If I could relive any day from my childhood, it might be a Christmas Eve in…oh, 1977. We spent the evening at my grandparents (the ones who lived farthest away), and drove home when it was dark and snowy. Now that I am an adult, I know that my father must have hated driving those dark, potentially slick country roads, but as a child, those flakes blowing into the headlights as we crossed an old iron bridge seemed so magical. That twenty miles across the county was long for a child, and I stared out the window at the snow whipping over empty cornfields, at the houses alone in the dark with their Christmas lights shining out like beacons, imagining everyone in bed, waiting for Santa. I fervently believed in Santa, even though I was ten, and when we got home, my brothers and sisters and I rushed for bed (we never did that any other day of the year), determined to stay there, because if Santa caught you out of your bed….
We were told it could go badly. (From boatnerd.com)
Now that I’m an adult, I am pretty sure that it was only 5:30 and my parents were thrilled to have us held captive in our rooms, huddled excitedly under the covers for a good twelve hours. For us, and them, Christmas Eve was the best night of the year.
Or maybe not….
Now, normally, I save the best giveaway for last. But this time, I’ve decided to turn things on their heads a bit. Sure, the 6 January prize will be lovely, as befits the Great Detective’s Birthday, but why not start off with a bang as well? Tonight’s giveaway, therefore, features 2 subscriptions to the pre-eminent Sherlockian publication: The Baker Street Journal (either new or renewal)!
It’s not that “irregular.” It arrives on schedule, I promise.
Want to be one of the two winners? Then tell us this:
How many stories in the Canon took place in December?
Feel free to use the Canon only, or an acknowledged chronology (Zeisler, Baring-Gould, etc.). Provide the citations for your answers as well! Send your answers to me via the blog, Facebook PM or Twitter DM. Then pop the kids in bed, curl up on the couch, and enjoy the silence….
The Well-Read Sherlockian 
Actually, some adults enjoyed riding along in a warm vehicle as the snow danced before the headlights, seeing the twinkling of lights that reminded them of what magic could be if only for a fleeting moment in time.