If World Doesn’t End with Mayan Calendar Today, Celebrate Winter Solstice 2012, Forefather’s Day and More Obscure Holidays

If you don’t believe the world is going to go ka-boom on Friday, the end of the Mayan long-count calendar and, some say, the end of us all, there are other  ways to celebrate the day.

The Winter Solstice occurs when the sun reaches its most southerly declination of 23.5 degrees – in other words, when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun, according to the web site timeanddate.com.

What it means that during the solstice, all places above a latitude of 66.5 degrees north (Arctic Polar Circle) are in darkness, while locations below a latitude of 66.5 degrees south (Antarctic Polar Circle) receive 24 hours of daylight.

In Johnston, the winter solstice occurs at 5:12 a.m. on Dec. 21. That’s the earliest start date to winter since 1896, according to the The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

With measurable snow in the forecast, dust off your cross-country skies and head out to to Raccoon River Park for winter fun.

Friday’s also Forefather’s Day, a celebration fo the day the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620. There’s a bit of confusion about whether it’s celebrated on the 22nd day of December, as the venerable Mayflower Society insists, or the 21st, as the John Howland Society says.That’s according to the Georgian Calendar. Why split hairs?

Regardless of the day you choose, check out some history books at the Johnston Public Library. Or why not go see a movie about one of our nation’s greatest leaders, Lincoln. It’s playing at Wynnsong at 12:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Friday is also Humbug Day. Coined by some people by the name of Ruth and Thomas Roy, it’s a day allowing “everyone preparing for Christmas to vent their frustrations.”  Here’s a better idea. Get out there and do something for someone else and shake it off. Sign up for a Red Kettle shift and help The Salvation Army reach its goal of raising $1.2 million in central Iowa this holiday season. Volunteers are needed at the JC Penney and Scheels.

Or, Read for the blind as a volunteer for IRIS – The Iowa Radio Reading Service. Volunteers willing to take holiday shifts are especially needed.

After all, Friday is also Look on the Bright Side Day, a day for optimism. It’s a good day to buy an IRA at a local bank or touch base with your financial planner to see if there are things you should do before 2012 from a tax perspective. West Des Moines has large sector financial planning businesses to help you out. Search for “financial services” in the Johnston Patch Directory or a complete list of local resources.

The shortest day of the year is also National Flashlight Day. No one seems to know much about the origin of National Flashlight Day. The flashlight itself was invented in 1898 by  Joshua Lionel Cowen. Yeah, that guy. The same guy who invented the Lionel model train.

Make sure you have flashlights in your home, that batteries are fresh and that everyone knows where to find them. If you need new ones, try Ace Hardware.

Finally, Friday is also National Hamburger Day. Where’s the best local burger in Johnston? Legend's American Grill, Okoboji Grill, Pickett's Pub or somewhere else? You tell us.