December 2nd

Cyber Monday can trace its origins back to 2003.  It has become one of the three best grossing days for retail sales in the United States.  Can you guess what the three are?  If you guessed Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Super Saturday ( the Saturday before Christmas), you're right!

Cyber Monday 2023 grossed $12.4 billion dollars!  Forecast for 2024's Cyber Monday?  Try $13.2 billion!

On December 7, 1944, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii killing 2,403 Americans.  This marked a turning point in World War II, as The United States declared war on Japan and entered the war as a result of the surprise attack.  

Known as the Empress of the Americas, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a title given to Mary within the Catholic Church to commemorate the four apparitions to an indigenous peasant by the name of Juan Diego in 1531.  Mexicans and other believers in other Spanish-speaking countries celebrate the Feast of the Virgin through processionals and venerations.  This also marks the beginning of the festive season which runs through January 6th.

Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph on December 25th.  Christians have multiple traditions that transcend boundaries to honor Jesus' birth, including attending midnight services on Christmas eve.  The tradition of gift-giving at Christmas became associated with the Christian faith when the story of the three wise men giving gifts to baby Jesus was linked to the day of Jesus's birth, which was established around 336 CE.  In the United States, gift-giving became a tradition for children during the first half of the 1800s. This was part of a shift from a public holiday to a more home- and child-centered celebration.  In 2023 spending on Christmas gifts exceeded $964 billion  in The United States.

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating  the recovery of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the Maccabees' revolt against the Seleucid  Empire in the 2nd century BCE.  The holiday is celebrated by lighting candles on each day of the festival. The candles are lit to commemorate the miracle of the menorah burning for eight days, even though the Jewish people only had enough oil to keep the flame going for one day. The nine lights of the menorah represent the branches of human knowledge, with the central lamp representing the light of God. Each night of Hanukkah, two blessings are recited: one over the candles and one expressing thanks for deliverance. On the first night, a third blessing, the Shehecheyanu prayer, is also recited.   This year, it begins December 25th and runs through January 2nd.

Kwanzaa is a celebration of African family, community, and culture. This African American holiday was created in 1966 by a professor named Maulana Karenga. The holiday is based on African harvest festivals. Its name comes from the African language Swahili and means “first fruits.” The holiday takes place each year from December 26 to January 1.

The symbols of the festival come from different African cultures. The symbols include a candleholder, seven candles, ears of corn, gifts, and a unity cup. The celebrants use the unity cup to salute their ancestors and to show unity in the family and community. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of seven principles, or ideas. The principles are: unity, self-determination,

collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics,  purpose, creativity, and faith.

Each night, one or more of the seven candles arranged in a candleh older is lit. Then one of the seven principles is discussed. Kwanzaa is also celebrated with a community feast on December 31.