The Journey Journal
December 2022 Edition
Special Days in December
December 1: Eat a Red Apple Day: This is a day we’re honoring our teachers’ favorite desk decor and our doctor’s time honored heart healthy snack all in one crisp bite.
December 3: Let’s Hug Day: Hugs are very versatile. This day celebrates the warmth and comfort of a hug.
December 8: National Brownie Day: Originating in the Palmer House pastry kitchen in 1893, for the Columbian Exposition World's Fair, Bertha Palmer charged Pastry Chef Joseph Sehl to create something new and ta-dah the 1st brownie was made!
December 18-26: Hanukkah: Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates in particular the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival.
December 21: Winter Solstice: The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun. Marking the longest day of the year. It usually happens on December 21 or 22, at the exact same second around the world. It is the shortest day of the year.
December 25: Christmas Day: Christmas is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who, according to the Christian religion, is the son of God. The name is a joining of “Christ” and “mass” which means the holy mass (supper, celebration or festival) of Christ.
December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa: This is a time of learning, family and celebration. During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture. Dr. Maulana Karenga introduced the festival in 1966 to the United States .
December 28: National Card Playing Day: Playing cards has became a pop culture staple. Estimates from Columbia University suggest that there are at least 6,000 different types of historical decks from over 50 countries, though there are likely more. What’s more, many of these use completely different deck systems from the basic hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades.
As we look forward, filled with joy to the upcoming Holidays, and remembering that we just celebrated Thanksgiving, I had a thought. What if we gave thanks every day for something in particular, while acknowledging that each thing we are thankful for is a gift from God. I know this is usually done in November for Thanksgiving but I believe we should do it every month.
Below you will find a list of suggestions of things to be thankful for. I encourage you to write your answers, share with your family and perhaps have them do it also.
Then with hearts bursting with gratitude, I encourage you each day to read one chapter of the Gospel of Luke. If you start this after December 1, then you can read multiple chapters to catch up. It’s great reading and you will end up at Christmas Day truly remembering the real reason for the Christmas Season. You will have hearts of love and gratitude. What a great way to celebrate Jesus’s birthday!
Merry Christmas.
Pastor Carol
