Trivia – Joan Hall

December~Winter Solstice and More

Published on December 2, 2015September 12, 2019 by Joan Hall4 Comments

December. The twelfth month of the year. It’s unbelievable almost a full year has passed since I began this series. Activities, holiday festivities and celebrations fill the month of December – one of the busiest times of the year. The winter solstice occurs on December 22. What else can we learn about this month?

December comes from the Latin word decem, meaning ten as it was the tenth month of the year in the ancient Roman Calendar.

“I heard a bird sing, in the dark of December. A magical thing, and sweet to remember.” Oliver Herford

A few more things about December:

Turquoise is the December birthstone
Narcissus is the flower
December is Universal Human Rights month, National Read a New Book Month, and National Stress Free Family Holiday Month (easier said than done). Nobel prizes are awarded in December.
Poinsettia day is December 12 and National Chocolate Day is December 27.
We celebrate Christmas Day on December 25.
On December 14, 1791, the Bill of Rights passed.
The Wright Brothers made their first flight on December 17, 1903
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II
On December 3, 1967 the first heart transplant was completed.
Nine states joined the Union during the month of December. Delaware (our first state), Pennsylvania, and New Jersey by ratification in 1788, Indiana in 1816, Mississippi in 1817, Illinois in 1818, Alabama in 1819, Texas (my home state) in 1845, and Iowa in 1846.
The December full moon is known as the Full Cold Moon or the Full Long Nights Moon. I think it is one of the most brilliant moons of the year because of its high trajectory across the sky. To quote Clement C. Moore, “The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below.”
Famous people born in December include NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, poet Emily Dickinson, novelist Jane Austen, singer Jimmy Buffett, and actors Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, and Anthony Hopkins.

I hope you have enjoyed this series about the months of the year. I’ve learned a lot of interesting and fun things while researching them. 2016 is a new year and new beginnings. But for now, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

November ~A Time of Thanksgiving

Published on November 4, 2015 by Joan Hall7 Comments

In most parts of the United States, trees have already lost their leaves. However, where I live we often see the peak of fall colors in November. Daylight Saving Time ends and nights come early. But what else can we learn about our eleventh month?

November, the ninth month in the ancient Roman calendar, gets its name from the Latin word novem, meaning nine.

“November comes, and November goes. With last red berries, and the first white snows.” ~Elizabeth Coatsworth

A bit of November trivia:

Topaz is the November birthstone
The chrysanthemum is the month’s flower
On November 2, 1769 a Spanish expedition reached San Francisco Bay
Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in California on November 1, 1776. San Juan Capistrano is known for the swallows that nest there. Each year swallows leave their nests at the mission around St. John’s Day on October 23 and return around the time of St. Joseph’s day on March 19.
Rutgers and Princeton Universities played the first intercollegiate football game in the US on November 6, 1869.
World War I ended on November 11, 1918 with the signing of the Armistice agreement between the Allied and Central powers. The agreement went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
November is Peanut Butter Lovers Month, National Sleep Comfort Month, and Aviation History Month
In the United States, we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11. Thanksgiving Day occurs on the fourth Thursday of the month (this year on November 26).
Six states joined the Union during the month of November. North Carolina (by ratification) in 1789, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington in 1889, and in 1907 Oklahoma became the first state admitted in the 20th century.
Famous people born in November include actor Matthew McConaughey, singer Glenn Frey of the Eagles, novelist Margaret Mitchell, folk singer Mary Travers of Peter, Paul, and Mary, painter Georgia O’Keeffe, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and author C S Lewis.

Many people flock to stores on shopping malls on the day after Thanksgiving. What about you? Do you shop or prefer to spend time at home with family?

October ~Autumn’s Masterpiece

Published on October 7, 2015 by Joan Hall6 Comments

What can I say about October? That glorious month of the year when the trees are full of vibrant color, the sounds of migrating birds fill the air, and the days are crisp and sunny. L. M. Montgomery’s words sum it up:

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” ~L.M. Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables

October, the eighth month in the ancient Roman calendar, gets its name from the Latin word octo, meaning eight. Let’s learn a bit more about this glorious time of year.

The tourmaline and the opal are the October birthstones
The October flower is the calendula
Russia launched the first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957
President Harry Truman delivered the first telecast address from the White House on October 5, 1947
Christopher Columbus arrived in America on October 12, 1492
October is National Cookie Month, National Pizza Month, Lupus Awareness Month, and National Seafood Month
Other celebrations in October include Columbus Day (the second Monday of the Month) and Halloween on the 31st
Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864
The October full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon (some years the Harvest moon occurs in October). Other Native American names are the Blood Moon (not to be confused with an eclipse) or Sanguine Moon. The Hunter’s Moon is often accorded with special honor and serves as an important feast day in Western Europe and among many Native American tribes.
Famous people born in October include Sting, actor Matt Damon, the late John Lennon and his son Sean (both born on October 9th), former NFL star Jerry Rice, actress Angela Lansbury, artist Pablo Picasso (25th), and author Lee Child (29th)

It isn’t hard to guess that October is one of my favorite months (along with November). Do you have a favorite month or season? Please share in the comments.

September ~ The Golden Month

Published on September 2, 2015September 12, 2019 by Joan Hall6 Comments

Kids have started a new school year, summer vacations have ended, and autumn begins later in the month. Leaves have started to turn, birds begin to migrate, and change is in the air. It must be September. Time to learn more about this ninth month of the year.

September gets its name from the Latin word septem, which means seven. September was the seventh month in the ancient Roman calendar.

“By all these lovely tokens September days are here, with summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer.” ~Helen Hunt Jackson

Here are some fun and interesting facts about September:

The birthstone is the sapphire
The September flower is the morning glory
On September 3, 1783 the American Revolutionary War ended when Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris
The first permanent European-established settlement in the US was founded in Saint Augustine Florida on September 6, 1565
Elias Howe patented the sewing machine on September 10, 1846
September is National Chicken Month, National Rice Month, National Potato Month, and National All-American Breakfast Month.
In the United States we celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of the month (this year on September 7) and Patriot Day on September 11. Other celebrations include the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana (13th-15th), and Yom Kippur (23rd).
Only one state entered the union during the month of September; California in 1850.
The September full moon is known as the Harvest Moon. It is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox, so on some years the Harvest Moon is in October. It happens in September this year and coincides with a lunar eclipse. Native Americans also called the September moon The Full Corn Moon as it was the time for harvesting corn.
Famous people born in September include Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, former Dallas Cowboy and NFL player Charlie Waters, (Confession: I still salivate when I see a photo of him.) novelist Agatha Christie, former baseball player Gaylord Perry, and singers Bruce Springsteen and Olivia Newton-John.

September is one of my favorite months. I love the changing of the season, the lengthening afternoon shadows, the cooler days, and of course that beautiful Harvest Moon. Maybe this year, I’ll capture that “perfect” photo. What do you find special about September? Please share in the comments.

August ~ It’s Summertime

Published on August 12, 2015September 12, 2019 by Joan Hall10 Comments

Whether you’re basking in the sun, or hibernating inside an air-conditioned house, the eighth month of the year is often the hottest in the northern hemisphere. Although autumn doesn’t arrive until the third week of September, the daylight hours have grown shorter. Let’s learn a bit more about the month of August.

August gets its name from the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, nephew of Julius Caesar. Not only did the Roman Senate name a month after Augustus, they decided the month should have the same number of days as July.

“August brings the sheaves of corn, then the harvest home is borne.” ~Sara Coleridge

- The August birthstones are the Peridot and Sardonyx
- Gladiolus and poppies are the August flowers
- Christopher Columbus set sail on his first voyage across the Atlantic on August 3, 1492
- Thomas Edison invented the phonograph on August 12, 1877
- August is National Family Fun Month, National Golf Month, National Picnic Month, National Peach Month, and American Indian Heritage Month
- Some other noted celebrations and recognitions in August are Friendship Day (2nd), National Root Beer Float Day (6th), Book Lovers Day (9th), Black Cat Appreciation Day (17th) and We Love Memoirs Day (31st)
- The annual Perseid meteor shower occurs during the month of August
- Three states joined the Union during the month of August—Missouri in 1821, Colorado in 1876, and Hawaii became our fiftieth state in 1959 having been annexed by the United States in August 1898.
- Native Americans referred to the August full moon as the Full Sturgeon Moon due to the easy catches of these large fish in the Great Lakes region. Another name is the Full Red Moon because the moon appears reddish as it rises through sultry hazes so common during the month.
- Famous people born in August include novelist Herman Melville, astronaut Neal Armstrong, former NBA star Magic Johnson, actors Robert DeNiro and Sean Connery, and Major League Baseball player Elvis Andrus of the Texas Rangers.