Beginning Word Count: 10,977
Initially, today, I was going to wrangle the POS; however, upon further reflection, I only have one more scene I need to add to the beast -- which is exciting, and frustrating yet again. I feel as if I've neglected the heck out of the poor story. First, I sat on the outline for over 20 years, then I sit on the novel itself for 3 years. And the sad thing, I could easily have taken care of this thing already.
On to other things. I was texting with a dear friend last night, and she suggested a post on odd holidays -- in particular one that I celebrate quite seriously. So, I'll start with my favorite personal holiday, and then talk a little about other strange holidays. These are not holidays which appear on standard calendars, and you will not get a day off of work for them. But they are most certainly absolutely about fun and celebrating your inner child.
CHEAP CHOCOLATE DAY
Never heard of this holiday? oh, you poor thing! And secondly: clearly, we've never met! If you know me, you know about Cheap Chocolate Day. It is one of my favorite holidays. Cheap Chocolate Day happens four times a year! Yes, a holiday that happens more than one time each year. How awesome is that?!
Cheap Chocolate Day occurs, as I said, four times each year: November 1, December 26, February 15, and whatever Monday follows Easter. I bet you see the pattern now!
Each one of these Cheap Chocolate Days has different merits and a different type of celebration.
November 1 - this Cheap Chocolate Day is really good for a variety of bite size chocolates. It is the day after Halloween, so all types of chocolates (and other candies) are on display; however, the star of the holiday really is the "fun size candy bar". Side track: who decided that was a fun size? Two bites really isn't fun. If you want a party for your mouth, you really need a bigger bar. All of the wonders of cholatude are on display. There are the really good candies (Snickers, Twix, Almond Joy, Baby Ruth, Butterfingers) to the less interesting (Hershey's miniatures). Mars and Nestle both get into the deal with mega variety packs that you really cannot get any other time of the year.
Also on display are the funky things: eyeball gumballs, wax teeth. The trick to the November Cheap Chocolate Day is to stock up on the variety packs. Care must be taken to avoid the ones with the random unacceptable bars thrown into the mix (I am personally anti-white chocolate.) However, there are usually people around who would be willing to take the unacceptable off of your hands (because they just do not realize it is not a viable candy item!
This is not the time to stock up on non-chocolate items.
The November Cheap Chocolate Day is one of the superior Cheap Chocolate Days. I personally place it in second place as far as value of the holiday is concerned. It depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking to stock up the office candy bowl, this is your best bet.
December 26 - this Cheap Chocolate Day barely qualifies; however, as a few people do buy chocolates for Christmas Stockings, so it does bear mentioning. Christmas is not primarily a chocolate distribution holiday, so therefore the Cheap Chocolate Day does not tend to yeild as good of results.
The prime items you'll be able to locate during this cchocolate day are bite sized, holiday themed variations of common candies. Nestle Jingles are a prime example of this particular type of chocolate. Butterfingers are crushed up and put into bell shape. You really cannot get a jingle any other time of year.
The December Cheap Chocolate Day has a lot of unique chocolate types. It is not good for variety packs, but it is good for individually wrapped pieces of chocolate which will annoy the tar out of you and anyone who wants one due to the exorbitant amount of foil used in the production process. Again, individually wrapped items are great for stocking up your office candy bowl.
February 15 - this is the high holy of Cheap Chocolate Days. The day after Valentine's Day. This is where all of the fancy chocolates come out: truffles and caramels and bon bons. Gourmet and standard. This is NOT a Cheap Chocolate Day for sharing. This is the Cheap Chocolate Day where you buy the heart shaped box of chocolates, go home, pick up a blanket and a book and just ignore everyone else. This is the spa of Cheap Chocolate Days.
There are a few candy bars. There are a few individually wrapped pieces (you can always count on Dove for chocolate hearts), but that is not the point of this Cheap Chocolate Day. This one is to pamper you (or a friend who understand Cheap Chocolate Day, not someone who is going to think you're being 'cheap' by buying the chocolate for them at half off....someone who will appreciate that you were able to get them twice as much chocolate!) [Note to guys: You cannot get away with this when presenting chocolate to your gal. Just saying.]
This brings us to the final Cheap Chocolate Day - the day after Easter. Easter is a Chocolate Holiday; however, there is a big trap with the Easter Cheap Chocolate Day -- Palmer's Chocolate. Palmer's Chocolate may be brown, but do not be fooled. This is not chocolate. It pretends to be chocolate, but it is brown chocolate smelling substance which has no actual relationship to chocolate. Palmer's Chocolate is everywhere. And, sadly, the cuter the chocolate, the more likely it is to be Palmer's.
It's not worth it.
This is your basic Bunny holiday. My recommendation is for the solid Russel Stover chocolate rabbit. Russel Stover also has a variety of bunnies: white (blech!), milk, dark (!) , and sugar free. While there are a few individually wrapped items about, still read all of the bags very carefully to make sure that you're getting a good chocolate brand.
In addition, this is the only Cheap Chocolate Day where I advocate buying something other than chocolate -- this is Jelly Bean Season. Sure, they are around all year round, but this time of year affords a greater variety of jelly bean offerings.
And do stock up on your Cadbury Creme Eggs. In Europe, you can get them year round, but they are only here stateside for Easter.
So those are the Cheap Chocolate Days.
Other Fun Holidays?
September 19 - What happens on September 19? Arrr Matey, be ye not a knowin what this day is? For shame on ye for that lack, for shame tis true indeed! September 19, me hearties, is the day of speakin as a pirate! It's Talk Like A Pirate Day. Truly, it is a silly holiday, but it is still fun, and celebrates the spirit of the child within each of us. or our inner rogue.
But more fun is that there are companies that actually get involved. My personal favorite is the gusto with which Krispy Kreme celebrates the holiday. Go into their store and ask for a donut by talking like a pirate...and they give you one for free.
Dress up like a pirate? You get a dozen.
We did that this year, and it was absolutely amazing to see whole families on an outing to the donut shop, everyone kitted out in pirate gear, gathering their donuts. Who can argue with that? My husband usually goes all out on Talk Like A Pirate Day. He dresses up in his pirate shirt with bloomers and a gorgeous red coat with his tricorn hat and a baldric. And he talks like a pirate. I love the man, but after about three minutes, that can get old.
Still he has a great deal of fun with the whole thing, and he is not afraid to embrace his inner joy to show that fun. Almost everyone enjoys it and will participate with it. Which is mainly the point of talk like a pirate day. It's not because we're pirates, but rather because we all like to pretend -- and Talk Like A Pirate Day does that, helps us to pretend.
I had a blast this year watching people at Krispy Kreme walking up in their pirate outfits, reacting to my wonderful husband in his, having a smile. Sure, they were there for the donuts -- but I think the donuts were just the excuse. They wanted to dress up like pirates, and Krispy Kreme gave them a place to go where they could be cheered and embraced by others. Krispy Kreme merely provided an outlet for the celebration, a place to meet and share the joy of it.
There are a varieties of that.... like Talk Like A Dalek Day. But since I don't celebrate Talk Like A Dalek Day, I do not know if it is as well cherished as Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Then there are days where I have a ritual, just because. Like, I like to watch Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day. I used to watch Saturday the Fourteenth (It's a silly movie) on Saturday the 14ths.
Apparently March 10 (which is my birthday) is the "Day of Awesomeness" -- and who am I to argue?
Of course, one cannot forget Pi Day (March 14) - Pi Day 3.14 is a rather geeky day to celebrate the way we calculate the circumference of a circle, by ...what else? Eating pie, the ultimate yummy circle. And in 2015, it gets even more geeky!
There are entire websites devoted to odd holidays, things that people enjoy or celebrate, which may not be true national holidays or true holidays, but things that we all enjoy and have fun making special.
Yes, holidays are holy days, but what exactly is holy? Holy is sacred, but what is sacred? Is sacred only to do with religion? Or is it more than that? A celebration of things that speak to our inner being, our inner spirit? If that is what holy is, then it is only reasonable that we celebrate not just the divine, but our own inner spark.
Doing that, celebrating the unusual, the things we cherish or just enjoy, is a holy celebration as well. So while some of these holidays may seem bizarre and unusual, downright silly to some. However, these holidays are sources of joy and sources of fun which are celebrated. I have frequently wished people "Happy Cheap Chocolate Day" and they have looked at me oddly, or smiled as they were joining in the celebration with their cart loaded up on chocolates.
Defining our own holidays, embracing our own rituals and celebrations, is a way to embrace the holy while finding our own path. Excuse me....I hear some chocolate calling my name.
Today's Word Count: 1,832
Total Word Count: 12,809
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