Shortbread is a classic Scottish dessert traditionally made with: 1 part white sugar (I use powdered) 2 parts butter 3 parts flour (I usually use rice flour) And a bit of salt Shortbread is so named because of its crumbly texture which is caused by its high-fat content, provided by the butter. “Shortening” is …
Category: Holidays
Dec 31
From Scotland: The First Foot
In Scottish folklore, the first-foot is the first person to enter the home of a household on New Year’s Day and a bringer of good fortune for the coming year. Although it is acceptable in many places for the first-footer to be a resident of the house, they must not be in the house at …
Dec 31
Hogmanay Fireballs!
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. It is normally followed by further celebration on the morning of New Year’s Day (1 January) or, in some cases, 2 January—a Scottish bank holiday. The …
Nov 11
Armistice Day
The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice that ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their opponent, Germany. Previous armistices had eliminated Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the war. Also known as the Armistice of Compiègne from the place where it …
Sep 07
Labor Day Is the First Monday in September
The first Monday of every September is dedicated to the men and women who have labored to build this country. Through a time-honored tradition that has its roots in the coordinated efforts of the labor movement of the 1800s, we salute the American worker force. Labor Day was celebrated for the first time in New York …
Aug 26
It’s Bittersweet This Year – Dog Day?
This is a post from last year but I’m sharing it again. Mimi didn’t quite make it to Dog Day this year. She died Sunday night, August 23rd. There will be a “memorial-type” post later, when I get my act together. Meanwhile, remember this: A dog is man’s best friend. National Dog Day …
Jun 09
It’s National Donald Duck Day
National Donald Duck Day is observed annually on June 9th. This day commemorates the birthday of the funny animal cartoon character, Donald Duck. Donald made his first screen debut on June 9, 1934, in The Wise Little Hen. Donald Duck usually wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie and is …
Jun 02
It’s Cancer Survivor’s Day
Observed annually on the first Sunday in June, National Cancer Survivor’s Day has been set aside to “demonstrate that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.” Each year on National Cancer Survivor’s Day, events and celebrations are held and hosted around the United States by local communities, hospitals and support groups honoring cancer survivors. …