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DECEMBER HOLIDAYS, AWARENESS AND EVENTS 
I do love December. 
The cold weather, the snow 
, the holidays, the decorations, the yummy food.... and hot chocolate. Sigh. Tis a wonderful time of year.
December in the last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, as well as being one of seven months having 31 days. December starts on the same day as September every year and ends on the same day as April each year.
In Latin, decem means "ten". It was the tenth month in the Roman Calendar until a winter period was divided between January and February.
December's Flower is the narcissus and the holly, which is often being connected to the Christian celebration of Christmas.
The birthstones are turquoise, lapis lazuli, zircon, topaz (blue) or tanzanite.Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius and Capricorn overlap starting with Sagittarius then changing over to Capricorn on the 22nd.
In the Northern hemisphere, December has the shortest daylight hours of the year while in the Southern Hemisphere they are the longest. December is the seasonal equivalent to June, so winter (meteorological winter is the first of December) North of the equator equals summer South of the equator.
Moon Phases: 2nd: First Quarter; 10th: Full Moon; 17th: Last Quarter; 24th: New Moon
MONTH-LONG Holidays, Events and Awareness Universal Human Rights
Awareness for Awareness
(I swear I am not making this up!)Bingo
Write a Friend
National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month
Safe Toys & Gifts Month
WEEK-LONG Observances Tolerance Week (December 1 - 7th)
National Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Week (December 1−7)
National Handwashing Awareness Week is December 4-10 (for health concerns)
Laurent Clerc ~ Clerc-Gallaudet Week (December 4 - 10th) ~ Deaf Education
Halcyon Days (15 - 29th) ~ Name for a Greek Bird of Legend that has an ancient belief there is two weeks of calm weather around Winter Solstice.
Gluten-free Baking Week (December 16 - 22nd)
Los Posadas (December 16 - 24th) ~ A wonderful Mexican Christmas tradition, las posadas literally translates in English as "the inns" or "the lodgings" and symbolizes the Biblical journey of Mary and Joseph as they searched for shelter in Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus.
Saturnalia (December 17 - 23rd)
Kwanzaa (until Jan 1) in United States (December 26th - January 1st)
Chanukah (December 20 - 28th) ~ The first candle of the menorah is lit at nightfall of the first day. Your Chanukah Guide for the eight-day celebration.
FOOD DAYS Eat a Red Apple Day ~ 1st; Fritters Day ~ 2nd; Cotton Candy Day ~ 7th; Brownie Day ~ 8th; Pastry Day ~ 9th; Ice Cream Day ~ 13th; Lemon Cupcake Day ~ 15th; Chocolate Covered Anything Day ~ 16th; Maple Syrup Day ~ 17th; Bake Cookies Day ~ 18th; Roast Suckling Pig Day ~ 18th; Oatmeal Muffin Day ~ 19th; Date Nut Bread Day ~ 22nd; Chocolate Day ~ 24th; Egg Nog Day ~ 24th; Pumpkin Pie Day ~ 25th; Pepper Pot Day ~ 29th; Bicarbonate of Soda Day ~ 30th.
INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL Days Union Day of Romania ~ 1st
National Day of United Arab Emirates ~ 2nd
Independence Day Finland ~ 6th
Constitution Day in Spain ~ 6th
Constitution Day in Romania ~ 8th
Independence Day (Jamhuri Day) in Kenya ~ 12th
Bill of Rights Day United States ~ 15th
Victory day of Bangladesh ~ 16th
Independence Day in Slovenia ~ Independence and Unity Day ~ 26th
Proclamation Day in South Australia ~ 28th
Rizal Day in the Philippines ~ 30th
DAILY HOLIDAYS, EVENTS AND AWARENESS DECEMBER 1:
World AIDS Day
Rosa Parks ~ Refused to give up her seat on the bus sparking the Civil Rights Movement
DECEMBER 3:
National Roof over Your Head Day
DECEMBER 4:
Wear Brown Shoes Day
Santas' List Day
DECEMBER 5:
Ashura ~ Islamic holy day observed on the 10th of the Islamic Month of Muharram.
Walt Disney ~ Birthday: Born 1901 ~ 110-years ago!
Father's Day (King's Birthday) in Thailand
Repeal Day ~ The 21st Amendement ending Prohibition
DECEMBER 6:
St. Nicholas Center~ Around the World ~ Celebrate St. Nicholas Day around the World
Mitten Tree Day
DECEMBER 7:
Pearl Harbor Day
International Civil Aviation Day
Letter Writing Day
DECEMBER 8:
Take it in the Ear Day
DECEMBER 9:
Christmas Card Day
DECEMBER 10:
Nobel Prizes ~ Awarded on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
Human Rights Day
DECEMBER 11:
International Children's Day
DECEMBER 12:
Virgin of Guadalupe ~ Mexico
Poinsettia Day
DECEMBER 13:
Saint Lucy
Violin Day
DECEMBER 15:
Zamenhof Literature Day
DECEMBER 19:
Look for an Evergreen Day
DECEMBER 19:
Go Caroling Day
DECEMBER 20:
Hannukah ~ Jewish celebration of the Festival of Lights.
DECEMBER 21:
First Day of Winter
(Northern Hemisphere) Or First Day of Summer 
(Southern HemisphereForefather's Day ~ Commemorates the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620.
Humbug Day
National Flashlight Day
Look on the Bright Side Day
DECEMBER 23:
Festivus ~ A secular Holiday celebrated on the 23rd as a way to participate without the pressure of commercialism.
Humanist Holiday called HumanLight ~ Like Kwanzaa, HumanLight is a modern invention.
Roots Day ~ A day to search for you roots.
DECEMBER 24:
Christmas Eve
DECEMBER 25:
Christmas Day 
~ A Christian Celebration of the Birth of JesusPumpkin Nook 's Cookbook ~ Just in Time for National Pumpkin Pie Day!
DECEMBER 26:
Boxing Day
DECEMBER 27:
Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day
DECEMBER 28:
Card Playing Day
DECEMBER 31:
Unlucky Day
Make Up Your Mind Day
New Year's Eve
