Welcome to our series sharing Unique Holidays: December 21st, 2022. Today is National Crossword Puzzle Day and you might want to check out Crossword Puzzles for you and your family to do this evening. Did you know Charlie and I use Crossword Puzzles in our Homeschool Classroom.
Crossword Puzzle Day– always observed on December 21st
Crossword Puzzle Day is today, which is very puzzling to me, why this holiday would be so close to Christmas. While we love crosswords 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. The crossword was published in the New York World Newspaper. Arthur Wynne is credited with creating the modern crossword puzzle. Crossword 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 not only today but every day. Crossword puzzles are relaxing and help you to take a break from all the stress of the holiday season.
Doing crossword puzzles daily is good for memory and mind health. Crossword puzzles helps to fight against Dementia. Also, you can use crossword puzzles to learn new words and facts. Most people who don’t know an answer will research it. Which expands your brain.
How to Celebrate Crossword Puzzle Day
- Work on a crossword puzzle.
- Buy a Crossword puzzle book.
- Download a Crossword Puzzle App onto your cell phone and you will have crossword puzzles at your fingertips.
History and Origin of Crossword Puzzle Day
Our research found a lot of information about crossword puzzles and their history but we did not uncover the creator of crossword puzzle day or when crossword puzzle day was first celebrated which is very puzzling.
Forefather’s Day– always observed on December 21st
Forefather’s Day commemorates the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Our Forefathers 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. Forefather’s Day 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. Then, they all crammed into the Mayflower, and set sail from Plymouth, England. Which was much later than they had planned. Strong fall west Winds also delayed their arrival in the New World. Finally, on December 21, 1620 our Forefathers landed.
How to Celebrate Pilgrim Forefather’s Day
- Read about Pilgrim and Plymouth Rock.
- If you’ve never been to Plymouth Rock, plan a trip with the family. It doesn’t have to be now. Rather, plan the trip for next Summer when the weather is warm.
- Make a meal fit for the original Pilgrims. Make it a teaching moment for your kids and let them help you plan and cook the meal. Which is a great addition to Charlie’s Homeschool Cooking Class.
History and Origin of Pilgrim Forefather’s Day
Pilgrims’ Forefather’s Day was first celebrated in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1769, over 140 years after the Pilgrims landed there. A group of descendants gathered to have a feast in honor of the Pilgrims. This group shared a meal together, which included many Native American delicacies.
Humbug Day– always observed on December 21st
Did you know Bah Humbug Day is an Ebenezer Scrooge approved holiday. Bah Humbug Day is perhaps, the one day of the year that Ebenezer Scrooge can enjoy. Rumor has it, Bah Humbug Day is the one day of the year that Scrooge takes off from work to celebrate. According to wellcat.com, the creators of Bah Humbug Day “allows everyone preparing for Christmas to vent their frustrations.”
Sure, venting frustration over the stress of Christmas is appropriate for Bah Humbug Day. We believe Bah Humbug Day is much more. We believe Bah Humbug Day brings out the Scrooge in all of us. Scrooges all over have been waiting for Bah Humbug Day and come out of the woodwork in great numbers. They go far beyond venting a few frustrations. Many Scrooges are negative towards Christmas in general and can put a real damper on your Christmas spirit.
Use Bah Humbug Day to release the seemingly endless daily stress of the holiday season. But, whatever you do, avoid becoming a real, bonafide Christmas Scrooge.
How to Celebrate Bah Humbug Day
- Gather your family and watch the classic movie “A Christmas Carol”.
- See if a “A Christmas Carol” play is playing around your home and go see it.
- Dress up as Ebenezer Scrooge and act like Ebenezer.
- Go about your day repeatedly saying, “Bah Humbug”.
- Be a miser like Scrooge, if only for a day and count and horde your pennies.
History and Origin of Bah Humbug Day
Humbug Day is a copyrighted holiday which was created and is provided, courtesy of the folks at Wellcat.com
Look on the Bright Side Day– always observed on December 21st
Look on the Bright Side Day is today, and we hope you see the light. However, that may prove difficult today. Today is the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. December days tend to be cloudy. However, we’re going to be optimistic, and fully expect you to succeed. On a positive note, while this is the shortest day of the year, it is all uphill from here. For the next six months, every day will be a little longer.
Today is a day to be optimistic. The term Look on the Bright Side Day is an optimistic one.
Look on the Bright Side Day calls upon us to look for something positive, out of an otherwise bad or sad situation. Often, a bad experience has positive lessons to be learned.
If you have a bad day yesterday, look on the bright side because today is another day and an optimistic one at that!
How to Celebrate Look on the Bright Side Day
- Look for positive things in your life.
- Reflect on how happy you are to be alive, healthy, and happy.
- Count your blessings.
History and Origin of Look on the Bright Side Day
We found no factual information about the origin of Look on the Bright Side Day. But, looking on the bright side someone was wise enough to create Look on the Bright Side Day for you to enjoy.
National Flashlight Day– always observed on December 21st
Don’t be left in the dark on National Flashlight Day. The basic requirement for National Flashlight Day, 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 National Flashlight Day. National Flashlight Day arrives on Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year. “What that 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.How to Celebrate National Flashlight Day
- Check your flashlight batteries.
- Find a reason to use your flashlight after dark. Any excuse will do.
- Buy a new one, if need be. You can never have too many.
History and Origin of National Flashlight Day
We researched National Flashlight Day in the early 2000s, and then again in the early 2020s. Neither of our extensive searches has yet to discover any factual content on National Flashlight Day.
Ecard companies and calendar website pages unanimously note this as a “National Holiday” but we found no congressional records or presidential proclamation to support this claim.
Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year, the date varies About Winter Solstice: December 21, 2022; December 21, 2023; December 21, 2024; December 21, 2025; December 21, 2026; December 2021, 2027; December 21, 2028
When is Meteorological Winter? Generally December 1st to March 1st
Winter Solstice marks the beginning of Astronomical Winter. Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. However, there is a second date which is called Meteorological Winter which begins on December 1st. This leads people to ask, “When is Winter?” To avoid confusion, almost all of us consider the Winter Solstice as the official start. If you’re a little confused, you’re in good company.
On this day, it seems as if the nighttime darkness lasts all day and all night. At the North Pole, the Sun never rises on this day. It is not the coldest days of the year, as the Northern Hemisphere continues to lose more heat than it gains. This will continue until late in the Season, as the longer daylight hours at that point begin to have a net warming effect. But for now, heat up a cup of Hot Chocolate and put another log on the fire! Wintertime will be here for a while.
By the way, while the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing its shortest day, the Southern Hemisphere is basking in Sunshine and enjoying the first day of Summer.
For thousands of years, Winter Solstice has celebrated the new Solar Year. Winter Solstice celebrates the return of the Sun, as every day now will see more Sun. The Sun is at its Southernmost point and now begins its long, six-month journey North.
Winter Solstice is also been known as Christmas, Yule, and Saturnalia.
Astronomical Versus Meteorological Winter
Since ancient times, man has viewed the Winter Solstice as the beginning of Wintertime. This is primarily because it is the shortest day of the year on the astronomical calendar. Hence it is also called Astronomical Winter, meaning it is based on Astronomy.
But we all know that Winter weather doesn’t begin in late December. Many parts of the Northern hemisphere have already seen plenty of Snow, and even a Snowstorm or two. As a result, Meteorologists defined Meteorological Winter to begin when Winter Weather arises. Generally, that’s December 1st to March. The trouble with this definition is Winter weather does not begin at the same time in all parts of the Country.
To avoid any confusion, the Winter Solstice is what we all use to identify the first day of Winter.
How to Celebrate Winter Solstice
- If there’s Snow outside, go out and build a Snowman and/or a Snow fort.
- End the day with a snowball fight.
- Go skiing.
- Put another log on the fireplace if your one of the lucky ones to have a fireplace.
- Cozy up by the fireside and read a book.
- Have another cup of Hot Chocolate.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
