December 2 Holidays

National Mutt Day was founded by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige to celebrate mixed-breed dogs — the “mutts” whose genetic diversity veterinary research has linked to lower rates of heritable disease — and to raise awareness that approximately 75 percent of dogs in U.S. shelters are mixed breeds. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was established by the UN to mark December 2, 1949, when the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons was adopted — raising awareness for modern slavery, which the International Labour Organization estimates affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. Lao National Day marks December 2, 1975, when the Pathet Lao abolished the monarchy and declared the Lao People’s Democratic Republic — ending French colonial rule and royal governance in a single proclamation. National Fritters Day celebrates the fritter — battered and deep-fried food whose savory and sweet variants range from corn fritters to apple fritters to the Italian frittelle of Carnival season.