December CalendarCAT

This might be a little early, but I'm going to be away this weekend, so I'm getting things done a bit ahead of time...

December CalendarCAT


Well, look at that. I did December during our last CalendarCAT, so in all honesty, I have mostly used what I posted then to introduce the month/thread!

You’ll also find more lists of days/holidays on wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December

“December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.
December. December's name derives 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.” (from wikipedia)

So, you could use the number 12 or the number 10 in some way – in the title, or #12 or 10 in a series.

December's birth flower is the narcissus.
December's birthstones are the turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite.
December’s zodiac signs are Sagittarius and Capricorn.

Authors born in December include: Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett, Joseph Conrad, Christina Rossetti, Willa Cather, Bill Bryson, Naguib Mahfouz, Shirley Jackson, Jane Austen, Philip K. Dick, Donna Tart, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephenie Meyer, David Sedaris, Rudyard Kipling, Nicholas Sparks, and more!

Some international holidays include (I took these from a December challenge I set up a couple of years ago, so hopefully it is still correct!):

- Krampusnacht: The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on Dec. 6. In Alpine countries, Saint Nicholas has a devilish companion named Krampus who punishes the bad children the night before.

- Bodhi Day: Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).

- Saturnalia: An ancient Roman winter solstice festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held on the 17 December of the Julian calendar and expanded with festivities through to 23 December. Celebrated with sacrifice, a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival.

- Yalda: The turning point, Winter Solstice. As the longest night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days, Shabe Yaldā or Shabe Chelle is an Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. Shabe yalda means 'birthday eve.' According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at dawn on 22 December to a virgin mother. He symbolizes light, truth, goodness, strength, and friendship. Herodotus reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for contemporary Persians. In modern times Persians celebrate Yalda by staying up late or all night, a practice known as Shab Chera meaning 'night gazing'. Fruits and nuts are eaten, especially pomegranates and watermelons, whose red color invokes the crimson hues of dawn and symbolize Mithra.

- Pancha Ganapati: modern five-day festival in honor of Lord Ganesha, celebrated by Hindus in USA.

- Christmas Day: one of the most celebrated holidays around the world, increasingly celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike.

- Kwanzaa: Pan-African festival celebrated in the US. It is a week-long celebration held in the United States and in other nations of the West African diaspora in the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.

- Hanukkah: Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication.

And, please do update the wiki with what you read this month: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2024_CalendarCAT#December:_Hosting:_Libr...

I was going to choose a Christmas title, but instead want to finally read Daisy Jones and the Six. 20th December is the author's birthday.

Thanks, this is a very thoughtful and colorful thread. Lots of cool ideas to choose from.

I am going for a couple of Christmas reads with A Cross Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh and The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories by Martin Edwards.

>4 DeltaQueen50: I do love those British Library Crime Classics.

>5 JayneCM: I know!! They are perfect to curl up with on a cold December evening!

>3 LadyoftheLodge: Sometimes it's fun to just pick one of the odd random days in the month, so I like the calendar!

>1 LibraryCin: Love the calendar

I think I'll probably read The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith.

>8 lowelibrary: Thanks!

As for me, I haven't yet picked out what I'll read.

The obvious candidate from my virtual TBR shelf is The Christmas Wager by Jamie Fessenden

I will probably read a Bonhoffer book, God is in the Manger Going to see the movie next week, so will be a good follow up.

Beautiful opening! Now I need to find something to read.

>1 LibraryCin: Interesting info about "Krampusnacht", I have never heard of Krampus. In Germany this character is called "Knecht Ruprecht" (farmhand/servant Ruprecht) and I was always a bit afraid of him as a child.

I plan on reading several Christmas themed books in December.

I always get out my Creepy Krampus candle from Hallozween for the holiday season!

>1 LibraryCin: Thanks for the calendar and so much information.

Our family has celebrated St. Nicholas Day and focused on the saint, although we knew about his sidekick and were always a little frightened by him. We would put out our shoes the night before and then St. Nicholas would fill them with little toys or candies. I still have some earrings and pins I received from St. Nicholas when I was a teenager. My husband and I still honor this tradition.

>16 mnleona: I remember all that research was really interesting!

>17 LadyoftheLodge: My husband's family was Dutch. We always made a point of telling our children the legend and keeping up with some of traditions like chocolate letters and leaving their wooden shoes outside their doors. My grandchildren, leave their sneakers.

Maybe I can hunt down a book with that theme for this month. I'll take any recommendations...I'm looking for a light read.

I'm reading The Village of Eight Graves by Seishi Yokomizo who died in December, 1981. A win! Started it before I was aware of the December connection. I was thinking of going with Saki who was born in December, but the vintage Japanese crime novel is hitting the spot.

>20 pamelad: I was going to read his Death on Gokumon Island in November but didn't get round to it. Perhaps now's its chance.

I read Open House, the author's birthday is December 2.

I think I will do a re-read of Historical Christmas Stories 1990. Three short stories by Nora Roberts, Patricia Potter, and Ruth Langan. I own the book and saw it the other day.

I read Madrigals and Mayhem which is set at Christmas time in Cambridge, England.

Finished The Village of Eight Graves. >21 Robertgreaves: I hope you like Death on Gokumon Island, Robert.

Starting Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, whose birthday is in December.

The Twelve Clues of Christmas / Rhys Bowen
4 stars

Georgie, in an attempt to get away from her dreary sister-in-law and her family for the holidays, answers a job ad to head to a small town and help a hostess with her Christmas party; but they were only willing to hire someone of a certain station, which of course, Georgie fits, as the 35th in line to the crown. Unfortunately, the day she arrives, a neighbour is found dead, hanging from a tree. The next day, someone has jumped off a nearby bridge, and things keep happening in this little town. They appear to be accidents, but there seem to be too many accidents happening all at once. Georgie is told of the local curse where bad things happen around Christmas due to a witch who was chased and hanged back in the 1400s, who subsequently cursed the town.

I really enjoyed this one. It was clever… all these things really didn’t appear to be related and the majority of them also appeared to be accidents. There is, of course, also the attempt to keep a holiday mood going. The book ended with a few traditional English Christmas recipes and games.

I have finished two Christmas reads so far:

Die Kinder von Bethlehem by Eva Spaeth, ill. by Lore Hummel, a picture book from my childhood, and The Best Worst Christmas by Kate Forster, a romance that I listened to

COMPLETED The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, whose birthday is in December.

I just finished Murder, She Wrote: Murder in Season by Jessica Fletcher which takes place during the week leading up to Christmas.

I read Pearl Harbor Christmas by Stanley Weintraub, which is sort of a snapshot of where WWII stood 12/22/41-1/1/42, focused around Churchill's visit to FDR at that time.

I have completed The Christmas Card Crime & Other Stories as assembled by Marin Edwards. I really enjoyd reading these vintage mysteries!

The Winter Wives by Linden MacIntyre
I was attracted by the title, so appropriate for this CAT, but unfortunately Macintyre’s writing doesn’t hold the same appeal. MacIntyre is an investigative journalist whose considerable talent has not transferred to fiction. The characters proved to be a dismal group in a dull story that is without any spark of relief. Disappointing, I expected more.

Just finished Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich.
Stephanie Plum and her companions provide fast and furious action and frequent laugh-out-loud moments. Although I enjoyed this one, some rude content means I can’t recommend it to everyone.

Finished Velkommen jul, a sad excuse for a Christmas book.

COMPLETED The Lemon Drop Kid by Josh Lanyon, set in the run-up to Christmas

I listened to The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, set during Christmas as the title suggests.

I read Wait for Signs, a short story collection by Craig Johnson, part of the Longmire series. A lot of them take place around the Christmas holidays.

I have finished a small book with Christmas stories by Belgian author Stijn Streuvels, Weihnachtsgeschichten, and Die Vegetarierin by Han Kang who gave her Nobel Prize lecture on 7 December in Stockholm.

I just read Accomplished by Amanda Quain, which is a contemporary YA take on Pride and Prejudice, but centered around Mr. Darcy's sister, Georgiana. I'm counting the book for this CAT because Jane Austen's birthday is December 16.

I listened to two more Christmas stories:

How To Lose A Guy Before Christmas by A.J. Pine, a contemporary romance
At Chrighton Abbey by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, a ghost story set during Christmas

I finished a few more books for this CAT:

The Christmas Quilt by Lenora Worth, an Amish romance
All He Wants For Christmas by Jerrica Knight-Catania, a regency romance that I did not enjoy very much

and three picture books

The Tree That's Meant To Be by Yuval Zommer
Snowflake by Benji Davies
A Horse For Hanukkah by Myriam Halberstam

all three highly recommended!

I recently read It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Julianna Keyes, a fun contemporary romance novella.

I have been on a Christmas mysteries kick and have finished:
A Very Scalzi Christmas by John Scalzi, 4* (not a mystery but a collection of short funny pieces)
'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost, 3.5*
Slashing Through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost, 3.5*
Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict, 4*
Murder in Christmas River by Meg Muldoon, 3*

And I am about 1/4 of the way in to Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley which takes place around Christmas.