NATIONAL DING-A-LING DAY
National Ding-a-Ling Day on December 12th encourages us to reconnect with people we once talked to often. Read more…
GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY
Gingerbread House Day on December 12th recognizes a family tradition for many around the country. Read more…
NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY
Each year on the 12th of December, people across the United States celebrate one of the most recognizable plants of the holidays on National Poinsettia Day. Read more…
NATIONAL AMBROSIA DAY
Right in the middle of the holiday season, National Ambrosia Day brings a refreshing salad to the celebration table. On December 12th, bring ambrosia to your holiday dinner or celebration and go home with an empty bowl. Read more…
On Deck for December 13, 2022
National Days
- National Cocoa Day
- National Violin Day
- National Day of the Horse (Senate Res. 452)
- Pick a Pathologist Pal Day
- National Guard Birthday
International Days
Recipe of the Day
Cinnamon Caramel Hot Cocoa
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 6-8 minutes
Total Prep: 12 minutes
Servings: 5
Ingredients:
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon + 1TBSP cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup Ghiradelli caramel sauce
2 cups half and half
2 cups milk
2 TBSP granulated sugar
5 TBSP whipped cream
Instructions:
In a medium saucepan, mix cocoa, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, vanilla and caramel sauce until all the ingredients are well combined.
Gradually add milk and the half and half, whisking to a smooth texture.
Heat mixture on medium heat for 6-8 minutes. Occasionally stir and scrape sides of the pan. Once the mixture begins to steam, remove from heat. (Do not bring to a boil!)
In a small saucer, mix remaining cinnamon and sugar. Run a bead of caramel sauce along the rim of five mugs. Dip each one into the cinnamon sugar mixture. Divide cocoa mixture between the five mugs.
Top with whipped cream and dust with remaining cinnamon sugar.
Inspiration: Michele S. – North Dakota
December 12th Celebrated History
1899
George F. Grant, the second African American to earn a dental degree, also gained a love of golf. As a dentist, he also had to be inventive. His inventiveness carried to his love of golf, and in 1899, Grant obtained patent No. 638,920 for wooden golf tee dated December 12, 1899.
1901
The inventor Guglielmo Marconi sent the first transatlantic radio signal to Percy Wright Paige. Marconi transmitted the Morse code for the letter S and sent from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to Page in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
1953
Flying the Bell X-1A, Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to exceed twice the speed of sound.
1961
On the anniversary of Marconi’s first transatlantic radio signal, the U.S. military launched the first privately built satellite into orbit around the Earth. OSCAR1 – short for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio – hitched a ride aboard a Discoverer satellite that was launched into orbit by a U.S. military Thor-Agena rocket. The payload orbited the Earth for 22 days sending the message “Hi” by Morse code to approximately 300,000 amateur radio operators tracking OSCAR1.
December 12th Celebrated Birthdays
Henry Wells – 1805
In 1850, the American businessman established the American Express Company. Soon after, he also helped to establish Wells, Fargo & Company. He was also an advocate of higher education for women and due to his personal struggles with stuttering, opened schools with a focus on curing the affliction.
Edvard Munch – 1863
The expressionist painter is known for his dark and evocative art. One of his most recognized works of art, The Scream, is on display at National Museum in Oslo. Munch painted The Scream in 1893. He also created a lithograph of the piece which The Munch Museum holds.
Kate Shelley – 1863
A fierce storm blew through Des Moines River Valley on the night of July 6, 1881. The storm washed out the Honey Creek Bridge. That night, 15-year-old Kate Shelley who lived near the bridge heard the Chicago & Northwestern tumble into the creek. Raised by a railroad man, she attempted to rescue the crew. However, when her lantern blew out, she redirected her efforts to the Midnight Limited which was bound for Honey Creek. Racing to the depot, she alerted the agent of the bridge and he was able to flag down the train in time saving many lives.
Frank Sinatra – 1915
One of the most influential big band singers of the 1940s and 1950s, Frank Sinatra crooned his way into the limelight. A member of the Rat Pack, he not only dazzled on stage, but he was also equally at home on the big screen.
Robert Noyce – 1927
The physicist is one of the scientists who made significant contributions to the establishment of Silicon Valley. In 1957, he and 7 other engineers founded Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation. There he developed one of the first integrated circuits. In 1968, he co-founded Intel Corporation and the company released the first microprocessor in 1971.
Helen Frankenthaler – 1928
The Abstract Expressionist painter is credited with developing a direct to raw canvas staining technique.
Toshiko Akiyoshi – 1929
The classically trained pianist discovered a love of jazz at a young age. During her six-decade career, Toshiko received 14 Grammy nominations and is the first Japanese musician to receive the NEA Jazz Master Award.
Dionne Warwick – 1940
The pop singer rose to fame in the 1970s with songs like “Walk on By” and “I Say a Little Prayer.”
About National Day Calendar
National Day Calendar is the original and authoritative source for fun, unusual and unique National Days! Since our humble beginnings on National Popcorn Day in 2013, we have been tracking the National Days, National Weeks, National Months, and International Days. We became the first calendar of its kind to curate the days all in one place and tell their stories, too! Here at National Day Calendar, we are on a mission to Celebrate Every Day with you! And by you, we mean families, businesses, educators, and strangers we meet on the street. There’s more than one day for everyone.
At National Day Calendar, we discovered the National Days have a way of inspiring us. We’re honored to tell the stories behind the days and provide you with informational ways to incorporate the National Days into your business, family, schools, and home!