• Home Accessories: Traditional Cambridge mantle clock with roman numerals $129 at Crate&Barrel www.crateandbarrel.com. The Earthwise Clock, a John Duke design, displays movement of earth in relation to passage of time showing both solar time and clock (universal) time. $95 at www.earthwiseclock.com. Garden Clock, rust and weather resistant, verdigris finish, gives time, temperature and humidity, $50 at Lillian Vernon www.lillianvernon.com.

• Everyday Dining: Hand-painted earthenware with creamy, ivory finish, fully glazed for durability, and easy care, microwave and dishwasher safe. 32-piece service for eight $110 at Lillian Vernon, www.lillianvernon.com. Reed & Barton Crescendo pattern stainless flatware––66-piece service for twelve at $140 Ross-Simons www.ross-simons.com.

7. Winter Solstice (Various) - December 22

Long before Christmas, people celebrated Winter Solstice on eve of shortest day of year. They burned a Yule log in a great bonfire, danced, sang, hung mistletoe from doorways of their home, and decorated with evergreens. In Iran, celebration is called Shabe-Yalda. The Chinese call it Dong Shi.

8. Kwanzaa (African American) -- begins December 26

Habari Gani? That's Swahili "What's News?", Kwanzaa greeting. Kwanzaa's seven days of celebration focus on seven principles: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani). Kwanzaa is Swahili for "first fruits of harvest."

9. Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish, Scottish) -- December 26

Way back when, servants had to work on Christmas, but were given 26th off to visit their families. Their Landlords gave each servant a box with gifts and bonuses, and churches opened their alms boxes for poor. Nowadays most people have day off, and visit, go shopping and celebrate. 10. Omisoka (Japanese) -- December 31 The family gathers to get ready to celebrate new year. They clean house (susu harai), put things in order and decorate. In evening they have toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) and then go to temple to make wishes known to buddhist or shintô divinities. At midnight, in all buddhist temples, bell (bonshô) is rung 108 times to announce new year.