December

Everyone loves the idea of a fresh start. This probably explains why people get so wrapped up in celebrating New Year’s Eve. The truth is, no one ever sticks to his or her resolutions, and most of the people celebrating the ‘ball drop’, can’t even remember it the next day. We should rename New Year’s […]

It happens once a year. The entire world leaves the past behind to embrace the future.   With united spirits, we all rejoice and share a magical moment at midnight. America is a young member of this global celebration, and while we have borrowed many of our New Year’s Eve traditions, we have our own […]

All clothing has been removed. Dentures, extra hair, eyewear – all gone. Your foot pauses in mid-step, eyeing the device with suspicion. Get on the Scales Day, celebrated annually on December 29, prompts babbling that sounds like a resolution but feels more like uttering a dozen Hail Mary-like recitations that commence a torturous penance. Some […]

It is fitting that the youngest child in the family lights the first candle. Born in 1966, amidst the Civil Rights Movement, Kwanzaa is a young holiday.   With each passing year, that flame flickered brightly and grew stronger, it now shines in homes for seven days every December. Beginning the day after Christmas, a […]

Every year, parents are awakened on Christmas morning by very effective alarm clocks. At the first signs of dawn eager kids, filled with anticipation, can no longer curb their enthusiasm. Children have lain awake all night with visions of toys dancing in their heads. Some creep downstairs to quietly approach mountains of presents under the […]

Are you heading out this year or staying home for the holidays? How many hugs are you looking forward to? If you are like us, you will count enough warm and wonderful greetings to outweigh weird, annoying and crazy Christmas encounters. Some years, they all come caroling through our front door. On other holidays, we […]

Everyone joins in the singing of carols, the sipping of eggnog and the wrapping of presents. We love hanging mistletoe over doorways and stockings on mantles. Holidays would be unimaginable without these merry rituals. The season would also be unbearable without the Christmas Eve traditions that lurk in the corners of our hearts.   Nightmares, […]

As soon as the last slice of pumpkin pie is eaten in November, the pressures associated with Christmas celebrations begin. It can be the most stress-driven time of year. However, if racking up eight months of credit card debt sounds less than joyous, there is an alternative. Today we kickoff Festivus, with a toast to […]

Two candles make the difference between a menorah and a hanukkiah. There are 16 ways to spell Hanukkah, but Chanukah is the most popular alternative. It’s older than Christmas by at least 170 years, but it didn’t become widely celebrated until the 1800s. One observance and a few differences blend together for eight very bright […]

Although many of us shudder with mental pictures of darkened days and blustery blizzards, December’s arrival of winter promises to usher in a host of enjoyable things to cherish. It commences with a couple of celebratory holidays, then extends into three months of winter revelry. First, we must pause to appreciate the breathtaking beauty of […]

The crisp air takes on a chilly snap as the leaves finally give up their hold on bare branches. Children stomp their feet waiting for the school bus while pets sneeze on their way back inside. The warmest mufflers come down from the top shelf, the heaviest coats tumble out of the closet, and extra […]

We’ve all seen Currier and Ives paintings of carolers standing under street lamps, or strolling through snowy streets carrying lanterns and songbooks. Today’s caroling scenes are less idyllic, but folks still turn out on Go Caroling Day, celebrated annually on December 20, to croon their way through neighborhoods, shopping malls and senior centers. The tradition […]

Christmas is six days away. It’s time to bundle up and cast aside the dread of untangling strings of lights.   Today is December 19, Look for an Evergreen Day.   Because of their aromatic powers, most of us believe that only a live specimen will do. Whether your preference is pine, fir or spruce, […]

In 1843, Sir Henry Cole, a proper English gentleman, commissioned an artist to design a holiday card. Cole proceeded to have 2,050 copies printed, and a holiday tradition was born. Lack of time is no longer an excuse. Whip out the smartphones and mark your calendars. Christmas Card Day is December 9. Receiving cards depicting […]

Imagine a slightly chunky V-8, savored with a spoon. Today gives us one more reason to eat all our vegetables.   Celebrated annually on December 6, today is Gazpacho Day. This chilled soup is most popular in its tomato variation, but several recipes await your sampling. Gazpacho is a culinary icon of Spain and was […]

Santa’s elves are getting impatient. Youngsters take heed. Santa’s List Day is December 4. Get your lists to Santa before he has a mutiny on his hands. What does that mean? Well, if Santa’s elves have to wait too long, they will be faced with overtime and understaffed conditions that could prompt a mass labor […]

It’s time for fun and games as we celebrate the iconic game piece that has played an integral role in countless hours of rainy day recreation. Dice Day, celebrated annually on December 4, honors all variations from six-sided cubes with pips to those displaying numbers, letters and symbols. The earliest known dice dates back 5000 […]

They’re golden-brown, crispy, and greasy in the most delicious way. Love fried foods? Fritters Day, observed annually on December 2, is your day to celebrate. Don’t know what a fritter is? Chances are, you’ve sampled at least one. A fritter is simply a vegetable, meat or fruit encased in a deep-fried breading. Sweet fritters include […]

December always stuffs our celebratory stockings with extra holidays and runs our cider cups over with reasons to rejoice. As we make our merry way towards the magic of Christmas Eve and the countdown to New Year’s Eve, the twelfth month blesses us with very special gifts. Our Favorite Yuletide Rituals We pledge to start […]