Birthdays

 Birthdays
Dec 122025
 

William Lloyd Garrison (born Newburyport, Massachusetts, 1805; died New York, New York, May 24, 1879) was an abolitionist and a writer. He was the editor of The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper. Following the Civil War and the end of slavery, he became a proponent of women’s rights.

John Jay (born New York, New York, 1745; died Bedford, New York, May 17, 1829) was a diplomat and a writer. He co-authored the Federalist papers and was the first chief justice of the Supreme Court. Children could learn more at: John Jay.

Edvard Munch (born Loten, Norway, 1863; died Ekely, Norway, January 23, 1944) was an artist. He is known for The Scream, created in 1893. Older teenagers might want to visit the Munch portion of the Google Art Project at: Edvard Munch.

Santa Lucia Day Is Celebrated in Sweden and Other Countries

 Events
Dec 132025
 

Lucia Bun

Santa Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden and other countries. Girls put on white dresses, wear a crown of candles, and wake their families with coffee, Lucia Buns (lussekatter or saffron buns), and music. During the evening church service, processions of girls honor Saint Lucy. For a Lucia Buns recipe, children could visit: Lucia Buns.

Sir Francis Drake Began Circumnavigating the World in 1577

 Events
Dec 132025
 

Sir Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake, an English explorer, began his trip in 1577 that would eventually circumnavigate the world. He left England with five ships and picked up another near the Cape Verde Islands. Actually Drake did not plan to sail around the world. He was a privateer intent on plundering Spanish ships. He returned to England September 26, 1580, with one ship loaded with treasure. Children find out more about his “sea dog” years by visiting: Sir Francis Drake. They could also experience a readers’ theater play at: Readers’ Theater.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Dec 132025
 

Lucia Gonzalez (born Caimito, Cuba, 1957) is a children’s author, librarian, and storyteller. Her The Bossy Gallito received the 1995 Pura Belpré Literature Honor Award. She also wrote The Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos, a bilingual book about Pura Belpré. It earned the 2008 Pura Belpré Children’s Literature Honor Medal. Children could learn more at: Lucia Gonzalez.

Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln (born Lexington, Kentucky, 1818; died Springfield, Illinois, July 16, 1882) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1861 to April 14, 1865. She was the wife of Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States. The attractive daughter of a rich and prominent southern family, she married the impoverished Lincoln in 1842. They had four sons. Most of her life seemed riddled with agitation. While First Lady, she was criticized for her extravagance. Her husband and three of her four sons died during her lifetime. Children could learn more at: Mary Todd Lincoln.

The Little Island

The Little Island

Leonard Weisgard (born New Haven Connecticut, 1916; died Denmark, January 14, 2000) was an author and/or illustrator of more than 200 books. He illustrated Margaret Wise Brown’s The Little Island and received the 1948 Caldecott Medal. Children could visit a website devoted to him and view the long list of books he illustrated at: Leonard Weisegard.

Hanukkah Begins this Evening!

 Events
Dec 142025
 

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, the eight-day “Festival of Lights” that commemorates the success of the Maccabees when they fought the Seleucids 2100 years ago. When the Maccabees knew they were victorious, they realized they had enough oil to light the menorah for only one night. However, the oil lasted for eight nights. Jews eat latkes, play games with dreidels, and light candles on the menorah every night. Tonight the shamash (the middle candle) and one more candle will be lit. Hanukkah will end the night of December 22, 2025. Children could read Alexandra’s Scroll: The Story of the First Hanukkah, written by Miriam Chaikin. Children could also visit a great website, loaded with activities, at: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/hanukkah_for_kids.htm.

Happy Birthday, Alabama!

 Events
Dec 142025
 
Alabama State Flag

Alabama Flag

Alabama became the twenty-second state of the United States in 1819. People lived in the Russell Cave area around 6000 B.C. The Temple Mound culture moved into the Moundville location somewhere between 1200 and 1500. The state is named after the Alabama tribe. Montgomery is the capital, and the state’s nicknames are the Yellowhammer State and the Heart of Dixie. The state ranks 30th in area and 24th in population. The pecan is the state’s official nut. The mound builders have left us fascinating artifacts. Children could learn more at a great site: https://alabamamoundtrail.org/.

Wright Brothers Attempted First Airplane Flight

 Events
Dec 142025
 

First Flight

Wright Brothers attempted a first airplane flight in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. With Wilbur flying, the plane was aloft for about three seconds only before it crashed. The Wright Brothers had to make minor repairs to the plane and decided to try again on December 17th. On that day they were successful!

Roald Amundsen Found the South Pole in 1911

 Events
Dec 142025
 

Amundsen and Others with the Norwegian Flag

Roald Amundsen found the South Pole in 1911. People had been trying to locate the South Pole for hundreds of years. He, four other adults, and over 50 sled dogs located the pole. All five men returned to base camp safely. Children could view an amazing timeline of the expedition at: Timeline. They could also learn more about his mysterious 1928 death.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Dec 142025
 

James Harold Doolittle (born Alameda, California, 1896; died Pebble Beach, California, September 27, 1993) was an aviator and military hero. As a young man, he was the first person to fly across North America in under a day. During World War II, he led the first aerial raid on five cities in Japan. He also spearheaded the Eighth Air Force for the Normandy invasion.

Margaret Chase Smith (born Skowhegan, Maine, 1897; died Skowhegan, Maine, May 29, 1995) was the first female to be elected to both the House of Representatives (1940-1949) and to the Senate (1949-1973). Children could learn more about her at: Margaret Chase Smith. They could also find out how the requirements for being a representative differ from those of being a senator.

Tycho Brahe (born Scania, then part of Denmark but today part of Sweden, 1546; died Prague, then part of the Holy Roman Empire, October 24, 1601) was an astronomer and alchemist. The telescope had not yet been invented. However, he used the best instruments then available to make great contributions to the field of astronomy. He recorded planetary motions, observed a supernova, and mathematically concluded that comets were farther away from earth than the moon. He was not always correct in his work, but he provided the foundation for other great astronomers. Here is an interesting fact: in a duel (over an astronomical concept) he lost all or part of his nose. After the duel he wore a fake nose made out of metal.

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