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DID YOU KNOW THAT DEC. 12 IS POINSETTIA DAY? In 1480 until his death, Aztec King Montezuma adorned his palace with Poinsettia, or "Cuetlaxochitl" as it was known by the Aztecs. The Aztecs used the Poinsettia's sap to cure fevers and the leaves to make dye. Then, in the 17th century after the Conquistadors invaded Mexico, the blood-red flower became a part of Christian ceremony for the first time when it was used in the nativity procession, the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre. After being discovered in 1828 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the Poinsettia became a popular specimen among botanists. In 1833 he named it "Euporbia Pulcherrima" but after four years another botanist renamed the flower after Poinsett. DID YOU KNOW THAT DEC. 27 IS FRUITCAKE DAY? Many historians believe that fruitcakes originated in Rome, and one of the earliest recipes listed pomegranate seeds, pine nuts and raisins that were mixed into a barley mash. Then there are records from the Middle Ages documenting that they added honey, spices and preserved fruits into the original mix. Starting in the 16th century, sugar from the American Colonies was added when the discovery was made that high concentrations of sugar could preserve fruits. Fruitcakes have an incredible shelf life — on a 2003 episode of the Tonight Show, Jay Leno sampled a piece of fruitcake baked in 1878 which was kept as an heirloom by a family in Michigan! DID YOU KNOW THAT DEC. 12 IS GINGERBREAD HOUSE DAY? Ginger has been seasoning food and drink since antiquity. According to a French legend, gingerbread was brought to Europe in 992 A.D. by an Armenian monk. Gingerbread figurines date back to the 15th century. The gingerbread bakers were gathered into professional baker guilds. In the 17th century, only professional gingerbread bakers were permitted to bake gingerbread except at Christmas and Easter. The tradition of making decorated gingerbread houses started in Germany in the early 1800s. The first gingerbread houses were the result of the well-known Grimm's fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel." In modern times the tradition has continued in certain places in Europe. DID YOU KNOW THAT DEC. 20 IS GO CAROLING DAY? Caroling has a long history in the world, potentially existing longer than Christmas itself and having moved into that religious practice from much older roots. Caroling is specifically used to reference those songs and traditions of Christmas. For many years it was a heavily practiced tradition that many people eagerly took part in, either by joining the carolers, or by avidly awaiting the arrival of carolers at their doorstep. Wassailing was another tradition that was similar in many ways, but was actually used to travel to the orchards and other places where cider was produced. It was believed that singing to the trees would promote a good harvest. DID YOU KNOW THAT DEC. 24 IS EGGNOG DAY? The first time the term "eggnog" was ever used was in 1775 when Maryland clergyman Jonathan Boucher wrote a poem about the drink, which wasn't published until 30 years after his death. The first printed use of the term was in 1788 in the New Jersey Journal of March 26th, which referred to a young man drinking a glass of eggnog. Eggnog may have developed from posset, a Medieval European beverage made with hot milk that curdled up when mixed with wine or ale and was then flavored with spices. By Micki Rosen, resident of Four Seasons Beaumont Did You Know? 34 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | DECEMBER 2017 |

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