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9 Fascinating Cult Literary Traditions - For Reading Addicts

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9 Fascinating Cult Literary Traditions - For Reading Addicts

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You know you're a die hard fan when you get Dumbledore or Gandalf references into every conversation, but some bookworms take things one step further bringing events from literature to life with things that become literary traditions. These cult movements celebrate events in books by dragging them from the pages and celebrating them and they really show bookworms to be a breed apart when it comes to sheer dedication to the cause.

Today I've collected some of these weird and wonderful literary traditions together in one fascinating list, some of them are brilliant, many plainly weird but they all show the love that bookworms have for their fictional friends.

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9 Fascinating Cult Literary Traditions - For Reading Addicts

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You know you're a die hard fan when you get Dumbledore or Gandalf references into every conversation, but some bookworms take things one step further bringing events from literature to life with things that become literary traditions.

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10 Classic Christmas Carols and the Stories Behind Them | Interesting Literature

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10 Classic Christmas Carols and the Stories Behind Them | Interesting Literature

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'Tis the season to the jolly, so let's all sing a Christmas carol and enjoy a mince pie. No? Okay, how about you sit back with your mince pie and a glass of sherry, and we regale you with a few interesting facts about the literary origins and histories of some of the best-loved Christmas carols. We've included a link to a recording of each carol, should you wish to hear them - simply click on the carol's title to hear the merry notes ring out. What's your favourite Christmas carol?

Anonymous, 'Coventry Carol'. Dating from the early sixteenth century (its words were written down by one writer in 1534) and originally part of a mystery play called The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors, this carol was a favourite of local Coventry boy Philip Larkin, who chose it as one of his Desert Island Discs. The origins of the carol are dark: in the play, the carol is sung by the mothers of the slain innocents, the infant children whom Herod ordered to be killed. It's not the most famous Christmas carol, but its stirring quality, and its vintage (nearly half a millennium old), make it worth hearing.

Sabine Baring-Gould, 'Gabriel's Message'. This is a Basque Christmas carol dating from the middle ages, but its English words were first composed by Sabine Baring-Gould (better known for writing ' Onward Christian Soldiers') in the early twentieth century. Taking the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary as its theme, it's another stirring Christmas song of fine vintage that provides an alternative to the more jaunty and upbeat carols also featured on this list.

Mrs Cecil Alexander, 'Once in Royal David's City'. The lyrics to 'Once in Royal David's City' were written by the same woman, Mrs Cecil Alexander, who wrote the words to the hymn 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'. Alexander was born Miss Cecil Humphreys in Dublin in 1818, and married the Anglican clergyman William Alexander in 1850, two years after the publication of 'Once in Royal David's City' in 1848 in a hymnbook named Hymns for Little Children. It was set to music by composer Henry John Gauntlett when he read the poem, and liked it, a year later. The carol has traditionally been the first carol sung in the annual 'Carol's from King's' service at King's College Chapel in Cambridge. Indeed, for the last 95 years it has opened the service. Like many carols, the hymn takes the nativity (the 'lowly cattle-shed' where the infant Jesus was born) as its subject.

Christina Rossetti, 'In the Bleak Midwinter'. Victorian poet Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) composed the words to this, one of the finest Christmas carols in English: it was originally written as a poem titled 'A Christmas Carol', in 1872 - 29 years after Dickens's famous book of that name had been published. Rossetti died before it was even published, in 1904. Two years later it was first set to music: the most famous settings are by composers Harold Darke and Gustav Holst. We include 'In the Bleak Midwinter' in our pick of the ten best Christmas poems.

Anonymous, 'Away in a Manger'. When the lyrics to this carol were first published in 1884 in the Boston periodical The Myrtle, the writers attributed the original verses of the song to Protestant reformer Martin Luther, born in 1483. This is almost certainly not true - the words are found nowhere in Luther's surviving writings - and the lyrics were most probably a product of the nineteenth-century. Further verses were, at any rate, later added until the carol had taken the form it now has, by the early twentieth century. Another nativity scene focusing on the stable where Jesus Christ was born, this is among the most famous Christmas carols.

Nahum Tate, 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks'. Nahum Tate was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1692 until 1715; he is also remembered for giving Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear a happy ending. But his most enduring legacy was in the world of Christmas carols, as he penned the words to 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks', published in 1700. The poem/carol focuses on the visit from the Angel of the Lord to announce the birth of Christ.

Anonymous, 'The Holly and the Ivy'. Nobody knows who penned the words to this Christmas song; it is usually given the status 'traditional'. The words were certainly in print by the early nineteenth century. However, it is thought that it may have been composed as early as 1710, making it among the oldest, but also one of the best, classic Christmas carols. The song focuses on the traditional Christmas plants used to decorate the house at Christmas time. As such - and because holly was sacred to druids - the poem has more pagan connotations than many of the other carols on this list.

George Ratcliffe Woodward, 'Ding Dong Merrily on High'. Although the tune to this carol dates back to the sixteenth century, the words are of altogether more recent origin: Woodward (1848-1934) published the lyrics in 1924. At least, the English lyrics date from 1924; the original words were in Latin, pointing to the carol's possible pre-Reformation roots (i.e. early rather than later sixteenth century). The Latin origins survive as a relic in the line, ' Gloria, hosanna in excelsis '.

Charles Wesley, 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'. This carol was the work of Charles Wesley (1707-1788), the founder of the Methodist religious movement. It was published in 1739 in Hymns and Sacred Poems. When it firstg appeared it had the somewhat different opening line, 'Hark how all the Welkin rings.' Among the various composers who have set Wesley's lyrics to music are Felix Mendelssohn. This is another carol to take the birth of Jesus as its theme.

Anonymous, 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'. Little is known about the origins of this carol, usually taken to be a traditional wassail (drinking) song - certainly, it emphasises the 'eat, drink and be merry' side to the festive season. However, we do know that the song originated in the West Country, and probably arose out of the tradition of Christmas carol-singers being given tasty treats by rich neighbours on Christmas Eve. After the singers had regaled their wealthy patrons with a few songs, they would be rewarded with 'figgy pudding' - similar to our modern Christmas puddings.

What classic carol have we missed off this list? What are your favourite Christmas carols? If you'd like to discover more facts about the history behind classic Christmas carols, we recommend Mark Lawson-Jones's informative book, Why was the Partridge in the Pear Tree?: The History Of Christmas Carols .
Image (top): The Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1650, Wikimedia Commons. Image (bottom): 'Song of the Angels at the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour', better known as 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks', from A New version of the Psalms of David : fitted to the tunes used in churches, Wikimedia Commons.

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10 Classic Christmas Carols and the Stories Behind Them

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The ten best Christmas carols - and their interesting literary origins and meaning 'Tis the season to the jolly, so let's all sing a Christmas carol and enjoy a mince pie. No? Okay, how about you sit back with your mince pie and a glass of sherry, and we regale you with a few interesting...

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JANUARY

January 1 is ...First Foot Day and Z Day
January 2 is ...Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes It Day
January 3 is ...Festival of Sleep Day
January 4 is ...Trivia Day and Humiliation Day
January 5 is ...Bird Day
January 6 is ...Bean Day
January 7 is ...Old Rock Day
January 8 is ...National JoyGerm Day and Man Watcher's Day
January 9 is ... Play God Day
January 10 is ... Peculiar People Day
January 11 is ... National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day
January 12 is ... Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day
January 13 is ... Make Your Dream Come True Day and Blame Someone Else Day
January 14 is ... National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 15 is ... Hat Day
January 16 is ... Hot and Spicy Food International Day and National Nothing Day
January 17 is ... Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Day
January 18 is ... Winnie the Pooh Day
January 19 is ... National Popcorn Day
January 20 is ... National Buttercrunch Day
January 21 is ... National Hugging Day
January 22 is ... National Answer Your Cat's Question Day and National Blonde Brownie Day
January 23 is ... National Handwriting Day, National Pie Day, and Measure Your Feet Day
January 24 is ... Eskimo Pie Patent Day
January 25 is ... Opposite Day
January 26 is ... Australia Day
January 27 is ... Punch the Clock Day and Thomas Crapper Day More Info on Thomas Crapper Day January 28 is ... National Kazoo Day, Clash Day, Rattle Snake Round-Up Day
January 29 is ... National Cornchip Day
January 30 is ... Escape Day
January 31 is ... National Popcorn Day and Child Labor Day

FEBRUARY

February 1 is ... Serpent Day
February 2 is ... Purification Day
February 3 is ... Cordova Ice Worm Day
February 4 is ... Create A Vacuum Day
February 5 is ... Disaster Day
February 6 is ... Lame Duck Day
February 7 is ... Charles Dickens Day
February 8 is ... Kite Flying Day
February 9 is ... Toothache Day
February 10 is ... Umbrella Day
February 11 is ... White Tee-Shirt Day and Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
February 12 is ... National Plum Pudding Day
February 13 is ... Get A Different Name Day and Dream Your Sweet Day
February 14 is ... Ferris Wheel Day and National Heart to Heart Day
February 15 is ... National Gum Drop Day
February 16 is ... Do A Grouch A Favor Day
February 17 is ... Champion Crab Races Day
February 18 is ... National Battery Day
February 19 is ... National Chocolate Mint Day
February 20 is ... Hoodie Hoo DayMore Info on Hoodie Hoo Day
February 21 is ... Card Reading Day
February 22 is ... Be Humble Day
February 23 is ... International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
February 24 is ... National Tortilla Chip Day
February 25 is ... Pistol Patent Day (Samuel Colt)
February 26 is ... National Pistachio Day
February 27 is ... International Polar Bear Day
February 28 is ... Public Sleeping Day
February 29 is ... National Surf and Turf Day

MARCH

March 1 is ... National Pig Day and Peanut Butter Lover's Day
March 2 is ... Old Stuff Day
March 3 is ... I Want You To Be Happy Day, Peach Blossom Day and National Anthem Day
March 4 is ... Holy Experiment Day
March 5 is ... Multiple Personalities Day
March 6 is ... National Frozen Food Day
March 7 is ... National Crown Roast Of Pork Day
March 8 is ... Be Nasty Day
March 9 is ... Panic Day
March 10 is ... Festival Of Life In The Cracks Day
March 11 is ... Johnny Appleseed Day and Worship of Tools Day
March 12 is ... Alfred Hitchcock Day
March 13 is ... Jewel Day
March 14 is ... National Potato Chip Day
March 15 is ... Buzzard's Day and Everything You Think Is Wrong Day
March 16 is ... Everything You Do Is Right Day
March 17 is ... Submarine Day
March 18 is ... Supreme Sacrifice Day
March 19 is ... Poultry Day
March 20 is ... Proposal Day and Festival Of Extraterrestrial Abductions Day
March 21 is ... Fragrance Day
March 22 is ... National Goof-off Day
March 23 is ... National Organize Your Home Office Day and National Chip and Dip Day
March 24 is ... National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25 is ... Pecan Day and Waffle Day
March 26 is ... Make Up Your Own Holiday Day and Spinach Festival Day
March 27 is ... National "Joe" Day More Info on National "Joe" Day
March 28 is ... Something On A Stick Day
March 29 is ... Festival Of Smoke and Mirrors Day
March 30 is ... I Am In Control Day
March 31 is ... Bunsen Burner Day and National Clams On The Half Shell Day

APRIL

April 1 is ... One Cent Day
April 2 is ... National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
April 3 is ... Tweed Day and Don't Go To Work Unless It's Fun Day
April 4 is ... Tell-A-Lie Day
April 5 is ... Go For Broke Day
April 6 is ... Sorry Charlie Day More Info on Sorry Charlie Day
April 7 is ... No Housework Day
April 8 is ... All Is Ours Day
April 9 is ... Winston Churchill Day and Name Yourself Day
April 10 is ... Golfers Day
April 11 is ... Eight-Track Tape Day
April 12 is ... Look Up At The Sky Day
April 13 is ... Blame Somebody Else Day
April 14 is ... National Pecan Day
April 15 is ... Rubber Eraser Day
April 16 is ... National Stress Awareness Day and National Eggs Benedict Day
April 17 is ... National Cheeseball Day
April 18 is ... International Jugglers Day
April 19 is ... Garlic DayMore Info On Garlic
April 20 is ... Look Alike Day
April 21 is ... Kindergarten Day
April 22 is ... National Jelly Bean Day
April 23 is ... Read Me Day and World Laboratory Animal Day
April 24 is ... National Pigs In A Blanket Day
April 25 is ... National Zucchini Bread Day
April 26 is ... Richter Scale Day and National Pretzel Day
April 27 is ... Tell A Story Day
April 28 is ... Great Poetry Reading Day and Kiss-Your-Mate Day
April 29 is ... National Shrimp Scampi Day
April 30 is ... National Honesty Day

MAY

May 1 is ... Mother Goose Day and Save The Rhino Day
May 2 is ... Fire Day
May 3 is ... Lumpy Rug Day
May 4 is ... National Candied Orange Peel Day
May 5 is ... National Hoagie Day
May 6 is ... Beverage Day
May 7 is ... International Tuba Day, Paste Up Day, and National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
May 8 is ... No Socks Day and Have A Coke Day More Info on Coke
May 9 is ... Lost Sock Memorial Day
May 10 is ... Clean Up Your Room Day
May 11 is ... Eat What You Want Day and Twilight Zone Day
May 12 is ... Limerick Day
May 13 is ... Leprechaun Day
May 14 is ... National Dance Like A Chicken Day
May 15 is ... National Chocolate Chip Day
May 16 is ... Wear Purple For Peace Day
May 17 is ... Pack Rat Day
May 18 is ... International Museum Day and Visit Your Relatives Day
May 19 is ... Frog Jumping Jubilee Day
May 20 is ... Eliza Doolittle Day
May 21 is ... National Memo Day and National Waitresses/Waiters Day
May 22 is ... Buy-A-Musical-Instrument Day
May 23 is ... Penny Day
May 24 is ... National Escargot Day
May 25 is ... National Tap Dance Day
May 26 is ... Grey Day
May 27 is ... Body Painting Arts Festival
May 28 is ... National Hamburger Day
May 29 is ... End Of The Middle Ages Day
May 30 is ... My Bucket's Got A Hole In It Day
May 31 is ... National Macaroon Day

JUNE

June 1 is ... Dare Day
June 2 is ... National Rocky Road Day
June 3 is ... Repeat Day
June 4 is ... Old Maid's Day
June 5 is ... Festival Of Popular Delusions Day
June 6 is ... Teacher's Day and National Applesauce Cake Day
June 7 is ... National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 8 is ... Name Your Poison Day
June 9 is ... Donald Duck Day
June 10 is ... National Yo-Yo Day
June 11 is ... National Hug Holiday and King Kamehameha Day
June 12 is ... Machine Day
June 13 is ... National Juggling Day and Kitchen Klutzes Of America Day
June 14 is ... Pop Goes The Weasel Day
June 15 is ... Smile Power Day
June 16 is ... National Hollerin' Contest Day
June 17 is ... Watergate Day and Eat Your Vegetables Day
June 18 is ... International Panic Day
June 19 is ... World Sauntering Day
June 20 is ... Ice Cream Soda Day
June 21 is ...Cuckoo Warning Day More Info on Cuckoo Warning Day
June 22 is ... National Chocolate Eclair Day
June 23 is ... National Pink Day
June 24 is ... Museum Comes To Life Day
June 25 is ... Log Cabin Day
June 26 is ... National Chocolate Pudding Day
June 27 is ... National Columnists Day
June 28 is ... Paul Bunyan Day
June 29 is ... Camera Day
June 30 is ... Meteor Day

JULY

July 1 is ... Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day and Build A Scarecrow Day
July 2 is ... Visitation Of The Virgin Mary Day
July 3 is ... Stay Out Of The Sun Day and Compliment Your Mirror Day
July 4 is ... National Country Music Day and Tom Sawyer Fence-Painting Day
July 5 is ... Workaholics Day
July 6 is ... National Fried Chicken Day
July 7 is ... National Strawberry Sundae Day
July 8 is ... Video Games Day
July 9 is ... National Sugar Cookie Day
July 10 is ... Clerihew Day
July 11 is ... National Cheer Up The Lonely Day
July 12 is ... National Pecan Pie Day
July 13 is ... Fool's Paradise Day
July 14 is ... National Nude Day
July 15 is ... National Tapioca Pudding Day and Respect Canada Day
July 16 is ... International Juggling Day
July 17 is ... National Peach Ice Cream Day
July 18 is ... National Ice Cream Day and National Caviar Day
July 19 is ... Flitch Day
July 20 is ... Ugly Truck Contest Day
July 21 is ... National Tug-Of-War Tournament Day
July 22 is ... Ratcatcher's Day
July 23 is ... National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
July 24 is ... Amelia Earhart Day
July 25 is ... Threading The Needle Day
July 26 is ... All Or Nothing Day
July 27 is ... Take Your Pants For A Walk Day
July 28 is ... National Milk Chocolate Day
July 29 is ... Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day
July 30 is ... National Cheesecake Day
July 31 is ... Parent's Day

AUGUST

August 1 is ... Friendship Day and National Raspberry Cream Pie Day More Info on Pies
August 2 is ... National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
August 3 is ... National Watermelon Day
August 4 is ... Twins Day Festival
August 5 is ... National Mustard Day
August 6 is ... Wiggle Your Toes Day
August 7 is ... Sea Serpent Day
August 8 is ... Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night
August 9 is ... National Polka Festival
August 10 is ... Lazy Day
August 11 is ... Presidential Joke Day
August 12 is ... Middle Child's Day
August 13 is ... Blame Someone Else Day
August 14 is ... National Creamsicle Day
August 15 is ... National Relaxation Day and National Failures Day
August 16 is ... Bratwurst Festival
August 17 is ... National Thriftshop Day
August 18 is ... Bad Poetry Day
August 19 is ... Potato Day
August 20 is ... National Radio Day
August 21 is ... National Spumoni Day
August 22 is ... Be An Angel Day
August 23 is ... National Spongecake Day
August 24 is ... Knife Day
August 25 is ... Kiss-And-Make-Up Day
August 26 is ... National Cherry Popsicle Day
August 27 is ... Petroleum Day
August 28 is ... World Sauntering Day
August 29 is ... More Herbs, Less Salt Day
August 30 is ... National Toasted Marshmallow Day
August 31 is ... National Trail Mix Day

SEPTEMBER

September 1 is ... Emma M. Nutt Day
September 2 is ... National Beheading Day
September 3 is ... Skyscraper Day
September 4 is ... Newspaper Carrier Day
September 5 is ... Be Late For Something Day
September 6 is ... Fight Procrastination Day
September 7 is ... Neither Rain Nor Snow Day
September 8 is ... National Date Nut Bread Day and Pardon Day
September 9 is ... Teddy Bear Day
September 10 is ... Swap Ideas Day
September 11 is ... No News Is Good News Day
September 12 is ... National Pet Memorial Day and National Chocolate Milkshake Day
September 13 is ... Defy Superstition Day
September 14 is ... National Cream-filled Donut Day
September 15 is ... Felt Hat Day
September 16 is ... Stay Away From Seattle Day and Collect Rocks Day
September 17 is ... National Apple Dumpling Day
September 18 is ... National Play-doh Day
September 19 is ... National Butterscotch Pudding Day
September 20 is ... National Punch Day
September 21 is ... World Gratitude Day and International Banana Festival
September 22 is ... Hobbit Day and Dear Diary Day
September 23 is ... Checkers Day and Dogs In Politics Day
September 24 is ... Festival Of Latest Novelties
September 25 is ... National Comic Book Day
September 26 is ... National Good Neighbor Day and National Pancake Day
September 27 is ... Crush A Can Day
September 28 is ... Ask A Stupid Question Day More
September 29 is ... Poisoned Blackberries Day
September 30 is ... National Mud Pack Day

OCTOBER

October 1 is ... World Vegetarian Day and Magic Circles Day
October 2 is ... Name Your Car Day
October 3 is ... Virus Appreciation Day
October 4 is ... National Golf Day
October 5 is ... National Storytelling Festival
October 6 is ... German-American Day and Come and Take It Day
October 7 is ... National Frappe Day
October 8 is ... American Tag Day
October 9 is ... Moldy Cheese Day
October 10 is ... National Angel Food Cake Day
October 11 is ... It's My Party Day
October 12 is ... International Moment Of Frustration Scream Day
October 13 is ... National Peanut Festival
October 14 is ... Be Bald and Free Day and National Dessert Day
October 15 is ... White Cane Safety Day
October 16 is ... Dictionary Day
October 17 is ... Gaudy Day
October 18 is ... No Beard Day
October 19 is ... Evaluate Your Life Day
October 20 is ... National Brandied Fruit Day
October 21 is ... Babbling Day
October 22 is ... National Nut Day
October 23 is ... National Mole Day
October 24 is ... National Bologna Day
October 25 is ... Punk For A Day Day
October 26 is ... Mule Day
October 27 is ... Sylvia Plath Day
October 28 is ... Plush Animal Lover's Day and National Chocolate Day More Info On Chocolate
October 29 is ... Hermit Day
October 30 is ... National Candy Corn Day
October 31 is ... National Magic Day and Increase Your Pyschic Powers Day

NOVEMBER

November 1 is ... Plan Your Epitaph Day
November 2 is ... National Deviled Egg Day
November 3 is ... Sandwich Day and Housewife's Day
November 4 is ... Waiting For The Barbarians Day
November 5 is ... Gunpowder Day
November 6 is ... Saxophone Day and Marooned Without A Compass Day
November 7 is ... National Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day
November 8 is ... Dunce Day
November 9 is ... Chaos Never Dies Day
November 10 is ... Forget-Me-Not Day
November 11 is ... Air Day
November 12 is ... National Pizza With The Works Except Anchovies Day
November 13 is ... National Indian Pudding Day
November 14 is ... Operation Room Nurse Day
November 15 is ... National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
November 16 is ... Button Day
November 17 is ... Take A Hike Day
November 18 is ... Occult Day
November 19 is ... Have A Bad Day Day
November 20 is ... Absurdity Day
November 21 is ... World Hello Day and False Confessions Day
November 22 is ... Start Your Own Country Day
November 23 is ... National Cashew Day
November 24 is ... Use Even If Seal Is Broken Day
November 25 is ... National Parfait Day
November 26 is ... Shopping Reminder Day
November 27 is ... Pins And Needles Day
November 28 is ... Make Your Own Head Day
November 29 is ... Square Dance Day
November 30 is ... Stay At Home Because You're Well Day

DECEMBER

December 1 is ... National Pie Day and Eat A Red Apple Day
December 2 is ... National Fritters Day
December 3 is ... National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
December 4 is ... Wear Brown Shoes Day
December 5 is ... National Sacher Torte Day
December 6 is ... National Gazpacho Day and Mitten Tree Day
December 7 is ... National Cotton Candy Day
December 8 is ... Take It In The Ear Day
December 9 is ... National Pastry Day
December 10 is ... Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales
December 11 is ... National Noodle Ring Day
December 12 is ... National Ding-A-Ling Day
December 13 is ... Ice Cream and Violins Day
December 14 is ... National Bouillabaisse Day
December 15 is ... National Lemon Cupcake Day
December 16 is ... National Chocolate Covered Anything Day More Info on Chocolate
December 17 is ... Underdog Day and National Maple Syrup Day
December 18 is ... National Roast Suckling Pig Day
December 19 is ... Oatmeal Muffin Day
December 20 is ... Games Day
December 21 is ... Look At The Bright Side Day, National Flashlight Day, National French Fried Shrimp Day, and Hamburger Day
December 22 is ... National Date-Nut Bread Day
December 23 is ... Roots Day
December 24 is ... National Egg Nog Day
December 25 is ... National Pumpkin Pie Day
December 26 is ... National Whiners Day
December 27 is ... National Fruitcake Day
December 28 is ... Card Playing Day and National Chocolate Day
December 29 is ... Pepper Pot Day
December 30 is ... Festival Of Enormous Changes At The Last Minute and National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day
December 31 is ... Unlucky Day

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January 1 is ...First Foot Day and Z Day January 2 is ...Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes It Day January 3 is ...Festival of Sleep Day January 4 is ...Trivia Day and Humiliation Day January 5 is ...Bird Day January 6 is ...Bean Day January 7 is ...Old Rock Day January 8 is ...National JoyGerm Day and Man Watcher's Day January 9 is ...

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: March 17th is St Patrick's Day: 33 Cool Resources

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: March 17th is St Patrick's Day: 33 Cool Resources

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RESOURCES
10 Things You Didn't Know About St. Patrick's Day- from TIME

A Brief History of St. Patrick's Day- slideshow from TIME

Facts, Pictures, Meanings and Videos- from History.com

St. Patrick's Day Fast Facts: Beyond the Blarney- from National Geographic

St. Patrick's Day Clip Art

TeacherVision's Resources- includes articles, printables

The Three Leprechauns- animated story written by a ten year old boy named Billy

WatchKnow Videos- filter by age

ACTIVITIES / LESSON PLANS / PRINTABLES
A Day in the Life of a Leprechaun- from TeAchnology

Colleen and the Leprechaun- based on the book with that title

ESL St. Patrick's Day Lesson- from El Civics

ESL Vocabulary Quiz- fill in the blanks

Fun With the Leprechauns!- for first graders

Green Food Graph- from TeAchnology

PowerPoints for St. Patrick's Day

Shamrock Pattern- print and kids can cut it out and color it

Shamrock Spelling- grades K-2

St. Patrick's Day Crafts- nice listing of ideas

St. Patrick's Day Lessons and Irish Heritage Month Resources- art, language arts, math, science, social science and other areas for lessons

St. Patrick's Day Linky Party- many printables on this page

St. Patrick's Day Printable Fun

Talking Book About Ireland- created by a sixth grade class
Teacher Planet's Lesson Plans

GAMES / QUIZZES
Click and Drag Puzzles

Games and Activities- jokes, riddles, mazes, coloring book pages, matching games, much more

The Pot of Gold Game

St. Patrick's Day Hangman

St. Patrick's Day Matching Exercise

St. Patrick's Day Quiz

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March 17th is St Patrick's Day: 33 Cool Resources

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RESOURCES 10 Things You Didn't Know About St. Patrick's Day- from TIME A Brief History of St. Patrick's Day- slideshow from TIME Facts, Pictures, Meanings and Videos- from History.com St. Patrick's Day Fast Facts: Beyond the Blarney- from National Geographic St.

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: Valentine's Day is February 14th: 36 Websites to Share the Love

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: Valentine's Day is February 14th: 36 Websites to Share the Love

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Valentine's Day is February 14th: 36 Websites to Share the Love

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Elementary school teachers take note: your search for ideas and activities has ended. I have collected a list of worksheets, activities,...

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 23 Wonderful Sites to Teach Children About the Chinese New Year

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 23 Wonderful Sites to Teach Children About the Chinese New Year

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Friday, January 31, 2014 marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse for the Chinese New Year. According to the site China Highlights, those born under this Chinese zodiac sign " are extremely animated, active and energetic. Horses love to be in a crowd, and they can usually be seen in such occasions as concerts, theaters, meetings, sporting occasions, and parties." When I was in elementary school in New York City, our class made a trip to Chinatown to watch the Chinese New Year celebration. Complete with firecrackers and a large dragon, the parade marched up and down the streets. It was exciting, and at times a little scary for this then second grader. NOTE: This list can also be found under Holiday Resources from September to June

China Coloring Pages - color or black and white printables

Chinese Dragons- lesson plan from Kinderart
Chinese Lion Paper Bag Puppet

Chinese New Year- lesson plans, activities, printables

Chinese New Year Activities and Crafts for Preschool and Kindergarten
Chinese New Year Coloring Pages- from DLTK
Chinese New Year Crafts for Children- Pinterest board Chinese New Year Games and Activities- from Apples4theTeacher

Chinese New Year Traditions and Symbols- History.com has lots of stuff here, including articles and videos Chinese New Year's Celebration- coloring sheet for primary grades

Chinese Zodiac Coloring Pages- for ages 3-8 Crafts and Activities For Chinese New Year- from Enchanted Learning

Lions, Dragons and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year- EDSITEment lesson plan
The Teacher's Guide to Chinese New Year

Vocabulary, Games, Worksheets and Online Exercises- for ESL students
WatchKnowLearn Videos- filtered by age level Chinese New Year Recipes- from Food Network

Chinese New Year Recipes For Kids- from Nick jr.

Chinese New Year Symbols- printables

Chinese New Year Teacher Resources - from TeacherVision
Chinese New Year- activities, lessons, clip art

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23 Wonderful Sites to Teach Children About the Chinese New Year

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Friday, January 31, 2014 marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse for the Chinese New Year. According to the site China Highlights, those born under this Chinese zodiac sign " are extremely animated, active and energetic. Horses love to be in a crowd, and they can usually be seen in such occasions as concerts, theaters, meetings, sporting occasions, and parties."

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 24 Resources for Thanksgiving

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 24 Resources for Thanksgiving

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AOK Teacher - coloring pages, arts and crafts activities A to Z Teacher Stuff Apples 4 the Teacher - coloring pages with cute c...

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: Mother's Day: 34 Places to Find Everything From Its History to Crafts and Activities

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: Mother's Day: 34 Places to Find Everything From Its History to Crafts and Activities

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ACTIVITIES, LESSON PLANS, PRINTABLES
15 Mother's Day Cards- from Spoonful; you can save the templates if you sign up for an account
Children's Mother's Day Poems- includes rhymes for Mother's Day
Mother's Day Craft Project
Mother's Day Crafts- 9 projects listed

Mother's Day Crafts and Activities- from DLTK; includes, cards, puzzles, coloring pages, puzzles and much more Mother's Day Crafts and Activities for Kids- from Danielle's Place
Mother's Day Mazes, Stories- download books (PDF) or read online
Mother's Day Memory Book Ideas- from eHow
Mother's Day Printables- 2 sets include word search, puzzles, word unscramble; second set HERE Mother's Day Teacher Resources- includes worksheets, puzzles, activities; from TeacherVision

Paper Flowers Project
Pre-School Activities and Crafts
37th Annual Mother's Day Pow Wow- slide show about how Native Americans celebrate the holiday ABOUT MOTHER'S DAY

Amazing Moms of the Animal Kingdom- TIME slideshow
The Best and Worst Countries to Be a Mother- interactive map
Cartoons About Mother's Day- from NBC News

Happy Mother's Day, Dear Dragon- early reader can read this story online

Meet the Founder, and Fighter of Mother's Day- story of Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother's Day

Mother's Day Videos- from WatchKnowLearn; for ages 3-18 ( videos labeled by age level)

Remembering Nana on Mother's Day- NY Times slide show
Teacher Guide to Mother's Day- from TeAchnology

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Mother's Day: 34 Places to Find Everything From Its History to Crafts and Activities

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ACTIVITIES, LESSON PLANS, PRINTABLES 15 Mother's Day Cards- from Spoonful; you can save the templates if you sign up for an account Children's Mother's Day Poems- includes rhymes for Mother's Day Mother's Day Craft Project Mother's Day Crafts- 9 projects listed Mother's Day Crafts and Activities- from DLTK; includes, cards,

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 30 Resources for Father's Day

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A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet: 30 Resources for Father's Day

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50 Super Awesome Free Father's Day Printables - includes cupcake toppers, coupon book, token tin 101 Free Father's Day Printables A...