Author: Lisa Mungovan

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. The sun’s maximum elevation will be at its lowest, meaning the period of darkness is longest. Starting tomorrow, the days will gradually get longer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the summer solstice!

Fans of Dr Who, a tv show that started in 1963, know all about the Daleks. Today is Dalek Remembrance Day. Pretend you’re a Dalek, by moving slowly and chanting, “Exterminate! Exterminate!” When you’re finished terrifying everyone, celebrate the ancient festival of Yule, by having a bonfire with a Yule log, and feeding the trees.

Today is Crossword Puzzle Day. What’s a 4-letter word, for not making your bed? L-A-Z-Y spells lazy. It’s ok today though, because it’s also Don’t Make Your Bed Day. With the time you save, write a tiny tale, for Short Story Day! Stories make great holiday presents. Don’t lose it in your messy bed!

Today is Flashlight Day. Some flashlights have hand cranks, so you don’t need batteries! You can also use the flashlight on your phone, or a headlamp for hands-free exploring. Your flashlight will come in handy, for Look On The Bright Side Day. No matter how bad things seem, always find something good about it!

Last month, a 10-foot tall monolith, mysteriously showed up in the Utah desert. The 3-sided metal beam soon disappeared, but similar monoliths have popped up around the world, including Romania, Texas, and California. A fifth monolith materialized, outside a bar in Florida. Video cameras experienced interference, so the appearance is still a mystery.

It’s not uncommon to see cougars in Oregon, but last week someone spotted a cheetah. Multnomah County officers located the animal in Forest Park. They approached the cheetah carefully, surprised that it wasn’t running away. They soon realized it wasn’t moving, because it was a plush toy! The stuffed animal looked right at home.

Everyone knows Santa’s sleigh, is pulled by reindeer. But did you know, that they’re all girls? Male reindeer shed their antlers in early December, so any reindeer that still have antlers on Christmas Eve, must be female. Of course, since they’re magical flying reindeer, I suppose it’s possible Santa’s crew doesn’t follow the rules.

Healthcare workers were among the first people, to receive the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, and Moderna’s vaccine has also been approved. The vaccine will soon be available to millions of the most at-risk individuals. It’ll be many months before everyone can receive it, so keep washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing, and being patient.

Warm up your vocal chords, because today is Go Caroling Day! Gather your friends and family on Zoom, and sing all your holiday favorites, or sing to your neighbors from the sidewalk. It’s also Games Day. Instead of playing video games, ask your parents what their favorite game is, and play it with them!

Tyrell Cooper, decided to do something kind for animals, for an Eagle Scout community project. The high school senior built Feline Abodes, and gave them to LifeLine Animal Project in Georgia. The insulated shelters, will be distributed in feral cat colonies, to protect them from cold winter weather. The cats say, “Thanks meowey much!”