Quirky Calendar Year

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Christmas caught up to me, so look back in the new year for more regular quirky holiday updates. Until then, happy holidays, however you celebrate, and may you be filled with happiness and good cheer.

12/17/2023

12/17/2023

Happy Sunday, Celebration Explorers! Did you know that next week is CHRISTMAS??? Yeah, I can't handle it either. Hope your plans are going well!

Anywho, the answer to yesterday's question was...Bhutan!

Today is Bhutan National Day!

December 17th is a cause for a big party as they commemorate the day they first had a king in Bhutan, the Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) Ugyen Wangchuck. It's a BIG deal, with all other events and businesses in the country shut down and closed to celebrate.

Did You Know?:
- The first king was crowned in 1907.
- Wangchuck brought unification to the country and made ties with British India. These acts caused for their then current dual system of rule to be abolished in favor of a monarchy, with Wangchuck being made king.

The current king is His Majesty The Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the 5th king of Bhutan. Long may he reign!

Tomorrow's holiday hint: Celebrating what makes winter so beautiful. It flies through the cold air, and takes millions to cover the ground. What is it?

Happy Celebrating! One week until Christmas Eve!

12/16/2023

Greeetings, Celebration Explorers!

The answer to yesterday's hint was...an underdog!

Today is National Underdog Day!

This commemorates the underdog, the ones who were second best or the unlikely winner. Yet, they defied all odds and rose to glory. One early example is David and Goliath from the Bible, where little David fights Goliath and is able to defeat him, despite his small stature.

Did You Know?:
- The term "underdog" was originally coined in 1887 to describe workers building ships. The wooden planks were called "dogs" and someone had to stand and support them while another worker sawed wood above him. Since the first man was under the "dog", he was labeled "underdog".

Since then, many examples of the underdog have been seen in sports, such as Buster Douglas vs Mike Tyson (Douglas won), or movies (Sylvester Stalone). What underdog story is your favorite?

Tomorrow's hint: This country celebrates the day it first placed a king on its throne. What country am I talking about?

Happy celebrations!

12/15/2023

Recap of yesterday's hint: "Managing people is like [blank] [blank]."

The answer: "Herding Cats"

It's Cat Herder's Day!

Did You Know:
- Cat Herder's Day isn't about cats at all! It's a day for the managers who can manage all people and situations that are thrown their way. Cats symbolize chaos, because cats ARE chaos.
- The holiday was officially created by Thomas and Ruth Roy in the 1980s and has been recognized ever since.

Do you have a special manager in your life? Are you one? I have been a stage manger, and know full well that herding actors is EXACTLY like herding cats. Managers, we salute you.

Tomorrow's holiday hint: This term wasn't coined until the 19th century, but we see these "second best" examples in sports, literature, and movies. They are recognized to show they are supported too. What am I talking about?

Happy Holidays! 10 Days left until Christmas!

12/14/2023

No doubt you've heard the lyric "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...", the beginning lyric of "The Christmas Song" (sung notably by Nat King Cole and others). Well, today you can roast to your heart's content!

Did You Know?:
- There used to be at least 4 Billion chestnut trees in the United States. Unfortunately, a tree fungus was found on some of the trees in 1904, and continued to spread over the next 40 years, bringing the number of trees to half a billion.
- The tradition of chestnuts goes back to St. Martin, whose feast (Martinstag) is celebrated between October - November, when the nuts are readily available. Over time, the act of roasting them became more of a Christmas tradition.

While not as mainstream today, chestnuts still get shipped in from other countries like China, Korea, and Italy to be enjoyed. But if you want to get some of this roasted treat for yourself, be warned: they are more perishable than other nuts, molding within a few weeks. Bon appetit!

If chestnuts aren't your thing, what nut is your favorite? Or if you can't have them, what other treat do you love this time of year?

Tomorrow's holiday: "Managing people is like [blank] [blank]." What comes to mind? Tune back in tomorrow!

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season, and happy final night of Chanukah!

12/13/2023

St. Lucia National Day is celebrated on this day in Sweden to honor the named saint who was a martyred for her Christian faith in 304 A.D. It wasn't until the 6th century that she was venerated by the Catholic church and made a saint.

You may sometimes see pictures of her with a wreath of candles on her head. That's because she would minister to other Christians in hiding and would use those candles to light her way, leaving her arms free to carry as much as she could to aid them.

Did You Know?:
- Notice those eyes on the plate she's holding? Lucia is the patron saint of the blind!
- It is said that Lucia either had her eyes gouged out during torture, or that she took them out herself because an admirer was looking at them. Eww.
- When she was later killed by a sword to the throat, those who buried Lucia said her eyes were miraculously cured. Hence, her patronage to the blind.