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December 2021
"But I heard him exclaim ‘ere he drove out of sight,
‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!’"
Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)
Mid-Atlantic Weather Watch: Fair, turning milder (1, 2, 3); snow, rain east (3, 4, 5); windy at first, then dry but cold (6, 7); rain, light snow central and west (8, 9, 10, 11); fair, cool (12, 13, 14, 15, 16); 17-19 rain, snow central and west (17, 18, 19); fair, breezy, colder (20, 21); fair, milder (22, 23, 24 25, 26, 27, 28, 29); rain, breezy (30, 31). Severe Weather Watch: Possible heavy snow (4, 5); high winds (6, 7, 8); more heavy snow possible (17, 18, 19).
Full Moon: December ‘s full moon falls on the 18th and because of the lower temperatures during the month, has been called Cold Moon by many Native American tribes. Other tribes noticed the Beavers scurrying to finish building their dams and lodges before the lakes and ponds begin to ice over, called it Ice-Forming Moon and Beaver Moon.
Special Notes: Winter Solstice will occur on Tuesday, December 21st.
Holidays: Christmas is celebrated on Saturday, December 25th, and Kwanzaa begins on Sunday, December 26th. Enjoy family and friends during these festive times and keep that joyful and giving spirit alive throughout the coming year. Everyone at The Hagerstown 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 226 years! New Year’s Eve falls on Friday, December 31st. Plan and enjoy a safe, family-oriented evening of fun, food, and entertainment on the very first night of the year. Look online at www.firstnight.com/cities to find a First Night Celebration nearest you.
The Garden: Live Christmas trees are 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. And 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!
The Farm: Best for planting root crops (27, 28); weeding and stirring the soil (22, 23); planting above-ground crops (10, 11, 19, 20); harvesting all crops (12, 13); the best days for setting hens and incubators (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 9, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27); the slaughtering and butchering of meat (4, 5); transplanting (4, 5, 16, 7, 8, 9); the weaning of all small animals and livestock (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11); harvesting and storing grains (31).
J. Gruber’s Thought For Today’s Living
"To give the gift of yourself is perhaps the most precious gift of all"
Index of Past Month's Entries
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