Get the flapjacks ready for National Maple Syrup Day. December 17th calls for orders of pancakes, french toast or biscuits topped off with butter and delicious maple syrup.It is usually from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple or black maple trees that maple syrup is made from although it not limited to those maple species.
These trees, in cold climates, store starch in their trunks and in their roots. In the spring, the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap. The maple trees are then tapped by boring holes into their trunks and the released sap is collected. After the sap is collected, it is processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup.
Maple syrup was first collected, processed and used by the indigenous peoples of North America. The practice was then adopted by the European settlers who gradually refined production methods. In the 1970s further refinements in the syrup processing were made with technological improvements.
A maple syrup production farm is called a sugarbush or a sugarwood.
Sap is boiled in a sugar house which is also known as a sugar shack, sugar shanty or a cabane à sucre.
Up until the 1930s, the United States led in maple syrup production, now Canada is the world’s largest maple syrup producer.
Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States.
Serve up a breakfast worthy of real maple syrup. Whether you crave pancakes, biscuits or some light crepes, be sure to share them using #MapleSyrupDay to post on social media.
June marks the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing longer days and warmer temperatures. This month is often associated with the end of the school year and the beginning of vacations, making it a popular time for travel and outdoor activities. Many regions experience significant cultural and sporting events, such as music festivals and sports tournaments. As nature thrives, gardens and landscapes become lush, providing an ideal backdrop for picnics, barbecues, and other leisure activities.
June is the month of the summer sun, flowers, and no school. That is if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s winter in June. Thе month of June hаѕ 30 dауѕ though on the pre-Caesar Roman calendar, the month only had 29 days, Whеn thе winter dауѕ wеrе gіvеn twо mоnthѕ аnd mоrе days were аddеd to thе саlеndаr, Junе was gіvеn an аddіtіоnаl day.
June is the 6th month of the year. But it wasn’t always. In 46 BC, Julius Caesar modified the Roman Calendar by dividing the year into twelve months. By adding two months, the Julian calendar moved June from the 4th month to its current position. June also derives its name from the goddess Juno, Jupiter’s wife. Frоm Juno to Junе, the naming ѕtrаtеgу seems obvious. However, thеrе are multiple bеlіеfѕ rеgаrdіng thе nаmіng оf Junе. Aссоrdіng to few experts, thе nаmе was dеrіvеd frоm thе wоrd Iunіоrѕ; meaning thе youth.
Weather & Seasons
The longest day of the year is in June. The Summer Solstice ushers in astrological summer on June 20th or 21st. June 1st to August 31st is considered meteorological summer. The weather is mild across most of the Northern Hemisphere. June’s full moon is called the strawberry moon.
There is no other month on the calendar that begins on the same day of the week as June. Also, the day of the week the sixth-month еndѕ оn is thе ѕаmе day оf thе week аѕ March еvеrу уеаr.
The Junе Beetle is a tуре of bug thаt’ѕ оnlу ѕееn durіng thе mоnth оf Mау and June іn Unіtеd Stаtеѕ of Amеrіса, іѕ nаmеd аftеr thе mоnth оf June. Junе Bееtlе іѕ a соmmоn nаmе for thеѕе іnѕесtѕ. Thеѕе bugѕ lіvе оn the young lеаvеѕ of trees аnd рlаntѕ.
The United States celebrates Flag Day on June 14th while Finland celebrates Flag Day on June 24th.
What’s Your Sign?
June’s zodiac signs are Gemini and Cancer. Twins Castor and Pollux represent the Gemini sign. Cancer is a water sign represented by the crab.
June’s birth flowers are the rose and honeysuckle. Both flowers represent love, devotion, and generosity. If you’re born in June, your birthstones are pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone. The rose whісh symbolizes love аnd beauty. Thе nаmе “Rose” іѕ dеrіvеd frоm thе Latin rоѕа, аn Etruѕсаn form оf Grееk Rhodia mеаnіng “Rhоdіаn, originating frоm Rhоdеѕ.” Roses come іn аn аrrау оf colors and еасh color іѕ used tо соnvеу реrѕоnаl thоughtѕ аnd meanings.
June is an exciting month for sports fans. The NBA finals and the Stanley Cup finals both take place in June. The NBA also hosts its draft in June. Baseball is in full swing. The fair weather makes June is prime time for outdoor activities of all kinds. Hiking, swimming, skateboarding, boating, and fishing all take place or are celebrated in June!
No matter the reason June is a great time to head outdoors, or like we do in Florida be prepared for storms in doors. June 1st kicks off Hurricane Season so make sure you have a plan. Enjoy fun in the sun, summer camps, and don’t forget the sun screen. Stay hydrated with Iced Tea, Lemonade, Milk and plenty of water. Break out the grill or picnic on a camping trip. Whatever you do make it a Joyous June. Share your great times on social media with #JoyousJune on our Facebook, Instagram, X, and Tik Tok.
Ah, March, in like a lion, out like a lamb, or so the saying goes. That’s not the only saying attributed to the moody month. For the Northern Hemisphere, March ushers in spring. That was even true back in the days of the Julian calendar when there were only 10 months and March started off the year. Sayings such as “A bushel of March dust is worth a King’s ransom,” and “March many weathers,” remind us of the swiftly changing and windy weather March brings.
The first three days in March were once considered bad luck. They called them the blind days. No one would plant, enter into an agreement, or a journey during these days. Speaking of the beginning of March, there are some pretty tasty holidays to keep us appeased while the weather makes up its mind. Peanut butter and Banana Cream Pie are just a couple of them.
March is also known for its borrowing days. Though the story has changed through the ages, the month is no stranger to tumultuous weather. Hundreds of years ago the borrowing days were known to be any wild weather day in March. In later years, the days came to be assigned to the last three days in March. The end of the month gets down to business, too. We’re talking Mom and Pop Business Day, Walks in the Park and Prom. Serious stuff.
Spring makes its appearance in March with the vernal equinox, and with it comes a lot of activity in nature. Birds migrate. Animals begin to mate. (They give us the phrase, “Mad as a March hare,” too.) Plants begin to grow. Even the full moon gets involved. The full moon in March is called the Worm Moon. It earns this name because of all the insects beginning to hatch.
Birth Flowers – Daffodile and jonquil Birth Stone – Aquamarine Zodiac Signs – Pisces and Aries
Daylight saving time also adds an element of tradition and rancor to the season as many (though not all) spring forward and change their clocks one hour.
Historically, planting and war go hand in hand in March. Named for the Roman god of War, Mars, March became a time when armies began to march again and farmers tilled their soil. While farming and the military have both dramatically changed since Roman times, March and spring still hold power over both of them.
Birthdays in March
Harry Caray
Harry Belafonte
Ron Howard
Theodor Geisel
John Irving
Chief Joseph
Alexander Graham Bell
Jacki Joyner-Kersee
Ruby Dandridge
Peyton Manning
Eva Mendes
Jon Bon Jovi
Shaquille O’Neal
Catherine O’Hara
James Madison
Andrew Jackson
John Tyler
Grover Cleveland
Chuck Norris
Quincy Jones
Queen Latifah
Bruce Willis
Spike Lee
Reese Witherspoon
Elton John
Lady Gaga
March Madness kicks into high gear as basketball enthusiasts cheer on their favorite teams. Whether cheering on a local high school team or their college and professional players, fans wear their colors and watch every nail-biting game.
Beware the Ides of March. When the world used the Roman calendar, the middle of each month was called the “Ides.” What makes March so special? Well, the 15th was always the midpoint in March, and in 44 BC an oracle predicted Julius Caesar’s downfall to be no later than the Ides of March.
The phrase “in like a lion, out like a lamb” refers to the proverb that says:
“If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.”
However, it may also refer to the constellations Leo and Aries. Leo rises in the east early in March but Aries sets in the west at the end of March.
Ringing in a new year means new beginnings and endings. Celebrating the New Year is the first holiday on the calendar, but the world didn’t always see January that way.
Around 700 B.C., January replaced March as the first month of the year. Roman king Numa Pompilius revised the calendar and added two months to it. However, many religions continued to celebrate the new year either on March 25th or December 25th according to their church calendars. Even the Julian calendar did not indicate a clear beginning and end to the year. Then in 1582, Pope Gregory developed the Gregorian calendar and most of the world came around to January 1 being the beginning of the New Year.
Janus is the Roman god of beginnings and endings. He’s a protector of gates, doorways, and transitions. January takes its name from this tow-headed god, and it makes us wonder why it took so long to celebrate the new year in January, but it did.
Speaking of new beginnings, the entire month is full of holidays that help us to start fresh. National Personal Trainer Awareness Day reminds us to be kind to our trainers in the first days of the year – they’re kind of busy with all of us who made resolutions. We’re encouraged to clean off our desks, make travel plans a priority, and use up old gift cards.
January is the second month of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, but in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s summer. The Wolf Moon rises in January so it’s a great opportunity to howl at the full moon. While it’s uncertain where the name for this moon is derived, it’s interesting to note that the month used to be called Wolfmonath. As food became scarce, wolves would begin scavenging and could be heard howling at the moon.
While the month is full of resolutions, it also includes many other traditions, too. Like other months, it has its own stones and flowers. Fortunately for anyone born in January, their birthstone is the Garnet which comes in a wide variety of stunning colors.
Capricorns and Aquarius are born in January. You share your birthday month with Elvis Presley, Virginia Woolf, JRR Tolkien, Bessie Coleman, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Jr., Jeannette Piccard, J.D. Salinger, Zora Hurston, A.A. Milne, Carrie Chapman Catt, Edgar Allan Poe, Alma Ziegler, and Dian Fossey. The carnation and snowdrop are your birth flowers. Celebrate with National Seed Swap Day and prepare to plant your own!
January is often a month of new beginnings and endings. Some of us embark on new health club memberships in an attempt to end old habits. Our new year’s resolutions help kick-off healthy habits placing us squarely on a path of health and renewal. While some of us succeed, many admit we will need to keep trying. New beginnings don’t always have to do with our physical self, though. Sometimes we challenge ourselves to new adventures or lifestyles.
Astrological Facts of January
If you’re born in January, your sign is either Capricorn or Aquarius. January’s birthstone is the garnet and comes primarily in the color red, but can also be in shades of orange, pink, green, and even black or brown. The carnation and snowdrop are your birth flowers. The carnation’s scientific name is Dianthus caryophyllus, and the flower’s color has different meanings around the world. Traditionally, though, its colors mean:
White = purity and luck
Light Red = admiration
Dark Red = love and affection
Pink = gratitude
Yellow = disappointment or rejection
Purple = capriciousness
Who Are Notable People Born in January?
Elvis Presley
Virginia Woolf
JRR Tolkien
Bessie Coleman
Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr.
Jeanne Picard
J.D. Salinger
Zora Hurston
A.A. Milne
Carrie Chapman Catt
Edgar Allan Poe
Alma Ziegler
Dian Fossey
RANDOM JANUARY FACTS
The Earth always reaches perihelion in early January. Perihelion is when the Earth reaches its closest point from to the Sun.
The Quadrantid meteor shower occurs every year in January.
Pasadena, California hosts the Rose Parade each year in January.
Ellis Island opened on New Year’s Day 1892.
In a month of new beginnings, it’s hard to imagine celebrating anything else, but we do. It’s time to toss out that old fruitcake – well toss it somewhere. January, like any month on the calendar, includes a variety of food holidays to challenge our resolutions. It also challenges us to try new things and rekindle some of the old ways.
Our insurance policies start new in January, too. So when you hang up that new calendar, don’t forget to swap out your insurance cards, too.
As the New Year approaches, many individuals embrace the tradition of setting resolutions—personal goals aimed at fostering self-improvement and positive change. This practice offers a fresh start, encouraging reflection on past behaviors and the commitment to adopt healthier habits or achieve specific objectives in the coming year. Common resolutions often focus on enhancing physical health, improving financial stability, and fostering personal development.
Among the most popular New Year’s resolutions are:
1. **Improving Physical Health**: Many people resolve to exercise regularly, adopt healthier eating habits, or quit smoking. These commitments are driven by the desire to enhance overall well-being and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
2. **Saving Money**: Financial goals, such as budgeting more effectively, reducing debt, or increasing savings, are common resolutions. Individuals aim to achieve greater financial security and prepare for future needs.
3. **Pursuing Personal Development**: This includes resolutions like learning new skills, reading more, or dedicating time to hobbies. Such goals are pursued to enrich one’s knowledge and enhance personal fulfillment.
While setting resolutions is a widespread practice, maintaining them can be challenging. Studies indicate that a significant number of individuals abandon their resolutions within the first few months of the year. To improve success rates, experts recommend setting realistic and specific goals, creating a structured plan, and seeking support from friends or communities. Utilizing tools like apps for tracking progress can also provide motivation and accountability, increasing the likelihood of sustaining these positive changes throughout the year.
