Grandma’s Stories

Dec 23rd “Jingle Bells | Christmas Song | Super Simple Songs”

“Just try too … SING louder than old Grandma…herself”

🎄🎅Merry Christmas! Enjoy this latest version of “Jingle Bells” from Super Simple Songs! Ho, ho, ho!🎄🎅 🎶 Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride

and…  a little something special…

“Sit back and enjoy with  the  little ones”

Dec 23rd ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas “A Visit from St. Nicholas”

“Sit back and enjoy”

Dec 23rd “NATIONAL ROOTS DAY”

National Roots Day on December 23rd encourages families to delve into their family history, heritage, and ancestry.

Each year during the holidays is an ideal time to collect family information. While families gather around the table telling stories and sharing memories, someone is sure to be the family historian. It is entirely possible a grandparent, parent, aunt or uncle has already started a family tree and will share with other family members.

When is National Day of Listening?

Gather photos – and get them labeled before memories fade. Names, places, and dates become fuzzy after a decade or two. Strive to involve every generation. Share struggles and accomplishments. Document stories from one generation to another. Each generation is made up of the previous generation’s efforts, travels, failures, and successes. They help us to be who we are today but they

It is often interesting to learn about the lives of our ancestors; where they came from, their struggles, their accomplishments. It is a combination of everyone on the family tree that helps to make the person we are today.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRootsDay

Look into your own family’s roots. Share family stories with your children. Organize those photos. Some ways to encourage family members to share family history is by asking questions. Come prepared with the information you would like to learn. At the same time, be prepared to listen. You never know what stories might be worthy of being heard. Tools you will want to have handy include:

• A notebook
• Pencil
• A tablet or computer
• Something to record audio or video
• A list of questions
• Your family tree
• Stories you may have heard
• Photos, especially ones you need help identifying
• Photo safe pen – you can also make a photocopy that you can write on

If your relative has additional photos, ask permission to make copies. Whether you take a picture with your phone or bring a portable scanner, those photos may help you to identify people in your collection. Match them to the stories your family member is telling, too. 

Use #NationalRootsDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL ROOTS DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues digging for the roots of this holiday.

Dec 23rd “NATIONAL PFEFFERNUSSE DAY”

December 23rd is reserved for National Pfeffernusse Day, a German spice cookie. Very popular around the holidays, pfeffernusse are fluffy cookies made with ground nuts and spices and covered in powdered sugar.

The exact origin of the cookie is unknown. However, the Dutch believe that pfeffernusse (or pepernoten) are linked to the feast of Sinterklaas, which is celebrated on December 5 in the Netherlands and December 6 in Germany and Belgium. This holiday is when children receive gifts from St. Nicholas, who is partially the inspiration for the Santa Claus tradition. 

Over time, many bakers have created their own pfeffernusse recipes. Traditional methods included various nuts such as almonds and walnuts. Some modern recipes exclude nuts altogether along with the black pepper, retaining only cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom as flavorings. Bakers also use molasses and honey to sweeten the cookie

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPfeffernusseDay

Break out your favorite pfeffernusse recipe and start baking. This is one holiday tradition that will bring back memories for many of you. Not only will you be able to savor the delicious spicy-sweet cookies, but you can also pass down the tradition to another generation. Once you have a good stack of them baked and cooled, package them up as sweet gifts for loved ones. They will appreciate the cookies and your thoughtfulness.

We even have a couple of recipes for you to try.

Pfeffernusse cookies from Allrecipes
German Pfeffernusse Pepper Nut Cookies 

Do you have recipes to share? Be sure to use #NationalPfeffernusseDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL PFEFFERNUSSE DAY HISTORY

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this spicy cookie. While we do, we also encourage you to keep sampling and snacking on the recipes as you explore the fascinating holidays throughout the year.