The United Nations addressed human rights as one of its first issues. Human Rights Day promotes awareness of the importance of these issues around the world. On this date in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each year, a new theme is established for the year. In 2006, the theme is fighting poverty.

In 1948, the UN adopted its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a document that defines the rights of every human being in every country of the world. Per the United Nations website, this declaration proclaimed the” inalienable rights everyone is entitled to as a human being, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.”

These rights are something we easily take for granted in the United States. Although even in the U.S., we are far fro perfect and can make improvements. Elsewhere, freedom and basic rights are not a given. The UN hs been fighting these issues for decades and will continue to do so.

Go Caroling Day is a wonderful, rewarding, and memory-filled tradition. This December 20 holiday is sometimes called “Christmas Caroling Day”. By far more popular decades ago, Christmas holiday caroling remains a great opportunity to enjoy the holiday and appreciate its meaning, by going out in a group to sing Christmas carols. The date is perfect, coming just before Christmas when your shopping and preparations are largely complete.

Christmas caroling remains popular in many areas and among many groups. Scouts, church, and youth groups often partake in this special musical event. Even family parties and business parties sometimes produce an impromptu caroling sing-a-long.  

Need the song lyrics for your favorite Christmas songs? Find the lyrics now.

It may take a little planning to make your event happen. For example, scout groups frequently go caroling to nursing homes and senior citizen centers. 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. Afterward, the perfect caroling event is concluded with hot chocolate and cookies.

We hope you enjoy Go Caroling Day to its fullest today!

Today is Gingerbread House Day, a December 12 holiday. Gingerbread cookies are a Christmas tradition. Can you imagine the Christmas season without gingerbread men!? The same holds true with these houses, which are made from the tasty cookies. Our Gingerbread trivia allows you to display your in-depth knowledge of these fun-to-build-and-eat houses.

Ginger has been popular for flavoring foods and drinks since ancient times, all over the world. In 992 A.D., Armenian monk Gregory of Nicopolis brought gingerbread, his favorite food, to Europe. He taught local Christian bakers how to make it. There are also some records suggesting that Christian crusaders brought gingerbread back with them after the crusades.

It wasn’t until the 1800s, that someone got the wonderful idea of making houses out of gingerbread and decorating them. The tradition of making Gingerbread houses originated in Germany. Its popularity spread around the world. Making gingerbread houses in the days before Christmas is a lot of fun. You can buy kits, or make them from scratch. Kids and adults alike, enjoy cutting the gingerbread to size and using frosting to glue the house together. Decorating is done with a wide variety of colorful candies. Gingerbread houses are very popular at Christmas parties. One of the highlights at Christmas parties is giving the okay to tear apart and eat the house.

You can make a Gingerbread house from scratch or buy a kit. Making them from scratch is involved and time-consuming. Nowadays, most people buy an easy-to-use kit.

For the Record: Guinness World record for the largest gingerbread house is a massive 60 feet long by 42 feet wide and 10 feet tall. It was created by Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas in 2013.

Today is National Fritters Day, a December 2 holiday. Aren’t we all lucky that this special day has finally arrived!? It’s a food holiday and a good-tasting one at that.

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!

Forefather’s Day commemorates the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620. They left for the New World, to escape religious persecution. After a late fall start, the Mayflower set sail from England and landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts just before Christmas. This holiday is celebrated largely in New England.  If you are not from New England, chances are you this is the first you have heard of Forefather’s Day.

The pilgrims originally set sail from England in two ships, the Speedwell and the Mayflower. The Speedwell leaked so badly, that they were forced to return to England, Ultimately, they all crammed into the Mayflower, and set sail from Plymouth, England. It was much later than they had planned. Strong fall west winds also delayed their arrival in the New World. Finally, on December 21, 1620 they landed.  

Don’t be left in the dark on National Flashlight Day. The basic requirement for this December 21 holiday, is a flashlight and good batteries. Flick the switch, and you can put anything into your spotlight. We’d like to shed a little light on this special day. National Flashlight Day arrives on Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day…and longest night…. of the year. “Watt” means, is that there’s lots and lots of darkness. With all of those dark hours, your flashlight is apt to get a good workout.

You never know when you will need a flashlight. National Flashlight Day is a good day to make sure you and your family know where the flashlights are. Test each flashlight, to be sure the batteries are good. When in doubt, replace the batteries with new ones. It is also a good idea to put a flashlight in your car.

Did You Know? The flashlight was invented in 1898 by Joshua Lionel Cowen. However, this wasn’t his greatest invention. He also invented the Lionel train.

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 or when the Ramadan or Dilawi holidays are. Well, you can celebrate this December 23 holiday. Today is Festivus Day. The slogan for today is “Festivus for the Restivus!”

Come and experience the joy and the Miracle of Festivus. One might say that this holiday is a miracle in itself.

Still not sure if today’s holiday is for you? And, you might even be asking “Just what is Festivus”? It is a non-denominational holiday. And, it’s non-commercial. I’m all for that. As a matter of fact, gift-giving is taboo on this holiday. Everyone can partake in this holiday. As the slogan goes: “A Festivus for the rest of us!” And, that means you, too. So, put up an aluminum pole in your living room. Then gather all of your family and friends around it in celebration of this tradition-filled holiday.

Look for an Evergreen Day is today, a December 19 holiday. For 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 its own character and appearance. However, if you decide on an artificial tree, use today’s holiday to go out and get one.

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 and factors like your preference for short-needle or long-needle trees will help you to decide which variety of trees to select. Varieties of Christmas Trees.

As we researched this special day, we questioned the timing. Chances are, you bought your live Christmas tree already. Years ago, however, people bought live Christmas trees late in the season. That’s probably why December 19th was declared “Look for an Evergreen Day”.

If you are still treeless, this special day could be the day to find the perfect Christmas Tree.

National Egg Nog Day comes just once a year.  Also spelled “Eggnog Day”, this December 24 holiday celebrates a special, traditional holiday drink. It is consumed with or without Rum. And, if it’s an office or other adult party, the bowl is likely spiked with rum. The timing couldn’t be any better– the day before Christmas— Christmas Eve!

Egg Nog is a seasonal holiday drink. Many people say a holiday party is not complete without a crystal bowl filled with it. It appears in stores 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 egg nog after New Year’s you will likely have to make it yourself. See Grandpa’s Old English Eggnog Recipe.

No one seems to know who created National Eggnog Day. But, eggnog lovers are ecstatic that this day exists. It’s loaded with stuff that tastes really good. But, the stuff it is loaded with is not necessarily good for you. However, Egg Nog aficionados will tell you that it’s 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!

Eat a Red Apple Day is today.  From Thanksgiving through New Years, we consume an overabundance of food. And not all of it is healthy for us. This December 1 holiday encourages us to take a break from all the candy, and high-in-fat sweets. Instead, eat a red apple. Apples are delicious. They are nutritious. That’s a great combination. They back to the Garden of Eden. In that garden, the Bible tells us it was the “Forbidden fruit”.

It is really easy to participate in this special day. There are thousands of varieties of varieties grown all over the planet. Your mission today is to pick an apple among all of these varieties and eat it.

A little apple trivia: The science of growing apples is called pomology.

Celebrate this special day. Select a juicy piece of the “Forbidden fruit” and have a happy and healthy holiday.