Hard Candy Day
Hard Candy Day, celebrated annually on December 19, is a sweet day dedicated to the joy of hard candies. These timeless treats have been a favorite for generations, loved for their vibrant flavors, long-lasting enjoyment, and nostalgic charm. Hard candies date back centuries, with origins in early sugar-cooking techniques. Sugar was once a luxury item, and candies were often handmade for special occasions. Over time, innovations like the use of molds and mass production made hard candies widely available.
Regifting Day
Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, is celebrated annually on December 5th, primarily in Austria, Germany, and other Alpine regions. This festive but eerie tradition centers around Krampus, a mythical, horned creature who acts as a counterpart to Saint Nicholas. While St. Nicholas rewards good children with gifts, Krampus punishes those who have misbehaved by scaring them or giving them lumps of coal.
December 19 has been a significant date throughout history for various reasons.
Historical Events
1154: Henry II was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, marking the start of the Plantagenet dynasty.
1777: The Continental Army, led by General George Washington, established winter quarters at Valley Forge during the American Revolutionary War.
1843: Charles Dickens published his classic novella, A Christmas Carol, transforming how the holiday season was celebrated.
1907: The first Christmas Seals were sold in the U.S. to support the fight against tuberculosis.
1950: The movie “Harvey”, starring James Stewart and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, premiered.
1972: The Apollo 17 mission, the last manned moon mission by NASA, safely returned to Earth.
1998: The U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Famous Birthdays
1683: King Philip V of Spain, the first Bourbon king of Spain.
1902: Ralph Richardson, renowned English actor known for his work in theater and film.
1915: Édith Piaf, legendary French singer and cultural icon (known for “La Vie en Rose”).
1924: Cicely Tyson, award-winning American actress and pioneer for Black women in Hollywood.
1980: Jake Gyllenhaal, American actor known for films like Brokeback Mountain and Nightcrawler.
Notable Deaths
211: Publius Septimius Geta, Roman Emperor, assassinated during political strife with his brother Caracalla.
1370: Pope Urban V, who worked to return the Papacy from Avignon to Rome and promoted monastic reform.
1848: Emily Brontë, English novelist and poet, best known for her only novel, Wuthering Heights.
1904: William Osler Abbott, American physician and inventor of the Abbott-Miller catheter.
1996: Marcello Mastroianni, iconic Italian actor known for films like La Dolce Vita.
2009: Kim Peek, the real-life inspiration for the movie Rain Man, a savant with extraordinary memory skills.
2012: Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Israeli military chief and politician.
2016: Andrei Karlov, Russian ambassador to Turkey, assassinated in Ankara.
2020: Rosalind Knight, British actress known for her roles in The Ladykillers and About a Boy.
