December fun facts

 Did you know….

Hanging stockings started by accident.

According to legend, we hang stockings by the chimney with care thanks to a poor man who didn't have enough money for his three daughters' dowries. Generous old St. Nick (remember, that's his trademark!) dropped a bag of gold down their chimney one night, where the girls had hung their stockings to dry. That's where the gold ended up, and how the tradition began.

Did you know….

Astronauts broadcast "Jingle Bells" from space.

This prank almost went too far. Nine days before Christmas in 1965, the two astronauts aboard Gemini 6 sent an odd report to Mission Control that they saw an "unidentified flying object" about to enter Earth's atmosphere, traveling in the polar orbit from north to south. They interrupted the tense report with the sound of “Jingle Bells,” as Wally Schirra played a small harmonica accompanied by Tom Stafford on a handful of small sleigh bells they had smuggled aboard.

Fun Facts about December

December Observances & Fun Facts

 

 

~December 2012 is observed as:

 Universal Human Rights Month and Safe Toys and Gifts Month.

 

 

 

 

~Birthstone:

Turquoise & Blue Topaz

 

 

~The first artificial Christmas tree was made in Germany, fashioned out of goose feathers that are dyed green!

 

 

~December 28th is considered by some to be the unluckiest day of the year.

 

 

 

~Fruit & Veges for the Month of December:

Comice Pears

 Kumquats

 Sapote

 Pepino melon

 Cherimoya

 Ugli fruits

 Parsnip

 Beets

 Turnips

 Rutabaga

 Celery Root / Celeriac

 Horseradish

 

 

~An almanac prediction states that if snow falls on Christmas Day, Easter will be warm, green and sunny.

 

 

~Spiders and spider webs are considered good luck on Christmas.

 

 

~December Flower:

Narcissus & Holly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ~Astrological Signs:

Sagittarius (till 21th) & Capricorn (22nd→)

 

 

 
~Other Notable December Dates & Events:

Dec 21-Last Day of the Mayan Calendar

 Dec 26-Jan 1 Kwanzaa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~The name December comes from the Latin decem for “ten”, as it was the 10th month in the Roman Calendar.

 

 

~The term Yuletide comes from a Norse tradition of cutting and burning a tree to bring in the Winter Solstice. This was to last through 12 days – later known as the 12 days of Christmas.

 

 

 

 

~December 12th is Poinsettia Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Saint Nickolas, who would eventually be called Santa Claus, was originally the patron saint of children, thieves and pawnbrokers!

 

 

~“Jingle bells” was composed in 1857, and not for Christmas – it was meant to be a Thanksgiving song!

 

 

 

~Common decorations on a Christmas tree each have their specific meanings. Candles – the light of the world, the Star at the top is a reminder of the first Christmas night and Candy canes are to represent the Shepherd’s cane.