November 29, 2021
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
By Eloise Graham
December Trivia and Fun Facts
Why is December called the Alpha and Omega month?
It is the first month of winter and the last month of the year. Sandwiched in this Alpha and Omega month are many holidays, feasts and happenings.
St. Nicolas Day, celebrated on December 6, is in recognition of the third century saint who became the inspiration for the modern day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas known as the patron saint of children has inspired many of the traditions around the world. Some of these traditions include scavenger hunts for presents, shoes filled with sweets or stockings filled with toys, fruits, nuts, and candies.
December 7, that infamous day that Pearl Harbor was bombed and we were drawn into World War II, is called National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
St. Lucia’s Day, celebrated on December 13, is in honor of a young Christian martyred girl that took food and aid to the Monks that were hiding in the Roman catacombs. She wore a wreath of candles on her head to light her, thus enabling her to carry more food and supplies. She was executed by the Romans in 304 CE (Christian Era). The stories of her deeds were told by the Monks who first brought Christianity to Sweden.
December 15 is the day to celebrate our Bill of Rights. December 17 recognizes the Wright Brothers. The Winter Solstice is December 21, the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, has deep roots of celebration in many religions. The celebration or worshiping of pagan gods because now the daylight hours will increase.
Besides the Winter Solstice, there are other religious observances in December. The Christian holiday on December 25 is designated as the day to celebrate the birth of Christ. The Jewish celebration of the Festival of Lights known as Hanukkah started on Sunday, November 28 and goes for eight days until Monday, December 6. Those are the dates for 2021. The dates of this celebration of miracles varies from year to year based on the Jewish lunar calendar. Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the United States honoring the African heritage in African-American culture. It begins on December 26 and goes until January 1.
Did you know that the month of December originally consisted of 30 days? It did. But when January and February were added to the calendar (around 700 BC) December was shortened to 29 days. Then, in the subsequent Julian calendar, two days were added making December 31 days long.
