Yap Constitution Day in Micronesia- December 24

Micronesia is the name of a group of about a thousand small islands in the Pacific, located near Melanesia, Polynesia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

  Most of these islands form the sovereign nation of the Federated States of Micronesia. The main island of Micronesia is the state of Yap, which celebrates the writing of its Constitution on 24 December.

  One of the most interesting things about Yap is their coins, known as "Rai stones." These coins are in the shape of a circle with a hole in the middle, made of calcite. The problem with these coins is that you can not take them in your wallet, nor in your pocket, because their diameter is 4 meters on average!

The value of the Rai stones depends on their size and history (most of the stones were brought from other islands like New Guinea and Palau, many years ago). The lowest value of Rai coin is a with a diameter of 30 cm.

In the photo: Rai stones in Yap (Micronesia)

These stones are no longer produced, but their price remains constant. They do not move when they are in possession, but people in the island know exactly to whom each of the 6,500 Rai stones belongs!  

Today Yap people use Western-style money. Because Micronesia is a state with a constitutional administration that relies on the United States in the framework of "free association", its people use the US dollar as their official currency. The Rai stones are used for traditional and ceremonial trade and are perceived as national symbols.

 December 24 is also Eggnog Day

Festivus- December 23rd

Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 and is designed to replace the celebrations of Christmas and Hanukkah traditional put people in stress and involve many financial expenditure.

The holiday was invented by Dan O'Keefe in 1966, and no one heard from him until 1997, when his son Daniel O'Keefe, editor and writer of the program Seinfeld, incorporated into series. Frank Costanza , George Costanza's father celebrates the feast he invented to protest against the commercialism of Christmas Eve.

Festivus Pole

Festivus holiday is actually a result of the Seinfeld parody adopted by fans of the series and people trading opponents made holidays worldwide. US hold parties in honor Festivus and websites through which you could send holiday cards. There are even websites that sell Festivus rods.

Festivus customary practicess: big dinner, placing aluminum pole instead of a tree, holding a ritual "cycle of complaints" and "show power by "primary blame someone who is both disappointing and having a wrestling match. Another custom of the feast is tagging events that happened as a "miracle".

Holiday ends as head of the family falls on the floor and could not get up during a wrestling match.

Blessing Festivus holiday is "Festivus for All" and the chapter ends with these words of the show.

December 23rd is also HumanLight

HumanLight - December 23rd

HumanLight Holiday is a secular holiday created in New Jersey in 2001 to provide a humanistic side to the Western world holiday season. The holiday is celebrated by many organizations and individuals across the United States and other countries.

The holiday focuses on secular positive human values, of intellect, compassion, humanity and hope.

The holiday has no fixed customs but it usually includes a shared meal among families or groups. Among many celebrants it is customary to light candles that symbolize reason, hope, compassion and humanity. It is also customary to do good deeds based on holiday values, such as charity work, gift exchange and other positive ideas related to holidays and celebrations.

While there are no strict requirements for holiday customs, there is also a slight flexibility in the date, but there is a wide range of themes and events that can be included in a HumanLight ceremony or celebration, such as "science book exchanges", music and activities for children. Charities and donations are also common parts of celebrations. Private home events tend to involve more diverse activities, but often include a meal with family and friends. The HumanLight Committee recommends maintaining three principles in each case: (1) promoting the positive values of humanism (2) avoiding negative messages related to religions (3) safeguarding the family and children.

HumanLight symbols

Everyone loves festive symbols, so over time the use of candles has become significant. Candles and ornaments in blue, red, and yellow/gold are commonly used to represent the colors of the HumanLight emblem, as well as wisdom, compassion, and hope. Three and four candles are usually lit, with the fourth candle representing humanity.

The HumanLight logo was created by a volunteer artist and contains three figures designed to reflect the “community character” of the holiday.

Source

Many social organizations recognize the holiday of human light, including the American Humanist Association, which recognized it in 2004. The HumanLight Committee maintains an official holiday website and operates humanist organizations and media regarding the holiday.

The name HumanLight comes to emphasize that it is not a holiday based on something supernatural, but on the "light" in humanity that illuminates human reason.

December 23rd allows the HumanLight holiday to connect to the December holiday season without interfering with the other vacations to which many secular humanists go. The holiday is not meant to harm the religious Christmas, but to take place alongside it.

Sources of the HumanLight

The holiday began when in the late 1990s members of the New Jersey Humanist Network asked themselves how secularists could best participate in the December religious holiday season which includes Christmas and other special days that are sacred to Christians. They held a swearing-in event at the Verona Park Boat Club in Verona, New Jersey on December 23, 2001 attended by nearly 100 people, including the famous humanist Paul Kurtz.

From the time the holiday celebration expanded until 2010 there were at least 30 well-known public celebrations of many secular organizations, and of the American Humanist Association that approved the holiday. Over the years they began to perform ceremonies, meals and art performances and other activities.

How to celebrate HumanLight?

Because the holiday is not a religious holiday but a secular one, it is basically universal and anyone all around the world can celebrate it with a family meal and good deeds.

December 23rd is also Festivus

Date Nut Bread- December 22

Date Nut Bread is a traditional dish eaten in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

The first recipes published fordate nut bread are from the 1920s, but it is known that bread with fruits has been baked hundreds of years earlier.

The date nut bread has a slightly sweet taste, so it is especially suitable for neutral-flavor spreads like cheese or butter, or sweet like jam, chocolate and peanut butter.

style="display:block"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-layout-key="-g7+t-3o-an+x9"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-8152220688286833"
data-ad-slot="7257876051">

A recipe for nuts and dates bread:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pitted dates, coarsely chopped

3/4 cup boiling / very hot water

1/4 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (or cinnamon)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts), plus 5-8 pecan halves

How to make: 

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a deep elongated 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan slightly and place the bottom baking paper.  

Soak the dates in very hot / boiling water in a bowl. Let it stand for at least 20 minutes. Then drain the water (leave the dates).   

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Put on the side.   

In another bowl of electric mixer (or manual mixer), mix the butter and sugar cups. Add the must and vanilla extract. Gradually combine the flour mixture. Add the dates and nuts. Mix.   

Transfer the batter to a prepared pan. Sprinkle up nuts.  

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean.  

  Remove the pan from the oven to cool for 10 minutes. Then remove the bread from the pan and place to cool completely.  

style="display:block"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-layout-key="-g7+t-3o-an+x9"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-8152220688286833"
data-ad-slot="7257876051">

Solstice - the shortest day of the year - December 21

December 21 is the shortest day of the year, the day with the fewest hours of light, and the most hours of darkness.

On this day, the winter solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere, the point where the hemisphere is at its maximum distance from the sun.

This process usually takes place on December 21st, which is why it is also called the first day of winter.

As of this day, the days will lengthen until June 21, when the northern hemisphere is at the point closest to the sun, so it is the longest day of the year and is considered the first day of summer.

If you haven’t done so yet, it’s time to change the place of winter and summer clothes in the closet, make sure you have an umbrella on hand, buy boots, check that the vehicle is ready for winter, and curl up in an upside-down blanket as much as possible.

December 21st is also Short Story Day, Crossword Birthday and 

Elsa's Birthday from the movie "Frozen" 

Short Story Day - December 21

There is no greater torment than to carry a story that is not told within you. ~ Maya Angelou

Love literature? Feel like you have a story you never wrote because you do not have time to write an entire book? Do you have a brilliant idea for a story that you want to write and you do not get it? Today is the day of short stories. Today is the day to get motivated and bring your story out. All you need is paper and a pen, or a computer or typewriter, whatever you prefer.

Source

What is a short story?

As the name implies, a short story is a story that can be read at once, in a little time, less than an hour. There is no exact definition of what is considered a short story, but it can be between 1,000 and 20,000 words long.

The short stories became popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s, with the publication of Richard Cumberland's work, "The Poisoner of Montremos" and Washington Irving's works, "Disconnected from Life" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Both stories immediately became classics. More famous short stories were later written by writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Franz Kafka, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, Leo Tolstoy and Stephen King.

How to celebrate Short Story Day?

As we said before, the best way to celebrate Short Story Day is to finally write what has been on your mind for a long time. Even if you do not become a world-renowned writer as a result, at least give it a try. Whatever your idea, romantic story, fantasy, horror, suspense, detective mystery or little anecdote, just put it down on paper. Who knows, you might find that you really enjoy it and keep writing more short stories until you can put out an entire book, a collection of your short stories?

Another way to celebrate Short Story Day is to read short stories. 

If this literary genre appeals to you, you can sign up for workshops that teach short story writing.

And do not forget to publish the story you wrote. Today it is possible to publish short stories on blogs, social networks, short story competitions and more.

December 21st is also The Shortest Day of the year, Crossword birthday and Elsa's Frozen birthday

Crossword Puzzle Day- December 21

On December 21, 1913, the first crossword was published in the 'New York World' newspaper. Soon, the crossword became the hobby of intelligent people. They solved it on the subway, during breakfast with the first coffee, while waiting in line and more. In the last century, anyone who had confidence in the gray cells of his brain would scribble carbon letters on the crumpled piece of paper every morning.

The first crossword was invented by Arthur Wynn, a British-born violinist and journalist who immigrated to Pennsylvania when he was 19.

Crossword puzzles have many advantages, such as brain stimulation and thinking, which are hypothesized to protect against the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

To celebrate the birthday of the crossword puzzle, take a few moments to solve a crossword puzzle, from beginning to end.

December 21 is also The Shortest Day of the year, Short Story day 

and Elsa from Frozen birthday

Games Day- December 20

Games Day began on December 20, 1975 in London. This day was announced by the Games Workshop company, as a day for gathering together to play.

Games Day was announced by the company following the cancellation of the other games day that was scheduled to be held that year in August in London. Today it's sponsored by the Conference Games Workshop and annual running games. Games Workshop decided to fill the gap and initiated its own gaming day. The first day of the Games was held at Seymour Hall, London on December 20, 1975.

Gamers have met and played with each other in Games Workshop's games, which are war games with miniature characters.  

Following the successful start and extensive media coverage, they held an annual game day later, in Chelsea, near London, on February 12, 1977. The event was delayed somewhat due to the logistics of rapidly expanding business. After this day also conducted the "Dungeons & Dragons Day" in the city of Fulham, on 12 March.

  

style="display:block"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-layout-key="-g7+t-3o-an+x9"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-8152220688286833"
data-ad-slot="7257876051">

Today the Games Day Conference is held regularly in the UK at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham. Fans of the three main games of James Warhammer (Warhammer, Lord of the Rings) gather together, play and perform presentations.  

Alongside the games there is also a commercial area where products such as miniatures of the fortress, soldiers and armies that are suitable for games are sold. Another attraction is the Golden Demon, a drawing contest of miniatures. There is also competition in varying degrees of seriousness, such as the contest of the demon-dump, where competitors create plastic models.  

In the coming years, the United States also joined the celebration of the Games Day, because what is better than taking a break in the pressures of life and taking part in games such as box games, computer games, video, chess, checkers, etc. Of course, this day also smiles very much for the gaming industry.

So if you want to enjoy this day, you can meet and play together, any game you want.

Happy Games Day!

style="display:block"
data-ad-format="fluid"
data-ad-layout-key="-g7+t-3o-an+x9"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-8152220688286833"
data-ad-slot="7257876051">