December national days

This national day is not some silly day, as a lot of national days seem to be, but actually very important. Pearl Harbor is a historic event that most every American has heard of. However, not everyone knows the key importance this event had on American history. The attack on Pearl Harbor happened during World War II, and ultimately is what brought the United States of America into the war. On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base in Honolulu, Hawaii. According to the U.S. Census, the entire attack on Pearl Harbor took only one hour and 15 minutes, yet it killed 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians, plus it destroyed or damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships. One of the battleships, which housed half of the lives lost in the event, the USS Arizona still remains sunk in Pearl Harbor with its crew on board. Crazy! Historians with the History website say, “The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.” The U.S. entering World War II impacted the direction of the U.S. today. As you go throughout your day on Dec. 7, take time to remember the lives lost in this event and the importance it had on the history of America.

Stretching is something some people love, and others dread. Most athletes incorporate stretching into their daily routines, but even people who are not involved in athletic events can benefit from stretching. The question for many could be: what is the real impact of stretching and does it really help a person’s health? Staff at the Mayo Clinic write, “Stretching may help you improve your range of motion and decrease your risk of injury, among other benefits.” Doing stretches can be beneficial, especially for students, and even adults, who spend a lot of time sitting down and bent over their computers. In a writing by Harvard Health Publishing, the writer states that “sitting in a chair all day results in tight hamstrings in the back of the thigh. That can make it harder to extend your leg or straighten your knee all the way, which inhibits walking.” Stretching implemented into students' daily lives will not only help their muscle health, but also improve their mental health. In a study by researchers with Colorado State University, the act of stretching has shown to boost serotonin levels, which decreases depression and anxiety. On Dec. 11, remember National Stretching Day and take some time out of your day to see how stretching can help you. Who knows, maybe you will take a liking to stretching and even implement it into your daily routine!

Pick a Pathologist Pal Day is quite an interesting national day. Some may already know what a pathologist is, but for those who do not: a pathologist, in the words of John Hopkins Medicine, “is a healthcare provider who examines bodies and body tissues.” A day to pick a “pathologist” friend is pretty odd, but maybe there are some benefits to having a friend who is a pathologist. According to a writing done by medical researchers and faculty at Medical University of the Americas, pathologists are trained in laboratory techniques that are used to study and diagnose diseases. Plus, they develop treatments, majorly help in the creation of new vaccines and they even determine the cause for…patient’s deaths? Yeah! It is crazy how much pathologists do in the medical field, yet they do not hardly get enough appreciation because most of their work is behind the scenes. Whether you end up befriending a pathologist or not, on Dec. 13 you can remember the awesome work that pathologists do for people and give them your appreciation. Thank you, Pathologists!

Many people have seen the magic of Christmas in scenes of families and friends going Christmas caroling in various holiday movies, but where did caroling originate and how did it become such a significant part of winter holiday celebrations? The act of singing Christmas songs and going door-to-door in the chilly, winter air is a tradition that has been around for a very long time. In fact, Christmas caroling as a holiday tradition, according to Acadia Publishing, dates back to the 13th century. However, the actual idea of caroling originated a while before that. It was as long ago as the 4th and 5th centuries that the idea of caroling first began. Christmas caroling, in its earliest form, did not involve singing or even Christmas, but it was the act of going house-to-house sharing love and warm wishes during the chilly winter months. The 13th century is when caroling was made into a Christmas tradition. In the words of Acadia Publishing, “Singing remained separate from Christmas until Saint Francis of Assisi began incorporating similar sayings and songs of well wishes in his Christmas services.” Throughout the centuries, caroling has become a huge Christmas holiday tradition. According to the website Historic Mysteries, it was in the 1400's that Christmas caroling became a widespread tradition and in present time, most of the world participates in the holiday tradition. On Dec. 20, get together with some friends and family and go spread some holiday joy. (P.S. do not forget the hot chocolate!)

Candy canes are the signature Christmas candy. They are used for desserts, decorations, and the color scheme of red and white candy cane stripes is pretty much unavoidable during the holiday season. The candy canes we see today are always striped and most commonly red and white, but the candy cane was not always colored. In fact, the candy cane began plain white. According to writers with the History website, the first appearance of candy canes as a Christmas treat was when a German choirmaster handed out sugar sticks to children during a Christmas celebration. It is said that the more modernly recognizable red and white candy canes were created in the 1900’s and writers with The Conversation website say, “Some believe the stripes came from the candy maker Bob McCormack in the 1920s.” The love for candy canes as a holiday treat grew exponentially through the years, and now it is impossible to avoid the delicious candy. On Dec. 26, enjoy a candy cane in honor of National Candy Cane Day.