Antidote to Holiday Withdrawal

The party doesn't have to end. December is glorious in its festivity - the food, the color, the lights, the entertainment, the good company. In many European and Latin American countries, communities traditionally continue celebrating through January 6, thanks to the Epiphany. They're on to something, n'est-ce pas?

Closing the curtain on celebration makes as much sense as swearing off good books once we've finished a single great read. Weave celebration into your months, weeks, even days. After all, the albums in our minds are full of these moments - grand or modest - not the colorless. So celebrate a great run, project or even an interesting idea. Invent a holiday. Make it spontaneous and share a toast with friend, child or neighbor. Take turns throwing a tea/dinner/brunch/dessert/movie party at someone's house. Too tired, too busy? Make it collaborative and keep it simple. You have to eat, right? Share the meal, share the work and you won't be tempted to back out.

Here are a few non-traditional "holidays" to get you through the otherwise least exciting winter months:


courtesy of archivistscookbook

 : January :
hot tea month
national soup / hobby / thank you month
6 - Sherlock Holmes' birthday
8 - bubble bath day
9 - national static electricity day
10 - peculiar people day
11 - milk / secret pal day
13 - make your dreams come true / poetry break day, rubber duckie's birthday
14 - national dress up your pet day
18 - Winnie the Pooh day
19 - popcorn day
20 - cheese /penguin awareness day
21 - hat / squirrel appreciation day
24 - compliment day, eskimo pie birthday
25 - opposite day
27 - chocolate cake / kazoo day, Lewis Carroll's birthday
28 - Ernie's birthday
29 - national puzzle day
31 - backwards day


courtesy of ohdeedoh

 : February :
American heart / history month
international friendship month
national cherry / embroidery / grapefruit / snack food month
2 - goundhog day
3 - chinese new year, Elmo's birthday
5 - Western Monarch (butterfly) day, world nutella day
6 - monopoly board game birthday
7 - Charles Dickens / Laura Ingalls Wilder birthday
9 - Hershey's day
10 - umbrella day
11 - national inventor's day, white t-shirt day
13 - get a different name day
14 - ferris wheel day
15 - national gumdrop day, Susan B Anthony's birthday
17 - chinese lantern festival, random acts of kindness day
19 - Mr. Roger's Neighborhood day
20 - toothpick day
21 - love your pet day
22 - be humble / world thinking day
26 - carnival day, Levi Strauss' birthday
27 - HW Longfellow's birthday
29 - Yellowstone Park day


courtesy of patentandthepantry

 : March :
Irish-American heritage month
national craft / frozen food / noodle month
woman's history / youth art month
2nd week: bubble gum week
1 - peanut butter lover's day
2 - Dr. Seuss's birthday, read across America day
4 - national poundcake day
5 - parachute day
6 - Michelangelo's birthday
9 - Barbie's birthday
14 - Einstein's birthday, potato chip day
17 - rubber band day, St. Patrick's Day, submarine day
18 - Johnny Appleseed day
20 - Big Bird's birthday, spring equinox
21 - children's poetry day
22 - national goof-off / sing-out day
23 - toast day
24 - chocolate covered raisin day, Houdini's birthday
25 - pancake's birthday
26 - make up your own holiday day
28 - something on a stick day

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