Calendar Class of December 22, 2025
- Andrea Kirk Assaf
- 12m
- 2 min read
A Carpe Diem Snapshot: Carpe Domum Navitatatis! Seize the Christmas House! Grandma has created a festive, cozy atmosphere in a room that looks prepared for Christmas all year round. “Eclectic Victorian” is how it could be described, with rich reds and golds, polished parquet wood flooring, and fluted columns. Jetlag brought us here in the early morning hours to savor the Christmas tree lights in the darkness and read “The House on Top of the Hill” by Diane Grubert (Black), which is a story inspired by this very house.
Liturgical: Monday of the 4th Week of Advent
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Sanctoral: Jacopone da Todi, c. 1230 – December 25, 1306
Jacomo or James, was born a noble member of the Benedetti family in the northern Italian city of Todi. He became a successful lawyer and married a pious, generous lady named Vanna.
His young wife took it upon herself to do penance for the worldly excesses of her husband. One day Vanna, at the insistence of Jacomo, attended a public tournament. She was sitting in the stands with the other noble ladies when the stands collapsed. Vanna was killed. Her shaken husband was even more disturbed when he realized that the penitential girdle she wore was for his sinfulness. On the spot, he vowed to radically change his life.
Human: 1989 After 23 years of dictatorial rule, Romania ousts communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu from power.
1990 Labor activist Lech Wałęsa is sworn in as Poland's first popularly elected president.
Natural: Chionophobia--the fear of snow
Italian: Moquette (carpet)
Quote: One today is worth two tomorrows. —Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1757
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