Low key rituals for minor holidays?
November 5, 2015 1:46 PM Subscribe
I work long hours and I frequently get so caught up in work plus basic staying afloat with relationships and errands and life maintenance tasks that I feel like whole seasons pass without my really having noticed, despite the fact I really love holidays and seasonal celebrations. To counteract this I have been looking for minimalist ways to commemorate various special days so that I am more aware of time passing.
Things I have been doing already and like: watch the "I have a dream" speech on Martin Luther King day; watch the movie Groundhog Day on, well, Groundhog Day; read the Constitution on Constitution Day; make pancakes on Mardi Gras. I have also been acquiring more seasonal decorations and seasonal t-shirts since those make me happy. Ideal activities would 1. require little or no prep time on or before the day itself (other than maybe a grocery store trip to buy ingredients for a particular food); 2. not require much time commitment; and 3. be something I can enjoy by myself (Mr. Jay not being a big holiday person) but also scale well to include friends. I am in the US but open to ideas for holidays not traditionally celebrated here, as well. I am more looking to add more different festive dates/traditions to my annual calendar but if you have much loved small traditions for the upcoming big holidays I'd like to hear those too.
Things I have been doing already and like: watch the "I have a dream" speech on Martin Luther King day; watch the movie Groundhog Day on, well, Groundhog Day; read the Constitution on Constitution Day; make pancakes on Mardi Gras. I have also been acquiring more seasonal decorations and seasonal t-shirts since those make me happy. Ideal activities would 1. require little or no prep time on or before the day itself (other than maybe a grocery store trip to buy ingredients for a particular food); 2. not require much time commitment; and 3. be something I can enjoy by myself (Mr. Jay not being a big holiday person) but also scale well to include friends. I am in the US but open to ideas for holidays not traditionally celebrated here, as well. I am more looking to add more different festive dates/traditions to my annual calendar but if you have much loved small traditions for the upcoming big holidays I'd like to hear those too.
Best answer: (This is a thing that doesn't really apply to one holiday but rather toward making otherwise ordinary days special, but I still think it's festive and in the spirit of your question so I am telling you about it.)
In my family growing up we had the red plate. Obviously you got to use the red plate for dinner if it was your birthday, but also other times - good report card, graduation, promotion at work, etc. - and as a kid I was always really excited when it showed up in my spot at the dinner table. I finally got one this year for myself, even though my household is just me and my husband, and obviously we are adults who do the deciding of when we get to use it. Somehow, though, it's still always exciting! I think everyone should have one.
posted by something something at 2:12 PM on November 5, 2015 [29 favorites]
In my family growing up we had the red plate. Obviously you got to use the red plate for dinner if it was your birthday, but also other times - good report card, graduation, promotion at work, etc. - and as a kid I was always really excited when it showed up in my spot at the dinner table. I finally got one this year for myself, even though my household is just me and my husband, and obviously we are adults who do the deciding of when we get to use it. Somehow, though, it's still always exciting! I think everyone should have one.
posted by something something at 2:12 PM on November 5, 2015 [29 favorites]
1. Festive breakfasts for weekday/workday holidays (Valentine's, St. Patrick's etc) Simple decorations, themed foods, a nice way to add some fun to a Wednesday (or whatever).
2. Decorating generally - it's hokey but really pleasing to set out a pumpkin or hang a cardboard heart on your front door.
3. Finding local festivals and putting them on your calendar. We get excited for a local Greek fest at a big church, for example. And I am all about the Honk! Festival. Look for banners and flyers on store windows; most towns have their own minor holidays.
4. I have sometimes made a British-style Christmas pudding on "Stir-up Sunday", which I think I read about in a Nigella Lawson cookbook. This is kind of a big commitment in terms of shopping, cooking, and then deciding to eat the thing weeks in advance.
5. I have tried to institute a "Happy New Year" celebration at work at the beginning of our fiscal year, but everyone just groans when I suggest it. Still, it's an opportunity to celebrate!
I will watch this space for more ideas; I love this kind of thing!
posted by chocotaco at 2:14 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
2. Decorating generally - it's hokey but really pleasing to set out a pumpkin or hang a cardboard heart on your front door.
3. Finding local festivals and putting them on your calendar. We get excited for a local Greek fest at a big church, for example. And I am all about the Honk! Festival. Look for banners and flyers on store windows; most towns have their own minor holidays.
4. I have sometimes made a British-style Christmas pudding on "Stir-up Sunday", which I think I read about in a Nigella Lawson cookbook. This is kind of a big commitment in terms of shopping, cooking, and then deciding to eat the thing weeks in advance.
5. I have tried to institute a "Happy New Year" celebration at work at the beginning of our fiscal year, but everyone just groans when I suggest it. Still, it's an opportunity to celebrate!
I will watch this space for more ideas; I love this kind of thing!
posted by chocotaco at 2:14 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
This seems like the perfect application of an advent calendar. They make ones oriented towards adults that don't depend on candy; I have made my own based off of this one from David's Tea.
You could also read the Emancipation Proclamation on Juneteenth and the Declaration of Independence on July 4th.
posted by topophilia at 2:15 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
You could also read the Emancipation Proclamation on Juneteenth and the Declaration of Independence on July 4th.
posted by topophilia at 2:15 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
The Castro Theater in San Francisco always screens Milk on Harvey Milk's birthday and It's a Wonderful Life sometime in the week between Christmas and New Year's and I try to make a point of going to both - if there's a similarly old-timey/community-oriented movie theater near you, maybe they also have some fun annual traditions?
posted by sunset in snow country at 2:24 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by sunset in snow country at 2:24 PM on November 5, 2015
Listen to Alice's Restaurant on Thanksgiving.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:30 PM on November 5, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:30 PM on November 5, 2015 [14 favorites]
Memorial Day - wear white.
Summer solstice - buy a bouquet of summer flowers. (We almost never buy bouquets.)
I'm Chinese so:
Mid-autumn festival - eat store bought moon cakes. (Any Asian grocery store would have them.)
Chinese New Year - buy new clothes and/or give kids money. (Mostly, buy new clothes. Or rather, wear a piece of clothing that I probably already bought.)
posted by ethidda at 2:30 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Summer solstice - buy a bouquet of summer flowers. (We almost never buy bouquets.)
I'm Chinese so:
Mid-autumn festival - eat store bought moon cakes. (Any Asian grocery store would have them.)
Chinese New Year - buy new clothes and/or give kids money. (Mostly, buy new clothes. Or rather, wear a piece of clothing that I probably already bought.)
posted by ethidda at 2:30 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
My husband and I have a rule that if we watch any movie between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it must be a Christmas movie (even if just vaguely/tangentially like Die Hard). It takes the stress out of choosing what to watch, it's fun, and it helps countdown to xmas.
St. Patrick's Day - Guinness, corned beef and cabbage
Labor Day - watch Norma Rae
Tax Day - many places give out freebies - Ben & Jerry's, McDonalds, etc.; it also happens to be nat'l eggs benedict day
Pi Day - eat pie, recite (some of) the digits of pi, walk/run 3.14mi
posted by melissasaurus at 2:32 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
St. Patrick's Day - Guinness, corned beef and cabbage
Labor Day - watch Norma Rae
Tax Day - many places give out freebies - Ben & Jerry's, McDonalds, etc.; it also happens to be nat'l eggs benedict day
Pi Day - eat pie, recite (some of) the digits of pi, walk/run 3.14mi
posted by melissasaurus at 2:32 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I consider the day after Thanksgiving "Life Day" and watch the Star Wars Holiday Special. It's just as spirit-destroying as going out shopping, but cheaper and with less road rage.
You don't mention your birthday, or your spouse's birthday - you could always make a big enjoyable fuss out of those, if you don't already.
posted by tomboko at 2:37 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
You don't mention your birthday, or your spouse's birthday - you could always make a big enjoyable fuss out of those, if you don't already.
posted by tomboko at 2:37 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
- Watch "1776" on the Fourth of July.
- Go for a walk or hike somewhere in nature on New Year's Day (and Earth Day?).
- Go out and look at the stars on Yuri's Night.
posted by wintersweet at 2:49 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
- Go for a walk or hike somewhere in nature on New Year's Day (and Earth Day?).
- Go out and look at the stars on Yuri's Night.
posted by wintersweet at 2:49 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Get an advent Calendar for the countdown to Christmas, take turns with your partner opening the little doors. Hubby & I have the Lego one this year, and we're as excited as little kids waiting to start opening it.
posted by wwax at 3:27 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by wwax at 3:27 PM on November 5, 2015
Do you live somewhere where it snows? My family always celebrated First Snow with cheese fondue for dinner.
posted by Daily Alice at 3:30 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Daily Alice at 3:30 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Some ideas for Arbor Day
May Day - anonymously leave a small basket of treats or flowers on a friend's doorstep. If there are Morris dancers in your city/town, they might have a performance specifically for May Day. (More traditions in Wikipedia.) Or if you want to celebrate May Day as International Workers' Day, march for workers' rights or write a letter to your congresscreature.
Unless it's raining, I celebrate summer solstice with drinks on a patio and watch the sun go down. That tradition has extended to the last day of summer too.
We celebrate February 14 as Anti-Valentine's Day with unromantic activities like a trip to Ikea or inviting friends over for horror movies and grilled cheese sandwiches. Last year we went to a dive bar, but it got crashed by a wedding party so we had to leave. On the way to the next bar we saw a car fire. About as unromantic as you can get.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 3:31 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
May Day - anonymously leave a small basket of treats or flowers on a friend's doorstep. If there are Morris dancers in your city/town, they might have a performance specifically for May Day. (More traditions in Wikipedia.) Or if you want to celebrate May Day as International Workers' Day, march for workers' rights or write a letter to your congresscreature.
Unless it's raining, I celebrate summer solstice with drinks on a patio and watch the sun go down. That tradition has extended to the last day of summer too.
We celebrate February 14 as Anti-Valentine's Day with unromantic activities like a trip to Ikea or inviting friends over for horror movies and grilled cheese sandwiches. Last year we went to a dive bar, but it got crashed by a wedding party so we had to leave. On the way to the next bar we saw a car fire. About as unromantic as you can get.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 3:31 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you're looking for other small occasions to celebrate, Chase's Calendar of Events is the resource you want.
posted by Daily Alice at 3:35 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by Daily Alice at 3:35 PM on November 5, 2015
Blue moons and eclipses are very big in my family. When my sisters and I are not together, we call or text when a moon thing is happening, and take pictures of the moon where we are. When we are together, we'll do something like go out for a swim under the moon.
posted by BibiRose at 3:48 PM on November 5, 2015
posted by BibiRose at 3:48 PM on November 5, 2015
Best answer: My family puts together a puzzle of a map of native American tribes on Columbus Day, and has a special dessert every full moon.
posted by metasarah at 3:51 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by metasarah at 3:51 PM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
seasparrow suggested the excellent ECOlogical Calendar as a way to be in touch with the seasons' changes on a daily basis. It is lovely, useful, and packed with facts about changes in the natural world over the weeks. While it doesn't highlight holidays or special days, it is grounding in how it shows the passing of days, and may suggest celebrations (meteor shower-watching! party for the appearance of a planet in the night sky!).
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:06 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:06 PM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
I like candles in the dark time of the year -- not scented ones, just pretty ones, on the table at dinner or lit in the kitchen while I'm cooking. Changing those out throughout late fall, winter, early spring helps me feel connected to things. We have some dark orange ones going now; I just moved the black ones we used for Halloween.
posted by linettasky at 4:35 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by linettasky at 4:35 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
One year, none of my friends (in Toronto and Chicago) went home (to BC) for Christmas, so on the 25th we had a Skype event called Shitty Depressing Christmas. We all had piss-poor Santa ornaments, wilted wreaths, etc., and tried to outdo each other on the shittiness factor. It was a really enjoyable Christmas.
posted by Beardman at 7:01 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Beardman at 7:01 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
Use a small table for a home altar, and celebrate the Wheel of the Year by changing out the decorations.
You don't have to go all out with God and Goddess statues if you're not religious. I just change mine out with each passing season with different colors of altar cloth & candles and whatever interesting little tchotchkes I've picked up from the thrift store that embody the feel of the current season for me. Right now I've got a burnished gold pumpkin and items such as owl statue, gold pine cone, oak leaf and acorn candle ring, and several candles on a brown and gold cloth (remnants I picked up at the fabric store and left unhemmed.) Flowers are nice on an altar too, but I never bother because the stupid cat would just knock all the shit off my table trying to get at them, because she's a bad person.
I do think candles make everything a little more special, so I usually have some going whenever I want to cozy up my place or make it feel like an occasion.
And yeah, festive food. I don't love to cook, but I will bring home cider and donuts to celebrate fall, candy corn for Halloween, eggnog for Christmas, that sort of thing.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:22 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
You don't have to go all out with God and Goddess statues if you're not religious. I just change mine out with each passing season with different colors of altar cloth & candles and whatever interesting little tchotchkes I've picked up from the thrift store that embody the feel of the current season for me. Right now I've got a burnished gold pumpkin and items such as owl statue, gold pine cone, oak leaf and acorn candle ring, and several candles on a brown and gold cloth (remnants I picked up at the fabric store and left unhemmed.) Flowers are nice on an altar too, but I never bother because the stupid cat would just knock all the shit off my table trying to get at them, because she's a bad person.
I do think candles make everything a little more special, so I usually have some going whenever I want to cozy up my place or make it feel like an occasion.
And yeah, festive food. I don't love to cook, but I will bring home cider and donuts to celebrate fall, candy corn for Halloween, eggnog for Christmas, that sort of thing.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:22 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
I really love to celebrate "National Day of . . . " or "X" Days like Pi Day. (and worldwide ones, too!) I've got Days that have special meaning for me marked on my calendar, and it's so easy to celebrate them in simple ways because they're already themed for you. So something like National Take a Hike Day (Nov. 17) I'll take a hike. On National Day of STEM I'm volunteering at a school. On National French Toast Day (Nov. 28) I'll eat French toast. Food ones are especially easy and simple - National Cocoa Day is coming up, and I save especially delicious hot cocoa recipes all year long for that day. On Human Rights Day (in Dec.) I'll donate to Amnesty Intl or the ACLU; there's a few other days where I celebrate with a donation. Just last month I celebrated National Fossil Day by going to a museum, and Ada Lovelace Day with some volunteering and a cake. I'm big on natural history and food and STEM like things, but there's lots of days that can suit lots of interests.
There's also natural event days that happen every year like the solstice, or various meteor showers, as well as "only time in 20 year" type astronomical events; I mark some of those, too, and it's easy to celebrate with simple things like, you know, watching the meteor shower. (The Geminids are coming in December!) I like to celebrate the solstices by making a special effort to watch the sun rise and the sun set, for another example.
I don't do it every day or even every week, but it's a fun little way of reminding myself that the world is wonderful and varied and there's a lot of things to love, celebrate, and support.
posted by barchan at 7:40 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
There's also natural event days that happen every year like the solstice, or various meteor showers, as well as "only time in 20 year" type astronomical events; I mark some of those, too, and it's easy to celebrate with simple things like, you know, watching the meteor shower. (The Geminids are coming in December!) I like to celebrate the solstices by making a special effort to watch the sun rise and the sun set, for another example.
I don't do it every day or even every week, but it's a fun little way of reminding myself that the world is wonderful and varied and there's a lot of things to love, celebrate, and support.
posted by barchan at 7:40 PM on November 5, 2015 [4 favorites]
Oh man, paint your nails.
Check out /r/redditlaqueristas for ideas: halloween, autumnal equinox, xmas, winter solstice, thanksgiving, vernal equinox, fourth of july, pi day.
If you want lower key than that, just pick an amazing polish that kinda matches the time of year/occasion.
posted by moons in june at 8:39 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Check out /r/redditlaqueristas for ideas: halloween, autumnal equinox, xmas, winter solstice, thanksgiving, vernal equinox, fourth of july, pi day.
If you want lower key than that, just pick an amazing polish that kinda matches the time of year/occasion.
posted by moons in june at 8:39 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
If you are interested in keeping a visual journal, I recommend this book. She gives you prompts to do a little bit of art in a calendar turned journal every day/week and they are loosely seasonally themed. Plus there are other prompts like "draw the weather today" or "what is the color of the day?" or the "word of the day". It's a little bit of record-keeping with some seasonal mindfulness mixed in with a little bit of art-making.
posted by sarajane at 4:23 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by sarajane at 4:23 AM on November 6, 2015
It's fun to frequently change up a visual element of the house. It may be dorky, but we have a sign with our surname for the front door, and a dozen different things to hang of the bottom of the sign depending on the season: an American flag for June & July, an Easter egg, a pumpkin, et al.
Similarly, I got hold of a set of glass markers recently, and it was neat to draw something -- a giant pumpkin and "Happy Halloween!" -- temporarily on the big sliding glass doors to the deck. Now that I have made sure it cleans off easily, I want to start surprising people with notes ("good grades!" "Welcome to spring" "Way to go on that race!" "Happy new year!") from time to time.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:06 AM on November 6, 2015
Similarly, I got hold of a set of glass markers recently, and it was neat to draw something -- a giant pumpkin and "Happy Halloween!" -- temporarily on the big sliding glass doors to the deck. Now that I have made sure it cleans off easily, I want to start surprising people with notes ("good grades!" "Welcome to spring" "Way to go on that race!" "Happy new year!") from time to time.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:06 AM on November 6, 2015
There are various British rituals about saying "rabbits", "white rabbits" or "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit" on the first day of the month; either shouting it as soon as you are awake, or making sure it is the first thing that you say to the first person you see that day. We did this diligently in my family when I was a child, and coming downstairs once a month to be greeted with the rest of the family greeting you with the word "rabbits" seemed surprisingly more normal than it seems in retrospect. We had some rule about when it was "white rabbits", rather than just "rabbits'; I think this was when there was an "r" in the month, but I might be wrong.
posted by Jabberwocky at 11:10 AM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Jabberwocky at 11:10 AM on November 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
My friends always have solstice parties that everyone in our group looks forward to. They generally involve a bonfire and a celebration of light or darkness, as the case may be.
Also, it's not a holiday per se, but I always try and have an event where I'm getting out of town with friends and family on the calendar. I'll often plan a 3-day weekend something like six months out, just so that every time I scan forward on my calendar I see the event pop up and think "yay! A fun thing that is happening in the future!"
posted by craven_morhead at 11:25 AM on November 6, 2015
Also, it's not a holiday per se, but I always try and have an event where I'm getting out of town with friends and family on the calendar. I'll often plan a 3-day weekend something like six months out, just so that every time I scan forward on my calendar I see the event pop up and think "yay! A fun thing that is happening in the future!"
posted by craven_morhead at 11:25 AM on November 6, 2015
Best answer: In the line of appropriate readings, I like to read the Gettysburg Address on Memorial Day. It wasn't originally delivered on Memorial Day, but it fits the spirit of the day.
There's also the Vonnegut passage about Veteran's Armistice Day.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:05 PM on November 6, 2015
There's also the Vonnegut passage about
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:05 PM on November 6, 2015
Gretchen Rubin talks about minor holiday breakfasts in her house as a fun way to celebrate holidays (can't remember which of her books, but one in her her "happier" series I think). So, for St. Patrick's day you might put green food coloring in your eggs and have green eggs and ham, or for Valentine's Day you might have pink foods for breakfast like a pink smoothie and strawberries.
posted by rainbowbrite at 7:03 PM on November 6, 2015
posted by rainbowbrite at 7:03 PM on November 6, 2015
Best answer: This is pretty much what I live for, so I've taken some time to think about it. They key is to put them on your calendar, so you don't miss them as they pass, and you have time to think about how to celebrate.
I flatly refuse to end Christmas until Epiphany on January 6. My favorite version of that celebration is a communal Burning of the Greens (Christmas trees, etc.). In any case, that's the day to get rid of them.
I've heard that some people celebrate MLK day with a Day of Service. There are also plenty of readings you could do for that day (Letter from Birmingham Jail comes to mind). You should definitely plant something on Arbor Day, even if it's just herbs in a windowbox. Pick up litter or work in a community garden on Earth Day. Election Day and Veterans' Day also call out for service-based celebrations.
Burns' Night is January 25. There are lots of ways to celebrate, but at least go with wearing plaid.
I love to celebrate Lunar New Year. There's a post here with some ideas I've used--pressed for time, you could even just get Chinese takeout.
Whether or not you watch the Super Bowl, you could make a point of eating foods from the competing cities.
Presidents Day calls for cherry pie, at least. There's also the John Adams miniseries with Paul Giamatti (usu avail on Netflix).
March 1 is celebrated in the UK as St. David's Day, with purchases of daffodils.
Your state probably has a Day, right? That's something to celebrate.
I've heard that in Spain, Cervantes' birthday (4/23) is celebrated by giving someone a book with a rose in it. I've also heard of celebrating Bloomsday (6/16) with a pub crawl. You should, in any case, celebrate your favorite author's birthday.
April is poetry month. Don't let it pass without digging into some poems.
Talk Like a Pirate Day is an excellent one to celebrate. You could listen to sea chanteys, drink a Dark & Stormy (or grog). I make Pirate Pasta, which is like a baked ziti, except penne=spyglasses and mini meatballs=cannon balls.
You can celebrate Columbus Day without guilt by just celebrating Italian culture. Spaghetti dinner with friends, maybe.
On my sister's birthday, everyone in the family wears purple, no matter where we are in the world, because it's her favorite color.
On Veteran's Day you could do like the English and wear a red poppy.
There was a movement for a while to celebrate Buy Nothing Day on what is also known as Black Friday. I like to spend the day with my Granny, pulling out her Christmas decorations.
This book is full of ideas along these lines.
posted by Jane Austen at 6:39 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
I flatly refuse to end Christmas until Epiphany on January 6. My favorite version of that celebration is a communal Burning of the Greens (Christmas trees, etc.). In any case, that's the day to get rid of them.
I've heard that some people celebrate MLK day with a Day of Service. There are also plenty of readings you could do for that day (Letter from Birmingham Jail comes to mind). You should definitely plant something on Arbor Day, even if it's just herbs in a windowbox. Pick up litter or work in a community garden on Earth Day. Election Day and Veterans' Day also call out for service-based celebrations.
Burns' Night is January 25. There are lots of ways to celebrate, but at least go with wearing plaid.
I love to celebrate Lunar New Year. There's a post here with some ideas I've used--pressed for time, you could even just get Chinese takeout.
Whether or not you watch the Super Bowl, you could make a point of eating foods from the competing cities.
Presidents Day calls for cherry pie, at least. There's also the John Adams miniseries with Paul Giamatti (usu avail on Netflix).
March 1 is celebrated in the UK as St. David's Day, with purchases of daffodils.
Your state probably has a Day, right? That's something to celebrate.
I've heard that in Spain, Cervantes' birthday (4/23) is celebrated by giving someone a book with a rose in it. I've also heard of celebrating Bloomsday (6/16) with a pub crawl. You should, in any case, celebrate your favorite author's birthday.
April is poetry month. Don't let it pass without digging into some poems.
Talk Like a Pirate Day is an excellent one to celebrate. You could listen to sea chanteys, drink a Dark & Stormy (or grog). I make Pirate Pasta, which is like a baked ziti, except penne=spyglasses and mini meatballs=cannon balls.
You can celebrate Columbus Day without guilt by just celebrating Italian culture. Spaghetti dinner with friends, maybe.
On my sister's birthday, everyone in the family wears purple, no matter where we are in the world, because it's her favorite color.
On Veteran's Day you could do like the English and wear a red poppy.
There was a movement for a while to celebrate Buy Nothing Day on what is also known as Black Friday. I like to spend the day with my Granny, pulling out her Christmas decorations.
This book is full of ideas along these lines.
posted by Jane Austen at 6:39 AM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Candletime! It's going on right now. "Candletime runs from November 1 through the day before American Thanksgiving (November 25th this year)." You light a candle each evening when you get home from work (or in our case, when you get the kids in bed) and sit with a special beverage and feel cozy and contented, for at least a few seconds. I like to pick out a dedicated candle used only for Candletime, but that's certainly not required.
posted by ejvalentine at 6:58 PM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ejvalentine at 6:58 PM on November 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Today is Carl Sagan Day, take three and a half minutes to celebrate thusly...
(...then binge-watch Cosmos!)
posted by TigerMoth at 6:36 AM on November 9, 2015
(...then binge-watch Cosmos!)
posted by TigerMoth at 6:36 AM on November 9, 2015
« Older On a laptop with UHD/QHD/4K hi-res display, will I... | Site that matches people (like secret santa) Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by three_red_balloons at 2:11 PM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]