December's Gift

Events in December 2024.

Well, we made it to December.

December is the holiday season, particularly in Western nations, where Christianity and Judaism are the faiths most common in the nation's past. Christmas (December 25), Hanukkah (December 25 - January 2), Kwanzaa (December 26 - January 1) and New Year's Eve (December 31) are the month's heralded events. Christmas is celebrated by 2.2 billion people globally, though Eastern Orthodox faiths celebrate Christmas (January 6 or 7) at the end of Christmastide (December 25-January 6) rather than at the beginning. The world's 22 million Jews celebrate Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa is observed by those of African heritage worldwide.

Additional themes in December include the solstice on December 21, which ushers in winter or summer above or below the equator. Preparations for the new year feature through Write a Business Plan Month and Learn a Foreign Language Month. Food service workers are also highlighted through International Food Service Safety Month.

Check out previous issues, Dreaming of December 2023 and December Delights 2022, for more events in December.

Let's jump in with Christmas Jumper Day in the United Kingdom.

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"Jumper" is British for sweaters. Promptography LD Lewis.

CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY

Date: December 12, 2024

Location: United Kingdom

Champion: Save the Children UK

Fundraising events in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Christmas Jumper Day is a festive and fun event celebrated annually in the United Kingdom. It typically occurs during the week of December 9. Participants are encouraged to wear their brightest, funniest, and most outrageous Christmas jumpers (sweaters) to school, work, or around town and donate to Save the Children. This contribution helps fund the charity's work, which provides essential services and support to children worldwide.

Christmas Jumper Day began in 2012, and its popularity grows annually, reflecting the UK's love for Christmas and charitable giving.

Ireland also celebrates Christmas Jumper Day during the week of December 9. Irish participation funds research on Multiple Sclerosis.

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Concerts are a big part of the Falls Festival. Image courtesy of Falls Festival via Instagram.

FALLS FESTIVAL

Date: December 29-January 8, 2025

Location: Multiple Cities/Dates in Australia

Champion: Secret Sounds

The Falls Festival is a major multi-day music and arts festival in Australia that typically occurs over New Year's Eve. Founded in 1993, it began in Lorne, Victoria (December 29 - 31, 2024) and has since expanded to include locations in Byron Bay, New South Wales (December 31 - January 2, 2025), and Fremantle, Western Australia (January 7-8, 2025).

Falls Festival includes music performances across its multiple stages, participatory arts and crafts, gourmet food and drink from local vendors, and engaging in various onsite activities designed to enhance the community and cultural experience. The festival offers camping options, allowing attendees to stay onsite and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere for the duration of the event.

What began in 1993 with a few local friends now draws tens of thousands a year and is an anticipated addition to Australia's New Year celebrations.

Antarctica covers 10% of the World's surface.

INTERNATIONAL ANTARCTICA DAY

Date: December 1, [1959]

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Historical Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty on December 1, 1959. This treaty, signed by 12 nations to ensure the area of Antarctica (comprising 10% of the earth's surface) be set aside as an international space forever and be used only for peaceful purposes. The treaty is considered the first nuclear arms agreement and the first to govern human activity in a global space.

On the 50th anniversary, then non-profit Our Spaces took up the cause. They created International Antarctica Day to help educate the world about this pristine environment and the treaties protecting it.

Sara was a cheetah cub in Saudi Arabia. Traditionally, cheetahs were used for hunting on the peninsula—Photo LD Lewis.

INTERNATIONAL CHEETAH DAY

Date: December 4, 2024

Location: Worldwide

Champion: The Cheetah Foundation

Dr. Laurie Marker, a prominent conservationist and the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), initiated International Cheetah Day. She chose December 4 to honor a cheetah named Khayam, whom she raised and trained in Oregon in the 1970s. Khayam became an ambassador for understanding cheetahs and their natural behaviors.

The day underscores Dr. Marker's lifelong dedication to protecting this species and promoting coexistence with humans.

Cheetahs, the world's fastest land animals, face many threats that have led to a significant decline in their population. Fewer than 7,500 cheetahs remain in the wild and inhabit only about 10% of their historic range.

 

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The publishing of "The Bartender's Guide" by Jerry Thomas in 1862 formalized bartending as a career—Promptography LD Lewis.

INTERNATIONAL BARTENDER DAY

Date: December 6, 2024

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Created by Jerry Rum

International Bartender Day (formerly National Bartender Day) pays homage to the longstanding and rich history of bartending, a profession that has been a part of human culture since ancient times. The day originated in 2011. In the United States alone, there are over half a million bartenders, making this day a significant occasion to celebrate the skills and contributions of mixologists everywhere. The history of bartending stretches back to antiquity and is deeply rooted in various cultures worldwide. In Europe, bartending originated with innkeepers, who often served as bartenders, creating ales and spirits for their guests. This tradition laid the groundwork for the modern bartending profession.

A significant milestone in American bartending history was the publication of "The Bartender's Guide" by Jerry Thomas in 1862, a notable American bartender and saloon owner. This book, distributed in the US, was a pioneering work in the field of mixology, establishing a foundation for the craft and profession of bartending. Throughout history, bartenders have demonstrated resilience and adaptability, particularly evident during the Prohibition era in the United States. During this time, bartenders continued to practice their craft in underground speakeasies, creating iconic drinks and further evolving the art of mixology. Even during Prohibition in the United States, bartending thrived in the underground scene.

International Bartender Day celebrates the individuals who craft our adult beverages and recognizes the deep historical and cultural roots of bartending.

 

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Ninjas were highly skilled spies during the 12th and 19th centuries in Japan—Promptography LD Lewis.

DAY OF THE NINJA

Date: December 5, [2003]

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Ninja Burger

Ninjas existed in feudal Japan (12th - 19th centuries) and were spies, similar to national spy organizations today, including MI-6, Mossad, and the CIA. Day of the Ninja celebrates this early form of organized espionage, believed to have originated around 1185 AD.

Technically, the Day of the Ninja is a spoof holiday. December 5, 2003, marked the release of Tom Cruise's film "The Last Samurai," the reason the parody company Ninja Burger chose this date. The event has grown in popularity, with people dressing as ninjas to celebrate.

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The origin of this event is unknown. However, the plight of the restavek (child slaves) in Haiti provides a reason to note it. —Promptography LD Lewis.

PUT ON YOUR OWN SHOES DAY

Date: December 6, 2024

Location: United States

Champion: Unofficial Event. No Sponsor.

"Put on your own shoes" is a metaphor reminding us to maintain humility and a warning to avoid believing you are above all others and selfish in the extreme. For example, Mariah Carey admitted to "The Record" in a November 25, 2016 article that Oprah Winfrey, warning her to avoid becoming too diva-like and inaccessible, told her: "Don't let anybody think that you don't put your own shoes on anymore."

Another possibility for this day involves a call to action for the child slaves in Haiti, referred to as restavek. A restavek is a child sent by his or her parents to work for a host household in Haiti because the parents cannot afford to care for the child. In essence, it is child slavery.

How does this apply to "Put Your Own Shoes Day?"

A missionary and educator posted an excellent piece on March 29, 2016, about a young restavek forced to put shoes on a woman and then carry her discarded flip-flops up the hill while the woman took a motorcycle. The astounded educator, taken aback, thought, "What in the world did I just see? Could that lady NOT have put on her own shoes?" She approached the child, learned her story, and immediately advocated to get her into the mission's school.

It's a beautiful, heartfelt blog post. Unfortunately, the blog shut down in 2021, but the memory and spirit of the story hold today.

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Saint Nicholas lived during the 4th century CE and is considered the inspiration for Santa Claus—Promptography LD Lewis.

SAINT NICHOLAS DAY

Date: December 6, [343 CE]

Location: Worldwide

Champion: Historical Anniversary

December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day. Acknowledged by nearly all Christian denominations, this day celebrates the life of Saint Nicholas (March 15, 270 - December 6, 343 AD). Known as Nikolaos of Myra, a Greek, he was the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (Demre, Turkey).

Saint Nicholas inspires Santa Claus for Western Christian denominations, and for Orthodox Christians, he is much more. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students.

 

The Dancing Bear Festival is a cherished Romanian tradition to ring in the new year. Photo Scott Webb.

DANCING BEARS FESTIVAL

Date: December 30, 2024

Location: Romania

Champion: Romanian Tradition

If you wander around any city in Romania on December 30, you'll see a lot of bears! Romanian tradition dates back centuries when local legends believed the appearance of wild animals permitted the avoidance of misfortune. This belief led to people dressing as dancing bears and visiting neighbors to share good luck for the new year.

Bukarest holds the largest Dancing Bear Festival, with thousands of people dressed in 100-pound bear suits marching through the streets with red tassels on their backs. The bear skins are authentic, often handed down from generation to generation.

 

Additional costumes include dressing in adorned former soviet era military uniforms and marching in a parade.

Impressionist idea of the world's flags.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD

 

CONSTITUTION DAY

 

• Spain: December 6, [1978]
• Thailand: December 10, [1932]
• Taiwan: December 25, [1946]
• Uzbekistan: December 8, [1991]

 

CURAÇÃO DAY

 

• Curação: December 15, [1959]

 

INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

• Kazakhstan: December 16, [1991]
• Libya: December 24, [1951]
• Mongolia: December 29, [1911]
• Portugal: December 1, [1640]
• Slovenia: December 26, [1990]
• Tanzania: December 9, [1961]

 

NATIONAL DAY

 

• United Arab Emirates: December 2, [1971]
• Burkina Faso: December 11, [1958]
• Bhutan: December 17, [1917]
• Central African Republic: December 1, [1958]
• Laos: December 2, [1975]
• Romania: December 1, [1918]
• Qatar: December 18, [1878]

 

REPUBLIC DAY

 

• Malta: December 13, [1974]
• Niger: December 18, [1958]

 

SABA DAY

 

• Netherlands Antilles: December 6, [1985]

 

SÃO TOMÉ DAY

 

• São Tomé and Príncipe: December 21, [1471]

Graphic representation of sports.

MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS IN DECEMBER 2024

 

 

• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Auto Racing): December 6-8, 2024 —United Arab Emirates
• Army-Navy Football Game (American Football): December 14, 2024 —United States
• Fiesta Bowl (American Football): December 31, 2024 —United States
• FINA 25m World Swimming Championships (Swimming): December 10-15, 2024 —Hungary
• Global Cup (Boxing): December 14-15, 2024 —Morocco
• Honolulu Marathon (Running): December 8, 2024 —United States
• IWF World Championships (Weightlifting): December 4-14, 2024 —Bahrain
• Women’s NCAA Division II Championship (Volleyball): December 7-9, 2024 —United States

 

FEATURED DEEP DIVE

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Armagnac, the connoisseurs' cognac. Promptography LD Lewis.

A LITTLE DIDDY ABOUT ARMAGNAC (DAY)

Date: December 21, 2024

Location: United States

Champion: Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac (BNIA)

I'm not a fan of hard liquor. I'm more of a red wine-and-beer person. However, I occasionally drink a margarita or Cachaça infused caipirinha (a Brazilian drink), and I like the odd gin and tonic or Mojito. That's about it. However, Armagnac (ar-mon-yak) holds a special memory despite my never partaking. Here's my little diddy to Armagnac.

In the early aughts, my ex would give 50-year-old bottles of Armagnac, which cost over $500 a piece, as gifts for significant business deals and life events. I had never heard of this liquor before I met him. He'd have me use my graphic design skills to create custom labels we'd paste over the original before gifting. Everyone has always loved this gift.

One evening, he went for a drive after we fought about home décor, and I had a friend over to help me install a ceiling fan. Upon completion, I broke into my ex's Armagnac stash and poured my friend a drink as a thank you.

My friend took a sip, and pure ecstasy enveloped his face. He cooed and oohed, rolling the amber liquid around his mouth and smiling with pure delight.

"This is fantastic!" he replied breathlessly. "What is this?"

"50-year-old Armagnac," I replied. "Is it really that good?"

I was skeptical.

"Oh, yeah. This, this is liquid heaven."

I continued to abstain as it would be wasted on me. I gave him a second glass. Why not? I'd be in enough trouble for opening the bottle, but watching my friend's face and enjoyment was worth the verbal whipping I got later that night. (In retrospect, I served him about $400 worth of the spirits. Oops. Not sorry. My ex should have helped me install the ceiling fan!)

I'll never forget that moment, my introduction to Armagnac. And, of course, I was right on the décor issue. He loved the fan once he didn't have to put it up.

WHAT IS ARMAGNAC?

Armagnac, a distinguished cousin of cognac, is one of France's oldest distilled spirits. Its rich history dates back to the 14th century. Originating from the Gascony region in southwest France, Armagnac is revered for its deep historical roots and meticulous production process, distinguishing it from other spirits.

Crafted from white wine grapes such as Folle Blanche, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard. Armagnac distillation uses a column still. This method contributes to its robust and full-bodied flavor profile. After distillation, it is aged in oak barrels, gaining complexity and a spectrum of flavors ranging from spicy to sweet, with vanilla, plum, and pepper notes. This aging process can vary from a few years to several decades, significantly influencing the bottles' taste and price.

POPULARITY OF ARMAGNAC

The allure of Armagnac extends beyond its production to its versatility in consumption. Traditionally served neat, its warmth and depth are best appreciated at room temperature, allowing the bouquet of flavors to unfold. Armagnac has recently gained popularity as a cocktail base, lending a rich, nuanced character to classic concoctions.

It offers connoisseurs a piece of French heritage, a sip of history with each glass, reflecting centuries of artisanal tradition. It appeals to those who seek a spirit with authenticity and regional character, one that tells the story of its origin with every drop.

COST

The price of Armagnac varies widely, influenced by the bottle's age, brand, and rarity. Entry-level Armagnacs can start around $40. Older vintages and more prestigious labels can command prices well into the hundreds and thousands of dollars.

HISTORY

The history of Armagnac is as rich as its flavor. First mentioned in the 14th century, people used it for therapeutic purposes before connoisseurs recognized its uniqueness. Over the centuries, Armagnac has been crafted by many small producers, each contributing to its legacy and the diversity of styles available today.

Armagnac remains a cherished staple in the cellars of spirits enthusiasts worldwide, a testament to its enduring appeal and the timeless art of French distillation. Whether enjoyed in a sophisticated cocktail or sipped slowly by a fireside, Armagnac offers a unique and luxurious experience to those who appreciate its history and craft.

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And that is a wrap! Thank you for the gift of your time and helping me get over 400 subscribers on LinkedIn! The next issue will be in the next two weeks covering the 20+ themed year events for 2025. See you then and Happy Thanksgiving to all in America!

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ABOUT LEEP CALENDAR: LEEP Calendar (https://www.leepcalendar.com) is a beta-launch web-based application of over 12,000 events, holidays, and anniversaries designed around the needs of professional marketers and editorial departments, created by marketing and editorial veteran LD Lewis.

 

 

 

Last updated: Nov 24th 2024