December 2nd : Themes for celebration and contemplation
As December gets underway, we all know that we are now in the countdown to Christmas, otherwise known as Advent. This will probably mean a daily chocolate treat as we feel our excitement and anticipation for Christmas Day growing.
If you are looking for some themes and points of interest to add to your advent countdown, the Bulldogz Christmas spirit is in full flow and we can provide you with some of the fun, serious and little known points of celebration for each day on this magical countdown.
The 2022 Christmas Film World Cup is underway with voting in the group stage open. All the details and downloadable wall chart available here.
Twitter polls for Group matches scheduled today, vote here on our twitter page
December 2
Mutt Day
Another American phenomenon, also known as National Mixed Breed Dog Day and celebrated on both July 31 and December 2. It was created in 2005 by Colleen Paige to raise awareness of the plight of mixed breed dogs. Pure breed dogs tend to be rescued much quicker than mixed breeds despite the facts that mixed breeds are healthier, better behaved and live longer. They are also able to perform duties and tasks - such as a bomb or drug sniffer, guide dog or search and rescue.
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
This day marks the commemoration of the United Nations General Assembly adoption of the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic of Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others on December 2, 1949. The focus of the day is on the eradication of contemporary forms of slavery, such as people trafficking, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage and the recruitment of children in conflict. Resources available here on the anti slavery website.
Faux Friday
This is an annual celebration of fake fur, first invented in 1929. Originally made of alpaca wool before the development of synthetic fibres. It is observed on the first Friday of December so shifts around the calendar. Unfortunately, we have been unable to unearth any information about the origins of this celebratory excuse for consumerism and rage at the fur trade.
December 2 in History
Events
1697 – St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt to the design of Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of London, is consecrated
1976 – Fidel Castro becomes President of Cuba, replacing Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado.
1982 – At the University of Utah, Barney Clark becomes the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart.
1993 – Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is shot and killed in Medellín.
2020 – The UK licenses the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
Births
1946 – Gianni Versace, Italian fashion designer, founded Versace (d. 1997)
1981 – Britney Spears, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress
Deaths
1547 – Hernán Cortés, Spanish general and explorer (b. 1485)
1594 – Gerardus Mercator, Flemish mathematician, cartographer, and philosopher (b. 1512)
1993 – Pablo Escobar, Colombian drug lord (b. 1949)
Christmas films
Time travellers from the future interrupt the World Cup Final, Christmas 2022, to tell mankind they are losing a war against alien invaders 30 years in the future. Recruitment of soldiers from the present day begins and one man is recruited with the desire to save the future for his daughter
Group F 4th seed. A sci-fi romp and a dark horse Christmas WC bid.
A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid.
Group E 4th seed. Maybe not family friendly viewing, but great fun all the same.
Christmas music
The Pretenders 2000 miles makes reference to Christmas time but was not written as a Christmas song. Learn more about the tune and its progress through Christmas song world cup history as you listen via the song homepage here