Monthly

MADD’s Tie One on for Safety Holiday Ribbon Campaign. Dec. 1–Jan. 1, 2006. To encourage the public to tie a red MADD ribbon to their vehicle as a pledge to drive safe and sober and buckle up throughout the holidays and all year. For more information, browse www.madd.org.

National Stress Free Family Holidays Month. Dec. 1–31. To remind parents to strive for more stress-free holidays for their families. For more information browse, www.parentingwithoutpressure.com.

Operation Santa Paws. Dec. 1–22. A collection drive for abused and abandoned animals in animal shelters. For more information, browse www.santapaws.info.


Weekly

Tolerance Week. Dec. 1–7. To promote the importance of tolerance among human beings as a way of reducing bigotry and prejudice toward those of a different race, religion or creed. For more information, browse www.friendshipandgoodwill.org.

Hanukkah. Dec. 26–Jan. 2, 2006. Feast of Lights or Feast of Dedication lasting eight days, commemorating victory of Maccabees over Syrians (165 B.C.) and the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem. (Begins at sundown on Dec. 25.)


Daily

Day Without Art. Dec. 1. An annual observance about the impact of AIDS on the visual arts. Events to increase public awareness through the visual arts, direct services to artists living with HIV/AIDS. For more information, browse www.visualarts.org.

National Communicate With Your Kids Day. Dec. 5. To promote open and ongoing communication between parents and children with a special emphasis on early childhood communication. For more information, browse www.kindersigns.com.

Saint Nicholas Day. Dec. 6. One of the most venerated saints of both Eastern and Western churches. He was the Bishop of Myra (in what is today’s Turkey) in the Fourth century. From early times he has been especially noted for his charity. Santa Claus and the giving of gifts is said to derive from Saint Nicholas.

Poinsettia Day. Dec. 12. A day to enjoy poinsettias and to honor Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the American diplomat who introduced the Central American plant into the United States.

Christmas. Dec. 25. Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

New Year’s Eve. Dec. 31. The last evening of the Gregorian calendar year, traditionally a night for merrymaking to welcome in the new year.


Hone your skills for work and family and you hone them for living life to the fullest