Christmas Eve, celebrated on December 24th, is traditionally considered the night before Christmas Day and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. This night has been associated with religious observance and anticipation. Historically, it involves a range of traditions and customs derived from both Christian and pagan rituals. In Christianity, it marks the time when many believers attend midnight Mass or other church services to celebrate Jesus's birth. Additionally, Christmas Eve includes cultural practices such as family gatherings, gift exchanges, and festive meals, which have evolved over centuries from various European customs. These celebrations are infused with anticipation and joy, reflecting both religious devotion and secular festivity. Merry Christmas! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve

The week ahead will be mostly cloudy and damp, with frequent showers and cool temperatures. Sunday starts overcast, with rain likely continuing through the night. From Monday to Thursday, expect persistent clouds and scattered showers, with daytime highs in the low to mid-50s and nighttime lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. Winds remain generally light to moderate, often from the south or southeast, and rain chances hover around 50–60%. Friday brings morning showers tapering to lighter rain, while Saturday offers a brief break with partly cloudy skies before occasional showers return by nightfall. Merry Christmas! https://www.kcra.com/weather

This week’s night sky highlights include bright Jupiter rising in the east-northeast shortly after dark, shining brilliantly as it moves retrograde toward its January 10 opposition. Sirius and Procyon appear in the evening, with their relative heights varying by latitude. Winter begins on December 21 with the solstice, bringing the longest nights. The crescent Moon traverses the evening sky, joining Saturn for a close conjunction on December 26, and reaches first quarter on the 27th. Orion, Aldebaran with the Hyades, and the Pleiades dominate the east. Saturn remains bright with nearly edge-on rings, while Uranus and Neptune are evening telescope targets. Merry Christmas! https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-december-19-28/

The week ahead features mostly cloudy and damp conditions with light, variable winds. Sunday starts with morning showers tapering off by afternoon, with highs near 50°F. Rain continues intermittently through Sunday night and into Monday, with skies remaining overcast and highs around 55°F. From Tuesday to Wednesday, expect mostly cloudy skies with occasional light showers, with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Thursday brings partial clearing before some overnight showers, followed by a mix of sun and clouds on Friday. The week wraps up with increasing rain chances Saturday into Saturday night, with highs in the mid-50s and lows in the upper 40s. https://www.kcra.com/weather

Christmas traditions worldwide feature festive foods that embody the season. Common dishes include roast turkey in Western countries, glazed ham in the U.S., and British Christmas pudding. Italy celebrates with panettone, while Mexico enjoys tamales. France offers Bûche de Noël, and Germany has Stollen. Eggnog is a popular holiday drink. These foods bring families together, each steeped in its own tradition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christmas_dishes

This week’s sky highlights include the rising of Sirius around 8–9 p.m., preceded by Mirzam, and Jupiter’s prominent presence in the east-northeast. The Geminid meteor shower peaks late on December 13, offering up to one or two meteors per minute under dark skies, with long Earth-grazers early and shorter, more frequent meteors later. Capella, the Pleiades, and the Hyades dominate the evening sky, while NGC 1647 offers a binocular challenge. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and moon events are visible, and Saturn’s nearly edge-on rings are notable. The week ends with the winter solstice on December 21, marking the longest nights of the year. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-december-12-21/

This week’s sky offers a brilliant display for stargazers. Interstellar Comet C/3I ATLAS remains magnitude 11 and visible before dawn, though moonlight hampers viewing. The waning Moon moves past Gemini, Jupiter, and Pollux in shifting patterns, while the earliest sunset occurs around December 7 at 40°N. The Summer Triangle sinks low, Andromeda Galaxy reaches zenith, and Pegasus tilts overhead. The Geminid meteor shower peaks on December 13, promising one or two meteors per minute under dark skies. Jupiter dominates the eastern evening sky, Saturn’s rings appear edge-on, and Mercury shines brightly at dawn. Uranus and Neptune remain telescopic targets for careful observers. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-december-5-14/

Fruitcake has roots in ancient Rome and, with the addition of spices, evolved into a popular dessert, especially in the Middle Ages. European styles resemble fruited breads, while American versions are denser and often topped with marzipan. The fruitcake became popular in the U.S. thanks to colonists and mail-order services, leading to the rise of famous companies like Claxton’s. Despite a drop in favor—75% of people disliked it in a 1989 survey—over two million fruitcakes are still sold each year, maintaining its place in holiday traditions. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/the-misunderstood-fruitcake-has-a-magnificent-shelf-life-and-history

The week’s weather begins with mostly cloudy conditions on Sunday, gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a high around 61°F and light, variable winds. Nights remain cool, in the low to mid 40s, under partly cloudy to clear skies. Monday and Tuesday follow a similar pattern, with highs near 60–61°F and lows around 44–45°F. Midweek brings considerable cloud cover, slightly cooler highs near 56–59°F, and lows in the low 40s. By Friday, skies are mostly cloudy, and Saturday brings a 30–40% chance of showers, with highs in the mid-50s and lows near 41°F. https://www.kcra.com/weather

Many Americans see Christmas as incomplete without a tree. Spending on real trees is expected to reach nearly $2 billion in 2024, with 23.6 million trees sold at an average price of $79.31. About 43% of households plan to buy a tree, while the trend of cutting their trees is declining. Most trees come from Michigan and North Carolina, and the average age of a tree buyer was 42 in 2023. https://www.finder.com/banking/cost-of-a-christmas-tree