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December 2004 |
| 6
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Abington
School Board Reorganization Meeting 7:30 p.m. Administration
Building, 970 Highland Avenue |
| 7
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Hanukkah
begins at sunset |
| 8
|
Hanukkah
or Festival of Lights is the Jewish holiday commemorating
the rededication of the Temple at Jerusalem by the Maccabees
and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. Almost
two and a half millennia ago, Judah Maccabee and his brothers
led the Jewish people in a three-year struggle to overthrow
their Syrian oppressors. They reclaimed the Temple at Jerusalem.
When the time came to light the N'er Tamid, the Eternal Light
of the Temple, the Jews could find only one sanctified jar
of oil-marked with the seal of the High Priest. It was only
enough to last one evening but miraculously kept the lamp
lit for eight days until more oil was found. Hanukkah is primarily
a children's festival with fun, songs, games, and gift-giving.
It starts on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of
Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights.
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception This Roman Catholic
holy day of obligation commemorates the Virgin Mary’s
(mother of Jesus) freedom from original sin at the time that
she was conceived. Original sin is considered a consequence
of this first sin, the hereditary stain with which people
are born because of their origin or descent from Adam. |
9 |
Parent
Council Meeting 7:30 p.m. at Glenside-Weldon Elementary
School
Testing:
Keys to the PSAT and SAT For Senior and Junior High
parents. See Keeping Current/Tips for details. |
| 10
|
Human
Rights Day Observed the same date each year, this day
marks the anniversary6 of the adoption of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights in 1948. |
| 12 |
Day
of Our Lady of Guadalupe This day is observed as a
Feast day in the Roman Catholic Church throughout the Americas.
It is believed that Mary, the mother of Jesus, appeared to Juan
Diego, a poor Indian who had no influence or power. Our Lady
of Guadalupe is dark-skinned and shares identity with the poor,
the outcasts because she herself is poor and lowly and special
to God. |
| 13 |
Copper
Beech PTA Meeting 7:30 p.m. |
| 14
|
Abington
School Board Meeting 7:30 p.m. Administration Building,
970 Highland Avenue
|
| 15
|
Bill
of Rights Day marks the anniversary of the adoption
of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution in 1791.
This day is often marked by Presidential proclamation.
Eighth
day of Hanukkah. |
| 16 |
Overlook
PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m. |
| 21
|
Winter
Solstice Winter begins. |
| 25 |
Christmas
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ whom
they believe is the Son of God and the promised Messiah to come
through God's chosen people Israel. They believe that the one
true God of Abraham sent the Holy Spirit who made a young Jewish
virgin girl named Mary pregnant by its power. The baby she carried
and gave birth to is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah whom Christians
believe was both fully God and fully human during his life here
on earth. They believe that Jesus came to pay the ultimate price
for human sin by giving his life. While he lived on earth, he
modeled and taught love of God and neighbor through servant
hood. Christians celebrate Christmas by attending a Christmas
Eve or Christmas Day church service, gathering with family and
friends for special meals and exchanging gifts but acknowledge
that God has given humanity the greatest gift of all by sending
his Son to redeem the world. |
| 26 |
Kwanzaa
This African-American seven-day spiritual festival is dedicated
to seven principles with each day focused on Nguzo Saba, or
one of those seven: unity, self-determination, collective work
and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity,
and faith. This American celebration is related to the spirit
and rituals of the harvest festivals of Africa. The name Kwanzaa
is derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza"
which means "first fruits." Kwanzaa seeks to enforce
a connectedness to African cultural identity, provide a focal
point for the gathering of African peoples, and to reflect upon
the Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles that have sustained
Africans and African-Americans of all religious faiths and backgrounds.
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