Annie's "Month of December" Page

Annie's "Month of December" Page

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat,
and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
~Genesis 8:22~

December is the twelfth and last month of the year according to
the Gregorian calendar, which is used in almost all the world
today. It was the tenth month in the early Roman calendar and
takes its name from the Latin word decem, which means ten. It
became the twelfth month in a later Roman calendar. In 46 B.C.,
the Roman statesman Julius Caesar added two days to December,
which before then had only 29 days.

Winter begins in December in the northern half of the world.
Some people call it "the frosty month." But winter does not begin
until December 21 or 22, and most of December is usually warmer
than other winter months. On the first day of winter, the sun
reaches the solstice, when it appears to have gone farthest south.
In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year.
But it is the longest day in the southern half of the world. The
latter part of December has long been a holiday season. The
Romans honored Saturn, the god of agriculture, with a festival
called Saturnalia. Today, Christmas is the chief holiday of the
month in many countries. Christians celebrate it as the birthday
of Jesus Christ. The Druids of northern Europe used mistletoe in
a December festival. We still use mistletoe at Christmas.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
Source: Attributed to Clement Clarke Moore

December Quotations

Heap on more wood! The wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We'll keep our Christmas merry still.
Source: Sir Walter Scott

The sun that brief December day
Rose cheerless over hills of gray,
And, darkly circled, gave at noon
A sadder sight than waning moon.
Source: John Greenleaf Whittier

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Source: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Annie's Month of December 2010 Page
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			1 Hanukkah Begins (Dec 1st - Dec 9th) & Independence Day - (Portugal)	2 Advent Begins Nov 28th this year!	3 Annie's Advent Calendar Page	4 International Hug Day(Dec-4)
5	6 St. Nicholas Day	7 Pearl Harbor Day	8 Winter Flowers Day! Send a Winter Flowers Day Email Card	9 Christmas Card Day	10	11
12 Guadalupe Day Mexico & Poinsettia Day	13	14	15	16	17	18
19 A Christmas Carol Day	20	21 Forefathers' Day & Winter Begins	22	23 Emperor's Birthday (Japan)	24 Christmas Eve	25 Christmas
26 Boxing Day & Kwanzaa & St. Stephen's Day (Ireland & Italy)	27 Feast of Saint John the Evangelist	28	29	30	31 New Year's Eve

What's happening in December?
Special days? December is the month for holidays.

CHRISTMAS, on December 25, is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
HANUKKAH, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is often celebrated in December.
KWANZAA, the African American holiday based on traditional African harvest festivals, begins on December 26.
BOXING DAY, on December 26, is a holiday celebrated in a number of English-speaking countries. The traditional celebration involves giving gifts to charities and needy individuals.

December 12th is Poinsettia Day!

Annie's Poinsettia Page

Activities. The December holidays are a time for families to get together,
have fun, and maybe exchange presents. December also marks the start
of winter fun. There are many popular winter sports, such as SKIING,
ICE SKATING, and TOBOGGANING to enjoy.

Visit: Annie's "How to Cope with Grief and the Holidays" Page

Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting February alone
Which hath but twenty-eight, in fine,
Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.
Source: Old saying

Activities. In the Northern Hemisphere, most birds have gone to warmer climates.
But many animals are active. Mink, ermine, beavers, and foxes grow beautiful coats
of fur. Nature finishes preparing for the long winter ahead. Many people make
feeding places for birds and squirrels.

Special days. People celebrate many holidays in December. They prepare for
New Year's Eve parties on the last day of December. Some people in New England
observe December 21 as Forefathers' Day in honor of the landing of the Pilgrims
at Plymouth on Dec. 21, 1620. People in several European countries celebrate
December 6 as the Feast of Saint Nicholas. Many of them
exchange gifts on that day.

After Christmas Day on December 25, some Christian churches observe the Feast
of Saint Stephen on December 26, the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist
on December 27, and Holy Innocents' Day on December 28.

Popular beliefs. A beautiful Bible story tells how the star of Bethlehem guided
the wise men to the place where they found the Christ child. The star
at the top of a Christmas tree symbolizes this star.

Symbols. Holly, narcissus, and poinsettia are special December flowers.
The symbolic meaning of Holy is "The Emblem of foresight". The turquoise
and the zircon are December birthstones.

"the Holly that outdares cold winter's ire"
~Thomas Browne~

"With Holly and ivy
So green and so gay,
We deck up our houses
As fresh as the day
With bays and rosemary,
And laurel complete,
And every one now
Is a king in conceit."
~L.E.L.~

Events in History for the Month of December
What Happened in December

1941	Japan bombed U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor.
	United States declared war on Japan.
	Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.
1958	Charles de Gaulle elected president of France's 5th Republic.
1980	John Lennon (Beatles) was shot in New York.
1981	First test-tube baby was born.
1983	Lech Walesa, Poland's Solidarity Union's founder, received Nobel Peace Prize.
	An earthquake in Guinea killed over 300 people.

Jake's December Puzzle Page
Jake's December Puzzles Page - lists all of the
related Puzzles for the Month

Winter will be here Soon!!!!
Annie's Winter Page
Annie's Christmas Page
Annie's Boxing Day Page
Annie's Kwanzaa Page
Annie's New Year's Page
Annie's Hanukkah Page

Annie's Advent Page
Annie's Advent Links Page
Annie's Advent Calendar Page

Visit:
Annie's "How to Cope with Grief and the Holidays" Page

Jake's December & Christmas Puzzles Pages:
Jake's December Puzzles Page - lists all of the related Puzzles for the Month
Jake's Marys Visit Puzzle Page
Jake's Shepherds Visit Puzzle Page
Jake's Taxing Travels Puzzle Page
Jakes December Word Search Page - The Christmas Story

Continue on to next Month:
Annie's "Month of January" Page

To see other Christmas Pages By Annie
Visit: Annie's Christmas Welcome Page
Or go on to Annie's December Holidays Page

Annie's Home Page

Annie's Featured Holiday Page

Annie's Holiday Page

Annie's Featured Page

Annie's "Featured Page" Page

Email Annie

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