If you still haven’t hunted down your Christmas tree, then you’re in luck with Look for an Evergreen Day on December 19. You can always go for an artificial tree but, let’s be honest, there is nothing like the sight and scent of a freshly cut tree to get you into the spirit of Christmas. Holiday trees are generally spruces, pines, and firs, but the varieties have evolved over time for more personalized preferences. With all the Christmas shopping to complete, and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, this is your last opportunity to buy a tree if you haven’t already.
National Hard Candy Day
Put the peanut butter balls and the sugar cookies down, because December 19 is all about the hard stuff as we celebrate National Hard Candy Day. While we’re a little sticky about the origins of this holiday, it can be safely said that hard candy has long been a preferred sweet snack by many societies. In the Medieval period, sugar (the only true ingredient in candy) was prohibitively expensive. Thus, the Jolly Ranchers and Blow Pops of the dark ages were reserved for the royal and the wealthy. Quite a difference from the penny candy you can pick up for cents on the dollar today. Over the years, confectioners have refined the process to an exact science, and we now know exactly how hot we need the sugar to create sweet, sticky, crunching, and cracking hard candy, so get your Tootsie Pops (and your tooth brushes) ready.
National Roast Suckling Pig Day
Thanks to National Roast Suckling Pig Day, on December 18, you don’t have to wait until Christmas to pig out on a decadent feast. Suckling pigs are considered a delicacy because their meat is more tender, juicier, and gelatinous (due to the higher levels of collagen) than adult pigs. The reason for this is they’re between the ages of two and six weeks and have not yet been weaned off their mother’s milk, hence the name “suckling”. If you can bring it over your heart to put a whole baby pig, from nose to tail, in your oven or on your grill, it makes for a sumptuous meal that can feed 20 adults — so gather your family and extended family and get roasting (preferably 5 hours before you plan to dish up).