Daily Holidays -January 6

[Sherman A1]

Bean Day Why is January 6 National Bean Day? Some believe it commemorates the death of renown geneticist, Gregor Mendel, who used bean and pea plants to test his theories on inheritance. Mendel died on January 6, 1884.

Beans were an important source of protein throughout Old and New World history, and still are today.

Beans and legumes are generally a healthy source of a number of other nutrients including magnesium, fiber, potassium, and complex carbohydrates and folate. Beans are also high in iron.

Beans have significant amounts of soluble fiber. Just one cup of cooked beans provide between nine and 13 grams of fiber. http://www.examiner.com/article/january-6-is-national-bean-day

Epiphany or Twelfth Night Twelfth Night is a festival, in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany. Different traditions mark the date of Twelfth Night on either 5th January or 6th January; the Church of England, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, celebrates Twelfth Night on the 5th and "refers to the night before Epiphany, the day when the nativity story tells us that the three wise men visited the infant Jesus".[1][2][3] In Western Church traditions the Twelfth Night concludes the Twelve Days of Christmas, although in others the Twelfth Night can precede the Twelfth Day.[4] Bruce Forbes wrote that " "In 567 the Council of Tours proclaimed that the entire period between Christmas and Epiphany should be considered part of the celebration, creating what became known as the twelve days of Christmas, or what the English called Christmastide. On the last of the twelve days, called Twelfth Night, various cultures developed a wide range of additional special festivities. The variation extends even to the issue of how to count the days. If Christmas Day is the first of the twelve days, then Twelfth Night would be on January 5, the eve of Epiphany. If December 26, the day after Christmas, is the first day, then Twelfth Night falls on January 6, the evening of Epiphany itself."[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night_(holiday)


National Shortbread Day Scottish shortbread evolved from medieval biscuit bread, which was a twice-baked, enriched bread roll dusted with sugar and spices and hardened into a Rusk (soft, sweetened biscuit). Eventually butter was substituted for yeast, and shortbread was born. Since butter was such an important ingredient, the word "shortbread" derived from shortening. Shortbread may have been made as early as the 12th Century, however its invention is often attributed to Mary, Queen of Scots in the 16th Century. Petticoat Tails were a traditional form of shortbread said to be enjoyed by the queen. The round shortbread was flavored with caraway seeds, baked and cut into triangular wedges. The triangles resemble the shape of fabric pieces used to make petticoats during the rein of Queen Elizabeth I. Shortbread was also made in individual round biscuits called shortbread rounds and in a rectangular slab, which was cut into thin pieces known as fingers. All of these forms of shortbread are still made today.

In the beginning shortbread was expensive and reserved as a luxury for special occasions like Christmas, Hogmanay (Scottish New Year’s Eve), and weddings. Through the years it developed into an everyday favorite and is now enjoyed all around the world. Traditional shortbread consisted of three main ingredients: flour, sugar and butter. Today many varieties of shortbread exist, but most still include the traditional ingredients. The type and texture of the dry ingredients greatly influences the consistency of the shortbread. The addition of rice flour gives shortbread a grainy, crumbly texture while cornstarch (corn flour) gives it a more dense texture. http://www.englishteastore.com/shortbread-history.html

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/january6.html

[bigwillq]

1. I love beans!

[femmocrat]

2. "Twelfth Night"

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Today is also Christmas Eve for Orthodox Christians!