Evelyn and Jane from the Appomattox Garden Club decorating the front of the library. Image: Katharine G. Bloodworth/Contributed

Winter Winds, Warm Blankets and Good Books

December comes from the word decem, “ten,” because this month would have been the 10th month of the early Roman calendar.

December brings a lot of observances; here are just a few: Universal Human Rights Month, Chanukah (18th-26th), Cookie Exchange Week (19th-23rd), Kwanzaa: (26th-1/1/2022), Rosa Parks Day (1st) National Cookie Day (4th), Gingerbread House Day (10th), National Cocoa Day (12th), National Cupcake Day (15th), National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day (16th), National Wreaths Across America Day (17th), Winter Solstice and Yule day (21st), Christmas Eve and Eggnog Day (24th), Christmas and Christmas Pudding Day (25th), National Candy Cane Day (26th), and New Years Eve (31st).

Notice a “sweet theme” for December? Your local library is a great place to checkout cookbooks to find a new holiday favorite, bake up some cookies, cakes and pies to eat or give as gifts, and learn to make crafts for yourself or friends and families.

There’s more to this in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.