In the deep chill of January, National Soup Month warms us up with piping hot bowls of comfort! We all have our favorites; Mom’s chicken noodle doesn’t compare to anyone else’s, and Grandma’s borscht can’t be beat. A savory broth filled with vegetables and seasonings envelopes home with a delicious aroma. National Soup Month calls the family to gather and enjoy a hearty meal together!
Gather up your recipes and the ingredients. Where to start? When it comes to soups, there are so many choices! Creamy squash. Split pea. Hearty beef and vegetable. Are you hungry, yet? Whether you make French onion or baked potato soup, we know these filling soups are a staple of winter meals. Don’t forget the Menudo! It’s a month-long celebration, so make them all!
Soups not only warm us up on cold winter days, but they fulfill our need for nutrients lost working hard in the elements. If you’ve been out shoveling snow, chopping wood or caring for animals, a soup full of vegetables, minerals and oils replenish the energy lost. Chicken noodle soup is known for its healing properties, as well. What better way to stay healthy than to eat a bountiful bowl of chicken tortilla or tomato soup?
And when we make a large kettle of soup, there’s plenty to share making the soup a social meal. If there is soup leftover, it stores and reheats easily.
NATIONAL SOUP MONTH HISTORY
Campbell’s founded National Soup Month in 1986. A great way to take advantage of Slow Cooking Month.
Make your favorite soups all month long and try some new ones while you’re at it. Use #NationalSoupMonth to post on social media and spread the word. Add croutons or crackers and make warm memories.
December bursts onto the calendar like a firework finale—cold, sparkling, and impossible to ignore. As the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian year, it wraps up 31 days of contrasts: shortest daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere, longest in the Southern, and a global whirlwind of holidays, reflections, and fresh starts. Whether you’re bundling up against snowstorms or firing up the barbecue for summer solstice, December demands attention. Let’s dive into its overview, standout highlights, rich history, and the symbolic gems and blooms that define birthdays in this electrifying month.
December Overview
December derives its name from the Latin decem, meaning “ten”—a quirky holdover from the ancient Roman calendar, where it was the tenth month before January and February were added around 153 BCE. Today, it’s the gateway to winter in the north (starting with the winter solstice around December 21–22) and summer down south. Astronomically, it features the Geminids meteor shower peaking mid-month, lighting up skies with up to 120 shooting stars per hour. Culturally, it’s a festival frenzy: Christmas on the 25th for Christians, Hanukkah (variable but often overlapping), Kwanzaa from December 26 to January 1, and New Year’s Eve capping it all. Expect eggnog, resolutions, and a collective sigh of “where did the year go?”
Key Highlights
December’s calendar is packed with events that blend solemnity, joy, and spectacle:
Winter Solstice (December 21–22): The shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the official start of winter. Ancient cultures celebrated it as a rebirth of the sun—think Stonehenge gatherings or modern Yule festivals.
Christmas (December 25): The big one for over 2 billion people, commemorating Jesus’s birth with trees, gifts, and feasts. Secular twists include Santa Claus (inspired by Saint Nicholas) and global traditions like Germany’s Christkindlmarkt or Mexico’s posadas.
Hanukkah: The Jewish Festival of Lights, lasting eight days and often falling in December. It honors the rededication of the Second Temple with menorah lighting, dreidel games, and latkes.
Kwanzaa (December 26–January 1): A celebration of African heritage created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, focusing on seven principles like unity and creativity, with candles, crops, and kinara.
New Year’s Eve (December 31): Fireworks, countdowns, and Auld Lang Syne worldwide. Fun fact: Times Square’s ball drop in NYC started in 1907 and now draws millions.
Other Notables: Bodhi Day (December 8) for Buddhists, marking Buddha’s enlightenment; Human Rights Day (December 10); and the Urs festival in some Muslim traditions.
From charity drives to office parties, December is dynamic indeed— a month that forces us to pause, celebrate, and propel into the next year.
December’s roots run deep. In the original Roman calendar (circa 753 BCE), it was the tenth month in a 10-month year. Julius Caesar’s Julian reform in 45 BCE solidified its 31 days, and Pope Gregory XIII’s 1582 tweak aligned it with the solar year we know today.
Historically, it’s seen triumphs and tragedies:
1620: The Mayflower Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock, laying groundwork for American Thanksgiving ties.
1914: The Christmas Truce during WWI, where soldiers fraternized in no-man’s-land.
1955: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat on December 1, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
1969: The ALT key is patented on December 23 (yes, that computer essential).
Darker notes: The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26 killed over 230,000.
December has hosted scientific breakthroughs too—like the first successful heart transplant in 1967 (December 3)—and cultural milestones, from Beethoven’s death in 1827 to the premiere of Avatar in 2009.
Birthday Symbolism: Birthstones and Flowers
Born in December? You’re in elite company with triple birthstones and dual flowers, symbolizing prosperity, love, and resilience.
Birthstones
December boasts three official gems, a rarity:
Turquoise: The ancient star, prized by Persians, Aztecs, and Native Americans for protection and healing. Its blue-green hues evoke clear skies and good fortune.
Zircon: Sparkling and versatile, available in blue, yellow, or clear. It symbolizes wisdom and honor, with a fiery brilliance rivaling diamonds.
Tanzanite: A modern addition (discovered in 1967 in Tanzania), this rare blue-violet stone represents transformation and prosperity. It’s 1,000 times rarer than diamonds.
Wear them for luck—turquoise wards off evil, zircon boosts confidence, and tanzanite sparks intuition.
Birth Flowers
Two blooms share the spotlight:
Narcissus (Paperwhite): Pure white petals symbolize hope, rebirth, and new beginnings—perfect for year-end babies. In mythology, it’s tied to the vain Narcissus, but positively, it means “you are the only one.”
Holly: Evergreen with red berries, embodying truth, defense against evil, and domestic happiness. Ancient Druids saw it as sacred; Christians link it to Christmas crowns of thorns.
December birthdays get a symbolic toolkit for thriving amid change: stones for strength, flowers for renewal.
Famous December Birthdays: Stars Who Lit Up the World
December isn’t just the month of twinkling lights and holiday cheer—it’s also a powerhouse for birthdays, churning out icons who’ve shaped music, film, sports, and history. From pop sensations to trailblazing leaders, these December babies bring that end-of-year energy: bold, reflective, and ready to make an impact. Whether you’re a fellow Sagittarian firecracker (born before December 22) or a steadfast Capricorn (after), the month delivers a diverse lineup of talent.
Woody Allen
Bette Midler
Walt Disney
Judi Dench
Demi Moore
Frank Sinatra
Taylor Swift
Dick Van Dyke
Steven Spielberg
Brad Pitt
Ted Cruz
Annie Lennox
Justin Trudeau
Tiger Woods
LeBron James
Anthony Hopkins
John Denver
Why December Babies Rock
Astrologically, these Sagittarians and Capricorns embody adventure and ambition—think explorers like Ludwig van Beethoven (December 16, 1770), whose symphonies still thunder, or Stan Lee (December 28, 1922), the Marvel maestro behind your superhero obsessions. No wonder December feels like a grand finale: it’s packed with creators who turn winter’s chill into cultural heat.
Wrapping Up the Year with Sparkle
Dynamic December isn’t just a month—it’s a mood. It challenges us to reflect on the past while igniting hope for tomorrow, all under twinkling lights and frosty breaths. Whether you’re toasting with champagne or stargazing at meteors, embrace the energy. Happy December—may your days be merry, bright, and boldly forward! 🎄✨
National Fair Trade Month is an annual designation observed in October. During this time, we raise awareness about the fair trade movement to our global economy. We spread the word about who and where our products come from. It’s also encouraged to buy from businesses that are committed to fair trade this time of year. #FindFairTrade and tell others to do the same. In October, we celebrate many “national months,” like Non-GMO month, Kale day, Pizza & Pasta month, and more… and in a way, National Fair Trade month is at the heart of them all. This month, we celebrate how much people care about others, the food we eat, and the world we live in.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Use #NationalFairTradeMonth, #FindFairTrade, or #FairTradeMonth to post on social media. Take some time to learn about Fair Trade this month. To put it simply, Fair Trade is a certification of environmental, economic, and social responsibility. If you see the Fair Trade Certified label on a product, it means that product was manufactured in line with strict standards that involve safe working conditions, no child or forced labor, no GMOs, etc. Did you know coffee was the very first Fair Trade Certified product when Fair Trade USA kicked off in 1998? Here are a few other Fair Trade fun facts…
August is National Goat Cheese Month! Chances are you’ve tried it, whether you realized it or not. If you have ever tried a Greek salad with Feta, you have tried goat cheese.
The history of goat cheese goes back to Ancient Greece, circa 5,000 B.C. when the goat was first domesticated. Fresh goat cheese has about half the fat, cholesterol, and calories of commercial cream cheese made fro cow’s milk. Also known as Chevre, goat cheese has always enjoyed a strong popularity and spread from the Mediterranean to Eastern Europe, Africa, South West Asia and India.
The first settlers in America included goats in their inventory of dairy animals and the dairy goat has always been a presence on the typical American farm. Today, Alpine (France) and LaMancha (Spain) are among the top goat breeds for cheese production.
It takes about a hundred pounds of goat’s milk to make around twenty-five pounds of cheese. Goat cheese can come fresh, aged or hard or brined. Castelo Branco goat cheese originated in Portugal. It has a fluffy texture, white color and is available salted or spicy. Caprino goat cheese is Italian in origin and popular in traditional recipes for its tangy flavor, salted and sour. Bucheron goat cheese is very popular in France. This goat cheese is known for its unique appearance of ivory color with brown edges. Bucheron has a soft and creamy texture and strong taste. Originating in Holland, Gouda goat cheese is popular on pizza and pasta. This cheese has a tangy, sweet/salty taste.
“The variety and shapes and qualities of goat cheeses is matched only by the diversity of the American regions of their origin. Be it the hills of New England or upstate New York; the countryside of the Virginias or Carolinas; the Mid-West or Upper Mid-West; from the Texas plains to the Rockies and on to the coastal valleys of the West Coast; each cheese reflects the individual terrain and local traditions of the area of its production.” -Buffalo Creek Farm & Creamery
HISTORY The American Cheese Society launched National Goat Cheese Month in 1998 to promote the benefits of cooking with goat cheese.
HOW TO OBSERVE Try some goat cheese combinations, such as goat cheese ice cream. Add some goat cheese to your salad. Goat cheese pizza might be fun too! Use #GoatCheeseMonth in social media correspondence.
