CAPRICORNUS the Goat Dec. 23 to Jan. 20
DECEM
December
is the Twelfth and last month
of the year, It was the tenth month on the ancient Roman calendar, and was
called decem which means ten. It became the twelfth month
when Julius Caesar changed the calendar. He added two more days to DECEMBER
making it 31 days. It originally had 29 days.
People celebrate many holidays in December. They prepare for New Year's Eve parties on the last day of December. The people of New England celebrate December 21 as Forefathers' Day, in honor of the Pilgrim landing at Plymouth in 1620. The Duch, Belgians, and Germans celebrate December 6 as the Feast of St. Nicholas. They exchance gifts on this day , rather then on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Russians and Greeks also observe the Feast of St. Nicholas as an early part of the Christmas season. Other days in December include ther Feast of St. Stephen on December 26, the Feast od St. John on December 27, and the Feast of the Holy Innocents on December 28. Kwanza A seven day festival is celebrated From December 26 to January 1 in the tradition of African harvest festivals that honors the family. First celebrated in 1996, it is observed annually by some black familys.
December Symbols.
The Flower considered for
December are the Narcissus and Holly . The Turquoise and the Zircon
(formerly the Lapis Lazuli), are the birthstones for December representing
Prosperity. The Narcissus is the name of a large group of earlyu spring
flowers with lovely blossoms. They were named from the legendary Greek youth
Narcissus the son of the river god Cephisus in ancient Greek mythology.
Narsissus belongs to the famliy Amaryllidaceae genus
Narcissus, species pseudo-narcissus The Turquoise is an opaque,
sem- precious stone in vrried shades of green and blue. The gem occurs in
rock deposits in Turkistan and Asia Minor, and in New Mexico, Colorado,
Arizona and Nevada, Its name means Turkish stone. Turquiose
consists cheifly of hydrous phosphate of alluminum. Small quantities of iron
give it a greenish tint, and the presence of copper gives the stone its blue
color. The Egyptians used it as early as 4000 B.C. In th Orient the gem was
worn as an amulet to ward off illnes and misfortune. It was popular in the
United States in the 1800's and today is often seen in Indian style jewelry.
"twas the night before Crristmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings wre 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.
Clement Clarke Moore
Heap on more wood! The wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We'll keep our Christmas merry still.
Sir Walter Scott
The sun that breif December day
Rose cheerless over hills of gray,
And darkly circled, gave at noon
A sadder sight than wanning moon.
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.
Hery Wadsworth Longdfellow
Activities
Winter begins 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 warmer than other winter months. On the first day of winter, the sun reaches the solstice, when it appears to have gone farthest south. It is the shortes day of the year. The Romans celebrated the sun's return with a holidy called Saturnalia. They made Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, and a symbol of the home as a special deity of December. The Druids of northern Europe used mistletoe in a December festival to the sun god.
Important November Events
May This Year Bring You and Your Family Joy and Happiness