National Fruitcake Day

National Fruitcake Day celebrates the rock hard, fruit filled holiday cake. While fruitcake was popular in the 40’s and 50’s, we are not sure if anyone has ever eaten this weighty, gooey, sugar laden cake.

Scientists have been unable to penetrate deeply into a fruitcake, and therefore, have failed to uncover its exact composition. Its density has also hampered their ability to use carbon dating to identify the age of a fruitcake. Unconfirmed rumors suggest that some fruitcake are hundreds of years old.

It is very appropriate for National Fruitcake Day to be celebrated shortly after Christmas. Once the holidays are over, it’s time to get rid of your fruitcake. Giving a fruitcake is a Christmas tradition for many. It is also believed that recipients will re-wrap the fruitcake and give it to someone else. Who knows how many years, or decades, a fruitcake has been passed along? Ultimately, the trick is to make sure you give away the fruitcake before the holiday season is through. Otherwise, you get the joy of storing it, until the next fruitcake-giving season.

On National Fruitcake Day, those with a sweet tooth can celebrate by eating a slice or two. Otherwise, we suggest you use this day to give your fruitcake to someone….anyone.

Note: Our research failed to find any information that suggests this is an official “National” day, which requires an act of congress. Sure, you may argue that there are a few fruitcakes in congress. But to date, none of them has sponsored a bill to create or declare a national Fruitcake Day.

Boxing Day

When: December 26th. However, some people will celebrate it on the first weekday after Christmas. If Christmas falls on a Friday or a Saturday, Boxing Day is the following Monday.

Boxing Day is celebrated in England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other former British commonwealth countries. It is a legal holiday in these countries. This is also St. Stephans Day, where Boxing Day gets some of its roots. On St. Stephans’ Day, churches opened their collection boxes to the poor.

Boxing Day was an expression of appreciation and thanks, much like Christmas tips are today.

The roots of the holiday goes back to the Middle Ages. On this day, members of the merchant class would take boxes, fill them with food and fruits, and give them to servants, tradespeople and the less fortunate. In the case of servants, they would work on Christmas Day, so it was only fitting that immediately after Christmas, they would be given a day off to celebrate.

Usually celebrated the day after Christmas, some would celebrate the following Monday when Christmas fell on a Friday or Saturday.

Today, the giving of boxes includes filling boxes with food and clothing for the needy and performing volunteer work. Monetary gifts to charity are also common.

Christmas Day

Ah! Christmas, the biggest holiday of the year. Christmas has both a strong religious and traditional meaning. It has a certain feel, all to itself, that you usually do not feel at any other time of the year. It creates within us, a sense of kindness and concern for our fellow man. At no other time are we more generous and giving. It creates a sense of family and belonging.

Everyone comes home for the Christmas holiday. It is a time of family and giving. It is truely a time that comes but once a year. Christmas is celebrated in most countries around the world!

And so, we invite you to ride along. Join us in celebration of the magic, the wonder and the spirit of this holiday season.

From all of us at Grimsby Yoga, we wish you a peaceful and joyous Christmas holiday season, and a prosperous New Year!

We’ve been good this year and we know you have been too! So, we hope Santa’s bag is stuffed full of goodies for all of us.

Let there be peace and good will this Christmas.

Did you Know? Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol” on December 19, 1843.

Merry Christmas!!

National Egg Nog Day

National Egg Nog Day comes but once a year.  It celebrates a special, traditional holiday drink. It is consumed with or without Rum. The timing couldn’t be any better– the day before Christmas— Christmas Eve!

Egg Nog is a seasonal holiday drink. It appears just before Thanksgiving, and is enjoyed by many at the Thanksgiving meal. Consumption then takes a break until the December holidays are in full swing.  Consumption of egg nog peaks on Christmas Eve. By the New Year, it is no longer available in stores. If you want eggnog after New Year’s you will likely have to make it yourself.

No one seems to know who created National Egg Nog Day. But, egg nog lovers are ecstatic that this day exists. It’s loaded with stuff that tastes really good. It’s loaded with stuff that’s not good for you. Egg Nog afficienados will tell you that its mmmmm delicious!

The Correct Spelling: This holiday drink is spelled “Egg Nog” and “Eggnog”, about equally. The carton in the store spells it “Egg Nog”. Which is correct? It depends upon how much rum is in your Egg Nog! … bottoms up!

Festivus

Are you feeling a little left out!? You don’t celebrate Christmas or Chanukah. Kwanzaa just isn’t your thing. And, you don’t even know what Ramadan is.

Then, come and experience the joy and the Miracle of Festivus. One might say that the Festivus holiday is a miracle in itself.

Still not sure if Festivus is for you? It’s non-denominational. So, everyone can partake. The Festivus slogan is “A Festivus for the rest of us!” And, that means you, too. So………..

Happy Festivus to you!

The Origin of Festivus Holiday:

Festivus came into being as the direct result of a Jerry Seinfled television show episode. It first aired on December 18, 1997.

The Festivus holiday was created by Seinfeld show scriptwriter Daniel O’Keefe. His dad, also named Daniel, had found reference to an obscure holiday called Festivus, which was first celebrated in 1966.

National Date Nut Bread Day

National Date Nut Bread Day is today. Enjoy a tasty bread for the holidays. It’s the perfect bread for the season. It contains nuts and sugar, but is not heavy on the sugar. Date nut bread is quite popular. You can make it yourself, or buy some at the bakery. We suggest a couple of loafs. In our house, a single loaf does not last long.

Date Walnut Bread is a very nice tea bread bursting with the flavor of sweet dates and crunchy walnuts. Jean Anderson states in her book ‘The American Century Cookbook’ that the first recipes for this bread began to appear in the 1920s, and it was so popular in the 1930s that it was used to make tea sandwiches. In fact, these tea sandwiches are so lovely you may want to try them; take two thinly sliced pieces of the bread, sandwich them together with a layer of cream cheese or butter, and then cut them into fingers, squares or triangles. 

There is some question as to the correct date for this special day. A survey of the net, resulted in roughly half of the references for this day claiming it is on September 8th. In our survey, a very slight majority record this special day on December 8. We go with the majority for two reasons: First, it is the majority. Second, this day fits well in the holiday season. Date Nut Bread is popular for the holidays.

Here’s a little recipe to make your own:

Date Walnut Bread: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Grease (or spray with a nonstick vegetable spray) a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. 

Toast the walnuts for about 8 – 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

In a large bowl mix the chopped dates with the baking soda and a pinch of salt (1/8 teaspoon). Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of very hot water over the dates, stir, and leave to cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes). 

In your food processor place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon. Process to combine and then add the butter. Process until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Transfer this mixture to a large bowl and then stir in the chopped walnuts.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg with the vanilla extract. 

Finally, fold the flour mixture and beaten egg mixture into the cooled dates (with their water). Stir until combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Well wrapped, this bread will keep for several days at room temperature.

Makes one – 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf.

See below for ingredients and measurements!

Date and Walnut Bread:

1/2 cup (50 grams) walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

8 ounces (225 grams) dried pitted dates, coarsely chopped (about 1 1/3 cups)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup (240 ml) boiling water

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (110 grams) light brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Get your fill of Date Nut Bread today. After all, that’s what this day is for.

References:

Anderson, Jean. The American Century Cookbook. Clarkson/Potter Publishers. New York: 1997.

Cadogan, Mary. 101 Cakes and Cookies. Hylas Publishing. New York. 2003

Humbug Day

Humbug Day is today. Humbug Day  allows everyone preparing for Christmas to vent their frustrations.

Sure, venting frustration over the stress of Christmas is appropriate for this day. But, we believe Humbug Day is much more. We believe Humbug Day brings out the Scrooge in all of us. Scrooges all over have been waiting for this day, and come out of the  woodwork in great numbers. They go far beyond venting a few frustrations. Many scrooges are negative towards Christmas in general, and can put a real damper on your Christmas spirit.

Use Humbug Day to release the stress of the holiday season. But, whatever you do, avoid becoming a real, bonafide Christmas Scrooge!

Go Caroling Day

Go Caroling Day is a wonderful, rewarding, and memory filled day. By far more popular decades ago, Christmas holiday caroling is a great opportunity to enjoy the holiday and appreciate its meaning. Christmas caroling remains popular in many areas and among many groups. Scouts and youth groups often partake in this special musical event. Even family parties and business parties sometimes produce an impromptu caroling event. It may take a little planning to make your Christmas Caroling happen. For example, scout groups frequently go caroling to nursing homes and senior citizen centres. A phone call to the facility management to arrange a date and time is a must. Transportation to/from the facility also must be arranged. And, afterwards, a caroling event is often topped off with hot chocolate and cookies. We hope you enjoy Go Caroling Day to its fullest today!

Look for an Evergreen Day

Look for an Evergreen Day is today. To many people, only a fresh cut real tree will do for Christmas. The scent of fresh pine helps to capture the feel of the holidays. Nothing looks more real than a real tree, each one with it’s own character and appearance.

There is no shortage of types of Christmas trees. Generally classified as firs, spruces, and pines, the most popular varieties have changed over the years.  Personal preference will determine whether you select a short needle, or long needled tree.

If you haven’t selected a tree yet, it is certainly getting late. As we researched this special day, we questioned the timing. By the 19th of December, most people have found and put up their Christmas tree. So if you are still treeless, this special day could be the day to do so. Good luck!

Bake Cookies Day

‘Ya gotta just love Bake Cookies Day………

….. Christmas is for Christians

….. Hanukkah is just for Jews

….  Ramadan is for those of Islamic descent

….. Kwanzaa is for those of African origin

….. Native American Day is for American Indians

But, Bake Cookies Day is for EVERYONE!

Bake Cookies Day comes at an opportune time. It arrives amidst the major December holidays. It serves as a reminder to bake holiday cookies, if you haven’t done so already.

People, young and old, celebrate this day by baking their favourite cookies. Make a party of it, and bake cookies in groups with family, friends, kids and grandkids. Don’t stop at baking just one kind of cookies. Plan to bake a number of cookies. Try a new recipe, or two, or three, or….

If you bake more than you can eat, good for you! Wrap up gift trays filled with cookies for friends and neighbours. Most cookies freeze well, too.

Important Note: we are very surprised that Bake Cookies Day is not immediately followed by “Eat Cookies Day”. We did not even find an Eat Cookies Day. So you can, and should, eat them every day!.