National Cell Phone Courtesy Month during July encourages us to evaluate our cellular habits and consider others before we reach for our phone.
Our phones have become an integral part of our lives. We schedule events, organize shopping lists, order birthday presents and communicate all from this one, small device. Do we even make a phone call any more?
Phone courtesy has always been in fashion, but when they became smart, it seems we lost a few brain cells. National Cell Phone Courtesy Month strives to bring polite phone usage back in style.
Dos and Don’ts
Silent the phone whenever you’re spending time with anyone. That includes work, a meal, meeting or with family. If you are attending a performance of any kind, turn the phone off. There are exceptions to this rule for medical professionals or other expectant emergency situations.
Rude Do not expect to be waited on if you are on your phone. There is nothing as rude as being on your phone and pointing at people to come wait on you.
Hidden phones are forgotten phones. We pay attention to the people in the room, the performance, or the meeting. It’s also a signal to the people we are with that they are important to us.
Step away if you do need to take a call. No one needs to hear your conversation while trying to enjoy a meal for two.
Shhh. Monitor the volume of your voice. Even when you step away, voices carry.
Pause before sending emails, texts or social media posts. Consider the content, especially if it is posted in haste. Ask yourself the following questions. Sometimes just the need to ask will be all the answer you need before deleting the comment or text.
Will I regret sending this later?
Am I angry?
Will this hurt someone?
Is this appropriate?
Will this affect my job or relationship?
Don’t use your phone and drive. Many states prohibit cellular use or limit it to hands-free only. Any message can wait until you arrive at your destination. If it truly is urgent, pull to a safe stopping area to receive the message or call.
Don’t let your mobile device become a social hindrance. We often look to our phone for social engagement when we don’t know what else to do. Meet new people when you are in a new circle of people and begin networking with the people near you. Expand your social circle face to face and broaden the world around you.
HISTORY
In 2002, Jacqueline Whitmore, a Palm Beach, Florida manners expert, created National Cell Phone Courtesy Month with the help of Sprint to increase phone etiquette.
Our phones are tools. They shouldn’t replace every social context in our lives. Practice a little courtesy and gain improved relationships everywhere you go. Encourage your friends and families to join you throughout the month. Use #CellPhoneCourtesyMonth to share on social media.
Every year on the first Sunday in May, World Laughter Day raises awareness of laughter and the many healing benefits it provides. Another goal of the day is to manifest World Peace and build a global consciousness through laughter.
You have probably heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine.” Even psychologists and medical doctors say there is truth to this statement. That’s because there is evidence that laughter can do so many wonderful things.
Here are just some of the many benefits of laughter:
Helps to reduce pain and allows people to tolerate discomfort
Reduces blood sugar levels and increases glucose tolerance
Improves job performance
Makes marriages and intimate relationships healthier
Synchronizes the brain of speakers and listeners
Restores a positive emotional climate between two people
Helps blood vessels function better, which is good for the heart and brain
Relieves stress and helps the body to relax
Additionally, laughter boosts the immune system and triggers the release of endorphins which promotes an overall sense of well-being. One more amazing benefit of laughter is that it burns calories! If you laugh for 10 to 15 minutes a day, you will burn about 40 calories.
WORLD LAUGHTER DAY HISTORY
Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of the Laughter Yoga movement, established World Laughter Day. The first event was held in Mumbai, India on May 10, 1998. Dr. Kataria is a family doctor in India. He started the Laughter Yoga movement based on the idea that facial expressions have an effect on emotions. Currently, there are about 5,000 Laughter Yoga clubs throughout the world.
It’s easy and fun to participate in this day. All you need to do is have a good laugh. If you’re feeling sad or depressed, pop in a funny movie like Best in Show, Big, Clueless, Dumb and Dumber, Office Space, or Wayne’s World. You might also want to listen to funny comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, or Ellen DeGeneres. Here are some other ways to celebrate the day:
Tell someone a funny joke
Look up inspirational quotes about laughter
Post a funny picture to social media
Read a funny book
No matter how you choose to celebrate the day, be sure to share #WorldLaughterDay on social media.
DATES: 3 May 2026 2 May 2027 7 May 2028 6 May 2029 5 May 2030
On April 25th, we observe National Telephone Day. Around the world, there are 9.82 billion mobile phones. And while some predicted the landline to be obsolete by 2020, there are still about 931 million landlines around the world.
Obtaining a Patent
The correct answer to a trivia question like “Who invented the telephone?” is the name on the patent. In this case, the whole world knows the answer is Alexander Graham Bell. Had his attorney been delayed by foul weather or poor planning, the answer may be a different name.
On February 14, 1876, Marcellus Bailey, one of Bell’s attorneys, rushed into the U.S. Patent office in Boston to file the patent for what would be the telephone.
Later the same day, Elisha Gray filed a patent caveat for a similar device. A caveat is an intent to file for a patent.
There was also a third contender. Antonio Meucci filed a caveat in November of 1871 for a talking telegraph but failed to renew the caveat due to hardships.
Because Bell submitted his record first, the patent office awarded Bell the patent on March 7, 1876. Gray contested this decision in court, but without success.
Born March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Bell taught at a boys’ boarding school. The sounds of speech were an integral part of his life. His father developed a “Visible Speech” system for deaf students to communicate. Bell would later become a friend and benefactor of Helen Keller.
Three days after the patent was approved, Bell spoke the first words by telephone to his assistant. “Mr.Watson, come here! I want to see you!”
By May, Bell and his team stood prepared for a public demonstration. And there would be no better place than the grand stage of the World’s Fair in Philadelphia. On May 10, 1876, in a crowded Machinery Hall, a man’s voice transmitted from a small horn and carried out through a speaker to the audience.
One year later, the White House installed its first phone. The telephone revolution began.
Bell Telephone Company was founded on July 9, 1877, and they installed the first public telephone lines from Boston to Sommerville, Massachusetts, the same year. By the end of the decade, nearly 50,000 phones existed in the United States. In May of 1967, phone companies across the country installed the one-millionth telephone.
NATIONAL TELEPHONE DAY HISTORY
In May of 1967, the 100 millionth telephone line was installed in the United States. On May 11th, governors and dignitaries for U.S. territories joined President Lyndon Johnson on the largest conference call ever held up to that date. Each governor, dignitary, and the President were issued gold phones to commemorate the day. At the same time, a proclamation was issued declaring May 12th as National Telephone Day.
Celebrate by calling someone and telling them Happy National Telephone Day! Share your vintage telephone pictures on social media using #NationalTelephoneDay to show the different phones that have been used!
Why did a rubber duck cross the road? To see the rubber chicken! April is National Humor Month!
Humor plays an essential role in our overall health. The ability to smile, laugh and play are directly related to the way we express our personality. It’s one of our more redeeming qualities.
The more we laugh at ourselves, the better suited we are for the world around us, too! Jokes and general silliness help to increase our heart rate and blood flow bringing oxygen to our brain and vital organs. A sparkle dances in our eyes as hormones flood our bodies reducing pain and stress.
Can you imagine a world without laughter?
HISTORY Larry Wilde, Director of the Carmel Institue of Humor, comedian, and author, founded National Humor Month in 1976 to share the therapeutic benefits of humor with the world. Visit www.humormonth.com to learn more.
Tell a joke or act silly for just a moment every day. Humor is contagious. Be prepared to smile! #Use NationalHumorMonth to share your fun with someone who needs their month brightened.
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! 🎄✨
