Author: Lisa Mungovan

Today is Polar Bear Plunge Day. Many people raise money for charity, by swimming in ice-cold waters! Burr! It’s also Commitment Day, a movement to lead healthy and active lives. Take a nice long walk with your family, or jog in place while you wait for your brother to get out of the bathroom.

Stop. Don’t take down your Christmas decorations yet. It’s only the 8th day of Christmas! You could celebrate Twelve Days of Christmas, by giving a gift each day. Any late packages, could still technically arrive on time. It’s also the last day of Kwanzaa, so stay festive and practice faith.

If your name starts with a Z, you’re probably tired of being last, when lining up in alphabetical order. The first day of the year, is Z Day! You get to go first for a change! The rest of us can celebrate Z Day, by doing the last things first, and using Z words.

Did you celebrate the Universal Hour Of Peace last night? Don’t worry if you missed it, because today is the World Day Of Peace. Start with keeping peace in your own home, by not fighting with your siblings. Learn about conflicts happening in the world. How would you solve them, if you were President?

Happy 20 26! Did you stay up until midnight, to welcome in the new year? I hope you slept in late, so you start the year well-rested. Make a New Year’s resolution, by promising yourself you’re going to do something, or not do something. Can you keep your promise until next year? Good luck!

An animal sanctuary in New Jersey, reported a missing marsupial on Monday. A wallaby named Rex, had escaped from the Lots of Love Farm. There were multiple sightings of the kangaroo-like creature, hopping around town. Fittingly, the wallaby was finally caught in a Walmart parking lot, and returned safely to his home.

Many cities around the world, celebrate New Year’s Eve, with fireworks. But do you know what’s in them? Yellow bursts are made with sodium. Red, green, or blue bursts come from strontium, barium, and copper. White bursts are created with aluminum or magnesium, while golden sparkles use carbon. Combining ingredients creates even more colors!

Today is Make Up Your Mind Day. Whether it’s a big decision you’ve been considering, or deciding on pancakes or waffles for breakfast, today’s the day to make a choice! To make sure you aren’t disturbed while making up your mind, it’s also No Interruptions Day. Do what you need to do; we’ll wait!

2025 was a hard year for everyone. Let’s move into 2026, in harmony with others. From 11:30 pm on December 31st, to 12:30 am on January 1st, is the Universal Hour Of Peace. Spend the last minutes of this year, and the first minutes of the next, at peace with everyone. Now, let’s make it last!

Happy New Year! The year 2026 has begun in Samoa and Kiribati. The International Dateline runs through the Pacific Ocean in an irregular path. While Samoa is to the west of the dateline and among the first to celebrate the new year, American Samoa to the east will have a whole day to wait!