Discover some fun facts and historical trivia about all your favorite national days of the year.
Successful New Year’s resolutions rely on two things: making the best New Year’s resolution & discovering how to keep New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s Eve is wonderful opportunity to reflect and reset for the coming year. There’s a feeling of possibility that comes with a New Year. Every year, many people set resolutions. However, only…
The Christmas season is back, and that means it’s time to write your letter to Santa, but first you need Santa’s address! Plus, if you want your letters to be considered to to USPS Operation Santa, you’ll need to make sure you’re sending them to the right place. There’s something so magical about helping your…
When you think of Thanksgiving, what are the first things that pop into your mind? I bet without even trying, you’d name at least one of the symbols of Thanksgiving! Maybe you think of spending time with friends, or sharing gratitude on Thanksgiving. Maybe you associate the holiday with cooking meals for family, decorating, or…
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 free…
Have you ever found yourself wondering “what is All Saints’ Day” and “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! All Saints’ Day is one of the many holidays with historical significance at this time…
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…
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…
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…
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 might be interested to know 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 it or not, there is controversy as…
It’s time to celebrate National Johnny Appleseed Day. The legend follows a true life character with a love of apple trees. This national day is one of the lucky few that is celebrated on two dates: September 26 and March 11. However, more people celebrate the day in September than in March. The September date…
No matter what kind of tea you like, these tea facts are for you! Some are are about iced tea, and some are about hot tea. 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…
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…
Even though St. Patrick’s Day has passed, we aren’t quite done chasing rainbows just yet. National Find a Rainbow Day is right around the corner! There’s something magical about rainbows that has the ability to make us feel like a child again, full of wonder and curiosity. It’s no surprise that a phenomenon so awe-inspiring…
With Goddess of Fertility Day approaching, it’s a good time to learn about the different fertility goddesses! This day falls annually on March 18, and is dedicated to honoring the goddesses of fertility. As this day falls in the middle of March, it occurs just days before the spring equinox, a time of rebirth and…
Maybe you’ve just started learning about Mardi Gras, or maybe you’ve celebrated it your whole life. Either way, we’ve compiled a list of Mardi Gras king cake traditions for you to enjoy. The king cake is one of the most recognizable (and delicious) symbols of Mardi Gras. Like many of the aspects of Mardi Gras,…
Do you have a pet? National Love Your Pet Day gives us the perfect excuse to shower our pets with a little extra love! National Love Your Pet Day falls annually on February 20th. Celebrate it by reading the fun facts about pets below and doing something special for your pet. Even though the most…
With February 14th quickly approaching, Valentine’s Day colors are starting to appear everywhere. It seems almost everything is a shade of red, pink, or white! Every February, bunches of red roses fill flower stalls, white chocolate covered cookies line grocery store shelves, and pink cocktails make an appearance at Galentine’s Day parties. It’s nearly impossible…
Ever wonder why Cupid is associated with love (and Valentine’s Day)? He is one of the main characters in the story of Cupid and Psyche – a Greek mythology love story with a happy ending! Most love stories in Greek and Roman mythology have unhappy endings. The Psyche and Cupid story, unlike most others (ie….
Now that February is here, Valentine’s Day symbols, including a winged Valentine’s Day Cupid, are starting to appear everywhere! If you’ve ever looked at him and wondered “who is Cupid?”, get ready to find out. Cupid, a figure seemingly synonymous with love and Valentine’s Day actually has a fascinating history that connects all the way back…
With Christmas quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to learn about the history of Christmas cards. Who would have guessed that the first Christmas card ever sent by mail would spark a tradition that is still going strong over 175 years later! Sending Christmas cards has become an integral part of Christmas, just like making…
As we enter the month of December, we are greeted by millions of twinkling lights. If you’ve ever wondered about the history of Christmas lights, it might surprise you to learn that the first electric Christmas lights have been around since the 1880s! A staple of holiday decorating, you can find these sparkling lights inside,…
While you might not think much about the history of pretzels before consuming them, they have a story worth being told. Not only are pretzels a symbol of several holidays, but they also hold religious meaning. Even though you can find pretzels year round, you’ll see them with even more frequency during Lent and Easter….
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…
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,…
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…