More reasons to be merry

Editor's note: This is the final story in the Republican Eagle's 2012 series about celebrations.

There are plenty of holidays to observe this coming month — as if December needs any further reason to be one of the most exciting times of the year.

After all, it’s already the peak of the season. It gears up just after Thanksgiving, coasts along on holiday spirit and anticipation until Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, what have you, and finally squeezes in the ultimate night of celebrating on the last day of the month to ring in a new year.

You’d think it couldn’t get any better, but you’d be wrong.

The truth is there are tons of other things that add to the delight of December — they’re just lesser known.

For example, Earmuff Day isn’t a common holiday, but it’s celebrated every Dec. 1 (and probably every other day of the month that the temperature dips below freezing).

Dec. 4 marks National Cookie Day, another observance that may not be the most familiar, but is certainly worth a tasty celebration. If you forget to honor it, take heart knowing food-related observances are in large supply throughout the month.

National Cotton Candy Day (7th), Gingerbread House Day (12th) and National Candy Cane Day (26th) are just the beginning. In fact, the cocoa bean is so beloved this month that several days are dedicated to it.

Grab some strawberries, marshmallows, espresso beans and raisins for a fondue extravaganza Dec. 16 as you celebrate National Chocolate-covered Anything Day. Yum.

If you don’t quite get your fill of the sinfully sweet treat, plan a party for Dec. 28 or 29, because both have been awarded the title of National Chocolate Day. It seems strange that the observance is spread across two days, but if anything is going to be celebrated for 48 hours rather than 24, why not have it be chocolate?

December proves to be diverse as a handful of other food-related holidays stay away from sweets and focus on health instead. The next 31 days have collectively been deemed everything from Quince and Watermelon Month to Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month to Tomato and Winter Squash Month.

Looks like you can leave a lot more than the traditional cookie on the coffee table for Santa Claus this year. And if you do, don’t wait until Christmas Eve. The big guy in red gets his own holiday much sooner as St. Nicholas Day comes around Dec. 6.

Since Kris Kringle sees so much attention this time of year, many other people aren’t receiving the recognition they deserve. They have their own holidays, but often go unnoticed nonetheless.

So over the next few weeks be sure to honor International Ninja Day on the 5th, National Pawnbrokers Day on the 6th, National Salesperson Day on the 14th and Forefathers Day on the 21st — they’ll thank you for your support. Well, maybe not the forefathers.

While there are distinct ways to recognize many common holidays, the more unique observances require imagination and creativity to pull off a great celebration. Feel free to get inventive and come up with clever ways to observe the following holidays:

• Dec. 1: Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day

• Dec. 4: National Dice Day

• Dec. 8: Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day

• Dec. 11: International Mountain Day

• Dec. 14: Monkey Day

• Dec. 16: Barbie and Barney Backlash Day

• Dec. 26: National Whiner’s Day

• Dec. 30: Bacon Day

As long as your method of celebrating is as original as the holiday itself, you’re doing something right.

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