Category: National Observance Days

Christmas Eve

Debbie Roney Smith on

Happy Christmas Eve! Looking for something fun to do to celebrate today? Check out the list of activities below for ideas:

  • Look at Christmas lights! Go for a drive or a walk in the neighborhood. Make it extra special and bring along hot chocolate and cookies.
  • Watch your favorite holiday movies or TV episodes! Make some popcorn, gather the family, and pick a feel-good film to enjoy. 
  • Play a game with the family. Include some spiked eggnog for the adults and hot chocolate for the kids. 
  • Build anticipation for tomorrow by allowing everyone to open ONE gift before bed! Some families pre-choose the gift to coordinate matching pjs for Christmas morning.
  • Bake and decorate cookies for Santa. Don’t forget to leave out some carrots for the reindeer. 
  • Track Santa with NORAD – while the North American Aerospace Defense Command spends most of the year scanning the skies for the defense of Northern America, on Christmas Eve they also keep an eye out for Santa and his sleigh. Help get the kiddos in bed on time, and check out the NORAD Santa Tracker website. 

Winter Solstice

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the Winter Solstice! This is the shortest day and longest night of the year, and occurs annually between December 20th and 23rd depending on the year. Did you know that the Winter Solstice festival in Ancient Rome was called Saturnalia? Saturnalia began on December 17th and lasted seven days; it was held in honor of the Roman god of agriculture and harvest, Saturnus.

In fact, it is a combination of Saturnalia and Yuletide traditions that helped create modern Christmas as the world celebrates it today. Some of these traditions include (1) the reliance on evergreen plants which is represented by Christmas trees and evergreen decor, (2) a celebration lasting 12 days, (3) the use of mistletoe which was believed to have supernatural healing abilities, and (4) the figure of Old Man Winter or Santa Claus. 

National Free Shipping Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Free Shipping Day! This is a national shopping holiday that was conceived in 2008 by internet entrepreneur Luke Knowles. More and more retailers partner with Free Shipping Day to capture sales from shoppers eager to finish their holiday lists in mid to late December. Free Shipping Day is designed to make sure you get your online gifts in time for the holidays without having to pay exorbitant shipping fees. 

Green Monday

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is Green Monday, an annual event that was coined by eBay in 2007. Green Monday is one of the biggest online sales days in December due to the upcoming holiday deadlines – it is the last Monday with at least 10 days left before Christmas. Considering standard shipping takes 8-10 business days, this is a crucial date for online shopping. Many big stores such as Walmart and Target utilize this event by offering special deals.

National Poinsettia Day

Debbie Roney Smith on
Today is National Poinsettia Day! Congress created this annual celebration in 2002 as a way to acknowledge the connection between the U.S.A. and Mexico. It is also meant to acknowledge the contributions of Paul Ecke, the founder of America’s poinsettia industry, and Joel Roberts Poinsett, the man who introduced the poinsettia plant to the U.S.A. Poinsett was a botanist, physician, and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. In fact, even the date is a nod to Poinsett; he died on December 12th in 1851.
Poinsettias are a perennial shrub botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and when in their native habitat of Mexico, they can grow 10-15 feet tall! Although most people associate poinsettias with the deep burgundy popular in the U.S.A, there are actually over 100 varieties of poinsettias. The shrub comes in colors like the traditional red, white, pink, burgundy, marbled and speckled. While the plants are not poisonous, they do ooze a milky sap that can cause mild irritation and nausea in animals and individuals who are allergic to latex. 

Veterinary Medicine

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the International Day of Veterinary Medicine, an annual occurrence meant to encourage a strong veterinary sector that can protect animal and human health and welfare. To celebrate this event, today’s blog is a community highlight of the local veterinary clinic Critter Care of Blountstown.

Critter Care is a full-service animal hospital that handles both emergency treatment cases as well as pet patients in need of routine medical, surgical, and dental care. Dr. Carla Hubbard, the veterinarian on staff, has years of experience treating serious conditions and offering regular pet wellness care. The atmosphere of the office is friendly and helpful. If you have a beloved animal companion, consider entrusting their healthcare to Critter Care. 

Christmas Card Day

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Tomorrow is National Christmas Card Day!

First Christmas Card Design

Christmas cards as we know them today were created in 1843 to encourage the use of the new British postal system. They were the outcome of the combined effort of Sir Henry Cole and his artist friend, John Horsley. Cards were originally sold for the equivalent of 24 cents. Thanks to the rise of the printing press, sending Christmas cards became a standard holiday affair by the end of the 1860s. Nowadays, National Christmas Card Day is designed to help people spread cheer and joy during the holiday season. So grab your supplies today in anticipation of creating, filling out, and sending your annual holiday cards to your friends and family tomorrow. 

Giving Tuesday

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is GivingTuesday! Created in 2012 to encourage people to do good, this annual event has grown into a global generosity movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. There are hundreds of ways to participate in GivingTuesday either as an individual or in a group. You can give your voice, goods, time, or money to give generously to your community, an organization, or any person in need. Visit the official GivingTuesday non-profit website to find generosity events near you or view the shortlist of inspiration below:

  • Donate your time, money, or goods to local animal shelters, food banks, thrift stores, and other organizations that operate for the betterment of your community.
  • Start a fundraiser for a cause close to your heart.
  • Do a trash walk in your neighborhood, at a local park, or anywhere else you see the need. Help beautify your surroundings and help the environment, all while enjoying the cool fall weather. 
  • Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child.
  • Adopt a first responder; connect with local police stations, fire departments, and first responders to request a list of names and choose one to support – perhaps by sending a card with thanks for their efforts or small gifts. 

 

 

Cyber Monday in Tomorrow!

Debbie Roney Smith on

  • The use of the term ‘Cyber Monday’ was first used on November 28, 2005, and has evolved into an annual, international online event.
  • In 2020, Cyber Monday was the biggest online shopping day in U.S. history with a total of $10.7 billion in online spending.
  • In a survey done across the 16 countries that practice Cyber Monday, men accounted for 56% of the Cyber Monday shoppers. 

Small Business Saturday

Debbie Roney Smith on

Small Business Saturday is an annual holiday that celebrates small businesses and encourages consumers to shop locally at independently-owned businesses. It was founded in 2010 by American Express, and has grown into an event that rivals Black Friday and Cyber Monday – both annual shopping holidays that put big conglomerates over locally-owned businesses. Small Business Saturday draws attention to the importance of small businesses on local and national economies. This year it is more important than ever to support this annual event; small businesses were hit hard throughout the pandemic and are still closing at an alarming rate! Meanwhile, big-box retailers are seeing record-high sales and have been for well over a year. So visit town today, get started on holiday shopping, and support your community!