National Noodle Ring Day is a December 11 holiday. This is the day that your family has been waiting impatiently all year to arrive. Now, you can make a noodle ring for dinner, and be creative filling the center with a wide array of yummy fillings. I bet you can’t wait.

Noodle rings are baked in a ring mold or Bundt pan. We recommend using a Bundt pan, as it makes an attractive-looking dish. The basic ingredients for a noodle ring are egg noodles and grated cheese. Often a little flour is another basic ingredient. Additionally, there is a plethora of recipes that include a wide range of other ingredients and spices. After you’ve made a basic noodle ring recipe, we encourage to experiment with other ingredients that your family enjoys. Finally, you fill the center with almost any food you like.

What would cooking be like without the noodle ring? We shudder to think about it. We are certainly relieved that the Noodle Ring exists, so we can cook them in one recipe after another. And, doesn’t it make sense that we honor the Noodle Ring with its own very special day!?

See our Easy to Make Noodle Ring Recipe.

Today is Nobel Prize Day, a December 10 holiday event.  It is a day in honor of Alfred Nobel, who died on this day in 1895. In his last Will and Testament, he established several categories of prizes for accomplishments made for the betterment of mankind. While his heirs contested the will, Nobel’s wishes prevailed. The first prizes were awarded in 1901. They are international recognition awards. The Nobel Prize Foundation Prize controls the determination of award recipients, and the annual presentation of awards. 

 What is the Nobel Prize? There are several prizes awarded each year to recognize academic, culture, and scientific advances. One of the most important awards is the Nobel Peace prize. Prizes are awarded each year on December 10. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway, gives the award to “those who did their best for mankind’. All other Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, also on December 10. All recipients receive a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary gift. No more than 3 recipients can share a prize.

Interestingly, the committee does not award prizes posthumously. But, after a prize is announced, it is still awarded, if the person dies before receiving it.

It’s mid-December. Baby, It’s cold outside. The snow is piling up outside, too. It’s only fitting, that today is National Cocoa Day. This December 13 holiday is also called National Hot Chocolate Day. There’s nothing better to do on a cold winter’s night than to sit by the fireside with a mug full of hot cocoa.

Did You Know? There is a basic difference between cocoa and hot chocolate. Hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, which comes from roasted cacao beans minus the cocoa butter. Hot chocolate is made from melted chocolate. Many people do not know this distinction. And, many people do not care. They only care that both drinks are delicious!

The ancient Mayans created the first chocolate beverages more than 2,000 years ago. It was called “Xocolatl”. By 1,400 A.D., when European explorers first arrived, they found cocoa was an important part of the Aztec civilization. In addition to being part of their diet, cocoa was used medicinally. It aids in digestion. It is loaded with antioxidants, which help prevent cancer.

Have it Your Way! There are a lot of things you can add to hot cocoa. Among them are:

• Marshmallows
• Cinnamon
• Whipped cream
• Peppermint
• Candy canes
• Caramel
• Vanilla
• Syrups and creamers
• Peppermint schnapps or liquor.

Today is National Candy Cane Day, a December 26 holiday. It’s the day after Christmas. Millions of people are on the move, returning Christmas gifts at stores and nowadays by mail. People are also rushing to grab Christmas sales on just about everything, including holiday closeouts. Yes, it is truly a hectic day for many. Somehow, you need to take a deep breath and enjoy National Candy Cane Day. Candy canes are a big symbol of the Christmas season. They show up almost everywhere, as indoor and outdoor decorations, alongside ribbons and bows on Christmas gifts, on the Christmas tree, in stockings, and just about anywhere your imagination can envision them to be. Become the subject matter expert with our candy cane trivia.

One may wonder why make the 26th of December National Candy Cane Day!? But, celebrating this holiday today makes perfect sense. On the days and weeks leading up to the holidays, we are gleefully decorating with them and giving them out to nearly everyone we meet. With Christmas over, there is just one thing left to do with all of those candy canes…. consume them! The goal of today is to enjoy some of the many millions of candy canes given out during the Christmas season. You can simply take the wrapper off a candy cane and suck on it until it’s gone. You can slip a candy cane into your hot chocolate. Or, you can put candy canes in any of dozens of recipes and enjoy them in this manner.     

So, after you’ve taken care of all of your holiday returns and bought all of the closeout items your budget will allow, enjoy candy canes any way you prefer!

Mitten Tree Day is today, It is a December 6 holiday. All in all, it’s a great holiday, especially for grade school children. Mittens are the central theme during this holiday. Classroom activities are centered around mittens. In art class, the students can draw pictures of colorful and decorative mittens. Counting games are created for younger students using mittens. Teachers can educate children about how they are made. We’ve got ideas for people of any age to enjoy this day at school and work, too.

So, have fun and happy Mitten Tree Day.

National Maple Syrup Day is today, a December 17 holiday. This day provides us with the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this delicious American treat. This sweet and unique flavor originated in America. Native American Indians were the first to harvest and boil the sap of the maple tree into thick syrup. Amaze your friends with our maple syrup trivia.

 Watching or participating in a maple sap harvest, or demonstration is a fun late winter event. They are held in February-March when the sap is flowing. It is educational for the kids, too. During field demonstrations, some of the sap is boiled down into syrup. Best of all, free samples are often given and poured over a pancake or vanilla ice cream.

Did you know? The sap of the maple tree, the same sap used to make maple syrup, makes a refreshing drink. Just put it in the refrigerator and pour a drink whenever you want. Or, have a drink as you harvest the sap from the tree!

Please note, make sure you are using maple syrup, not pancake syrup. Unless the ingredients state otherwise, pancake syrup no longer contains maple syrup. (a surprise to many)

Related Information: Maple Syrup making time

Make Up Your Mind Day is a very decisive day. All during the year, you’ve put on hold, many issues and decisions. Eventually, they need to be resolved and decided upon. This December 31 holiday arrives at the perfect time. It’s not a day to procrastinate. It’s not a day to put off making a decision. If you are going to make up your mind this year, you’d better do it real soon. And, when you think about it, isn’t it a great idea to clean the slate in advance of the new year!? We believe that’s why the creator of this special day made it the last day of the year.

Sometimes, making decisions are very difficult, and stressful. They can be life-altering, like deciding to ask someone to marry you. Yet ultimately the decision has to be made at some time. So, why not today!?

You may want to begin, by making up your mind about whether you will make New Year’s resolutions. Then, make up your mind just what those resolutions will be.

Have a Happy Make up Your Mind Day!!

Today is Letter Writing Day. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone, either printed or in cursive? …….I thought so. Take a few minutes and send someone a handwritten letter on this December 7 holiday. There’s something about sending and receiving a handwritten letter that makes it special. That is to say, a penned letter is much more warm and touching than a text or email. It’s something you hold in your hands as you read it. And, you can store it away in a memory box or scrapbook to read later.   

Does anybody write letters anymore!? Letter writing is almost a lost art skill. Most letters and notes nowadays are on texts, emails, and instant messages. Messages are sent much more quickly via smartphones and the internet.

Pucker up your lips. No, you’re not about to be kissed. But, you should be about to bite into a tart, yet sweet, lemon cupcake. Why? Because today is National Lemon Cupcake Day, a December 15 holiday.

Most people love the flavor of lemon. However, it’s too tart for some people. Certainly, those who do enjoy the tart, yet refreshing taste, will agree that the lemon cupcake fully deserves its day of recognition. Eating anything made with real lemons is healthy for you, as it prevents scurvy.

Spread the joy.  Share your enjoyment. Buy or make some lemon cupcakes today. Share them with friends. Seek out people who have never even tried a lemon cupcake today. Induce them to try one of yours. Do these things, and you will truly have a wonderful National Lemon Cupcake Day.

Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! Today is International Monkey Day, a December 14 holiday. It is sometimes called “World Monkey Day“. What does one do on this day you ask!? Why anything about or related to monkeys is perfect? Of course, we sure hope no one puts a monkey wrench in your plans to celebrate this holiday. For example, to be in the spirit of this day, start off drawing pictures of them. That’s what sparked the creation of this holiday. Next, you can act like them and monkey around. And, of course, you should hang from trees while eating a banana or two. Note: Scratching under your armpit is optional. 

On this day, back in the year 2000, artist Casey Sorrow was in art school at Michigan State University. Casey jokingly sketched a monkey on a friend’s calendar… and a new special day was born.

International Monkey Day is a day to celebrate and enjoy monkeys of all kinds. This includes their cousins: apes, baboons, chimpanzees, and gorillas. Certainly, it will be a barrel of fun. Therefore, we encourage you to do as Casey did… draw pictures of monkeys today.

Did You Know? There is no shortage of monkeys to honor. Last time they counted, there were over 260 species of monkeys. This includes apes, lemurs, and tarsiers.

Song and Band of the Day: “Hey, Hey, we’re the Monkees” by The Monkees.

Favorite Movie Series: Planet of the Apes.