December 22nd is... First Gorilla Born in Captivity (1956), First Christmas lights (1882), National Date Nut Bread Day, Thermometer Was Invented (1714), Forefathers' Day (1620), Abilities Day, National Cookie Exchange Day, National Mathematics Day (India), Be A Lover of Silence Day, Christmas Eve Eve Eve, St. Chaeremon's Day
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PLUS - interesting books to read and free printables, paper crafts, kid crafts, activities, and coloring pages.
Want more Holidays to celebrate? Click for our Index of Holiday Freebies
First Gorilla Born in Captivity (1956)-- Colo (December 22, 1956 – January 17, 2017) was a western gorilla widely known as the first gorilla to be born in captivity anywhere in the world and as the oldest known gorilla in the world. Colo was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to Millie Christina (mother) and Baron Macombo (father), and lived there for her entire life. She was briefly called Cuddles before a contest was held to officially name her. (Mrs. Howard Brannon of Zanesville, Ohio, won the contest.) Colo's name was derived from the place of her birth, Columbus, Ohio. Source
Read: Colo's Story: The Life of One Grand Gorilla
-- When Colo was born unexpectedly on the cold concrete floor of the zoo on December 22, 1956, the book, How to Raise a Baby Gorilla didn't exist. So the keepers at the Columbus Zoo raised Colo the only way they knew, as if she were a human baby. She wore diapers, drank from bottles, and had an entire wardrobe of baby clothes. Follow Colo's amazing journey from a cuddly baby, to a feisty toddler, to a mother of three, to the matriarch of one very large gorilla family and now the oldest living gorilla in the world. Colo has done more than live her own amazing life; she has helped teach generations of zookeepers and veterinarians learn what is best for all gorillas in captivity.
• Melissa and Doug Giant Gorilla -- Equally at home perched on a child's bed or sitting at the breakfast table, the amazingly lifelike Gorilla from Melissa and Doug may just hitch a ride wherever your little one goes. Long, pliable arms, a kind face and a soft and inviting shape mean everyone will want to give this Gorilla a hug.• Gorilla Paw Slippers -- Black gorilla faux fur upper • Size medium fits a women's shoe size 7 to 9 • Size large fits a men's shoe size 9 to 12 • Soft, cushioned sole • Five claws on the front of each claw slipper• Exclusive AnimalPeds brand slippers
• Gorilla Coloring and Activity Books
The Lost Gorillas
Amazon Freebies:• Free Gorilla ebooks. No Kindle? Download a FREE Kindle Reading App
• Read Gorilla ebooks for free with a Free Trial of Kindle Unlimited
• Free Gorilla games
• Watch Gorilla Videos for Free with a Free Trial of Amazon Prime
• Listen to Audible books with Amazon Audible, and Get Two Free Audiobooks
• Free Alexa Skills | Gorilla
Free Printables, Coloring Pages, Activities and Crafts:
• Gorillas coloring pages | SuperColoring
• How To Draw A Gorilla
• World Gorilla Day Suggested Activities
• Gorilla - Printable Bookmarks for Kids | Mocomi
• Good Night Gorilla Book Activities
• Gorilla Worksheets and Activities
• Gorilla Fact Sheet - World Animal Foundation
• King Gorilla Paper Toy
• Gorilla Papercrafts | PaperCraftSquare.com
• Printable Gorilla Mask Mask
• Gorilla Coloring Pages | ColoringPages101
• Zoo Masks | Zoo New England
First Christmas lights (1882)
- The American custom of using electric lights began in 1882 when Edward Johnson an associate of Thomas Edison, hand-wired 80 red, white and blue bulbs and wound them around a rotating evergreen tree.
National Date Nut Bread Day
- Honors date nut bread with its delicious flavors perfect for the fall season - Date nut bread is perfect spread with butter and toasted. Serve it for breakfast with a nice hot cup of coffee and you are off to a good start celebrating date nut bread day. Or add a drizzle of icing and serve it as a dessert.
Thermometer Was Invented (1714)
- The first thermometers were called thermoscopes and while several inventors invented a version of the thermoscope at the same time, Italian inventor Santorio Santorio was the first inventor to put a numerical scale on the instrument. Galileo Galilei invented a rudimentary water thermometer in 1593 which, for the first time, allowed temperature variations to be measured. In 1714, Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first mercury thermometer, the modern thermometer.
Forefathers' Day (1620)
- Forefathers' Day is a holiday celebrated in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on December 22nd. Commemorating the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620. They left for the New World, to escape religious persecution. After a late fall start, the Mayflower set sail from England and landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts just before Christmas. This holiday is celebrated largely in New England.
