December Calendar Corner

December is jam-packed with holidays and celebrations - it's not hard to find something to do every single day of the month!

Weekly Celebrations
Los Pasados - December 16-23
Saturnalia - December 17-23

Club-centric Events
December 19: Half Day - Winter Break Begins
December 20: Grinch Day
December 23: Polar Express and Pajama Day
December 27: Holidays Around the World Day
December 30: Wizarding World of Harry Potter
January 02: World Wide Winter Holidays
January 03: World Wide Winter Holidays
January 06: World Wide Winter Holidays

Daily Celebrations
December 01: National Christmas Lights Day
December 02: Special Education Day
December 03: Giving Tuesday
December 04: National Cookie Day
December 05: Walt Disney's Birthday
December 06: Sinterklass Day
December 07: International Aviation Day
December 08: National Christmas Tree Day
December 09: National Christmas Card Day
December 10: Human Rights Day
December 11: International Mountain Day
December 12: National Poinsettia Day
December 12: National Gingerbread Day
December 13: Friday the 13th
December 13: National Hot Cocoa Day
December 14: Gingerbread Decorating Day
December 15: National Cupcake Day
December 16: Chocolate Covered Anything
December 17: Wright Brothers Day
December 18: Answer the Phone like Buddy the Elf Day
December 19: National Hard Candy Day
December 20: National Ugly Sweater Day
December 20: Go Caroling Day
December 21: Winter Solstice
December 21: Yule
December 22: Hanukkah
December 22: National Cookie Exchange Day
December 23: Festivus
December 23: Christmas Eve Eve
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas
December 26: Kwanzza
December 26: Boxing Day
December 26: Candy Cane Day
December 27: National Fruitcake Day
December 27: Visit the Zoo Day
December 28: National Chocolate Candy Day
December 29: Pepper Pot Day
December 30: Bacon Day
December 31: New Year's Eve

Girl Scout Fun Ideas - December Edition

I've worked with Girl Scouts for nearly two decades (it really doesn't feel like that long!) and one of the things I loved most about having a Girl Scout troop was our holiday and seasonal activities. The ideas I share in these monthly posts are from a New Leader Booklet that was shared with me when I started leading Girl Scout troops in the early 2000s. Since our council (and as far as I know any other) no longer shares this information, I want to make it accessible on the internet. Enjoy!

Note: Please be careful to remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas! If all of the girls in your troop are of one faith, you could go ahead and do the typical crafts, holiday caroling, etc. However, it is much better to remember that Girl Scouting is not a Christian organization, and that we want to inclusive to girls of all faiths. As such, this might be a perfect opportunity to learn about other faiths by doing activities such as Hanukkah dreidels, something related to Kwanzaa, etc. 

Take part in a service project benefiting others, such as a food drive, toy drive, or gift giving to those less fortunate.

Have a cookie exchange.

Decorate cookies or cakes to donate or keep.

Make gingerbread houses with graham crackers and small milk cartons.

Make angel dolls. Cute what material approx. 8"x 5". Satiny material looks great. Fold down 1/3 and stuff a ball of stuffing for the head, tie with attractive cord. Add a second piece of material approx. 4"x 12", tie around the shoulders with a cross cross in front for wings. Add doll hair, use markers for faces, and make a halo with star garland.

Make sock snowmen: Take one boys' tube sock, turned inside out (so you have the fleecy side out). Stuff with three balls of polyester stuffing, (largest at bottom, smallest on top for head). Turn down cuff of sock; stripes form hat. Decorate with black pompoms for face and buttons and add a shiny piece of orange felt for the nose. Glue with tacky glue or glue guns (be careful!). Tie ribbon around the neck and sing Frosty the Snowman.

Take an outdoor hike, especially in the rain. Notice all of the changes taking place (bare trees, etc.) Be sure to take along a trash bag and pick up any trash you find. If everybody doesn't have a raincoat, cut holes in large trash bags for arms and heads. Jump in puddles. Find a rainbow.

Make rain pictures. Put a piece of paper down on the ground, weighted down on the edges so it won't blow away. Sprinkle some dry tempera paint on the paper. Let rain sprinkle on the paper. Look to see what designs were made.

Play with your food! On December 23, the Festival of the Radishes is celebrated in Mexico. Giant radishes are carved into figures of people and animals. Prizes are awarded. Practice knife safety and carve a few radishes, too. Perhaps you can even practice making beautiful garnishes for food during the holidays. 

To the best of my knowledge, this booklet originated in the San Francisco area (the original specified places in that area along with including a San Fran phone number.) The ideas I have shared are not my own, though I have modified a few to include more updated information. 

Calendar Corner - December

December is jam packed with holiday celebrations - so much so that I don't think we stop "doing" December until half way into January! Here's a list of holiday ideas for celebration fun.

01 - Christmas Parade Day (at least in our town!)

02 - Hanukkah Begins

03 - Make a Gift Day

03 - Walt Disney Day

04 - Cookie Day

04 - Dice Day

05 - International Ninja Day

06 - St. Nicholas Day

06 - Miner's Day

08 - Brownie Day

08 - Gingerbread Decorating Day

09 - Christmas Card Day

12 - Poinsettia Day

12 - Gingerbread Decorating Day

13 - Hot Cocoa Day

17 - Wright Brothers Day

18 - Bake Cookies Days

19 - Look for an Evergreen Day

20 - Go Caroling Day

20 - Games Day

21 - Winter Solstice

21 - Ugly Sweater Day

22 - Cookie Exchange Day

23 - Festivus

23 - Christmas Eve Eve

24 - Christmas Eve

25 - Christmas Day

26 - Candy Cane Day

26 - Boxing Day

27 - Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day

28 - Card Playing Day

31 - New Year's Eve

I'm sure there are many more celebrations than the ones I have listed here. How do you celebrate December? Let me know?