To help ensure that you stay on top of all the latest workplace developments, the following is our guide to some of the lesser-known holidays your employees might be observing in December.

CONTEST: Just to make sure you’re paying attention, the list includes one made-up holiday. The rest are very real. The first person to post a comment identifying the bogus celebration will win a valuable prize.

  • Festival of Sleep Day (3)
  • Bean Day (5)
  • Cuddle Up Day (6)
  • Old Rock Day (7)
  • Bubble Bath Day (8)
  • Houseplant Appreciation Day (10)
  • Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day (12)
  • Fruitcake Toss Day (12)
  • Blame Someone Else Day (13)
  • International Skeptics Day (13)
  • Dress Up Your Pet Day (14)
  • Celebrate the Fact That There’s Nothing to Celebrate Day (15)
  • National Nothing Day (16)
  • Ditch New Years Resolutions Day (17)
  • Thesaurus Day (18)
  • Winnie the Pooh Day (18)
  • National Popcorn Day (19)
  • Penguin Awareness Day (20)
  • Squirrel Appreciation Day (21)
  • National Blond Brownie Day (22)
  • Measure Your Feet Day (23)
  • Beer Can Appreciation Day (24)
  • National Compliment Day (24)
  • Spouse’s Day (26)
  • Chocolate Cake Day (27)
  • Punch the Clock Day (27)
  • Fun at Work Day (25)
  • National Kazoo Day (28)
  • National Corn Chip Day (29)
  • Backward Day (31)

What does this mean for employers? If your employees suddenly tossing fruitcakes, running up a flagpole, blaming someone else, doing everything backwards, cuddling old rocks, shouting random compliments, sleeping at their desks, expressing appreciation for beer cans, squirrels and penguins and/or doing absolutely nothing all day long, now you know why.

Enjoy the month!

(Sources: library.thinkquest.org, brownielocks.com, holidayinsights.com, gone-ta-pott.com)