19 things to do, see and celebrate this month

Dec. 1: Today marks the 57th anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Ala., prompting the Montgomery Bus Boycott four days later. Though not the first person to resist bus segregation, Parks became known as The First Lady of Civil Rights and was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Starting Dec. 1: Your holiday shopping just got a whole lot easier—and more affordable—thanks to the Target x Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection, launching at the beginning of December. With 50 pieces from 24 designers, the collaboration includes a bike for the cycle-chic set, plenty of travel gear for budget-savvy jet-setters and more get-'em-while-they're-hot finds.

Starting Dec. 1: Clinique partners with Happy Hearts Fund, an international charity founded by supermodel Petra Nemcova. Support the cause by purchasing a limited-edition Happy Heart fragrance—$10 from the sale will go to rebuilding schools in areas affected by natural disasters.

Dec. 4: The first full-length biography of Diana Vreeland, The Empress of Fashion: A Life of Diana Vreeland, becomes available today. Read how the iconic Vogue editor-in-chief and self-made career woman helped revolutionize fashion.

Dec. 4: Summer might be over but you can still bathe in your memories of those gloriously hazy days with wistful glo-fi, chillwave beats from Memory Tapes' new album, Grace/Confusion, which launches today.

Dec. 5: Legend has it that if children leave a pair of shoes outside their bedroom door tonight, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, they'll awake to find them filled with candy, cookies or other small trinkets.

Dec. 8: Happy first night of Chanukkah on Dec. 8! Already have plans? Don't worry—you have another seven nights to celebrate the Jewish festival of lights.

Dec. 8: Tangerine Tango ends its reign as Pantone's Color of the Year, when the color pros announce the it shade for 2013. Word on the street is that it'll be Monaco Blue, but hue never know!

Dec. 15: While the annual SantaCon celebration takes place in New York City today, the Claus-inspired event happens throughout the month in 267 locations. Check out the event calendar to find a SantaCon near you. The more the merrier!

Dec. 17: Devotees of Gossip Girl must bid adieu to Serena, Blair and the rest of the privileged uptown crowd with the show's two-hour finale airing tonight. xoxo

Dec. 19: What the Dickens? Today marks the anniversary of A Christmas Carol, the classic Charles Dickens novella first published in 1843. Search to find out where you can see a stage version of Scrooge's story, which is performed at theaters across the country during the month.

Dec. 21: While doomsday-watchers fret over the end of the world (if the Mayan calendar called it right), we suggest using the occasion as inspiration to seize the moment. Plan a trip to go skydiving, confess your love to that handsome neighbor and—just for a day—live like it might be your last.

Dec. 21: Pick up a good old-fashioned newspaper and attempt (or maybe finish) the crossword puzzle. Today marks the 99th anniversary of when the brainy game was first hot off the press in 1913.

Dec. 24: It's Christmas Eve—and National Eggnog Day, an occasion everyone can get behind, regardless of religion. Find a homemade recipe for the decadent drink.

Dec. 25: Keeping with the tradition of major movie openings on Christmas Day, Les Misérables arrives in theaters today. With a cast that includes Anne Hathaway, Russel Crowe, Amanda Seyfried and Sacha Baron Cohen, the musical has gone full-on Hollywood. Vive la révolution!

Dec. 25: On Christmas night, the Earth will make its closest approach of the year to Jupiter, the giant planet. Look just above the moon and if you see a large, brilliant star, then you've found it.

Dec. 26: The African-American cultural festival celebrating family and community starts today and lasts until Jan. 1. The weeklong celebration focuses on the seven principles of compromise, a worthwhile tradition for everyone.

Dec. 26: Just when you thought holiday shopping season had come to an end, today is National Boxing Day, the Black Friday of the U.K. and Canada, when major discounts abound. Look for deals from sites that offer international shipping like MyTheresa.com and Reiss.com.