December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come.
~Fennel Hudson

There’s so much seasonal change at the end of the year. From September to December we move from the last of the warm, golden summer days of September to the cool crisp days of October that are punctuated with the bright colors of fall. Then comes the quiet, in-between month of November, which holds the last of the leaves and stretches of cloudy days (did you know that statistically, November is the cloudiest month of the year for the Northeast and parts of the Midwest?).

Finally, we arrive in December – when winter truly starts to take hold. The days are shortest, the nights longest. The winter landscape has changed to the muted colors of brown, gray, and bright white with touches of evergreens and red winter berries here and there. Bare trees silhouetted against afternoon sunsets and sunny blue skies reflect the bright snowy landscape. The winter solstice brings the shortest day and longest night but this is also the month when light slowly begins to return – the days getting a minute or two longer every day after December 21st.

I love the bright earthy colors of fall but there’s something so peaceful and pristine about a frosty winter landscape – old farm buildings tucked under a light blanket of freshly fallen snow, a frozen lake with a rivulet of water reflecting a clear blue sky as it wanders across the surface. Snow clings to every branch and twig, making the woods look like they’re made of lace while an afternoon sunset warms up the winter sky.

Now, lets talk holidays and celebrations! Nope – not those holidays.

December has plenty of fun, seasonal, cute and quirky celebration days. I told you about a couple of them in this weeks Wednesday post and promised more so here we go….

December 14 is National Biscuits and Gravy Day! This popular southern breakfast is an interesting combination of flaky buttermilk biscuits absolutely smothered in a rich, white gravy made with flour, milk or cream, sausage drippings and crumbled pork sausage, plus plenty of salt and pepper. Some variations include herbs like thyme and rosemary. The gravy gets its smoky flavor from the drippings and sausage.

Personally? I’m not onboard with a milky, sausage gravy poured over perfectly good buttermilk biscuits (yes, I’ve tried it!). I’m happy with a little bit of butter and honey or jam on mine.

Some might find this dish to be…questionable, and others are its most fierce defenders. And honestly, considering its widespread popularity across half the country and its own National Day, I think the defenders win this round.

Biscuits and gravy go back nearly as far as U.S. History – after the Revolutionary War, this cheap, filling, high-calorie meal made from readily available ingredients became a staple for farmers and laborers. Over time, it became a deeply ingrained part of southern culture and is now an American comfort food classic, served up in diners and breakfast tables across the south.

National Horse Day is commemorated on December 13. This day is meant to honor the contribution of horses to our history, economy and progress as a country.

While once vital for transportation, farming and even battle, horses today are still working partners on farms, ranches and the entertainment industry. They’re also beloved pets, used in sports and recreation and serve as therapy animals in adaptive riding programs geared towards those with physical, developmental and cognitive disabilities as well as in programs for those suffering from PTSD, anxiety and Major Depressive Disorder.

For me, horses have always represented a mixture of beauty, majesty, gentleness, and strength. They truly are such special animals – I always feel a sense of calm just being close. Grooming, tacking and walking a horse to the paddock brings that almost tangible feeling of gentleness and strength. I love the warmth of their solid bodies beside me as we walk, listening to the soothing “clip-clop” of their hooves.

On December 15th, we can all get excited for National Lemon Cupcake Day! Also known as simply National Cupcake Day. This is a fun, silly little food holiday that gives us all a reason to make (or buy!) some cute single-serving cakes. This celebration puts the spotlight on the bright, sweet citrusy happiness packed into those little flavor bombs in a cup.

Cupcakes have actually been around since the 18th century and were featured in a few cookbooks from that time. They were originally called “cupcakes” because the recipes called for most ingredient measurements in cups – i.e., 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour, 1 cup of milk and a few eggs. Sometimes, they were also baked in actual cups.

Today, the cupcake has been elevated to an art form – actual competitions and TV shows exist just for cupcakes! I like to think of them as a small and sweet celebration in a pretty wrapper. Lemon cupcakes, especially, bring that extra sunny brightness to dark December days.

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention good ol' St. Nick as this post is publishing on his feast day.
December 6th is The Feast of Saint Nicholas. Born at the end of the 3rd century, Saint Nicholas was an early 4th century bishop who was known for his compassion and helping those in poverty. Among other things, he was also known for sneaking into homes and leaving gifts for children in their shoes, which would have been laid out by the hearth the night before. It was this legend that eventually evolved into Santa Claus and of hanging a Christmas stocking on Christmas Eve.

Another, rather grim legend was a popular medieval tale told during a time of famine. An evil innkeeper – or butcher – murders three young boys, stuffs their bodies into a barrel of salty brine to preserve (or pickle!) them with the intention to pass them off as pork. Yikes!
Saint Nicholas gets wind of this, exposes the innkeeper’s heinous crime, and miraculously restores the children to life, returning them to their families. Sorry – medieval tales can be pretty brutal!

This miracle made him known as the patron saint of children and would later cement his reputation as the precursor to Santa Claus.
Many artistic depictions of Saint Nicholas show him in the act of resurrecting the three boys from the pickling barrel.

(For more on Saint Nicholas and other, slightly less grim tales of his miracle work, Click Here)

I hope you enjoyed this reflective and somewhat strange little stroll through 
some of December's lesser-known moments. 
Thanks for reading and Happy Saint Nicholas Day!