On this day in 1783, George Washington returned to Mount Vernon, after disbanding his Army, following the Revolutionary war. They had their final meal at Fraunces Tavern, where you can have a meal yourself today in lower Manhattan. Kind of amazing to think you can eat where George actually presided over this historic gathering.

Nice that he got home for Christmas, not realizing that he was to return to New York City and serve as our first President. Was that a Christmas gift or not?

Eighty-One years later, Gen. William T. Sherman presented President Abraham Lincoln with this Christmas message: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah."

In 1939, on this day, Great Britain and France officially went to to war against Nazi Germany, the beginning of World War II.

And this day, in 1970, the North Tower of the World Trade Center was completed, becoming the tallest building in the world.

It seems that late December can be a very volatile, exciting and historic time.

May your holidays, however you celebrate, be just as you wish, exciting or volatile.

"I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up - they have no holidays." -Henny Youngman

How do you celebrate? Or do you?