December 2020 December 2020

Hogmanay in Scotland December Birthdays

Consider yourself lucky if you find yourself In astrology, those born between December ringing in the New Year in Scotland. Their 1–21 are the Archers of Sagittarius. The Archer’s Arbor Glen Gazette Hogmanay holiday is one of the world’s open mind, optimism, curiosity, and enthusiasm A Little book of fun December facts for you as we end the year! greatest New Year’s celebrations. make them the travelers of the zodiac. They

treasure freedom: freedom to roam, freedom of No one is exactly sure what the term Hogmanay thought, and freedom to express themselves. A Tough Nut to Crack means. It first appeared in writing back in 1604, Those born between December 22–31 are and historians believe the festival was celebrated Capricorn’s Goats. Goats are responsible December brings many beloved holiday traditions, but decades earlier. Some speculate that Hogmanay masters of self-control. They are practical one soars above the rest. No, not flying reindeer, but the derives from the French word hoganine, meaning planners and leaders who value experience and dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Tchaikovsky’s classic “gala day.” Others believe it comes from the expertise. ballet The Nutcracker has become a holiday staple all Norman French word hoguinan, meaning “New around the world, despite not mentioning the nativity Year’s gift.” Historians agree that both the term and Richard Pryor (comedian) – December 1, 1940 story or Santa Claus. the celebration likely appeared after Mary, Queen Andy Williams (singer) – December 3, 1927 of Scots, returned to Scotland from France in 1561. Kirk Douglas (actor) – December 9, 1916 It was not Tchaikovsky’s idea to write The Nutcracker. Ada Lovelace (programmer) – December 10, 1815 Celebrating December After enjoying success with his ballet The Sleeping One of the foremost Hogmanay traditions is Rita Moreno (actress) – December 11, 1931 Beauty in 1890, Tchaikovsky was asked to compose a redding the house. This involves a deep cleaning Brad Pitt (actor) – December 18, 1963 Universal Human Rights ballet for the Imperial Theatre. Tchaikovsky turned to his of the home for the new year. It was traditional Jane Fonda (actress) – December 21, 1937 Month friend and collaborator Marius Pepita, who suggested to clean the ashes from the hearth. Some Humphrey Bogart (actor) – December 25, 1899 they write a ballet based on the fairy tale The Story of

community members were called upon to read Susan Butcher (musher) – December 26, 1954 a Nutcracker, by the French writer Alexandre Dumas. the ashes, the way some soothsayers read tea LeBron James (athlete) – December 30, 1984 Bingo’s Birthday Month Dumas himself had “borrowed” the story from the German

leaves. The cleaning wasn’t complete until a writer E.T.A. Hoffman, who wrote The Nutcracker and the smoking juniper branch was carried from room Cookie Cutter Week Mouse King in 1816. In the 1800s, nutcrackers were to room, dispelling evil spirits. One last way of Peak Performance December 1–7 common decorations in German households, revered keeping house was to clear up all family debts as symbols of good luck. While composing in France, before midnight. December 11 is International Hanukkah Tchaikovsky discovered a new instrument, the celesta. Mountain Day, a day to show December 10–18 He decided to feature its wonderful sound in his new The stroke of midnight brings the appreciation and respect for ballet. Before the ballet premiered, a short concert of the first footing. The first foot refers the high places in the world. Gingerbread House Day musical suite was played in St. Petersburg. Every number to the first person to set foot in It is also a day to honor those was given an encore. Tchaikovsky knew the music was your house on New Year’s Day, with the courage to explore the December 12 good, but he worried about the performance. and this first footing is symbolic mountains. of the year to come. This is why Christmas Bird Count Tchaikovsky was right to worry. Critics did not like The many new year’s visitors come bearing gifts of On December 3, 1910, Australian mountaineer December 14–January 5 Nutcracker when it premiered at the Mariinsky Theater shortbread and black buns, both considered Freda du Faur became the first woman to reach in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 18, 1892. One luxurious foods. Hosts are obliged to offer their the summit of Mount Cook in New Zealand. As Free Shipping Day particularly harsh review read, “The Nutcracker cannot first footers a small drink, or wee dram, of whiskey. a young girl growing up in Sydney, Australia, December 17 in any event be called a ballet.” For decades, only the First footers often visit many homes, and the wee Du Faur taught herself rock climbing at a nearby first half of the ballet, featuring the battle between the drams certainly add up. national park. Summer vacations to New Zealand Christmas soldiers and the rat king, was performed. But in 1944, inspired her to summit the island’s snow-capped the San Francisco Ballet, led by William Christensen, Bonfires are also traditional. Since ancient times, peaks. Du Faur’s dedication to physical fitness December 25 staged the entire ballet, and it became an instant holiday fire has symbolized purification in Scotland. This and rock-climbing would become standards for hit. Nutcrackers suddenly became cherished holiday is yet another means of cleaning for the new mountaineers of any gender. Du Faur made Kwanzaa decorations. By the 1960s, dance companies all across year. Of course, Hogmanay wouldn’t be complete many first ascents in New Zealand’s rugged December 26–January 1 America were performing The Nutcracker as an annual without the singing of Auld Lang Syne, written by ranges, for which she would become famous December tradition. For many children, The Nutcracker Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns. in the mountaineering world. New Year’s Eve remains their first and best exposure to ballet and

December 31 classical music.

December 2020

Are You Game? Sitting Down for Equal Rights Strange Christmas Traditions The Tale of Beatrix Potter Games Day was created partly out of desperation On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was Christmas brings with it many beloved traditions: in 1975 when an annual gaming convention commuting home after working a long day at On December 16, 1901, 35-year-old Beatrix trimming the tree, hanging stockings, and singing scheduled for August was canceled. Games a Montgomery, Alabama, department store. Potter was so fed up with receiving rejection carols. Many countries around the world enjoy Workshop, a British-based manufacturer of Segregation was written into law and Blacks were letters that she decided to publish her book traditions you may be less familiar with. The Tale of Peter Rabbit on her own. The book miniature tabletop wargames, decided to sponsor required to sit in the back of the bus, with seats in their own Games Day to fill the void. On the front reserved for white riders. When a white had begun as a letter to the sick son of Potter’s In Japan, an estimated 3.6 million former governess. Potter had written and December 20, 1975, the first Games Day was man entered the bus and found no open seats, families eat Kentucky Fried Chicken illustrated a letter in 1893 detailing the silly held in Seymour Hall, London, as an opportunity the bus driver asked four Black riders seated in during the Christmas season. This is adventures of a family of rabbits, Flopsy, Mopsy, for game enthusiasts to meet each other and the first row of the “colored” section to stand. largely thanks to Takeshi Okawara, Cottontail, Peter, and their mother. The rabbits play. Furthermore, it was a chance for Games Three complied, but Parks did not. This was who managed the first KFC of the story were modeled after Potter’s own Workshop to advertise their games and promote not because she was tired from working all day. franchises in Japan. In 1970, Okawara marketed pet rabbits, Peter Piper and Benjamin Bouncer. gaming communities throughout England. Today, In her own words, she “was tired of giving in.” the Christmas “party barrel,” a complete fried Potter later asked for the letter back, so that the UK Games Expo is an annual event held in chicken dinner replicating American turkey Parks was arrested and later released on she could turn it into a children’s book. Birmingham, but for many, Games Day remains dinners. There were so few existing Christmas bail, but not before word of her arrest reached a perfect time to play their favorite games, be traditions in Japan that KFC filled the void. These civil rights activist E.D. Nixon. Nixon quickly Potter first printed 250 black-and-white copies they board games, card games, video games, days, if you do not pre-order your KFC dinner organized a boycott of the Montgomery buses of her book. In 1902, it was picked up by the or strategy games. weeks in advance, you will have to stand in line publisher Frederick Warne & Co. and reprinted and enlisted the support of Martin Luther for hours to get your “Kentucky Christmas.” in color. The book was such a success that it Health experts have repeatedly King Jr. Despite threats and bombings of demonstrated that habits matter both Nixon and King’s homes, the boycott had to be reprinted six times in its first year, If you happen to be in Norway for Christmas, selling 20,000 copies. Ever the self-starter, when it comes to brain health. continued. Nearly a year later, the Supreme you’ll be hard-pressed to find a broom, for Adding a game night to your Court ruled Montgomery’s bus segregation when Potter and Warne disagreed over her they are all hidden away. Norwegian folklore next book, The Tailor of Gloucester, she again lifestyle is a fun way to increase unconstitutional. Parks’ story has remained tells of how evil spirits and witches emerge on mental stimulation and improve an inspiration for generations of civil rights published 500 copies on her own. Christmas Eve. Norwegians hide their brooms mental acuity. There are many activists seeking equality, justice, and equal so that witches cannot steal them for riding. computer games or puzzle websites that promote protection under the law. The Bermuda Triangle mental acuity, but many of these are designed In Caracas, Venezuela, Christmas morning brings to be played alone. Tabletop games not only A Pearl of Wisdom presents and roller skates. Authorities close On December 5, 1945, five challenge your mind but they promote social down the city streets on Christmas morning bombers, collectively known bonds as well. December 20 falls so close to the December 15 is Wear Your so that thousands of residents can roller-skate as Flight 19, piloted by holidays that perhaps visiting family members can Pearls Day, a day to wear to church in safety. One tradition tells of how experienced veterans, took be convinced to play. Not only is a new game a the pearl jewelry that’s been children go to sleep with one end of a skate off from a naval air station in great holiday gift but games provide a wonderful hiding out in your jewelry lace tied around their toe and the other end Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a routine training and creative way to pass the time with relatives. box. It is also a day to appreciate nature’s dangling out the window. In the morning they flight over the Atlantic. But then something design. A pearl is created when an irritant, are awakened by skaters tugging at the lace to strange happened. The flight’s leader, Game aficionados have seen a tabletop gaming often a parasite (not a grain of sand as alert them that it is time for mass. Lieutenant Charles Taylor, suddenly believed renaissance during the past few years. While commonly thought), invades an oyster, mussel, that his compass was malfunctioning. Soon, In Ukraine, trees are not decorated with tinsel traditional board games like Monopoly, Clue, or clam. To defend itself against the foreign all the pilots were disoriented and lost. Some and ornaments but with faux spider webs. A and Scrabble are fun, designers have been invader, the oyster secretes a fluid called believed they were flying out over the open ocean, common folktale tells the story of a poor woman busy developing new card, tabletop, dice, and nacre that envelops the irritant. Layer upon while others believed they were heading into the who could not afford tree decorations. When role-playing games for players of all ages. There layer of nacre coats the irritant until a pearl is Gulf of Mexico. Then the planes vanished. This she awoke on Christmas morning, she found are even game-design conferences where formed. Nacre is more commonly known as disappearance is perhaps the most dramatic of her tree glistening with spider webs, courtesy of inventors showcase their games while attendees mother-of-pearl. It is incredibly strong and those involving the infamous Bermuda Triangle. the spiders in her house who took pity on her. get to play them and offer feedback. What new beautifully iridescent. For this reason, Wear Scientists today insist that the pilots made games are out there? Log on to websites like several mistakes under poor flying conditions, Your Pearls day is also a day to recognize the These traditions may seem strange to you, but boardgamegeek.com or boardgamequest.com yet many still fear the Bermuda Triangle as an hidden beauty and strength that comes with does your family have any Christmas traditions to peruse the newest offerings. life’s small imperfections. inexplicable place of menace and mystery. that others may find nontraditional?