December 3rd : 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 is open. All the details and downloadable wall chart available here.
Today is the busiest day for matches in the group stages with three groups opening their head to head contests on the twitter poll. Head on over to our twitter profile to register your preferences
Head to Head matches:
Or vote in the open voting platform for all your favourites here:
December 3
3D Day
An annual event celebrating 3D computer graphics. It was launched by Alias System Corporation. Currently, the event is coordinated by Autodesk, as Autodesk acquired Alias in December 2006
International Basque Language Day
Also known as International Day of the Basque Language, is celebrated on December 3. It was established in 1948 and became official in 1995.
Global No Pesticides Use Day
Observed on December 3. It was launched by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) International in 1998 to commemorate the Bhopal disaster of 1984, which is considered the world's worst industrial disaster.
International Day of Persons With Disabilities
A UN observed international day proclaimed in 1992 in resolution 47/3. The UN data suggests that approximately 15% of the world population are disabled, more than 1 billion. 80% live in developing countries.
The campaign aims to encourage Governments to take appropriate measures to ensure people with disabilities have access to all aspects of society on an equal basis with others, and to identify and eliminate barriers to accessibility.
The UN provides resources here.
There are teaching resources on this topic available on the IDPWD website.
The Feast of Saint Francis Xavier
On December 3, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Francis Xavier, a well-known Catholic missionary and one of the founders of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order). It is an official holiday in the Spanish autonomous community of Navarre, where Francis Xavier was born, and in the Indian state of Goa, where he led a mission.
Play Outside Day
This idea is a monthly event that happens on the first Saturday of every month, obviously, a play outside day in the middle of winter is not something that many people could endorse. It is once again an American idea and it is not something that promotes organised events but to encourage people to get outdoors and play with their kids on a monthly basis. More information on their website here.
December 3 in History
Events
1984 – Bhopal disaster: A methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, kills more than 3,800 people outright and injures 150,000–600,000 others (some 6,000 of whom later died from their injuries) in one of the worst industrial disasters in history.
1992 – A test engineer for Sema Group uses a personal computer to send the world's first text message via the Vodafone network to the phone of a colleague.
Births
1857 – Joseph Conrad, Polish-born British novelist (d. 1924)
1948 – Ozzy Osbourne, English singer-songwriter
Deaths
1894 – Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist (b. 1850)
1980 – Oswald Mosley, English lieutenant, fascist, and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (b. 1896)
Christmas films
A comedy adventure in which a pair of siblings have to help Santa Claus get his Christmas schedule back on track after they have caused his sleigh to crash.
Group D 4th seed, A Netflix production that also spawned a sequel with Goldie Hawn alongside Kurt Russell. A new production with classic Christmas film stylings.
A department store Santa is taken to court after claiming he is the real Father Christmas.
4th Seed in group C. A straight up classic that has been overlooked by many. Definitely worth a revisit for the Christmas flick schedule, there is a 1994 remake with Richard Attenborough if black and white is not your thing.
Christmas music
Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time" is a much maligned staple of the Christmas song compilations and has performed poorly in Christmas song world cup history. Learn more at the song homepage here.