"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality
in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart."
Washington Irving (1802-1882)
Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Dry and milder at first, then turning breezy and colder with rain east and snow west (1, 2, 3, 4, 5); seasonably cold and dry, then breezy with light snow (6, 7, 8, 9, 10); dry, turning milder, then rain, possibly mixed with wet snow west (11, 12, 13, 14, 15); dry and mild at first, then showers, turning breezy and cooler (16, 17, 18, 19, 20); 21-26 seasonably mild with periods of rain (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26); dry, turning cooler but more seasonable; flurries possible west (27, 28, 29, 30, 31).
Severe Weather Watch: The Town and Country Almanack sees no severe weather in December’s forecast.
Full Moon: December‘s full moon falls on the 26th. It has been appropriately called Cold Moon by many Native American tribe (because of the lower temperatures during the month!). Many other tribes noticed beavers scurrying to finish their dams and lodges before the lakes and ponds begin to ice over, so they called it Ice-Forming Moon And Beaver Moon.
Special Notes: The Winter Solstice of 2023 will occur on Thursday, December 21st. Remember that The Almanack makes a great gift, one that keeps giving throughout the entire year! Go to www.almanack.com/order, order a holiday copy or two (or three or four!), and check out the new digital version available on-line at a price that will surely entice! And don’t forget to include a nifty the Almanack knows which way the wind blows! sweatshirt or tee under the tree. Go to www.bonfire.com/the-almanack-knows, check out the styles and colors, and order one today.
Holidays: Advent Sunday falls on the 3rd in 2023. Hanukkah begins at sunset on Thursday, December 7th, celebrate Christmas on Monday, December 25th, and Kwanzaa, on Tuesday, December 26th. Celebrate and share the holiday spirit with family and friends and try to keep that joyful and giving spirit alive throughout the coming year! Everyone here at The Town & Country Almanack wishes everyone the happiest of holidays and again, pledges to its loyal readers (and followers on social media!) to continue to inform, inspire, and entertain as it has done for the past 228 years! New Year’s Eve falls on Sunday, December 31st. For a safe, family-oriented evening of fun, food, and entertainment on the very first night of the year, go to www.firstnight.com/cities to find a First Night Celebration nearest you.
The Garden: If you need holiday greenery, grab your shears and head for the back yard. If you are lucky, you will have a variety of boxwoods, yew, fir, or a variety of pine trees to choose from. If you are really lucky, you may even have a holly tree! A live Christmas tree is still a tradition in some homes. Check its freshness by tapping the branches. Very few needles should fall. Stroke the branches to make sure the needles are resilient and not brittle, have an aromatic fragrance, and good green color for the species. Before bringing the tree indoors, cut 1-inch off the bottom before placing in the water receptacle, and fill it with ½ cup regular 7-up plus 1 quart water or tree.
The Farm: Best for planting root crops (7, 8); weeding and stirring the soil (2, 3); planting above-ground crops (1, 18, 19); harvesting all crops (20, 21); the best days for setting hens and incubators (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31); the slaughtering and butchering of meat (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18); transplanting (112, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18); the weaning of all small animals and livestock (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19); 1, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), 27, 28); harvesting and storing grains (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11).
John Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living
"The thought that goes into the giving of a gift to a friend or loved one, is so much more important than the value of the gift itself"
