It’s National Croissant Day! This national food day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the buttery and flaky pastry treat we all know and love. Croissants come in many varieties, each one as delicious as the next. There are the traditional butter croissants, and also filled croissants like the popular pain au chocolat. Other sweet …
Fun Facts
The Year of the Dragon personality traits are characteristics that are common for those born under the sign of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac calendar. Are you courageous, charismatic and quick to temper? If so, you may be a Chinese dragon! Have you heard of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs of animals? If so, …
During the month of October, you’re likely to see lots of Halloween symbols. In the fall, stores, and homes are filled with these images. They are present in everything from the Halloween decorations we use to the food we eat, and even the cocktails we drink during this time of year. Though we see the symbols …
With Halloween around the corner, it’s time to go over some black cat mythology. Let’s dive in to the Scottish folklore surrounding the cat sith, to understand why these shadowy felines are symbols of Halloween. The cat sìth (also spelled cait sìdhe) is described as a large black cat with a white patch on its …
Jack o’ lanterns are one of the main symbols of Halloween, and carving pumpkins is a Halloween tradition which stems from the Irish myth called The Legend of Stingy Jack. It’s no surprise that the first jack o lanterns hail from Ireland. After all, Halloween is a holiday that originated from Samhain, which made its …
If you’re a rum drinker you probably already know that not all rum is created equally. There are many different types of rum, which each have their own flavors, hues and methods of production. This popular spirit has a fascinating history. It has been consumed by everyone from pirates (who made the first piña colada) …
If you’re a fan of rum, then you’ll love learning about Black Tot Day. Its origins date all the way back to 1655, and have to do with drinking copious amounts of a type of rum called “navy rum”. While rum cocktails like pina coladas, mojitos, hot buttered rum and daiquiris are delicious, the variety …
It’s time to celebrate National Golden Retriever Day! This February 3 national day is dedicated to one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, the golden retriever. Keep reading for fun facts about golden retrievers, ways to celebrate the day, golden retriever history, themed events, famous golden retrievers and more! We’ve even …
The Year of the Rabbit traits are characteristics that are common for those born under the sign of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac calendar. Are you gentle, elegant and skillful? If so, you may have Rabbit zodiac traits! The Year of the Rabbit happens once every 12 years. It plays a part in the …
Guy Fawkes Day is also known as Bonfire night and Firework night. It is an annual celebration, observed on November 5, in the UK and a few other places. The day is celebrated with bonfires, effigy burning fireworks and lots of singing. Read on to learn more about this historic day and get a fun …
It’s officially summer, which means National Tattoo Day is here! Let’s celebrate this July 17 national day with some fun facts about tattoos! You might be surprised to learn that tattooing has been around for thousands of years! The oldest known tattoos date back to 3300 B.C.E. In 1991, a mummy named Ötzi the Iceman was …
If you’re wondering “does wine temperature matter?”, the answer is yes! There actually is an ideal red wine temperature and an ideal white wine temperature. Serving and storing wines at their recommended temperatures will ensure you get the most balanced flavors the wines have to offer. If a wine is too hot or too cool, …
If you’ve ever had hot cross buns, you know how delicious they are. However, do you know the history of hot cross buns at Easter, and the meaning and symbolism they hold for the holiday? When you think of Easter, images of hot cross buns, the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, Easter lilies and pastel colors …
With spring drawing closer, and flowers beginning to bloom, its the perfect time to review the Easter lily meaning and symbolism. Easter is one of the most important feast days in the Christian calendar. There are many symbols associated with Easter that have religious meanings, including Easter lilies! There are two floral Easter symbols: Easter …
With Easter right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to review the legend of the dogwood tree. Though it may not be as obvious as the Easter bunny or Easter egg hunts, the dogwood tree is one of the symbols of Easter. Even though Easter is at the beginning of spring, when many flowers …
With daylight saving time approaching, you might find yourself wondering “do we gain or lose an hour?“. If you ever get confused around this time of the year, don’t worry you’re not alone! Below we will explain how daylight savings works, provide a little bit of the history of daylight savings time, and answer all …
When we hear the name Cupid, images of Valentine’s Day, cubby winged babies, and true love come to mind. However, in the story of Daphne and Apollo, Cupid plays a much more sinister role. While Cupid is not the star of the Apollo and Daphne story (as he is in the story of Cupid and Psyche) …
As Christmas is quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to talk about poinsettias. Let’s celebrate this beautiful plant by learning facts about poinsettias, and discovering more about the history, origin and symbolism and meaning of the poinsettia. During this time of the year, poinsettias are all around! They’re featured on Christmas cards, painted on ornaments, …
The Christmas season is back, and that means it’s time to write your letter to Santa, but first you need Santa’s address! Make sure you’re sending your letters to the right address to be considered for USPS Operation Santa. Christmas is a magical time filled with mistletoe kisses, baking gingerbread cookies, spending time with family, …
Let’s talk about cranberry facts. Other than being the main ingredient in a Thanksgiving side dish, what do you know about this tasty fruit? Get ready to brush up on your facts about cranberries! Have you ever wondered things like “how do cranberries grow”, “can you eat raw cranberries”, and “where do cranberries grow”? If …
As we enter the Halloween season, you’re going to notice pumpkins are everywhere! Check out the interesting facts about pumpkins below to learn more about this symbol of Halloween. Pumpkins are so popular, they have not just one, but several national days of the year dedicated to them! In addition to learning some fun pumpkin …
Have you ever found yourself wondering “what is All Saints’ Day” and asked “when is All Saints’ Day”? If so, you’re in luck. We’re going to answer all your questions about this holiday, and provide you with some fun facts too! There are so many holidays with historical significance at this time of the year. …
When you think of Halloween, you probably think about Halloween parties, pumpkin carving and fun costumes. Let’s dive a little deeper and learn more about the meanings behind Halloween spirituality. I love all of the fun things that come with how we celebrate this holiday, but I was curious to find out more about the …
As we draw closer to Halloween you’re probably going to hear the term Samhain often. Let’s do a deep dive on what it is, and which Samhain traditions are still practiced today. Halloween isn’t all about carving pumpkins, parties, making DIY costumes, mixing spooky cocktails and taking your kids trick-or-treating for candy. In fact, historically …
Are you a chocolate milk lover? If so, you’ll be interested in the history of chocolate milk! We will go over who invented chocolate milk, and where it was invented. Chocolate milk is a popular childhood drink. When you were a kid, did you ever find yourself wondering how chocolate milk came to be? Believe …
No matter what kind of tea you like, iced or hot, these tea facts are for you! Some are downright unbelievable, but they really are true! Below you’ll learn answers to questions like “what is the most expensive tea?”, “is herbal tea really tea?”, and more. Let’s get started! At Always the Holidays, we love …