Humbug Day 2013
December 21, 2013 in the World
Humbug Day “Allows everyone preparing for Christmas to vent their frustrations.”
Sure, venting frustration over the stress of Christmas is appropriate for this day. But, we believe Humbug Day is much more. We believe Humbug Day brings out the Scrooge in all of us. Scrooges all over have been waiting for this 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 Humbug Day to release the stress of the holiday season. But, whatever you do, avoid becoming a real, bonafide Christmas Scrooge.
Where is Humbug Day?
Worldwide
Winter Solstice 2013
December 21, 2013 in Northern Hemisphere
Today is the Winter Solstice! Autumn has officially come to an end. The winter solstice occurs when the sun’s position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance from the hemisphere, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year. For the Northern Hemisphere, this usually occurs between December 21 – 23 each year. In the Southern Hemisphere it takes place between June 20 – 23.
Did you know that the word “solstice” means, “sun stands still”? This seasonal milestone has been celebrated since ancient times. The Romans, for example, honored Saturn, the god of time and harvest, with a weeklong feast called Saturnalia.
While the traditions surrounding the winter solstice differ from culture to culture, most recognize it as a symbol of rebirth. Various festivals, gatherings, and rituals take place today worldwide. To celebrate the winter solstice, attend a local festival or spend time with your friends and family around a cozy fire.
Where is Winter Solstice 2013
Worldwide Northern Hemisphere
Dongzhi Festival
December 21, 2013 in East Asia
Dongzhi Festival is observed on December 21, 2013. The Dongzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the Dongzhi solar term (winter solstice) on or around December 22 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in.
Where is Dongzhi Festival?
Nationwide East Asia
Yalda 2013
December 21, 2013 in Persia
Yalda takes place on December 21, 2013. Yalda, Shab-e Yalda, “Night of Birth”, or Zayeshmehr, or Shab-e Chelleh is the Persian winter solstice celebration which has been popular since ancient times. Yalda is celebrated on the Northern Hemisphere’s longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice. Depending on the shift of the calendar, Yalda is celebrated on or around December 20 or 21 each year. Yalda has a history as long as the religion of Mithraism. The Mithraists believed that this night is the night of the birth of Mithra, Persian angel of light and truth. At the morning of the longest night of the year the Mithra was born. Following the Persian calendar reform of 1925, which pegged some seasonal events to specific days of the calendar, Yalda came to be celebrated on the night before and including the first day of the tenth month. Subject to seasonal drift, this day may sometimes fall a day before or a day after the actual Winter Solstice.
Where is Yalda?
Nationwide Persia
Forefather’s Day
December 21, 2013 in USA
It’s Forefathers Day! On this day, we celebrate the anniversary of the pilgrims’ landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts on December 21, 1620. This holiday is also sometimes celebrated on the 22nd instead of the 21st due to a calendar mix-up that occurred hundreds of years ago!
Did you know that the Mayflower originally landed on the shores of Cape Cod in mid-November? The pilgrims waited almost a month before sailing to the mainland.
Today, celebrate our forefathers with stories of the pilgrims. You can even get your family together to reenact this legendary moment in history. Happy Forefathers Day!
Where is Forefather’s Day
Nationwide USA
Look on the Bright Side Day
December 21, 2013 in the World
Look on the Bright Side Day is today. We hope you see the light. Literally looking on the bright side may be a bit difficult today. It is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. And, December days tend to be cloudy. However, we’re going to be optimistic, and fully expect you to succeed.
Look on the Bright Side Day is a day to be optimistic. The term itself is an optimistic one. It 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…. today is another day, and an optimistic one at that!
Where is Look on the Bright Side Day?
Worldwide
Historical Events:
1598 – Battle of Curalaba: The revolting Mapuche, led by cacique Pelentaru, inflict a major defeat on Spanish troops in southern Chile; all Spanish cities south of the Biobio river are eventually taken by the Mapuches, and all conquest of Mapuche territories by Europeans practically ceases, until the 1870s “Pacification of Araucania”.
1620 – 103 Mayflower pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock [OS=Dec 11]
1898 – Scientists Pierre & Marie Curie discovers radium
1913 – 1st crossword puzzle (with 32 clues) printed in NY World
1914 – 1st feature-length silent film comedy “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” released. (Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand & Charles Chaplin)
1919 – J. Edgar Hoover deports anarchists/feminist Emma Goldman to Russia
1933 – Fox Films signs Shirley Temple, 5, to a studio contract
1937 – 1st feature-length color & sound cartoon premieres (Snow White)
1946 – Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” premieres
1976 – UN General Assembly passes a resolution declaring 1979-Year of Child
1991 – Soviet Union formally dissolves 11 of 12 republics sign treaty forming Commonwealth of Independent States
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