Celebrate Mini Holidays from December 22 to December 28, From Swapping Cookies to Calling a Friend
From National Cookie Exchange Day to Call a Friend Day, here are mini holidays to celebrate from December 22 to 28
The holiday season may be winding down, but there’s still much to celebrate! From new books to discover to delicious cookies to swap, you never know what joy you may welcome into your life this week. Even old friendships may be renewed thanks to the encouragement of Call a Friend Day!
Make the Christmas happiness of Christmas last even longer with these delightful “mini holidays.” Below you’ll find ideas to celebrate that will ensure you truly get to treat yourself!
December 1–31: Read a New Book Month
Nothing beats finding a new read that grabs your attention from the start—and according to a ThriftBooks survey of 2,000 adults, it only takes an average of 29 pages to get lost in a book. To experience that joy for yourself, consider choosing something in the fantasy, romance, history or sci-fi genres; readers shared they were the easiest to lose yourself in. For specific novel recommendations, download the apps StoryGraph or Likewise, which will suggest new books for you based on your reading habits.
Sunday, December 22: National Cookie Exchange Day
’Tis the season for cookie swaps, and the key to success is ensuring that there’s a nice variety of treats to choose from. “I recommend setting a theme or creating a sign-up to avoid duplicates,” suggests Yumna Jawad of FeelGoodFoodie.net.
For extra fun: Before trading your creations, have a taste-test competition, then give out awards. “Having prizes for the most creative or best tasting cookie makes it more memorable and can encourage your guests to really bring their A game,” she says.
Wednesday, December 25: Christmas
Toast to a cheery holiday with this festive and fruity cocktail. It includes delicious pomegranate, a symbol of blessing and prosperity.
To make a Pomegranate Margarita: Pour 1⁄3 cup of sugar and 1⁄3 cup of water into a saucepan. Place on medium heat; stir until sugar dissolves. Let cool. In a shaker, add the sugar solution, 2 cups of pomegranate juice, 1⁄3 cup of lime juice, 2⁄3 cup of tequila, 1⁄4 cup of orange liqueur or orange juice and ice cubes. Shake until chilled, then pour into salt-rimmed glasses. Garnish as desired. Serves 4–6.
Thursday, December 26: National Candy Cane Day
Put leftover candy canes to good use today by incorporating them into homemade peppermint bark.
To make: Line a 13″x18″ baking pan with enough foil to overhang sides by 2″. In a large-microwave-safe bowl, heat 2 cups of dark chocolate chips in 15-second intervals, stirring until melted. Stir in 1 Tbs. of unrefined coconut oil, then spread the chocolate evenly in a pan. Chill until set, about 30 min. Repeat steps with 2 cups of white chocolate chips. Top with 4 crushed candy canes. Chill for 2 hours. Lift bark from pan and break bark into pieces. Store, covered, in a cool, dry place. Serves 12.
Saturday, December 28: Call a Friend Day

This holiday is the perfect excuse to ring an old pal—and it can bring you more joy than you think, so say researchers reporting in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. In a recent study, they asked participants to imagine having a conversation via phone or email with a friend they hadn’t been in touch with for two years, and then actually do it.
What they found: Participants who called were happier with the exchange than they expected, felt closer to the other person and felt no more uncomfortable than those who had sent an email—even if a phone call wasn’t their first choice. The researchers say that hearing someone’s voice promotes closeness by helping you feel more clued in to their thoughts and feelings.
Help a Hero
Support overseas troops
Do you have pocket tissues, gum or lip balm to spare? If so, send them to Military Missions (MilitaryMissions.org). The nonprofit organization adds the items to care packages they ship to deployed troops. Mail to: Military Missions, 570 Delzan Place, Suite 10, Lexington, KY 40503.
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