Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day, created by the United Nations, promotes awareness of the importance of Human Rights issues around the world. On this day in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each year, the United Nations, establishes a new theme for the year.
Human rights is something we easily take for granted here. Elsewhere, freedom and basic human rights are not a given.
Participate in this day by learning more about human rights issues around the globe. Offer your time and money in support of a human rights issue that is important to you.
Christmas Card Day
Christmas Card Day, honours Sir Henry Cole (1818 – 1874) of England. Cole created the first commercial Christmas Card in 1843.
Just a few decades ago, sending Christmas cards through the mail was a holiday “must”. Sending cards through the mail continues to be very popular. The cost and time for writing and sending cards has caused many people to stop sending them. Free Ecards have surged in popularity. Animated Christmas and seasonal Ecards have made sending and receiving them a lot of fun.
Today is a good day to send out your Christmas cards and holiday greetings. If you have yet to do so, use today to get a start!
National Brownie Day!
National Brownie Day celebrates chocolaty, chewy brownies.
Brownie lovers, love chocolate. Conversely, chocolate lovers, love brownies. Therefore, its only natural, that we have a special day to celebrate brownies.
It’s fun and easy to enjoy this special day. First, select your favourite brownie recipe, and bake a batch of brownies. You can add nuts, if you prefer. Topping the brownies with chocolate frosting is a good thing, too. Finally, eat them! You can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack.
P.s. Don’t forget the glass of milk!
Happy National Brownie Day.
Pearl Harbor Day
Pearl Harbor Day, commemorates the Japanese attack on the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor. The attack began at dawn December 7, 1941. It crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and caused the U.S. to enter World War II.
During the attack at Pearl Harbor, over 2,400 American servicemen and 68 civilians were killed. Five of the eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, and virtually all ships were damaged.
On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, U.S. flags are to be flown at half staff.
On December 8, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated in a speech to Congress it was “..a day that will live in infamy”. The U.S. then declared war on Japan.
St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day is today. Yes, there really was a christian Saint Nicholas. He lived in the country of Greece, just a couple hundred years after the birth of Christ. This day is in honor of Saint Nicholas and his life.
Saint Nicholas became a priest, and later, a Bishop of the early Catholic Church. True to the christian concept of giving up belongings and following Christ, St. Nicholas gave up all of his belongings. He was well known for giving to needy people, especially children. There are may stories and tales of him helping out children in need.
The practice of hanging up stockings originated with Saint Nicholas. As the ancient legend goes, Saint Nicholas was known to throw small bags of gold coins into the open windows of poor homes. After one bag of gold fell into the stocking of a child, news got around. Children soon began hanging their stockings by their chimneys “in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there”.
It wasn’t until the 1800’s that the spirit of St. Nicholas’ life evolved into the creation of Santa Claus. And, this happened in America. Santa Claus emerged (or evolved) from the stories and legends of St. Nicholas. Santa Claus was kind and generous to children. Unlike “St. Nick”, Santa Claus is largely a non-religious character.
Have a happy St. Nicholas Day.
Origin of St. Nicholas Day:
St. Nicholas Day has been celebrated for hundreds and hundreds of years. It commemorates the death of this very special, very holy person on December 6th. Record keeping was not perfect in his time. His death is believed to have been in either 345A.D., or 352 A.D.
Repeal Day
Repeal Day is today. It commemorates the repeal of the 18th Amendment. Once more, Americans were free to buy, sell, and consume alcoholic beverages. I’ll drink to that!
In the early 1900’s, many of the good people of America believed that alcohol was the root cause of many social ills in the country. Prohibition on a national scale, was promoted in part by the American Christian Women’s Temperance Union. This movement grew in popularity. Ultimately, the United States Congress passed the 18th amendment on January 16, 1919. The 16th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, transportation, sale and consumption of alcohol.
The ban on alcohol did little to improve the social conditions of the country, or to reduce crime. Rather, crime increased as racketeers got into the the business of making and selling alcohol. The popularity of the 18th Amendment waned. More and more people and groups sought it’s repeal.
Congress passed the 21st Amendment, effectively repealing the 18th Amendment. On December 5, 1933, the State of Utah voted it’s approval of the 21st Amendment, achieving the 3/4 of states need to approve this amendment. Thus on this day, the 18th Amendment was formally repealed.
The prohibition of alcohol in Canada arose in various stages, from the possibility of local municipal bans in the late 19th century, to provincial bans in the early 20th century, to national prohibition (a temporary wartime measure) from 1918 to 1920. Most provinces repealed their bans in the 1920s, though alcohol was illegal in Prince Edward Island until 1948.
As legislation prohibiting consumption of alcohol was repealed, it was typically replaced with regulation restricting the sale of alcohol to minors and imposing excise taxes on alcoholic products.
Important Note: While Repeal Day certainly is a day to have a drink in celebration of our rights and freedoms, we should always remember to drink responsibly.
Santa’s List Day
Today is Santa’s List Day. Have you been good all year? Have you been Naughty? Or, have you been nice? Santa knows.
Santa’s Elves have been everywhere, checking up on children all over the world, to see who has been naughty, and who has been nice. Thanks to the hard work of his elves, Santa now has two lists. The short list contains the names of a few children who have been naughty. A much longer list is filled with the names of children who have been good all year long.
Which list are you on?
Kids….. make sure to be especially good around the holidays. That’s when parents need children to be on their best behavior, as they are busy preparing for the holidays.
Happy Santa’s List Day!!!!
Origin of Santa’s List Day:
We have it on good authority, that this day was created at the North Pole.
We interviewed Santa, and a few of his top elves. They tell us that they strive to make the first draft of Santa’s “Naughty” and “Nice” lists by this day. Then, they review and adjust it, all the way to Christmas eve.
Santa told us that doing extra chores, or something special to help out around the house between now and Christmas, will get you off the “Naughty” list, and onto the “Nice” list.
Our 4th Annual Christmas Toy and Food Drive is on!
With the holidays soon approaching, we have started our annual toy and food drive. We are accepting unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items at the studio up until Monday, December 21st. All donations go directly to the Grimsby Benevolent Fund for local families.
Let’s make a difference again this holiday season!
Ryan and Amy 🙂
National Roof Over Your Head Day
Today is National Roof Over Your Head Day. It is a day of appreciation for the things we have, starting with the roof over our heads.
For most of us, a roof over our head signifies living in a house that protects us from the elements, keeping us warm, dry, and cozy. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as you and I. There are many homeless people right here in our country. Some people live in a cardboard box on the street…… literally. There are millions of people around the world who live in poverty or disaster areas, and do not have a home to keep them comfortable and safe.
Spend a few minutes appreciating your roof and home today, along with the many things that you have. And, also make a contribution to a homeless shelter, so others can come in out of the cold.
Happy National Roof Over Your Head Day!
Happy National Fritters Day
Today is National Fritters Day, aren’t we all lucky that this this special day has finally arrived!?
Before you can begin to celebrate this very important day, you need to know what a “fritter” is. Many people do not know, making it all the more fun to eat your first fritter today. A fritter is a fried cake or dough with fruit or meats inside.
Whatever you do, do not fritter this day away without eating at least one fritter.
Happy National Fritters Day!