On December 2014

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? (Dr. Seuss)

In Latin, Decem- means ten, so it was the last month when there were only ten – but at least it is still the last month of the calendar year

December, the last of the seven months with 31 days

December, the month with the shortest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours of the year in the Southern Hemisphere

December, ushering winter to the Northern Hemisphere, but summer to the Southern Hemisphere

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly, I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Leonore –
For the rare and radiant maiden who the angels name Lenore –
Nameless here for evermore. (Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven)

December, who every year starts on the same day of the week as September, and ends on the same day of the week as April

December, whose birth flowers are narcissus or holly, and birthstones are turquoise, lapis lazuli, zircon, blue topaz, and tanzanite

December, whose astrological signs are Sagittarius (The Archer) through the 21st, then Capricorn (The Goat) from the 22nd into January

December, the month providing the Yule Moon

December is the time for cultural celebrations around light, such as St. Lucia, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,, Yalda, and ending with New Year’s Eve

Every December, I host a tree-trimming party. I serve chili with cornbread and lots of good wine. It’s a wonderful party, and it shows how much adults like to play. (Maya Angelou)

Men are April when they woo, December when they wed. Maids are May when they are maids, but the sky changes when they are wives. (William Shakespeare)

December increases awareness in AIDS, drunk & drugged driving, human rights, and Operation Santa Paws

December embraces safe toys & gifts, writing a business plan, spiritual literacy, and food service safety while promoting ties and stress-free families

December celebrates eggnog, fruit cake, buckwheat, quince, watermelon, tomatoes, winter squash, exotic fruit, and root vegetables

I heard a bird sing in the dark of December
A magical thing and sweet to remember.
‘We are nearer to Spring than we were in September,’
I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. (Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing)

Book titles with December include Tenth of December, The December Project, December’s Lament, Lost December, and December

Movie titles with December include December Boys, A Warm December, Miss December, Roses in December, Cold December, and December

Other than those in this post, December is included in song titles by Alan Jackson, Linkin Park, Deana Carter, Prince, Norah Jones, Josh Grobin, Moody Blues, Taylor Swift, Cyndi Lauper, Demi Lovata, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Michael Buble, George Michael, Miley Cyrus, Christina Perri, Stevie Wonder, and more

Pianist George Winter has an album titled December, which includes the beauty of Pachelbel’s Canon (just click right here)

Tchaikovsky wrote December as one of the selections in The Seasons

What did you find interesting? Which songs did you like? Have a good December!