December 12, 2015 – NATIONAL DING-A-LING DAY – NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY – NATIONAL AMBROSIA DAY – GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY – NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY – INTERNATIONAL SHAREWARE DAY

                                          NATIONAL DING-A-LING DAY

National Ding-a-Ling Day is celebrated across the United States each year on December 12.
To read a story written about National Ding-A-Ling Day in 1975, go to http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19751212&id=mEdNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4foDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3091,3020987
OBSERVE
Call someone you haven’t heard from in a long time and use #NationalDing-A-LingDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
In 1972, Franky Hyle placed a free ad in Chase’s Calendar of Events with his PO Box Number in Melrose Park, IL stating that for $1 you can join the National Ding-A-Ling club.  The club, with 871 original members, would call friends and relatives they haven’t heard from in awhile every year on December 12.
The tradition grew and on December 12 millions of people will call those people who are dear to them.

National Wreaths Across America Day – Second Saturday in December

NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY

Celebrated annually on the 2nd Saturday in December, National Wreaths Across America Day is a movement to cover all Veterans grave markers with a Christmas wreath.
Remember. Honor. Teach.  This is the mission of Wreaths Across America.  By coordinating wreath laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and other veterans cemeteries around the country Wreaths Across America strives to remember our fallen heroes, honor those who serve and teach our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms.
OBSERVE
Volunteer or donate by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Use #WreathsAcrossAmericaDay to post on social media.

For more information visit the National Day Calendar page for National Wreaths Across America Day.

National Ambrosia Day – December 12

NATIONAL AMBROSIA DAY

A variation of the traditional fruit salad, ambrosia has its own special day, and it is celebrated annually on National Ambrosia Day.
Ambrosia, according to Greek mythology, is the nectar of the gods, endowing strength and immortality to those who eat it.
The term itself can mean something especially delectable to taste or smell.
A basic ambrosia salad from the late 1800s, when the earliest recipes are found, was simply citrus fruit, coconut and sugar. There are those who abhor coconut and would leave it out, but it is likely a true southerner would forcefully object.
A true ambrosia salad should be served the same day it is prepared, though more modern recipes suggest overnight refrigeration of the dish.
Other ingredients that can be added to the salad are are pineapple, nuts, cherries, apples, bananas, whipped cream or yogurt.
OBSERVE

Try these Ambrosia Salad recipes:
Ambrosia Salad
Mama’s Ambrosia
Use #NationalAmbrosiaDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to find the creator of National Ambrosia Day.  

Gingerbread House Day – December 12

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY

Gingerbread House Day is celebrated annually on December 12.
A favorite food of an Armenian monk, Gregory of Nicopolis, brought gingerbread to Europe around 992 AD and taught French Christians to bake it. Gingerbread was often used in religious ceremonies and was baked to be sturdy as it was often molded into images of saints.
We can thank the Brothers’ Grimm for the idea of a gingerbread house through their tail of Hansel and Gretel. It didn’t take long for the German gingerbread guilds to pick up the idea and put it to a more festive use making snowy cottages made from the spicy-sweet treat.
OBSERVE
Gather the family together, bake up some gingerbread and start building and decorating your very on gingerbread house.  Give the recipe below a try.
Gingerbread House
Use #GingerbreadHouseDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to find the creator of Gingerbread House Day.  

National Poinsettia Day – December 12

NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY

Each year on the 12th day of December, people across the United States celebrate National Poinsettia Day.
The poinsettia plant’s roots with the Christmas season dates back to 16th-century Mexico. Legend tells of a girl who worried she had no gift to celebrate Jesus’s birthday, because she was too poor.  An angel tells her to give any gift with love. The young girl gathered weeds from along side the road and placed them around the manger.  Miraculously the weeds bloomed into beautiful red stars.

For more information visit the National Day Calendar page for National Poinsettia Day.
ALSO ON NATIONAL DAY CALENDAR
Today is also International Shareware Day.  For more information visit the National Day Calendar page for International Shareware Day