December 20

International Human Solidarity Day

 

  The United Nations' (UN) International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity. It also aims to remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.

 

What do people do?

On International Human Solidarity Day, governments are reminded of their commitments to international agreements on the need for human solidarity as an initiative to fight against poverty. People are encouraged to debate on ways to promote solidarity and find innovative methods to help eradicate poverty.

Activities may include promoting campaigns on issues such as:

- Banning land mines.
- Making health and medication accessible to those in need.
- Relief efforts to help those who suffered the effects of natural or human-made disasters.
- Achieving universal education.
- Fighting against poverty, corruption and terrorism.

The day is promoted through all forms of media including magazine articles, speeches at official events, and web blogs from groups, individuals or organizations committed to universal solidarity.

 

Public life

International Human Solidarity Day is a global observance and not a public holiday.

Background

Solidarity refers to a union of interests, purposes or sympathies among members of a group. In the Millennium Declaration world leaders agreed that solidarity was a value that was important to international relations in the 21st century. In light of globalization and growing inequality, the UN realized that strong international solidarity and cooperation was needed to achieve its Millennium Development Goals.

On December 22, 2005, the UN General Assembly proclaimed that International Solidarity Day would take place on December 20 each year. The event aimed to raise people's awareness of the importance of advancing the international development agenda and promoting global understanding of the value of human solidarity. The assembly felt that the promotion of a culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing was important in combating poverty.

Symbols

The UN emblem may be found in material promoting International Human Solidarity Day. The emblem consists of a projection of the globe centered on the North Pole. It depicts all continents except Antarctica and four concentric circles representing degrees of latitude. The projection is surrounded by images of olive branches, representing peace. The emblem is often blue, although it is printed in white on a blue background on the UN flag.

December 19

Jacob Benjamin "Jake" Gyllenhaal was born on the 19^th of December in 1980. He is an American actor. Gyllenhaal began acting at the age of ten. Following his first lead role in 1999's “October Sky”, he starred in the indie cult hit “Donnie Darko” (2001), in which he played a psychologically troubled teenager alongside his older sister, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. In 2002, he starred in another indie film, “The Good Girl”, alongside actress Jennifer Aniston. In 2004, he appeared in the science-fiction film “The Day After Tomorrow”, portraying a student caught in a cataclysmic global cooling event.
Gyllenhaal then played against type as a frustrated Marine in Jarhead (2005). The same year, his role as Jack Twist in “Brokeback Mountain” earned him critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He has since played the lead roles in many notable films, including “Zodiac” (2007), “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time “(2010), “Love and Other Drugs” (2010), “Source Code” (2011), and “End of Watch” (2012).

  

Alyssa Jayne Milano (born December 19, 1972) is an American actress, producer and former singer, best known for portraying Phoebe Halliwell on The WB television series “Charmed” (1998–2006). Milano first rose to fame on television for her childhood role as Samantha Micelli on the ABC sitcom series “Who's the Boss?” (1984–1992). She also portrayed the role of Jennifer Mancini on the Fox soap opera “Melrose Place” (1997–98).

Nathan Oliveira (December 19, 1928 – November 13, 2010) was an American painter, printmaker, and sculptor. From the late 1950s on Oliveira has been the subject of nearly one hundred solo exhibitions in addition to having been included hundreds of group exhibitions, in important museums and galleries worldwide, including several Whitney Museum of American Art Annual Exhibitions. He taught painting for several decades in California commencing in the early 1950s when he taught in Oakland and then henceforth at Stanford University. Oliveira is considered to be one of the pioneers of the return to the figuration in American painting that originated in the California Bay Area in the 1950s. Along with various colleagues, Oliviera responded to Abstract expressionism in the mid-1950s by returning to imagery.

December 18

December 17

Birthdays

Russell Conwell Newhouse

Russell Conwell Newhouse (1906–1998) made many contributions to the advancement of aviation in a distinguished career running from the late 1920s into the 1970s. He was the Director of the Radar Laboratory for the Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1958 to 1968.

 Ernie Hudson

Ernest Lee "Ernie" Hudson (born December 17, 1945) is an American actor known for his roles as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters film series, Sergeant Albrecht in The Crow, and Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's Oz. Recently, Hudson has had a small recurring role as Jay's friend Miles on the American comedy TV series Modern Family.

December 16

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day.

Today is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. This is a day for all “chocolaholics”!  There are no too many details about a history of National Chocolate Covered Anything Day apart from the fact that you can celebrate the day in December, a month which is well known for days dedicated to quirky food items.  It also was revealed that the Chocolate Covered Anything Day has been formulated by a candy or a confectionary company initially.  But whatever be the history behind it, the day has turned out to be a hit especially among the chocolate addicts.Pouring liquid chocolate over anything what you want (raisins, nuts and waffles) and dipping a variety of berries into a chocolate is a common way of celebrating the national chocolate covered anything day.

December 15

15 December, 2012

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National Lemon Cupcake Day

Origin of National Lemon Cupcake Day:

Our extensive search failed to discover any factual content on this very special day.

There was some reference to this as a "National Day". Someone must have decided that all food related holidays should be called "National" days. However, we found no congressional records or presidential proclamation.

While yellow or chocolate cupcakes grab all the glory, lemon cupcakes are a refreshing surprise at Holiday parties, potlucks, and bake sales alike. And while they may not be standard Christmas fare, lemon cupcakes will be a hit item at your annual gathering. You can tell your cohorts that you made them in recognition of National Lemon Cupcake Day!

December 14

Alabama Day

Alabama Day is a holiday celebrated on December 14. It commemorates Alabama's admittance to the Union as the 22nd state on December 14, 1819. The Alabama Legislature adopted a resolution calling for the observance of the day in 1923, at the urging of the Alabama Department of Education and Alabama Department of Archives and History.