| December 2006 |
| 4 |
Abington Junior
High School PTO meeting, 7:30 p.m. in the library
Abington School Board Reorganization Meeting
7:30 p.m. Administration Building, 970 Highland Avenue |
| 7 |
Abington Senior High PTO
Reception, 2:45 p.m. |
| 8 |
Bodhi Day--Usually
observed December 8 or the Sunday immediately preceding, this
is the date, according to Mahayana tradition, of Siddhartha
Gautama’s realization and presentation to his fellow
seekers of the four principles that constitute what is known
today as Buddhism.
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. |
| 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. |
| 11 |
Copper Beech PTA social,
7:30 p.m |
| 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.
Abington School Board Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Administration Building, 970 Highland Avenue. Meeting will
cover enrollment and staffing; total expenditures and revenue;
and a preliminary budget will be made available for review
for the next 20 days. In the past, these presentations were
made during March. |
| 13 |
How to Evaluate A College
parent seminar, 7:30 p.m. See “Parenting Programs” |
| 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.
Hanukkah begins at sunset |
| 16 |
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 (until December 23). |
| 18 |
Copper Beech Winter Concert,
9:30 a.m. |
| 19 |
Highland Elementary Winter
Concert, 9:30 a.m.Willow Hill Elementary Winter Concert,
1:30 p.m. |
| 20 |
McKinley Elementary Winter
Concert, 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. |
| 21 |
Roslyn Elementary Winter
Concert, 1:30 p.m.
Rydal Elementary Winter Concert, 1:30 p.m.
Abington Senior High Winter Concert, 7:30
p.m., in the gym |
| 22 |
Overlook Elementary Winter
Concert, 9:30 a.m.
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. The
last day of Kwanzaa is January 1, 2006 |
