinter feast which lasted 12 days from the winter solstice. Another tradition associated with the 12 days of Christmas is that you weren't supposed to hang out laundry between the winter solstice and the 2nd of January because Odin and his party of riders could get caught in it and wouldn't be happy with you, this was known as the Wild Hunt.

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Pagan New Year Traditions

Romans celebrated January 1st by offering sacrifices to Janus in hopes of gaining good fortune in the new year. They decorated their homes with laurel branches and spent the day partying. It was common for friends and family to exchange well wishes and gift figs and honey. Gifts were exchanged because they believed the beginning of anything was an omen for the whole.

Romans celebrated January 1st by offering sacrifices to Janus in hopes of gaining good fortune in the new year. They decorated their homes with laurel branches and spent the day partying. It was common for friends and family to exchange well wishes and gift figs and honey. Gifts were exchanged because they believed the beginning of anything was an omen for the whole.

Kissing at the moment of transition into the next year is rooted in pagan sexual practice and superstition.

“Watch Night” services were conducted to watch out for evil spirits who were believed to roam the earth during those times. Hence comes the tradition of staying up to ring in the New Year.

Eating pork and black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day originates from homage to Janus. His mythological wife, Carna (goddess of human organs) was honored during her festival with a dish of fava beans and pork bacon. The peas/beans symbolize rebirth and pork/swine was the preferred sacrificial meat to the gods.

Kissing under mistletoe - In Norse mythology, Frigga, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, wept after her son Balder was killed by a mistletoe arrow. Frigga’s tears turned the red berries white and resurrected her lost son, bestowing vitality and love connotations to this plant. Also, Druids used to cut mistletoe with a sickle during the first new moon after the winter solstice. Sprigs of mistletoe were to be hung in doorways as a means of protection from evil spirits. Additionally, mistletoe was thought to contain the sperm of the gods because of the white substance from the mistletoe berries. Mistletoe was considered an aphrodisiac and fertility treatment. Be careful who you kiss under that mistletoe, you might end up bonded for life.

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