National Card Playing Day on December 28th encourages us to invite our friends to deal out a hand and play a game or two.
In the 9th century, the Chinese began developing games using money and other paper objects. These early playing cards bear no resemblance to the sturdier European playing cards that emerged a few centuries later.
Card games spread around the world in a variety of shapes and styles. From the elaborate Mamluk designs of Egypt to the appearance of the first playing cards during the Early Renaissance in Europe, the decks were divided into four suits of coins, cups, swords, and sticks or batons.
It is from these four suits that today’s modern decks of playing cards developed. Theories range how the suits converted to hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs. One theory suggests the suits represent the different classes of the era – clergy, aristocracy, military and peasantry.
In India, the ten suited card game of Ganjifa became popular during the Moghul period. Traditionally, artists hand-painted a stunning scene on each of the 120 cards in the deck.
A standard pack of cards may be used for playing a variety of card games, with varying elements of skill and chance, some of which are played for money. Some of the top card games include Spades, Poker, Solitaire, Spite and Malice, Hearts, Spoons, Gin Rummy, Ridge, Black Jack and Texas Hold’em. Of course, there are thousands of card games, some of which are regional favorites.
National Chocolate Candy Day offers an opportunity for us to polish off the last of the specialty candies we received as gifts. Celebrated on December 28th, the day points us to the truffles and chocolate oranges tucked into stockings. Check those boxes of candy that may or may not have guides to help us choose cream-filled or ganache.
The word “chocolate” comes from the word “xocoatl” or “chocolatl.” Mayan “school” means hot or bitter, and the Aztec “atl” means water. Chocolate comes from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia and grows in Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America. The earliest known documentation of using cacao seeds is from around 1100 BC.
But before it was ever made into a sweet candy, it was ground into a beverage. In the ruling class society, the beverage was used for medical purposes.
In 1828, Dutch inventor and chemist, Coenraad Van Houten, developed a way to produce chocolate in solid form. His hydraulic press made it possible to remove the cocoa butter from the cacao. His invention leads to producing a powder opening the way for the first chocolate confections. It’s thanks to Van Houten we can enjoy the variety of chocolates we do today.
Whitman’s produced their first box of chocolate in 1842.
In 1847, British chocolate company J.S. Fry & Sons combined cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and sugar-producing the first edible chocolate bar.
The invention of the conching machine by Rodolphe Lindt in 1879 ushered in the mass production of the creamy treat.
The first chocolate Easter egg was made sometime in the early 19th century. In 1875 John Cadbury introduced his first chocolate egg.
When Allied troops stormed the beach of Normandy on D-Day, part of emergency rations and in soldiers’ packs included the D ration bar designed by Hershey Chocolate company for the U.S. Army.
Americans consume 12 pounds of chocolate each year.
There are so many different kinds of chocolate candy. What’s your favorite? Enjoy a piece or two. Do you have leftovers? Host a chocolate candy party. Taste and sample all the varieties. Discover new favorites. Trade out the ones you don’t like. Bring some to work to share. How will you celebrate? Let us know by using #ChocolateCandyDay to post on social media.
National Candy Cane Day on December 26th gives candy lovers a day to celebrate the red and white striped candies found abundantly during the holidays.
In 1844, a recipe for a straight peppermint candy stick, which was white with colored stripes, was published. However, some stories tell of all-white candy sticks in much earlier times. Folklore tells of the origin of the candy cane, yet no documented proof of its real beginning. Literature begins mentioning the candy cane in 1866, and it was first known to be mentioned in connection with Christmas in 1874. As early as 1882, candy canes have been hung on Christmas trees.
Fun Candy Cane Facts:
The average candy cane is 5 inches tall.
While most candy canes are not sugar or calorie-free, they do not have any fat or cholesterol.
Striped red and white candy canes were first introduced in 1900.
The first machine to make candy canes were invented in 1921 by Brasher O. Westerfield. Until then, they were made by hand.
Bob McCormack and his brother-in-law & priest Gregory Keller brought the candy cane to the masses. What started out as candy making for McCormack’s friends and family turned into mass production when Keller invented the machine that enabled Bob’s Candies to go big time.
Traditionally the flavor for candy canes is peppermint, but there are a variety of flavors.
Alain Roby, Geneva pastry chef, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest candy cane, measuring 51 feet long.
Candy canes are one of my favorite candies check out these candy celebrations too…
Do you have candy cane traditions? Enjoy one from your stocking or pluck one from the tree. Share a candy cane with your sweetheart, neighbor or child in your life. However you celebrate, be sure use #NationalCandyCaneDay when posting on social media.
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.
Short for Software Application, apps quickly appeared as our mobile cellular phones incorporated smart technologies. As the power of our phones increased with processing chips, internet connectivity, and touchscreens, so did the apps that became available.
Since that time, apps continue changing how we work, live, and play. They offer opportunities, too, by creating thousands of new companies, millions of new jobs, and billions of dollars in revenue.
Apps accelerated in growth with the advent of Apple’s iPhone in 2007. In 2008 Apple introduced OS 2.0, which included approximately 500 apps and allowed third-party app generation. Today there are over 3 million apps on both the Apple and Android platforms and thousands more introduced daily.
From social networking to productivity, apps function in every part of our lifestyle. They control the lights in our house and keep our playlists at our fingertips. We stay in tune with the world around us through news apps customized to our interests and stay connected to the people who mean the most to us.
NATIONAL APP DAY HISTORY
Platinum Edge Media and its founder CJ Thompson created National App Day in 2017 to celebrate the importance of apps as they change our collective culture by organically promoting creativity and innovation.
My goto Apps that I use practically everyday include:
Prism – Money and Bill Pay. We use this App for almost all our bill paying. It not only keeps track of when it’s due, but gives me balances, and real time payments directly from the App. Actively helps me from being a victim of identity theft.
Digical – All calendar. Appointments, To Do, reminders, and blog reminders.
Medisafe – Keeps my prescription medications on track with scheduling and reminders. Also a very conventional way to have a current medicine list on your phone in case of emergency, hospital stay, Dr visits and more.
My Sugar – As a diabetic this app links to my meter and gives both short and long term readings on my blood sugar. Helps me stay informed and make good diet decisions as well.
Lose It! – Calorie counter, dieting App. Keep track of what you eat, calories, carbs, food diary, and fitness logs. I was amazed at how much more contentious just keeping the food diary helped me choose healthy eating and loose weight.
News Break – News source that gives local, State, National, and worldwide news.
Google Weather – Accurate conditions
YoWindow – the weather both now and forcasts
WordPress – If you are reading this post, it’s where I blog. Easy to use visual and html, let’s me build my site.
Canva – create stunning social media posts, pins, and graphics.
Calligraphy – Add text to photos, and create graphics like you see on my site.
Polaris Office – Write, spreadsheet, newsletters, slides, slideshows, word and text documents.
My Drive – Cloud storage. Store pictures, documents, receipts, and backup info. I regularly keep digital copies in cloud storage. If you’ve ever lost or broken a device or need to access legal documents cloud storage gives me access no matter what device I’m using.
Googl Keep – My husband swears by this App. He keeps everything from grocery lists and To do lists to passwords and reminder notes.
Samsung Notes – I like this one as my Notes can even be written with stylus. Keeps notes, lists, observations, and reminders at my fingertips.
Walmart – Like most of we do our shopping for groceries and household often. Shop in store or online, checkout on your mobile device. Have it delivered or shipped straight to your door. Saves me so much time and money.
Shipt – Publix, Winn Dixie, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Petsmart, Office Depot Office Max and even GNC. Groceries or even better imagine not having to trudge through a store. Get it delivered.
Instacart – Get everything I need for dinner in 2 hours or less. Gives me delivery from stores like Aldi’s in my neighborhood.
Amazon Shopping – Amozon is so well known now. My Prime membership gives me perks, savings and access to products simply not sold locally.
Ibotta – Cash back at the grocery store! We all have to eat. So why not get cash back on what’s you’re already buying. Seriously I make enough cash back to get Thanksgiving dinner free! This year it’s Christmas dinner too.
Fetch – Shop & Save Money! Scan Receipts to Earn Gift Cards. Your Shopping & Saving Superpower! Fetch brings you a fun and exciting way to shop and save, turning all your receipts into rewards in a snap. Earn points by scanning receipts, then choose from hundreds of your favorite rewards. Shop personalized offers, play free point games daily and connect with your friends.
Rakuten – Cash back on the most popular shopping sites online. Great deals from the app or browser extension. We save on things like Daytimer, Amazon, Chewy, and do many more.
Temu – While similar to Wish the shipping deals have made this my new favorite this holiday season. Gifts for lots and something for myself too.
Restaurants and food delivery – Uber Eats, Door Dash, Postmates, Grubhub, we learned about during the Covid pandemic. Now delivery from your favorite restaurants is at your fingertips. We love getting McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeyes, Panda Express, Captain D’s, Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse, Taco Bell, Applebee’s, Cheddar’s, Greek, Mexican, American, you name it they can probably deliver it.
Prime Video – Streaming is so much better than high priced cable bills. Live Football, original series and movies all directly to your smart tv. What to see a new movie, simply purchase and stream. Pausing when you need a snack, or a break is ultra convenient.
Kindle – Amazon’s answer for Ebooks. I love my Kindle! Not only is it available on Amazon devices but you can seamlessly change from phone, tablet, Kindle, or even a desktop computer. Now I can take my book literally anywhere my phone goes. As a bibliophile, you’ll never find me without a great read.
Amazon Music – Load your favorite playlists, and let the music play. Prime members enjoy lots of tunes. No need for a separate device. I just load my phone widget and press play. Bluetooth connection let’s me play it on the surround sound system, my personal Bluetooth speaker, ear buds, air pods or headphones.
Love Nikki – We all need to unwind. This dress up game is like having both a fantasy adventure and a never-ending closet. Put your fashion sense to the test to save Mirland.
Facebook – Who hasn’t heard of this one by now? This allows family and friends to communicate, check up, check in, and share easily. Pictures of the grand babies, how school is going, or just video chat with Mom. Remember to check you feed!
Pintrest – My #1 bookmarking spot. Recipes, lists, books, movies, celebrities, crafts, shopping, new products, home decor, gardening, games, Journaling, you name I’ll bet there’s a pin. Pin your likes to your own boards. Keep ideas, thoughts, planning, and even wishlists and vision boards.
Nextdoor – Do you know what’s going on in your neighborhood? Giveaways, Yard sales, stolen packages…. Communicate with each other. Chances are even if your just curios you’ll find something near you.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalAppDay
Post your favorite app on social media. Share how apps make your life easier, too. Beyond games, what tools do you use to save money and time? While you expound on your favorites, explore new apps, too. What kinds of apps do you predict for the future?
Join the conversation using #NationalAppDay, and be sure to include why you couldn’t imagine life without your favorite apps.
