Wacky Wednesday: December 30

It’s another light wackiness day for December. We’ll have to make plans to make December a little wackier next year. Our first old English insult word is Lubberwort. The term is a nickname for a lethargic, fuzzy-minded person. Lubberwort was the name of an imaginary plant in the 16th century said to cause sluggishness or stupidity. Muck-spout refers to someone who constantly swears and talks a lot. Swearing has always been considered filthy language. Someone who talks a lot often says too much nonsense and we could call this filth too. It’s a good name for those rapid speech folks.

We have a couple of holidays and one of them I believe is the most important celebration in our lives. First, we have National Bicarbonate of Soda Day or Baking Soda Day. This versatile substance can be used in the kitchen for baking or eliminating odors among other things. Falling Needles Family Fest Day is a reminder to clean up and recycle the live Christmas tree. Firs and evergreens should only be used as firewood for outdoor firepits and never indoors. Now the important celebration I mentioned earlier. Today is Bacon Day. Bacon lovers unite as they enjoy eating bacon while watching Kevin Bacon films or any film with bacon in the title. It’s the best day ever!

Wacky Wednesday: December 23

It’s time for another Wacky Wednesday and this one is a little more eventful than the previous couple of Wednesdays. Not by much. I’m guessing there are fewer things to celebrate in December because there’s too many other things to celebrate. Our first word is Leasing-Monger. Leasing is an old term for falsehood making a leasing-monger a habitual liar. That could be why leasing a home or car doesn’t lead to ownership. I’m speculating here. Then we have Loiter-Sack. This term is a 17th century word for a slacker or a lazy good-for-nothing. Loiter-Sack sounds like the perfect word for a slacker.

Our token food holiday for the day is also a fun word to say, National Pfeffernusse Day. Pfeffernusse, a German spice cookie, are fluffy cookies made with ground nuts and spices and covered in powdered sugar. They are popular holiday treats. National Roots Day is a day to learn about one’s family history. Since most people travel home, or visit nearby family, for the holidays, it makes since that this would be the time to talk about the family’s past. Finally, we have Festivus. Each year on December 23rd, Festivus commemorates a holiday episode of the television comedy, “Seinfeld.”

In 1997, the popular television comedy brought Festivus to the masses when Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller) explains he invented the holiday in response to the commercialism of Christmas. Its slogan is “A Festivus for the rest of us.” The idea of this holiday is to not take things too seriously including politics and religion. One tradition on this holiday is the voicing of grievances during a traditional dinner. Whatever you do for this day, make sure you enjoy some spice cookies and call out your family for being Leasing-Mongers and Loiter-Sacks.

Wacky Wednesday: December 16

The wackiness is a little light this week just as it was last week. Perhaps it’s all the holiday cheer making things less wacky. We have a couple interesting words to add to our arsenal of old English insults. Frist, we have Gowpenful-o’-anything. That’s a mouthful. This term refers to someone who is a medley of everything absurd. A gowpen is the bowl made when cupping one’s hands together. Our next word is Klazomaniac. It’s someone who is only capable of shouting. Some people are loud for no apparent reason. 

Our token food holiday today is a good one. National Chocolate Covered Anything Day means you can cover all your favorite things in chocolate. If you could cover anything in chocolate, what would it be? I recommend only covering food in chocolate for now. Some suggestions include bananas, orange wedges, and ice cream to name a few. Our final holiday is one parents will love. Barbie and Barney Backlash Day is a day for parents to say no to annoying children shows and sing-a-longs or choose to read a different story at bedtime.

The day gets its name from the Barbie Doll and from the show “Barney and Friends” about a purple dinosaur. Often children will want to watch the same show over and over again and this day is for parents to take a break from the many different kids shows out there. I worked in a movie theater for a few years. When I’d clean the auditorium after a children’s film rated G or PG, sometimes I’d find small empty liquor bottles. Parents, this is your day to stop the madness if only for one day. Good luck out there and eat lots of chocolate things today.