It is December. The month of December has many significant dates.
- Dec. 21 is the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Dec. 24 is Christmas Eve.
- Dec. 25 is Christmas Day.
- Dec. 18-26 is the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah.
- Dec. 26-Jan.1 is the African American holiday of Kwanzaa.
The last day of Hanukkah and the first day of Kwanzaa will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Dec. 26 at Fountain Square on Davis Street and Sherman Avenue.
I grew up with a mother that let us know that there were “Jews and gentiles,” but that we would only judge folks based on their behavior, not their religion.
When I was in high school, I had a crush on a Jewish classmate. I knew he was Jewish because of his absence during Jewish holidays
My sister, some friends and classmates and teachers knew that he and I cared a lot for each other. We did not date. I lived in town and walked to school. He lived in the country and rode a school bus to school. Neither of us expected to have a relationship beyond high school. He is a warm memory.
There are several titles for the month of December, including National Pear Month, Learn a Foreign Language Month and National Fruitcake Month. The most important title to me is Universal Rights Month.
Titles for some other days in December are:
- Look on The Bright Side Day, Dec. 21;
- Mathematics Day, Dec. 22;
- National Call a Friend Day, Dec. 28;
- National Resolution Day Dec. 30;
- Make Up Your Mind Day and New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31
Below is a verse from a poem by S.M. Carne. It should not just apply to Christmas.
“…Open your heart at Christmas
And not just for one day
Open your heart at Christmas
let this beautiful feeling stay.
For caring, generosity and love,
we treasure through the year.
Don’t wait until Christmas
to share it with those you hold dear.”
Peggy’s Noted in December – Part 1 ran on Dec. 8.