The holidays, when the family is gathered together is the perfect time to learn more about your family history. Ask Grandma about her family and upbringing, get Aunt Lucy’s gingerbread recipe, share family stories and write them down. You might even ask family members to bring copies of their favorite family recipes or their favorite family photos. Take advantage of technology to get video of family members talking about the family history.
National Cookie Exchange Day
I love cookie exchanges because you can get as simple or fancy with this as you want. The basics are that everyone brings a set number of cookies, the recipe and a container to bring their cookies home in. The cookies are set out on the table and there is sampling, conversation and cookies to take home.
The cookie exchanges I have attended we each brought two dozen cookies (the size of an average batch). I don’t know where the six dozen cookies that seems to be common now came from. You could adjust the number to fit the number of participants if you wish. We also took enough copies of our recipe for everyone. That’s the basics. Now if you want to provide containers for guests to take their cookies home in or have a craft time and decorate boxes or provide decorative envelopes for people to put the recipes they collect in that is totally up to you.
What I like about this idea is that it can be customized for special dietary needs and would be great for a support group meeting. You can invite all people who are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, allergic to nuts — whatever your need may be.
Try not to get too obsessed with the details. The point of this is to hang out with friends, enjoy a few cookies and recipes, relax and most of all have fun! Group activities are always good at the holidays. You never know who may need a little bit of light in their lives. You could be the one who brings it and not even know.
More ideas for hosting a cookie exchange.
https://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/entertaining/holiday-cookie-exchange-checklist
Winter Solstice
In honor of the winter solstice I am bringing back an older post. Please enjoy Fun and Easy Ways to Shine your Light on the Shortest Day of the Year.
Have you ever wondered about the difference between an equinox and a solstice?
According to the National Weather Service an equinox is one of the “two times of the year when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a “nearly” equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes.” The Equinoxes occur in the Spring (Vernal) and Autumn (Autumnal).
A solstice occurs “at the moment the earth’s tilt toward from the sun is at a maximum. Therefore, on the day of the summer solstice, the sun appears at its highest elevation with a noontime position that changes very little for several days before and after the summer solstice… The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. ”
So on this day, December 21, 2023 we are experiencing the shortest day and longest night of the year. Is it any wonder so many cultures and religious traditions celebrate light during this season?
Winter Solstice is observed as a Pagan Holiday with ritual and celebration involving light, including bonfires. We know that our own celebration of Christmas includes traditions and practices “borrowed” from other cultures and religions. So on this shortest day and longest night of the year it seems fitting to at least take a few moments to stop and reflect on the light that shines in the darkness no matter what your religious or spiritual beliefs. Light a candle, or a bonfire or set out luminaria along your driveway, hang lights on you house, put a great big smile on your face and let that light shine!
Resources:
Go Caroling Day
I love Christmas caroling. When I was growing up caroling was a favorite activity for all ages. From scout troops, to youth groups, to families, to choirs to adults, carolers go out to bring holiday cheer to busy shoppers, residents of nursing homes and others in need of a little holiday cheer.
My favorite caroling memories involve going to nursing homes and houses of “shut ins” with several different church choirs. We then gathered at a members home to warm up with hot cocoa and snacks. If you have ever sung in a choir you know that people who sing together develop a special bond with each other.
Since we moved to Oklahoma nine years ago I have wanted to go caroling in our little retirement community. So far I haven’t done it. But I think about it every year. I laugh when I tell Bob if we got a very large group together there wouldn’t be anyone left at home to hear us. I laugh even harder when I think of me walking up and down the hill by myself with a flash light singing, trying to get people to hear me. Of course I’m the lady who walks around wearing reindeer antlers in December, so I don’t think anything I do would shock anyone.
I hope you will find a way to go caroling this year. Go out and spread a little joy around!
National Oatmeal Muffin Day
I do enjoy a good oatmeal muffin, but had no idea they had their own day. Don’t let this day go by without celebrating.
So whether you make a batch of your own, buy them from a bakery or grocery store, host a party or give away a plate of oatmeal muffins, give it a try. And don’t forget that oatmeal muffins are healthy, easy to make and easy to customize by adding raisins, other dried fruit or even chocolate chips.
Happy Oatmeal Muffin Day! Please share your oatmeal muffin stories, recipes or photos. If you need a recipe check out Quaker’s Best Oatmeal Muffins.
For more information on National Oatmeal Muffin Day please read https://www.holidaycalendar.io/holiday/national-oatmeal-muffin-day
Bake Cookies Day
Another of my favorite days. For many years I have baked cookies (lots and lots of cookies) as well as fruitcakes for the holidays. I usually do it a little earlier than this, on Thanksgiving weekend. But any day is a good day to bake holiday cookies.
This is a perfect family activities. Get the children involved, even if only for the decorating.
There are many things you can do with holiday cookies. I like to make up plates of holiday cookies to give as gifts.
A fun activity is to host a cookie exchange. Read this past post on holiday cookies for more information and ideas.
Whatever you do to celebrate don’t forget to play a little and have fun. After al we are talking about cookies.
Clean Air Day
This day commemorates the day in 1963 the Clean Air Act 1963, one of the first major pieces of environmental legislation in the United States became law. This law gives federal and state agenies power to reseach and regulate air pollution. This was a major expansion of government efforts to fght the damage being done to the planet.
The importance of Clean Air Day is to remember keeping our air clean and free of harmful pollutants is an ongoing work. Air quality has improved since 1963 but we still have a long way to go. It is important that the work being done since the passage of this law continue and that we not become complacent forgetiing there is not still work to do.
For more information https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/clean-air-act-becomes-law
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
I think just about everything is better covered in chocolate. Well… maybe not everything, but I do love chocolate dipped pretzels and almond clusters and of course my favortie, chocolate covered cherries. And not just any chocolate cherries but Queen Annes.
My Aunt Geraldine is to blame for this. She gave me a box every year. When she died I started buying them for myself in her memory. Now Bob buys them for me.
What is you favorite food covered in chocolate?
For more infomation on this day check out https://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/december/chocolatecovered.htm
Cat Herders Day
If you are a cat person you know they can be stong willed and difficult to manage, especially if you have more than one. Cats often want to do their own thing, especially if others are doing somethig else.
But this isn’t really about cats. Herding cats is used to describe working to organize or control something that is uncontolable. And we have all experienced this at one time or another.
So how to celebrate? You could actually try herding felines, but you won’t get very far. You might extend sympathy to those with jobs that often seem uncontrolable. And if you are in a situation where you feel like a cat herder you might want to find a way to make your life easier, perhaps by giving away a few of those “cats.”
For more information:
https://www.checkiday.com/06d7071a5fc6bd311a345771a47471b7/cat-herders-day
Monkey Day
Yes I did find this, but it’s origins are uncertanian. It is speculated to have been a joke or created to draw awareness to monkeys and other primate species as well as their natural habitat.
Monkeys are revered and worshiped as gods in some parts of the world. In the Chinese Calendar the monkey represents the 9th year of 12 year cycle.
These are just a few ways you can celebrate if you choose.
Visit your local zoo and say hello to the primates, including the monkeys.
Take the time to learn more about monkeys.
Donate to an organizaton such as the Born Free Foundation or Pimarily Primates.
Watch one or more of the Planet of the Apes movies.
Make monkey cupcakes.
It is always important to remember that the wild areas of the planet and their inhanitants still need our protection. As habtat continues to be destroyed animal species will continue to be lost.
espirational.com 