December SKI Tips, 2024

3 billion Christmas cards are sent every year in the United States. 

Although Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, it does not actually mention December 25 anywhere in the bible. In fact, some historians think Jesus was born in the spring, not the winter at all! Christmas on December 25th was not celebrated until about 336 AD.

Extend the life of holiday plants, such as poinsettias and Christmas cactus, by placing them in a cool, brightly lit area that is free from warm or cold drafts.

Apply mulch to bulbs, perennials, and other small plants once the ground freezes.

Along with the usual nuts and seeds, red squirrels dry out mushrooms in trees to make their own mushroom jerky to survive the winter.

Be prepared for power outages and other emergencies by making sure your house and car are outfitted with well-stocked emergency kits. The basics include bottled water, a hand-crank radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, a cell phone charger (hand-crank or battery-powered is best), food, blankets, and a first-aid kit. At home, keep essential documents in one easily accessible place.

Reindeers that live above the Arctic circle live in total darkness for weeks at a time. A small area of tissue behind the animal’s retina changes color from gold in the summer to blue in the winter and this allows them to detect ultraviolet light and to see in the dark.

According to Guinness World Records, the coldest temperature was set on July 21, 1983, in Vostok Station, Antarctica which was -128.6°F.

 What do you call a person who loves winter? Chionophile. Chion is from the Greek word khiōn,  which means snow.
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Indiana’s highest point, Hoosier Hill, is in the area referred to as the “Corn Belt.” It rises 1,257 feet in the air.