National Cotton Candy Day is today, a December 7 holiday. Cotton Candy was originally called fairy floss. It is made from Floss (or Flossine) sugar. Cotton Candy is a popular summertime treat. That being the case, why do we celebrate this day in the middle of December? Good question.

In 1899, William Morrison and John C. Wharton invented and patented the cotton candy machine (Then called the Fairy Floss Machine). They brought it to the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, where it was quite popular.

Cotton candy is a favorite at amusement parks, circuses, fairs, and sports venues. For many years it was made right on-site and served on a paper cone. Fresh from the Fairy Floss machine, it was warm if eaten immediately. Now, most cotton candy is manufactured at a factory and sold in bags.  It’s good, but not as good as fresh-made. However, automated, self-serve cotton candy machines are showing up in a wide range of places, including shopping malls (see picture above).

We suggest you create a carnival atmosphere today, as you celebrate National Cotton Candy Day!

Chocoholics rejoice again! This is the second “Chocolate” holiday this month. Aren’t we lucky!? We hope that you haven’t quite had your fill of chocolate and sweets during the holidays, as today is National Chocolate Day. This December 24 holiday comes on Christmas Eve. We’ve been eating Christmas cookies and candy all month. What’s a little more sugar to amp us up while Santa flies around tonight!?

As we researched this day, we were a bit perplexed. Most of us have been enjoying chocolate treats all month long. All of the holiday parties have ample supplies for chocolate candies, cookies, and other treats. Christmas get-togethers and Christmas stockings have plenty of chocolate. Wherever you go this month, chocolate of some kind has been less than an arm’s length away.

Equally confusing is the fact that National Chocolate Anything Day occurs earlier in the month. We wonder why there are two practically identical holidays so close together. Then the answer dawned on us…… Chocoholics! If you count yourself in this group, and we hope you do, then you will agree that every day should be National Chocolate Day! 

Ps. Don’t stay up satisfying your chocolate cravings, as Santa Claus will soon visit your house. 

Chocoholics rejoice! Today is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. This December 16 holiday is a great day to indulge, binge, “pig out”, and otherwise consume to excess, your favorite food….chocolate. We believe the timing of this day, during the holiday season, couldn’t be better.

Today, we get to enjoy our beloved chocolate by covering something…just about anything… in a generous amount of chocolate. Pour, spread, or drizzle chocolate over cakes, cupcakes, pies, pancakes or waffles, nuts, raisins, and even ants (yes, some people actually eat chocolate-covered ants!). We will let you decide what is too extreme, and how much is too much if any.

As chocoholics, we shouldn’t need any added incentive to enjoy our chocolate. In the giving spirit of the holiday season, make sure to give or share some of your favorite chocolate-covered treats today.

Happy National Chocolate Covered Anything Day!!!!

Today is National Ding-a-Ling Day, a very special day to “Ring your Bell”.  Nope, we’re not talking about the Salvation Army Bell Ringers, standing with their bells and kettles, outside of every store in the country. On this December 12 holiday, you should brace yourself for bizarre and crazy behavior, from all of the people you encounter today. Even normally conservative people have been known to go a little crazy on this day. 

Some people say this is a day for wackos, lunatics, and others who are off their rockers. We say it is simply a day to cut loose and act a little weird.

For the record: Ding-a-Lings and Ding Bats are not quite the same things. Ding-a-lings are just weird. They are funny and fun to be with and watch. Dingbats are bat crazy and not a lot of fun.

Song of the Day: My Ding A Ling (1972) by Chuck Berry. Caution: This is a catchy tune. Once you get it in your head, it is hard to get it out.

National Date Nut Bread Day is today. Enjoy this tasty bread for the holidays. This December 22 holiday is the perfect bread for the season. It contains nuts and sugar. But, it is not too much sugar. Date nut bread is quite popular. You can make it yourself or buy some at the bakery. We suggest a couple of loaves. In our house, a single loaf does not last long.

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

Crossword Puzzle Day is today, a December 21 holiday. It is very puzzling to me, why this special day would be so close to Christmas. While we love crosswords. But, who has time to do them right now!?

Well, it just so happens that crossword puzzles were created and published on this day in 1913. It was published in the New York World newspaper. Arthur Wynne is credited with creating the modern crossword puzzle. These puzzles became so popular, that competitions were held, to see who was the fastest to complete them correctly.

We sure hope you find some time this busy holiday season, to complete a crossword puzzle today and every day. They are relaxing and help you to take a break from all the stress of the holiday season.

Did You Know? Doing crossword puzzles daily is good for memory and mind health. It helps to fight against dementia. Also, you can use it to learn new words and facts. Most people who don’t know an answer will research it. Ant, that expands your brain. 

International Civil Aviation Day promotes awareness of the importance of international civil aviation. This December 7 holiday was created to promote and bring awareness to the importance of civil aviation for social and economic development around the world. It is also intended to promote the safety and efficiency of air transportation.

Civil air transportation is an important part of a country’s infrastructure and transportation system. Take today to appreciate the civil air system in our country.

Did You Know? There is a pilot shortage in the United States. There are fewer pilots today than in 1990.

Is your Christmas card list up to date? Christmas Card Day is a December 9 holiday. This holiday honors Sir Henry Cole (1818 – 1874) of England. Cole created the first commercial Christmas Card in 1843. It grew into a tradition. People created a list of all friends and family members. The number of cards you received was a source of pride. And, you had to send a card out to everyone who sent you one. As a result, the list grew year after year.

Just a few decades ago, sending Christmas cards through the mail was a holiday “must”. Now, sending cards through the mail continues decline in popularity. The cost and time of writing and sending cards have caused many people to stop sending them. Free Ecards have surged in popularity. Animated Christmas and daily seasonal Ecards have made sending and receiving them a lot of fun. 

Card Playing Day is the perfect time to spend an hour or so playing cards with family and friends. And, it arrives at just the perfect time of year…….. a few days after Christmas. The holiday hustle and bustle is over. The kids are getting bored with their new toys. The December 28 holiday is the perfect time to turn to card games for a calmer, more relaxing, and slow-paced form of fun and entertainment.

Enter the world of card games. Cards have survived for centuries as a form of “play” and entertainment. Sure, there are a few serious gambling types among us, who view cards as a serious “business”. To most of us, card games are just games.

Spend the day playing cards with family and friends. If you have kids, make sure to play some age-appropriate card games with them.  You’ll find quality time with the kids that will create many warm memories.

Important Tip: Many games have different variations. Make sure all players know and agree to the rules before you begin. 

Happy Card Playing Day. Now “go fish”, “hit me”, “double”, and “I’ll raise you two!”. 

Other names for this holiday: National Card Playing Day and Play More Cards Day

Are you tired of wearing the same color of shoes day after day?  Wear Brown Shoes Day is today, a December 4 holiday.  Black is by far the most popular shoe color. White is popular for summer and for sneakers. We just don’t turn to brown footwear very often. You might not even have any kind of brown footwear. Now, let me see… what color shoes should I wear today?????

WOW! It is very easy to participate in this special day. Just dust off that seldom-worn pair of brown shoes and put ’em on your feet.  Brown boots, loafers, sandals, slippers, sneakers, or any other brown-colored footwear will do. Don’t tiptoe around. Wear them wherever you go.

In case you didn’t know… the sock color of the day is……..brown.

Have a happy Wear Brown Shoes Day.