As this issue is going to print, we are in Ramadan (rahm uh DAHN), an Islamic holy month when Muslims practice sawm or fasting, and may neither eat nor drink while the sun shines. Ramadan concludes October 24 with Eid-al-Fitr, The Feast of Fast-Breaking. We eat for three days. Finishing off the Halloween candy (remnants of the pagan new year celebration of Samhain), we have Thanksgiving, a day set aside for giving thanks for our blessings. We eat. Hanukkah (HAH nu kah) is the Jewish Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication. Hanukkah means dedication. We eat, light candles, and give gifts for 8 days beginning December 15 this year. Then Christmas, a happy, festive time which is replete with spiritual significance. We decorate evergreen trees, string festive lights, and eat. Kwanzaa (KWAHN zuh) is an African-American holiday that begins on December 26 and lasts for 7 days. Kwanzaa comes from the phase matunda ya kwanza which means first fruits in Swahili, an East African language. We eat and give gifts to children.

In Japan, November 15th is a special, ancient children's festival called Shichi-Go-San or “Seven-Five-Three.” Parents take their children of these ages to Shinto shrines to pray for their safe and healthy futures. The children wear traditional kimonos and carry bags on which are painted symbols of youth and long life.

On December 12, Mexicans celebrate Guadalupe Day, a day of profound religious meaning. Mexicans trek from all over Mexico to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The devout bring gifts of flowers, pigs, chickens, and eggs to their local churches.

On December 13, Swedish children celebrate St. Lucia's Day. Girls wear white dresses and a crown of candles atop their heads. Boys wearing tall, pointy hats follow them. The entire processional delivers cakes and coffee to homes, hospitals, factories and offices. We eat again.

On December 26th, the British, Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians celebrate Boxing Day. The traditional celebration, dating from the Middle Ages, includes giving money and gifts to charitable entities and the needy.

And, of course, New Year's Eve, which is the festive, boisterous celebration marking a new year. We resolve, we reproach ourselves, and we muse on our hopes, dreams, and yearnings for a better future. We eat, plan, and are merry. Finally, the Chinese Lunar New Year, which begins on February 18, 2007, the Year of the Pig and the first new moon of 2007 lasts until the first full moon, 15 days later. The 15th day, the Lantern Festival, children parade carrying lanterns and people dress as dragons to delight the children.

After months of feasting, frolicking, dressing in costumes, giving to charities, shopping and trading gifts, a new year begins again. I'm already exhausted.

To celebrate the culmination of 2006, Sacramento Lawyer brings you a potpourri of articles to amuse, inspire and educate. We present articles on the Privacy Rights of Crime Victims in California by Darren DeFrance, a McGeorge law student; a recap of SCBA sections and affiliates, their recent doings and future plans; an article on the Pipeline Task Force, a group committed to increasing the flow of minorities into the legal profession; and some very amusing yet real court orders from other locales.

We hope to see you at the SCBA Annual Meeting on December 7th at the Sterling Hotel, where we will welcome newlyelected Bar Council Officers and honor our Attorney of the Year, Alice Wong. See John Bachman's great article about Alice on page 18. Save December 15, 2006, the date of the Sacramento County Bar Association's Holiday Cheer party. At press time, the party details are just under way. You'll get more data from the Bar office as the time draws nigh.

Heather and Helene thank you for the opportunity to serve the legal community in this way. That nearly an entire year has passed since we took the reins from Chris Krueger, our predecessor, is startling. We've learned through this process that the Sacramento legal community bench and bar is truly the best and getting better. Happy whatever you celebrate to you and yours!