More monthlies

NATIONAL COTTON CANDY DAY
Date:	December 7
Origin:	Unknown
Comments: In the 19th century cotton candy, or as we call it in Oz, fairy floss (its original name), was made by hand.  Being simply spun sugar, the process was made a lot simpler when in 1897 John C. Wharton and his dentist friend William Morrison (drumming up business for himself and his colleagues?) created a machine to make it.  It was a smash at the 1904 World’s Fair and has never looked back, assuming cotton candy was capable of looking back. Personally, I have never liked the stuff, even as a kid. Available for purchase on Amazon

Oops, wrong brownies, those are from Willow (love that film) Nope, not those either That’s more like it! National Brownie day
Date:	December 8
Origin:	There was a request for a dessert for a group of ladies that would be attending a fair in the late 1800s.  They wanted a small cake-like dessert that could be eaten from a boxed lunch.  A Chicago chef, working at the Palmer House Hotel, created the first brownie for the ladies, which featured an apricot glaze and walnuts.  The Palmer House Hotel still serves their original recipe for brownies on their menu.
Comments: One for Rosie, the Chocolate Queen: December 8 is the day for celebrating National Brownie Day.  A chocolate brownie (commonly referred to as simply brownie) is a square, baked, chocolate dessert. Brownies come in a variety of forms and may be either fudgy or cakey, depending on their density. They may include nuts, frosting, cream cheese, chocolate chips, or other ingredients. Brownies were created in the United States at the end of the 19th century.  A cross between a cookie and cake, they soon became very popular across the country. Although the chocolate brownie is the most popular, the blonde brownie runs a close second.  A blonde brownie is made with brown sugar and no chocolate and is often called a blondie.

TAKE IT IN THE EAR DAY
Date:	December 8
Origin:	Unknown
Comments: What’s it about? Unknown. How to you celebrate it? Unknown. Despite the fact that no one seems to know anything about it, the special day appears on most special days calendars and listings. So therefore celebrate it how you will, whilst pondering whether there is a missing r.

CHRISTMAS CARD DAY
Date:	December 9
Origin:	Unknown
Comments: Christmas Card Day honours Sir Henry Cole (1818 - 1874) of England, who created the first commercial Christmas card in 1843.  That’s it above. It was the first mass produced Christmas card and 10 survive today of the 1,000 printed.  The card was hand coloured in that it predated colour printing and depicts a family toasting Christmas, flanked by scenes of the poor being fed and clothed. Cole created it for personal use and sold the extra cards for one shilling each.  The card caused a controversy in some quarters for showing a child being given wine to drink. I’ve noticed that each year the number of cards coming in is less and less.  People are either sending electronic cards or not sending cards at all any more, part of the changing face of society and Christmas. Each year I Ask myself whether I should do the same but so far I have persisted in sending personal cards.  Regular readers will know that my only begotten daughter, Acacia, who resides in Dubai and in whom I am well pleased, creates a personalised family card each year.  This year is no exception and it is a great card, now all I have to do is address the envelopes and send them. The card appears below, thanks Princess.