Saturday, the 6th of December, 2014 is the 340th day in 2014 and in the 49th calendar week.
General Events:
White Ribbon Day
December 6, 2014 in Canada
White Ribbon Day is observed on December 06, 2014. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, also known informally as White Ribbon Day, is a day commemorated in Canada each December 6, the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, in which fourteen women were singled out for their gender and murdered. It is often marked by vigils, discussions and other reflections on violence against women. Canadian flags on all federal buildings – including the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario – are flown at half-mast on December 6. In addition, Canadians are encouraged to observe a minute of silence on December 6 and to wear a white ribbon (or a purple ribbon) as a commitment to end violence against women.
Where is White Ribbon Day?
Nationwide Canada
Independence Day of Finland
December 6, 2014 in Finland
Independence Day of Finland is celebrated on December 06, 2014. Finland’s Independence Dayis a national public holiday. It celebrates Finland’s declaration of independence from Soviet Russia. The movement for Finland’s Independence started after the revolutions in Russia, caused by the disturbances from the defeats of the First World War. This gave an opportunity for Finland to withdraw from Russia. After several disagreements between the non-socialists and the social-democrats about the matter of who should have the power in Finland, the Senate of Finland, led by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, finally gave on 4 December 1917 a Declaration of Independence which was adopted by the parliament two days later. It is traditional for many Finnish families to light two candles in each window of their home in the evening. This custom dates to the 1920s, but even earlier, candles had been placed in windows on the birthday of poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg as a silent protest against perceived Russian oppression. A popular legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young men on their way to Sweden and Germany to become jägers that the house was ready to offer shelter and keep them hidden from the Russians.
Where is Independence Day of Finland?
Nationwide Finland
Saint Nicholas Day
December 6, 2014 in Europe
The tradition of Saint Nicholas Day, usually on 6 December, is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the Anglo-Canadian and British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. “Santa Claus” is itself derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and 5 December, before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the fireplace chimney of the coal-fired stove or fireplace. In modern times, they may put them next to the central heating unit. They leave the shoe with a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water nearby “for Sinterklaas’ horse,” and the children sing a Sinterklaas song. The next day they will find some candy or a small present in their shoes.
Typical Sinterklaas treats traditionally include: hot chocolate, mandarin oranges, pepernoten, letter-shaped pastry filled with almond paste or chocolate letter (the first letter of the child’s name made out of chocolate), speculaas (sometimes filled with almond paste), chocolate coins and marzipan figures. Newer treats include kruidnoten (a type of shortcrust biscuit or gingerbread biscuits) and a figurine of Sinterklaas made of chocolate and wrapped in colored aluminum foil.
Poems can still accompany bigger gifts as well. Instead of such gifts being brought by Sinterklaas, family members may draw names for an event comparable to Secret Santa. Gifts are to be creatively disguised (for which the Dutch use the French word “surprise”), and are usually accompanied by a humorous poem which often teases the recipient for well-known bad habits or other character deficiencies.
Where is Saint Nicholas Day?
Nationwide Europe
National Mitten Tree Day
December 6, 2014 in the USA
Mitten Tree Tradition, people, libraries and local organizations decorate Mitten Trees with: hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, socks, leg warmer to be donated to those in need, just in time for the Holidays.
Introduce your kids to the Mitten Tree Tradition with ‘The Mitten Tree’, by Candace Christiansen: Warm hands signify a warm heart in this tale of generosity. Old Sarah, whose children have grown and moved away, is lonely. She watches the neighborhood children leave for school each morning, but they pay her no mind. When Sarah notices that one boy has no mittens, she knits him a pair and hangs them on the blue spruce tree near the bus stop. Thus begins a tradition of sorts, with Sarah leaving woolly surprises for each child on the “mitten tree” throughout the winter. To her joy, the children secretly leave Sarah a ribbon-wrapped basket of new wool.
Where is National Mitten Tree Day?
Nationwide USA
National Miners Day
December 6, 2014 in the USA
This day was created as a day of reflection when we can show appreciation for the sacrifices, honor the accomplishments and remember the tragedies that these hard working individuals experienced. Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in America and the miners put their lives at risk each and every day as they contend with health and safety issues as well as their uncertainty of the future.
Everyday products that we use are made up from raw materials that have been extradited from the mines and are a result of the work of the miners therefore they play a much more important role in our lives than most people realize.
Where is National Miners Day?
Nationwide USA
Natural Events:
December Full Moon
December 6, 2014 in Eastcoast (North America)
On December 06, 2014 the moon reaches its maximum brightness. Therefore it is called full moon. Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun. As seen from Earth, the hemisphere of the Moon that is facing the earth is almost fully illuminated by the Sun and appears round. Only during a full moon is the opposite hemisphere of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth, completely unilluminated.
The time interval between similar lunar phases is on average about 29.53 days. Therefore, in those lunar calendars in which each month begins on the new moon, the full moon falls on either the 14th or 15th of the lunar month. Because lunar months have a whole number of days, lunar months may be either 29 or 30 days long.
Full Moons are traditionally associated with temporal insomnia, insanity and various “magical phenomena” such as lycanthropy. Psychologists, however, have found that there is no strong evidence for effects on human behavior around the time of a full moon. They find that studies are generally not consistent, with some showing a positive effect and others showing a negative effect. In one instance, the British Medical Journal published two studies on dog bite admission to hospitals in England and Australia. The study of the Bradford Royal Infirmary found that dog bites were twice as common during a full moon, whereas the study conducted by the public hospitals in Australia found that they were less likely. Full moons trigger deer movement in North America. Hunters and fisherman rely heavily on moonphases.
Where is December Full Moon?
EST Eastern Standard Time / UTC-05
Eastcoast (North America)
Historical Events on 6th December:
1196 – Northern Dutch coast flooded, “Saint-Nicolas Flood”
1240 – Mongols under Batu Khan occupy & destroy Kiev
1745 – Bonnie Prince Charlies army retreats to Scotland
1768 – 1st edition of “Encyclopedia Brittanica” published (Scotland)
1862 – US President Lincoln orders hanging of 39 Santee Sioux indians
1865 – 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution is ratified, abolishing slavery
1877 – 1st sound recording made (Thomas Edison)
1877 – Washington Post publishes 1st edition
1912 – China votes for universal human rights
1917 – Finland declares independence from Russia (National Day)
1921 – Anglo-Irish Treaty signed; Ireland receives dominion status; partition creates Northern Ireland
1922 – 1st constitution of Irish Free State comes into operation
1929 – Turkey introduces female suffrage
1938 – French/German non-attack treaty drawn (Ribbentrop-Bonnet Pact)
1941 – Dutch & British pilots see Japanese invasion fleet at Singapore
1956 – Nelson Mandela & 156 others arrested for political activities in S Africa
1973 – Bahrain’s constitution goes into effect
1977 – South Africa grants Bophuthatswana independence
1978 – Spain adopts constitution
1989 – Worst Canadian mass murder: Marc Lepine kills 14 women at U Montreal
M'chelsMusings 