Forefather's Day
21 December

Forefather's Day is celebrated in New England to commemorate when the pilgrims landed.

Succotash is served.

* 1 smoked ham hock (about 1-1/2 pounds)
* 4 cups water
* 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
* 1-1/2 cups frozen lima beans, thawed
* 1 package (10 ounces) crowder peas, thawed or 1 can (15-1/2 ounces) black-eyed peas, drained
* 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn, thawed
* 1 medium green pepper, chopped
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1/3 cup ketchup
* 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil
* 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
* 1 teaspoon paprika
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1 bay leaf
* 1 cup sliced fresh or frozen okra

Directions:
In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, simmer ham hock in water for 1-1/2 hours or until tender. Cool; remove meat from the bone and return to pan. (Discard bone and broth or save for another use.) Add the tomatoes, beans, peas, corn, green pepper, onion, ketchup and seasonings. Simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Add okra; simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes longer. Discard bay leaf before serving. Yield: 12-16 servings.

December 21: First day of Chanukah!!!

Egg Nog Day
24 December

Nobody really needs a reminder to have Egg Nog at this time of year, but perhaps it's a reminder to Egg Nog lovers to get their fill for the year while you still can procure it easily -- premade at stores.

For those who hate Egg Nog and try to avoid it at Christmas, this is probably a nightmare, realizing that someone has even proclaimed this Egg Nog Day.