April 8 is Draw a Bird Day  It all started in 1943 when a little girl went to visit her uncle in the hospital…. Not an official holiday, but one with a special sentiment originating in England in memory of Dorie Cooper, a 10-year-old who was killed after being struck by a car - but not before the walls of a hospital ward had been filled with hand-drawn images of birds by wounded soldiers. Today, Draw A Bird Day (story at the link) is celebrated world-wide as a way to express joy in the simplest things in life. 

April 8 is Draw a Bird Day 

It all started in 1943 when a little girl went to visit her uncle in the hospital…. Not an official holiday, but one with a special sentiment originating in England in memory of Dorie Cooper, a 10-year-old who was killed after being struck by a car - but not before the walls of a hospital ward had been filled with hand-drawn images of birds by wounded soldiers. 
Today, Draw A Bird Day (story at the link) is celebrated world-wide as a way to express joy in the simplest things in life. 

Groundhog Day! February 2, 1961, above.What sayeth the “Seer of Seers,” the “Sage of Sages”? If the groundhog saw his shadow today, on February 2, 2013, we’ve got six more weeks of winter. But it appears Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, and that’s what he said last year (warmest year in recorded history). Here in the North Georgia mountains, we’ve got snow tonight….

Groundhog Day! February 2, 1961, above.
What sayeth the “Seer of Seers,” the “Sage of Sages”?
If the groundhog saw his shadow today, on February 2, 2013, we’ve got six more weeks of winter. But it appears Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, and that’s what he said last year (warmest year in recorded history). 
Here in the North Georgia mountains, we’ve got snow tonight….

As written in 17th Century German folklore, Knecht Ruprecht appears in homes on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) carrying a long staff and a bag of ashes (collected by climbing down chimneys). He asks little children if they pray, and if they answer “yes,” they receive a bag of apples. If they answer “no,” he beats the children with his bag of ashes. 

As written in 17th Century German folklore, Knecht Ruprecht appears in homes on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) carrying a long staff and a bag of ashes (collected by climbing down chimneys). He asks little children if they pray, and if they answer “yes,” they receive a bag of apples. If they answer “no,” he beats the children with his bag of ashes. 

Krampus, A Christmas Legend

Krampus Day is associated with Christmas and is a part of Hungarian and Austrian folklore. “Krampus” is from the Germanic word “krampen” which means “claw.” According to legend, Krampus is a demon who travels with St. Nicholas on Christmas Eve, and while Santa delivers presents to the good little children, the cruel Krampus terrorizes bad children with his fearsome presence. Illustrations of Krampus often depict him with a basket on his back (presumably to haul naughty children back to his lair), and a willow branch for swatting.

December 5th is Krampus Day throughout much of Europe, and on the days surrounding Krampus Day, young men dress up in costume and roam the streets in chains, jangling loud, rusty bells, waving willow branches, and frightening children into good behavior before the arrival of St. Nicholas.  

So move over, Mr. Scrooge: there’s another ghostly tale in town for Christmas.