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December

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December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is also the last of seven months to have a length of 31 days.

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Name of December: 

December got its name from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. Later, the months of January and February were created out of the monthless period and added to the beginning of the calendar, but December retained its name.

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In Ancient Rome they had many festivals in the month of December. 

The festival of Sol Invictus was held on December 25. 

(Classical Latin:  Sol Invictus [ˈsoːɫ ɪnˈwɪktʊs], "Unconquered Sun").

December 25 was considered the date of the winter solstice in the Roman calendar. 

Generally speaking, in all the pagan religions the solstices were celebrated. 

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The Anglo-Saxons referred to December–January as Ġēolamonaþ (modern English: "Yule month"). The French Republican Calendar contained December within the months of Frimaire and Nivôse.

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Astronomy

December contains the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the fewest daylight hours, and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the day with the most daylight hours (excluding polar regions in both cases). December in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the astronomical winter is traditionally 21 December or the date of the solstice.

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Symbols

December's birth flower is the narcissus. 

Its birthstones are turquoise, zircon and tanzanite.

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Narcissus flower: 

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Narcissus in Greek mythology:

In Greek mythology, Narcissus ( Ancient Greek: Νάρκισσος, romanized: Nárkissos) was a hunter from Thespiae in Boeotia who was known for his beauty which was noticed by all, regardless of gender. According to the best-known version of the story, by Ovid, Narcissus rejected all advances, eventually falling in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, tragically not realizing its similarity, entranced by it. In some versions he beat his breast purple in agony at being kept apart from this reflected love, and in his place sprouted a flower bearing his name.

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The character of Narcissus is the origin of the term narcissism, a self-centered personality style. This quality in extreme contributes to the definition of narcissistic personality disorder, a psychiatric condition marked by grandiosity, excessive need for attention and admiration, and an inability to empathize.

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Etymology: 

The name is of Greek etymology. According to R. S. P. Beekes, "the suffixes [-ισσος] clearly points to a Pre-Greek word."

The word narcissus has come to be used for the daffodil, but there is no clarity on whether the flower is named for the myth or the myth for the flower, or if there is any true connection at all. Pliny the Elder wrote that the plant was named for its fragrance (ναρκάω narkao, "I grow numb"), not the mythological character.

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Narcissus & Echo:

In Greek mythology, Echo (/ˈɛkoʊ/; Greek: Ἠχώ, Ēkhō, "echo", from ἦχος (ēchos), "sound") was an Oread Nymph who resided on Mount Cithaeron.

God Zeus loved consorting with beautiful nymphs and often visited them on Earth. 

Eventually, Zeus's jealous wife, Hera, became suspicious, and came from Mount Olympus in an attempt to catch Zeus with the nymphs. 

Echo, by trying to protect Zeus (as he had ordered her to do), endured Hera's wrath. 

Echo had kept Hera “occupied” with gossip while Zeus had an affair behind her back. 

And the jealous Goddess Hera cursed Echo by making her unable to initiate a spoken sentence on her own, and instead able only to, in speech, finish a sentence started by someone else:
"Yet a chatterbox, had no other use of speech than she has now, that she could repeat only the last words out of many." 

This is the explanation of the aural effect which was named after her.

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Sometime after being cursed, Echo spied a young beautiful man, Narcissus, while he was out hunting deer with his companions. 

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She immediately fell in love with him and, infatuated, followed quietly. The more she looked at the young beautiful man, the more she longed for him. Though she wished with all her heart to call out to Narcissus, Hera's curse prevented her.

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During the hunt, Narcissus became separated from his companions and called out, ‘is anyone there,’ and heard the nymph repeat his words. Startled, Narcissus answered the voice, ‘come here,’ only to be told the same. When Narcissus saw that nobody had emerged from the glade, he concluded that the owner of the voice must be running away from him and called out again. Finally, he shouted, "This way, we must come together." Taking this to be a reciprocation of her love, Echo concurred ecstatically, "We must come together!"

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In her delight, Echo rushed to Narcissus ready to throw her arms around her beloved. Narcissus, however, was appalled and, spurning her, exclaimed, ‘Hands off! May I die before you enjoy my body.’ All Echo could whisper in reply was, ‘enjoy my body’ and having done so she fled, scorned, humiliated, and shamed.

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Despite the harshness of his rejection, Echo's love for Narcissus only grew.

In her grief she isolated herself from everybody.  

Eventually, Echo, began to waste away. 

Though she was immortal, her body faded and her bones turned to stone until all that remained of Echo was the sound of her voice.

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Echo's fellow nymphs prayed to Goddess Nemesis to punish the beautiful but cold-hearted Narcissus with a love that was equally not reciprocated. 

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Nemesis, the Goddess of revenge, heard the pleas of the nymphs and also the pleas of a young man who had fallen for Narcissus but was ignored and cursed him; 

Nemesis listened, proclaiming that Narcissus would never be able to be loved by the one he fell in love with.

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Thus, after sometime, Narcissus was in the forest again and he was getting thirsty. He finds a pool of water which Ovid tells us no animal had ever approached. Leaning down to drink, Narcissus sees a reflection. Ovid, inhabiting Narcissus mindset, describes what he sees as being as beautiful as a marble statue. Narcissus did not realize it was his own reflection and fell deeply in love with it, as if it were someone else; 

Unable to leave the allure of this image, Narcissus eventually realized that his love could not be reciprocated and he melted away from the fire of passion burning inside him, eventually turning into a gold and white flower.

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A later version ascribed to the poet Parthenius of Nicaea, composed around 50 BC, was discovered in 2004 by Dr Benjamin Henry among the Oxyrhynchus papyri at Oxford.Again, like in Ovid, Narcissus lost his will to live and committed suicide. 

A version by Conon, a contemporary of Ovid, also ends in suicide (Narrations, 24). In it, a young man named Ameinias fell in love with Narcissus, who had already spurned his male suitors. Narcissus also spurned him and gave him a sword. Ameinias committed suicide at Narcissus's doorstep. He had prayed to the gods to give Narcissus a lesson for all the pain he provoked. Narcissus walked by a pool of water and decided to drink some. He saw his reflection, became entranced by it, and killed himself because he could not have his object of desire. 

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In all versions, his body disappears and all that is left is a narcissus flower.

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Influence on culture:

The myth of Narcissus has inspired artists for at least two thousand years, even before the Roman poet Ovid featured a version in book III of his Metamorphoses. This was followed in more recent centuries by other poets (e.g. Keats and Alfred Edward Housman) and painters (Caravaggio, Poussin, Turner, Dalí (see Metamorphosis of Narcissus), and Waterhouse).

The myth had a decided influence on English Victorian homoerotic culture, via André Gide's study of the myth, Le Traité du Narcisse ('The Treatise of the Narcissus', 1891), and the only novel by Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray.

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You may read more: 

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology)#:~:text=The%20myth%20had%20a%20decided,The%20Picture%20of%20Dorian%20Gray.

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Narcissus flower meaning: 

The birth flower for December is the narcissus. 

With a meaning of hope, wealth and good fortune for the new year, the narcissus is a super popular flower everywhere. 

In China is used to represent the Chinese New Year as it's one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

Narcissi flowers are also seen to represent: 

Creativity, inspiration, awareness and inner reflection, forgiveness, and vitality. 

If you give a bunch of narcissi to a loved one it means 'they're the only one' and is said to ensure happiness.

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Birthstone Turquoise stone meaning: 

The word turquoise dates back to the 13th century, from the French expression 'pierre tourques', referencing the stone's journey from Turkey to Europe. Today, the December birthstone is associated with meanings of freshness, femininity, tranquillity, intuition, serenity, creativity, emotional balance, and loyalty.

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Birthstone Zircon stone meaning: 

During the Middle Ages, this December birthstone was thought to lull one into a deep sleep and scare off evil spirits. In the Hindu religion, zircon alternates with hessonite garnet as one of the nine gems of the navaratna. When worn together, the nine gems protect the wearer and bring wealth, wisdom and good health.

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Birthstone Tanzanite stone meaning: 

Tanzanite is commonly believed to facilitate a higher consciousness and stimulate intuition and perception. Some believe that it aids in detoxifying the body and improving vitality. It is said to be a good stone to wear or have near in situations where you need a calming and soothing presence.

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Astrology

The zodiac signs for the month of December are Sagittarius (until December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 onward).

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Sagittarius (constellation):

Origin:

Sagittarius is a prominent and old zodiacal constellation (ninth in the ancient zodiac) dating back to the time of the Assyrians and Babylonians. On ancient drawings and maps, Sagittarius is drawn as a Centaur -- half man, half horse -- with a bow in one hand and the arrow pointed at Antares, the Heart of Scorpius, the Scorpion.

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Mythology:

The centaurs are often-used creatures in Greek mythology. They were usually rude, deceptive, violent, dishonest, and generally unfriendly -- and they drank too much. However, the centaur named Chiron was different. Chiron was educated by the Apollo (God of the Sun) and Diana (Goddess of the Moon and Wild Animals) to be kind, gentle, and wise. Chiron's wisdom and learning were so famous that the children of the richest nobles were sent to his wilderness cave to learn from him. Among his most famous students were Hercules, Jason (who would later recover the Golden Fleece), Aesculapius (who became a highly regarded and skilled physician), and Achilles. Beyond his learning, Chiron was also an excellent archer, musician, and physician.

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In one legend Hercules, thirsty after a long day of traveling, asked a friend to open a jar of the fine wine kept in his house but belonged to the centaurs. (One has to question why someone would keep the wine of the generally disagreeable centaurs.) Contrary to his better judgment, the friend opened the jar and the fragrance of this exceptional wine wafted out over the countryside, attracting the attention of the rightful owners of the wine. The centaurs demanded to know why he would dare open the wine without their permission. Not waiting for an answer, the centaurs became violently aggressive towards Hercules and his friend. Had they known who they were attacking, the centaurs may not have made such a dreadful mistake, for in no time at all Hercules had dispatched many of the centaurs and those not dead or dieing ran in terror from the countryside, never to return. Nearby, Chiron observed his former student deal with the centaurs, although he took no part in the melee. Hercules did not recognize his good friend and mentor from such a great distance and accidentally shot and wounded him with one of his arrows dipped in the poison of the Hydra. The pain and suffering that Chiron underwent was so great that, skillful physician though he was, he could not even cure himself. Being immortal, Chiron was destined to eternal suffering.

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Long before this, the gods had cast Prometheus into Tartarus and chained him to a rock as a punishment for giving fire to man. In Tartarus, Prometheus was tortured each day by an eagle. At the request of Hercules, Zeus agreed to release Prometheus if a substitute could be found who would willing take Prometheus' place. 

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Chiron gave up his immortality and descended to Tartarus, thereby releasing Prometheus, and suffering less there than the eternal pain as an immortal centaur. 

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Seeing that this weighed deeply upon his son Hercules, Zeus placed the only good centaur ever among the stars as the constellation Sagittarius, the Archer.

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Sagittarius zodiac symbolism:

What makes Sagittarius so unique is its dynamic blend of passion, curiosity, intensity, and adaptability. Represented by the archer (a half-man, half-horse centaur), Sagittarius isn't afraid to use its bow and arrow to explore expansive terrain, seeking answers in places and spaces others wouldn't dare venture.

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Sagittarius zodiac personality:

Sagittarians are outgoing, cheerful outgoing who draw admiration and admiration from everyone who comes into touch with them. Sagittarius people are faithful, intelligent, forceful, and sympathetic. They are one-of-a-kind, gifted, and wise beyond their years.

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Sagittarius zodiac sexuality:

These people think of sex as a sport. They're very direct with their desires and needs in bed and possess a refreshing childlike frankness. Sagittarian lovers like to have fun in bed, and laughing is a major turn-on.

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Christmas. 

Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. 

The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is of fairly recent origin. 

The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jōl or the Anglo-Saxon geōl, which referred to the feast of the winter solstice. 

The corresponding terms in other languages —Navidad in Spanish, Natale in Italian, Noël in French — all probably denote nativity. 

The German word Weihnachten denotes “hallowed night.” Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays the pivotal role.

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The Date for Christmas: 

The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. 

    The New Testament provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. 

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One widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the rebirth of spring and summer. 

Indeed, after December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently made the connection between the “rebirth of the sun and the birth of the Son”. 

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A second view suggests that December 25 became the date of Jesus’ birth by a priori reasoning that identified the spring equinox as the date of the creation of the world and the fourth day of creation, when the light was created, as the day of Jesus’ conception (i.e., March 25). December 25, nine months later, then became the date of Jesus’ birth. 

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Christmas Eve:

Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus.

Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society.

Christmas began to be widely celebrated with a specific liturgy in the 9th century but did not attain the liturgical importance of either Good Friday or Easter, the other two major Christian holidays. 

Roman Catholic churches celebrate the first Christmas mass at midnight and Protestant churches have increasingly held Christmas candlelight services late on the evening of December 24. 

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Contemporary customs in the West:

None of the contemporary Christmas customs have their origin in theological or liturgical affirmations and most are of fairly recent date. 

The Renaissance humanist Sebastian Brant recorded, in Das Narrenschiff (1494; The Ship of Fools), the custom of placing branches of fir trees in houses. Even though there is some uncertainty about the precise date and origin of the tradition of the Christmas tree, it appears that fir trees decorated with apples were first known in Strasbourg in 1605. 

The first use of candles on such trees is recorded by a Silesian duchess in 1611. The Advent wreath—made of fir branches, with four candles denoting the four Sundays of the Advent season—is of even more recent origin, especially in North America. The custom, which began in the 19th century but had roots in the 16th, originally involved a fir wreath with 24 candles (the 24 days before Christmas, starting December 1), but the awkwardness of having so many candles on the wreath reduced the number to four. An analogous custom is the Advent calendar, which provides 24 openings, one to be opened each day beginning December 1. 

According to tradition, the calendar was created in the 19th century by a Munich housewife who tired of having to answer endlessly when Christmas would come. The first commercial calendars were printed in Germany in 1851. 

The intense preparation for Christmas that is part of the commercialization of the holiday has blurred the traditional liturgical distinction between Advent and the Christmas season, as can be seen by the placement of Christmas trees in sanctuaries well before December 25.

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How is Christmas Eve celebrated?

Toward the end of the 18th century the practice of giving gifts to family members became well established. Theologically, the feast day reminded Christians of God’s gift of Jesus to humankind even as the coming of the Wise Men, or Magi, to Bethlehem suggested that Christmas was somehow related to giving gifts. The practice of giving gifts, which goes back to the 15th century, contributed to the view that Christmas was a secular holiday focused on family and friends. This was one reason why Puritans in Old and New England opposed the celebration of Christmas and in both England and America succeeded in banning its observance.

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Secular Christmas Celebration:

The tradition of celebrating Christmas as a secular family holiday is splendidly illustrated by a number of English “Christmas” carols such as “Here We Come A-Wassailing” or “Deck the Halls.” It can also be seen in the practice of sending Christmas cards, which began in England in the 19th century. Moreover, in countries such as Austria and Germany, the connection between the Christian festival and the family holiday is made by identifying the Christ Child as the giver of gifts to the family. 

In some European countries, St. Nicholas appears on his feast day (December 6) bringing modest gifts of candy and other gifts to children. In North America the pre-Christmas role of the Christian saint Nicholas was transformed, under the influence of the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (or “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas”), into the increasingly central role of Santa Claus as the source of Christmas gifts for the family. While both name and attire—a version of the traditional dress of bishop—of Santa Claus reveal his Christian roots, and his role of querying children about their past behaviour replicates that of St. Nicholas, he is seen as a secular figure. In Australia, where people attend open-air concerts of Christmas carols and have their Christmas dinner on the beach, Santa Claus wears red swimming trunks as well as a white beard.

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In most European countries, gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, December 24, in keeping with the notion that the baby Jesus was born on the night of the 24th. The morning of December 25, however, has become the time for the exchange of gifts in North America. In 17th- and 18th-century Europe the modest exchange of gifts took place in the early hours of the 25th when the family returned home from the Christmas mass. When the evening of the 24th became the time for the exchange of gifts, the Christmas mass was set into the late afternoon of that day. In North America the centrality of the morning of the 25th of December as the time for the family to open presents has led, with the exception of Catholic and some Lutheran and Episcopal churches, to the virtual end of holding church services on that day, a striking illustration of the way societal customs influence liturgical practices.

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Santa Claus:

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. He is said to accomplish this with the aid of Christmas elves, who make the toys in his North Pole workshop, and with the aid of flying reindeer who pull his sleigh through the air.

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The modern figure of Santa is based on folklore traditions surrounding Saint Nicholas, the English figure of Father Christmas, and the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas.

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Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with spectacles, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, a red hat trimmed with white fur, a black leather belt and boots, carrying a bag full of gifts for children. He is popularly associated with a deep, hearty laugh, frequently rendered in Christmas literature as "ho, ho, ho!" (/ˈhoʊˈhoʊˈhoʊ/)

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This image originated in North America during the 19th century and has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books, family Christmas traditions, films, and advertising.

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Thomas Nast:

Thomas Nast September 26, 1840 – December 7, 1902) was a German-born American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist often considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon".

Thomas Nast created a modern version of Santa Claus. 

The story goes that in 1863 Nast's wife read him Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.” Based on Moore's description, Nast created the image of a “round jolly old elf.”

Though they varied from year to year, Nast’s Santa drawings appeared in Harper’s Weekly until 1886, amounting to 33 illustrations in total.

Nast's influence was so widespread that Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Thomas Nast was our best teacher."

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Christmas tree:

A Christmas tree adorned with ornaments and lights is a centrepiece of the festive season. 

But have you ever wondered where the tradition comes from?

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Evergreen trees and plants have been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years, long before the advent of Christianity.

Pagans in Europe used branches of evergreen fir trees to decorate their homes and brighten their spirits during the winter solstice.

Early Romans used evergreens to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia, while ancient Egyptians used green palm rushes as part of their worship of the god Ra.

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Pieces of evergreen fir tree were first brought into people's homes to brighten spirits during the winter solstice.

"The idea of bringing the evergreen into the house represents fertility and new life in the darkness of winter, which was much more of the pagan themes," Dr Dominique Wilson from the University of Sydney said.

"That's also where the ideas of the holly and the ivy and the mistletoe come from because they're the few flowering plants at winter so therefore they hold special significance”.

"So the idea of bringing evergreens into the house started there and eventually that evolved into the Christmas tree."

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From pagan customs to Christianity

There are several theories and legends as to how the evergreen fir tree went on to become a symbol of Christianity.

One is credited to the English Benedictine monk Boniface, famous for his missionary work in Germany during the eighth century.

"The common story goes that [Boniface] encountered some native Germans performing some sacrifices in front of a mighty oak tree — oak trees being sacred to the god Thor," Dr Wilson said.

"Boniface seized his axe and felled the tree in order to stop the pagans worshiping a false idol and the pagans were waiting for him to be struck down by lightning, but it didn't happen.

"So at this stage he took the opportunity to convert them."

Then legend has it that a fir tree grew out of the fallen oak.

"That became a symbol of Christ — being triangular in shape it represents the trinity — and from there came the idea that the tree should be a symbol of Christ and new life," Dr Wilson said.

"That's one of the main origins of the Christmas tree and bringing it into the house."

One thing you are guaranteed to find on Christmas trees these days is a Christmas ball, which evolved from the apple – a roman catholic symbol.

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Modern Christmas trees a German tradition

Modern Christmas trees emerged in western Germany during the 16th century as Christians brought trees into their homes and decorated them with gingerbread, nuts and apples.

"It's the 17th century that we really get the decorating happening, and we get a movement into the festivals and the big royal courts having these trees with the gold leaf on them, having paper decorations with candles," Dr Wilson said.

The custom became popular among nobility and spread to royal courts across Europe in the early 19th century.

As Germans emigrated to other parts of the world the tradition also spread.

But in places like the United States, having a Christmas tree was often viewed as a foreign pagan custom until the mid-19th century.

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Queen Victoria, Prince Albert popularise Christmas trees

While the Christmas tree originated in Germany, it was Britain's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who popularised it in the 1840s and 1850s.

Victoria's mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, was German so she grew up having a decorated tree at Christmas time.

But the idea of decorating a whole tree was not common among Brits until a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree in Windsor Castle was published by the Illustrated London News in 1848.

Victoria and Albert were popular royals and soon every British home had a tree decked out with decorations, candles and sweets.

The same image was published two years later in the United States in Godey's Lady's Book — though Victoria's tiara and Albert's moustache were removed to make the image more American.

It was the first widely circulated picture of a decorated evergreen Christmas tree in the US and soon the Christmas tree was in vogue.

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Christmas trees today

Today, Christmas trees come in all different shapes and sizes from traditional fir to artificial.

Christmas trees now come in all different shapes and sizes and are widely accepted around the world.

The tradition of decorating a tree is embraced by millions of people worldwide of different faiths and cultures.

While it is still a symbol of Christianity to some, to others it is simply part of December celebrations.

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You may read more: 

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

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Christmas lights: 

The Christmas tree was first recorded to be used by the Lutheran Christians in the 16th century, with records indicating that a Christmas tree was placed in the Cathedral of Strasbourg in 1539, under the leadership of the Protestant Reformer, Martin Bucer.

In homes, "German Lutherans brought the decorated Christmas tree with them; the Moravians put lighted candles on those trees.

"These candles symbolized Jesus as the Light of the World".

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Around 1890, candleholders were first used for Christmas candles. Between 1902 and 1914, small lanterns and glass balls to hold the candles started to be used. 

Early electric Christmas lights were introduced with electrification, beginning in the 1880s.

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United States:

The first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H. Johnson, an associate of inventor Thomas Edison. 

While he was vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, a predecessor of today's Con Edison electric utility, he had Christmas tree light bulbs especially made for him. He proudly displayed his Christmas tree, which was hand-wired with 80 red, white and blue electric incandescent light bulbs the size of walnuts, on December 22, 1882, at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City. 

Local newspapers ignored the story, seeing it as a publicity stunt. However, it was published by a Detroit newspaper reporter, and Johnson has become widely regarded as the Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights. 

The White House saw its first electrically lit Christmas tree in 1895, when it was illuminated by President Cleveland’s First Lady, Frances Cleveland. She considered Christmas lights, “technologically savvy”! 

"Go, Frances!!".  It featured over a hundred multicolored lights. 

By 1900, businesses started stringing up Christmas lights behind their windows.

Christmas lights were too expensive for the average person; as such, electric Christmas lights did not become the majority replacement for candles until 1930.

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You may read more: 

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights#:~:text=Around%201890%2C%20candleholders%20were%20first,electrification%2C%20beginning%20in%20the%201880s.

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CANADA: 

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When was the first Canadian Christmas?

Even though it may not have been celebrated by all with great vigour or lasting joy, Canada's first Christmas of 1867 came and went much as it has done so for 150 years since— and likely will for eons to come.

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You May read more: 

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https://www.saltscapes.com/roots-folks/2764-christmas-in-1867.html#:~:text=Even%20though%20it%20may%20not,will%20for%20eons%20to%20come.

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Where was the first Christmas tree in Canada?

Sorel, Quebec.

The first Christmas tree in Canada was set up in Sorel, Quebec in 1781 by Baron Friederick von Riedesel. The baron, who was born in Germany, selected a handsome balsam fir from the forests that surrounded his home and decorated it with white candles.

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You may read more: 

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https://www.goethe.de/ins/ca/en/kul/ges/dsk/dsm/sdw.html

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https://thisiscanadiana.com/blogposts/2017/12/23/canadas-first-christmas-tree

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Gay Santa:

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The four-minute ad titled “When Harry met Santa” has been produced to mark 50 years since the decriminalization of homosexuality in Norway.

Nov 25, 2021

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCNnX7ahix8&t=1s

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A Queer Carol: 

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A Queer Carol is a 1999 theatrical adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic novel A Christmas Carol retold in a gay perspective, written by Joe Godfrey.

It work-shopped in Buffalo in December 1999 before later premiering in Manhattan in December 2001, and the rest of the United States over the years. 

A Queer Carol is the first queer adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

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You may read more: 

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Queer_Carol

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Mistletoe:

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Mistletoe is relevant to several cultures. Pagan cultures regarded the white berries as symbols of male fertility, with the seeds resembling semen.

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The Celts, particularly, saw mistletoe as the semen of Taranis, while the Ancient Greeks referred to mistletoe as "oak sperm".

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Also in Roman mythology, mistletoe was used by the hero Aeneas to reach the underworld.

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Mistletoe may have played an important role in Druidic mythology in the Ritual of Oak and Mistletoe, although the only ancient writer to mention the use of mistletoe in this ceremony was Pliny. Evidence taken from bog bodies makes the Celtic use of mistletoe seem medicinal rather than ritual.

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It is possible that mistletoe was originally associated with human sacrifice and only became associated with the white bull after the Romans banned human sacrifices.

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The Romans associated mistletoe with peace, love and understanding and hung it over doorways to protect the household.

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In the Christian era, mistletoe in the Western world became associated with Christmas as a decoration under which lovers are expected to kiss, as well as with protection from witches and demons.

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Mistletoe continued to be associated with fertility and vitality through the Middle Ages, and by the 18th century it had also become incorporated into Christmas celebrations around the world. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is referred to as popular among servants in late 18th-century England.

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The serving class of Victorian England is credited with perpetuating the tradition.

The tradition dictated that a man was allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath mistletoe, and that bad luck would befall any woman who refused the kiss.

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One variation on the tradition stated that with each kiss a berry was to be plucked from the mistletoe, and the kissing must stop after all the berries had been removed.

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From at least the mid-19th century, Caribbean herbalists of African descent have referred to mistletoe as "god-bush".

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In Nepal, diverse mistletoes are used for a variety of medical purposes, particularly for treating broken bones.

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Mistletoe is the floral emblem of the US state of Oklahoma and the flower of the UK county of Herefordshire. Every year, the UK town of Tenbury Wells holds a mistletoe festival and crowns a 'Mistletoe Queen'.

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Important Dates for December:

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• World      AIDS Day - December 1*
• Women's      Brain Health Day - December 2*
• International      Day of Persons With Disabilities – December 3.
• National      Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women - December 6*
• Human      Rights Day - December 10*
• Anti-Bullying      Day - December 17*

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Historical events that took place on Christmas Day

· 800 AD: Charlemagne crowned 'Emperor of the Romans'

· 1066 AD: William the Conqueror crowned King of England.

· 1642: Isaac Newton was born.

· 1776: George Washington crossed the Delaware River.

· 1914: Christmas Day truce in the trenches.

· 1977: Charlie Chaplin died.

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Christmas Traditions in Canada: 

Apart from decorating Christmas trees, Canadians enjoy watching various Christmas specials on television, baking and exchanging cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, sending Christmas cards, going caroling, hanging mistletoe and goodie-filled stockings, and much more.

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Unique traditions in Canada for Christmas:

Pantomiming wearing masks is a popular tradition in Canada and comes from Newfoundland. In places like Labrador and Nova Scotia, local people wear masks and visit houses during the twelve days of Christmas, miming and making rude noises and actions, ringing bells and asking for candy or other treats.

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The eight strangest Christmas traditions on earth

· Krampus, Austria. ...

· The pooper and the pooping log, Catalonia. ...

· The Yule Lads, Iceland. ...

· Mari Lwyd, Wales. ...

· La Befana, Italy. ...

· Spider webs, Ukraine. ...

· Radish carving, Mexico.

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You may read more: 

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https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/traveller-stories/the-eight-strangest-christmas-traditions-on-earth/

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10 Canadian Christmas cooking recipes: 

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https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/canadian-christmas-foods/

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Christmas in Quebec, traditions and recipes:

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http://gourmetpedia.net/traditions/christmas-recipes/christmas-quebec/

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Montreal Festivals and Events December 2023:

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http://www.go-montreal.com/attraction_events_dec.htm

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December Quotes and sayings: 

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Inspirational December Quotes:

· “December is the holdout month, all the others torn away.” — Anne Gisleson

· ‘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”

· “Remember This December, That love weighs more than gold!” — Josephine Daskam Bacon

· “December is a month that is rife with nostalgia. If there’s anything deep in your heart that you want to keep buried, you can count on December to bring it to the surface.”— Lois Duncan

· “Farewell, old year; we walk no more together; I catch the sweetness of thy latest sigh…Here in the dim light of a grey DecemberWe part in smiles, and yet we met in tears; Watching thy chilly dawn, I well remember…” - Sarah Doudney, 

· “December is a simple wish that brings spectacular moments.”— unknown

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December Winter Quotes

· “The cold is coming. December’s winter solstice. Start of the season.” — Robert Pettit

· “December’s wintery breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer’s memory…”— John Geddes.

· “The crisp path through the field in this December snow, in the deep dark, where we trod the buried grass like ghosts on dry toast.”— Dylan Thomas

· “So quiet and subtle is the beauty of December that escapes the notice of many people their whole lives through. Colour gives way to form: every branch distinct, in a delicate tracery against the sky. New vistas, obscured all Summer by leafage, now open up.”— Flora Thompson

· “In the winter she curls up around a good book and dreams away the cold.”— Ben Aaronovitch.

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Welcome December Quotes

· “Welcome, December. New month, new chapter, new page & new wishes. May the month give you courage, strength, confidence, patience, and peace. May every day in December be filled with hope, love, sunshine, and energy. Let there be joy, fun, and laughter.”— unknown

· “It is December, and nobody asked if I was ready.” — Sarah Kay

· “May and October, the best-smelling months? I’ll make a case for December: evergreen, frost, wood smoke, cinnamon.” — Lisa Kleypas.

· “How did it get so late so soon?” — Dr. Seuss

· “December has the clarity, the simplicity, and the silence you need for the best FRESH START of your life. — Vivian Swift.

· “December: A month of lights, snow, coziness, and feasts; time to make amends and tie up loose ends; finish what you started and make your wishes come true.” — unknown

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Christmas Quotes Short

· “Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind.” – ...

· “Love the giver more than the gift.” – ...

· “It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” – ...

· “Christmas is a stocking stuffed with sugary goodness.” – ...

· “Christmas isn't a season. ...

· “It's the most wonderful time of the year!” –

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Classic Christmas messages

· It's the most wonderful time of the year!

· It's easy to get lost in the flurry of activity during Christmas time. ...

· 'Tis the season to be jolly!

· Have yourself a Merry little Christmas, let your heart be light.

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Funny Christmas Quotes:

· “I was Christmas shopping and ran into a guy on the street. I noticed his watch and said that it runs slow. He said, ‘So does the guy I stole it from.’” — David Letterman

· ”Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip." — Gary Allan

· ”I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.” — Maya Angelou

· ”The worst gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other." — Johnny Carson

· ”Christmas: It's the only religious holiday that's also a federal holiday. That way, Christians can go to their services, and everyone else can sit at home and reflect on the true meaning of the separation of church and state.” — Samantha Bee

· ”It's always consoling to know that today's Christmas gifts are tomorrow's garage sales.”— Milton Berle

· “Christmas is a box of tree ornaments that have become part of the family."— Charles M. Schulz

· ”We celebrate the birth of one who told us to give everything to the poor by giving each other motorized tie racks.” — Bill McKibben

· “It’s easier to feel a little more spiritual with a couple of bucks in your pocket.” — Craig Ferguson

· “I haven’t taken my Christmas lights down. They look so nice on the pumpkin. — Winston Spear

· “There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus; he does not believe in Santa Claus; he is Santa Claus.” — Bob Phillips

· “I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.” — Shirley Temple

· “It’s Christmas Eve! It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.” — Bill Murray

· “Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas.” — Johnny Carson

· “What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” — Phyllis Diller

· “Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa.” — Bart Simpson

· “You can’t fool me—there ain’t no Sanity Clause!” — Chico Marx

· “Nothing says holidays like a cheese log.” — Ellen Degeneres

· “The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington D.C. This wasn’t for any religious reasons. They couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin.” — Jay Leno

· “I love Christmas. I receive a lot of wonderful presents I can’t wait to exchange.” — Henny Youngman

· ”Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive.” — Stephen Fry

· “Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.” — Victor Borge

· ”The main reason Santa is so jolly because he knows where all the bad girls live.” — George Carlin

· “I don’t know what to say, but it’s Christmas, and we’re all in misery.” — National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

· “Christmas is a baby shower that went totally overboard.” — Andy Borowitz

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Christmas Quotes and sayings from Goodreads: 

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/christmas

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Santa quotes and sayings from Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/santa-claus

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December 2023 in Massage Luc: 

The month of November 2023, was a good month for my business. 

But was really a very strange month. 

In this month I had some quiet days followed from very-very busy days. 

This is not really good for me – because I can only accommodate one client at the time. 

And my service is QUALITY – not quantity. 

But anyway – in all business this happens sometimes. 

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This month also I kept having tourists – I was not expecting it in November. 

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And finally, this month, I have seen some of my old clients – from before the virus. 

This was very touching. 

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November pictures and filming: 

This month I have taken only pictures of one couple. 

Very beautiful pictures – I enjoyed the filming experience. 

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But also, this month I encountered someone that wants to partner with me and produce together some small clips for the web. 

I really hope that this is going to happen. 

If happens – then for sure I will post the clips on my website. 

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So, for the month of December 2024 – I keep the same Specials: 

Only $ 120 for the entire service. 

And if someone comes 4 times in one month – then he gets a free Boudoir Photography session, value of $ 200. 

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This Holiday Season offer to yourself the luxury of a Male Massage – because you deserve it! 

Come to “Massage Luc” this Christmas!

I am waiting for YOU! 

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Happy Holidays to all my clients!