It’s December, and that means Christmas is in full swing. But the last month of the year is more than just a time to be with family and friends for the holidays. There are quotes referring to December, facts I bet you didn’t know and a few celebrations that don’t involve ornaments or noisemakers. Here is what you may not know about December.
Every year, December starts on the same day of the week as September and ends on the same day of the week as April. It was the tenth month in the Roman calendar until the year January and February were created. December is the month with the shortest daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours in the Southern Hemisphere.
Celebrations: World AIDS Day was celebrated on Dec. 1, and Human Rights day will be celebrated on Dec. 10. Today (Dec. 6) is Constitution Day in Spain, Saint Nicholas Day in Greece and Independence Day in Finland. Nobel Prizes are awarded on Dec. 10, on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, and Hannukuh is celebrated on Dec. 20.
December is also National Tie Month, Worldwide Food Service Safety Month, Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month, Quince (a flower) and Watermelon Month and National Write a Business Plan Month. Dec. 2 is National Mutt Day. Dec. 14 is Monkey Day. Dec. 15 is Cat Herders Day. And Dec. 30 is one of my favorite days: Bacon Day.
Birthdays: Many household names were born in December. Walt Disney was born on Dec. 5, Jane Austen was born on Dec. 16, and Lebron James was born on Dec. 30. Famous Christmas birthdays include: Jimmy Buffet, Annie Lenox, Humphrey Bogart and Sir Isaac Newton. New Year’s Eve is also a birthday party for many, like Val Kilmer, Diane von Furstenburg, Anthony Hopkins and
Henri Matisse.
Quotes: December has also been stated in quotes from famous people like Dr. Seuss and Shakespeare. Dr. Seuss said, “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon.” Shakespeare said, “How like a winter hath my absence been. From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen. What old December’s bareness everywhere!”
And, in case you forgot, December is also the end of the fall 2011 semester. Last day of exams are on Dec. 9. Have a happy and safe winter break, NSU.
