Month of December

The old Roman calendar began the year in March (spring)

and December was the tenth month.

In Latin, decem means...ten.

Birthstones ~ Zircon, Turquoise, Tanzanite

Flowers ~ Narcissus, Holly

Noteworthy Days

December 7 ~ National Pearl Harbour Remembrance Day is a day to remember

and honour all those who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbour.

December 7, 1941 is the date America was attacked marking the day America

entered WWII.  It is a tradition to fly the US flag at half-staff until sunset.

December 8 ~ Hanukkah begins (at sundown the eve before)

December 17 ~ Wright Brothers’ Day is a US National observance.  It

commemorates the first successful flight in a heavier-than-air, mechanically

propelled  airplane (built by Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17,

1903…near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

December 21 ~ the first day of  Winter

December 21 ~ Forefathers’ Day celebrates  the day the pilgrims landed

at Plymouth Rock in 1620.

December 24 ~ Christmas Eve

December 25 ~ Christmas Day

December 26 ~ Boxing Day is celebrated the day after Christmas in the 

United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.  It was traditionally a day to 

give a box to those who have worked hard for you during the year. Many churches 

or businesses  placed boxes for coins to be placed for year-end gifts.

Many countries now have Boxing Week to sell excess Christmas inventory

at reduced prices.

December 31 ~  New Year’s Eve…frequently heard is Auld Lang Syne,

a Scot’s poem written by Robert Burns  in 1788…and set to the tune

of a traditional folk song.

December Musings

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world

and behold…

everything is softer and more beautiful.

Norman Vincent Peale

The best of all gifts around the Christmas tree:

the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

Burton Hillis

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!

Henry W. Longfellow

Bill Vaughan…re New Year’s  Eve:

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in.

A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.

Oprah Winfrey:  Cheers to a New Year

and another chance to make it right!

Anonymous:  A New Year’s resolution

is something that goes in one Year

and out the other.

Philosophy to “kick-off" 2013:  The December festivities have ended. 
                                                Gray skies are laden with snow clouds.
                                                The long winter looms ahead.
                                               
It  is the season when the whole world seems to go to sleep.The weather is cold,
the ground is frozen, and the trees and plants seem to be dead. 
Since there is little else to do, it's a time that is conducive to working hard. 

                                                            This is a good thing! 

                                     It can be very satisfying to work hard and be creative.

.                                                   Creativity is part of our makeup.

                                                   Depression would quickly set in…

                                                      without a purpose in  Life!

Merle Baird-Kerr … written November 26, 2012

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