St. Nicholas (whose feast day is December 6) was likely a fourth-century bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey. Known for his generosity, he is said to have given a purse filled with gold as a dowry to each of three destitute young ladies so that they could be married. St. Nicholas’s life eventually merged with folklore, and the legend of Santa Claus was born. Learn more about St. Nicholas Day here.
Daily Calendar for Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Question of the Day
Is the Christmas tree a Christian symbol? Where did it come from?
Decorated trees were used in winter celebrations long before the advent of Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green all year had a special significance for people who lived in cold-winter climes. Ancient people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. Some believed that evergreens kept witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness away. Romans decorated evergreen trees with trinkets and topped them with an image of their sun god. Druid sorcerers hung golden apples and lit candles on oak trees to celebrate the winter solstice. It is generally agreed that the use of an evergreen tree as part of Christian Christmas celebrations started 400 years ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Europe by the 19th century.
Advice of the Day
The wise understand half a word.
Home Hint of the Day
Varnish is a mixture of resins, solvents, and drying agents. It creates a durable finish on wood, acceptable even for outdoors, but its lengthy drying time (typically 6 to 8 hours) diminishes its appeal.
Word of the Day
To catch a crab
In rowing when a stroke of the oar either misses the water or digs too deeply.
Puzzle of the Day
Why is it that a man cannot own a cane that is too short?
Because it can never be-long to him.
Died
- Jefferson Davis (served as the first and only President of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War) –
- Roy Orbison (musician) –
- Don Ameche (actor) –
- Phillip Berrigan (priest who fought Vietnam War and nuclear weapons) –
Born
- Ira Gershwin (lyricist) –
- Agnes Moorehead (actress) –
- Steven Wright (comedian & actor) –
- Nick Park (filmmaker & animator) –
- Janine Turner (actress) –
Events
- First international football game–
- Monongah, West Virginia, coal mine disaster killed 362 men. One of the worst in U.S. history–
- Ship explosion devastated Halifax, Nova Scotia–
- The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed, giving Ireland dominion status and establishing Irish Free State–
- President Truman dedicated Everglades National Park in Florida.–
- The Burl Ives narrated holiday classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer made its television debut–
- Kitty Hambleton reached 512.71 mph land speed–
- Gunman kills 14 women at University of Montreal–
Weather
- 5” snow, Savannah, Georgia–
- A windstorm on this day toppled the national Christmas tree on the grounds of the White House–
- Strong storms spread 60 mph winds throughout northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio–