December 6, 2015 – CHANUKAH – NATIONAL MICROWAVE OVEN DAY – ST. NICHOLAS DAY – NATIONAL PAWNBROKERS DAY – NATIONAL MINER’S DAY – NATIONAL GAZPACHO DAY

                                                        CHANUKAH

Hanukkah (Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה, usually spelled חנוכה pronounced [χanuˈka] in Modern Hebrew, also romanized as Chanukah or Chanuka), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
Did you know these facts?

• Hanukkah is not considered a very important religious holiday.
• The menorah holds 9 candles. The center candle is the shammus or servant. It is used to light the 8 Hanukkah candles.
• The Hanukkah candles are strictly for pleasure. They are not to be used for any useful or productive purpose. The shammus is available so the Hanukkah candles aren’t accidentally used to light a fire in the fire place or other useful purpose.
• Gift giving is not traditionally a part of the Hanukkah holiday.
• Playing dreidel is a gambling game popular during the Hanukkah holiday.
• Fried foods are traditional during the holiday, representing the oil used to light the lamps

 
For more information see the National Day Calendar page for Chanukah.

National Microwave Oven Day – December 6

NATIONAL MICROWAVE OVEN DAY

One day in 1945, as American self-taught engineer Percy Spencer was working on an active radar set, he realized that the candy bar  he had in his pocket was melting.   The radar had melted his chocolate bar with microwaves and it was right then, on that day, that the specific heating effect of a high-power microwave beam was accidentally discovered.
Popcorn was the first food that was deliberately cooked with Spencer’s microwave and an egg was the second.  The egg however, exploded in the face of a fellow experimenter.
Spencer, employed by Raytheon, experimented with different methods of heating food safely with microwaves.

• Raytheon filed an United States patent application for Spencer’s microwave cooking process on October 8, 1945.
• Raytheon built the first commercially available microwave oven in 1947.  It was called the “Radarange”
• It is believed that 90% of homes in the United States have a microwave in them.

OBSERVE
To celebrate National Microwave Oven Day, cook your favorite meal in the microwave tonight or heat up some of last nights dinner in their. Use #MicrowaveOvenDay to post on social media. 
HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to find the creator or origin or National Microwave Oven Day, an “unofficial” national holiday.

St. Nicholas Day – December 6

ST. NICHOLAS DAY

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated annually on December 6.
St. Nicholas Day celebrates the third century saint who sold all his possessions and gave his money to the poor. Raised to be a devout Christian, his whole life was dedicated to serving the poor and suffering.
For more information see the National Day Calendar page for St. Nicholas Day
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National Pawnbrokers Day – December 6

NATIONAL PAWNBROKERS DAY

Each year on December 6, people all across the United States acknowledge National Pawnbrokers Day.  This holiday was created as a day to pay tribute to a profession that provides a valuable service to their clientele of those in need of cash funds and also those looking for a reasonably good deal.

The word pawn is derived from the Latin word pignus, for pledge.

The history of pawnbroking begins thousands of years ago in the west in Ancient Greek and Roman Empires and in the East over 3000 years ago in China.
 
For more information see the National Day Calendar page for National Pawnbrokers Day.

National Miner’s Day – December 6

NATIONAL MINER’S DAY

This day was created as a day of reflection, when we can show appreciation for the sacrifices, honor the accomplishments and remember the tragedies that these hard working individuals experience.  Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in America and the miners put their lives at risk each and every day as they contend with health and safety issues as well as their uncertainty of the future.
National Miner’s Day is celebrated annually on December 6. 
Everyday products that we use are made up from raw materials that have been excavated from mines and are a result of the work of the miners. These men and women play a much more important role in our lives than most people realize.
The Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 as well as the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 were created to oversee the safety and health of all miners. 
http://www.minersday.org/
CELEBRATE
Use #NationalMiner’sDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
National Miner’s Day, an “unofficial” national holiday marks the anniversary of the worst mining accident in history on December 6, 1907 in Monogah, West Virginia.  The disaster resulted in the dealths of 362 miners.  In 2009, Congress proclaimed that each December 6 would be recognized as National Miner’s Day.
 

National Gazpacho Day – December 6

NATIONAL GAZPACHO DAY

National Gazpacho Day is celebrated across the United States each year on December 6.  Gazpacho is typically a tomato-based vegetable soup which is served cold.  Originating in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia, Gazpacho is widely consumed in Spanish cuisine, usually during the summer months.
The original Spanish recipe includes stale bread, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, onion and garlic, olive oil, wine, vinegar, water and salt.
Following is the typical method of preparing gazpacho:

• Washing vegetables
• Peeling tomatoes, garlic and onions.
• Chop all vegetables (traditionally pounded with mortar) and process in food processor.
• Add soaked bread.
• Blend part of the processed contents until liquid, depending on desired consistency.
• Add chilled water, olive oil, vinegar and salt to taste.
• Add remaining processed ingredients.
• Add garnishes as desired.

In Andalucía, most gazpacho recipes typically include stale bread, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, onion and garlic, olive oil, wine vinegar, water, and salt.
Gazpacho has many modern variations including that of avocados, cucumber, parsley, watermelon, grapes, meat stock, seafood and a few other ingredients.
Gazpacho is sometimes served with ice cubes when it has not had enough time to chill before serving.
OBSERVE
Enjoy this “tried and true” Gazpacho recipe.
Use #NationalGazpachoDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to find the creator of National Gazpacho Day, an “unofficial” national holiday.