Wikipedia / December
Wikipedia / December
December is the 12th and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.
December's name derives from the Latin word (meaning 10) because it was originally the 10th month of the year in the calendar of Romulus , which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. Later, the months of January and February were created out of the monthless period and added to the beginning of the calendar, but December retained its name.
December is the first month of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first month of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
In Ancient Rome, as one of the four Agonalia, this day in honor of Sol Indiges was held on December 11, as was Septimontium. Dies natalis (birthday) was held at the temple of Tellus on December 13, Consualia was held on December 15, Saturnalia was held December 17–23, Opiconsivia was held on December 19, Divalia was held on December 21, Larentalia was held on December 23, and the dies natalis of Sol Invictus was held on December 25. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.
The Anglo-Saxons referred to December–January as Ġēolamonaþ (modern English: "Yule month"). The French Republican Calendar contained December within the months of Frimaire and Nivôse.
Astronomy
December contains the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the fewest daylight hours, and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the day with the most daylight hours (excluding polar regions in both cases, which consistently have none or 24 hours, respectively, near the solstice). December in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the astronomical winter is traditionally 21 December or the date of the solstice.
Meteor showers occurring in December are the Andromedids (September 24 – December 6, peaking around November 9), the Canis-Minorids (December 4 – December 15, peaking around December 10–11), the Coma Berenicids (December 12 to December 23, peaking around December 16), the Delta Cancrids (December 14 to February 14, the main shower from January 1 to January 24, peaking on January 17), the Geminids (December 13–14), the Monocerotids (December 7 to December 20, peaking on December 9. This shower can also start in November), the Phoenicids (November 29 to December 9, with a peak occurring around 5/6 December), the Quadrantids (typically a January shower but can also start in December), the Sigma Hydrids (December 4–15), and the Ursids (December 17-to December 25/26, peaking around December 22).
Astrology
The zodiac signs for the month of December are Sagittarius (until December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 onward).
Symbols
December's birth flower is the narcissus. Its birthstones are turquoise, zircon and tanzanite.
Observances
This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.
Non-Gregorian
(All Baháʼí, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.)
Month-long
In Catholic tradition, December typically marks the beginning of the Season of Advent. It is also devoted to the Immaculate Conception.
National Egg Nog Month (United States)
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month (United States)
National Fruit Cake Month (United States)
National Pear Month (United States)
Movable
Tuesday immediately following fourth Thursday of November
Giving Tuesday (United States) (can fall in December)
First Friday
First Sunday
Second Monday
December 15, unless the date falls on a Sunday, then December 16
Midsummer in the Southern Hemisphere. (Contemporary Paganism)
Yule in the Northern Hemisphere (Contemporary Paganism)
December 22, unless that date is a Sunday, in which case the 23rd
December 26, unless that day is a Sunday, in which case the 27th
Boxing Day (Commonwealth of Nations)
Start of Boxing Week
Fixed
November 25 – December 10: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence
Rosa Parks Day (Ohio and Oregon, United States)
Saint Barbara's Day-related observances:
International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
Klozum (Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands)
Saint Nicholas Eve (Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Poland and the UK)
Day of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)
Eve of the Immaculate Conception (Western Christianity) and related observances:
Day of the Little Candles, begins after sunset (Colombia)
Quema del Diablo, begins after sunset. (Guatemala)
Battle Day (Falkland Islands)
Bodhi Day (Japan)
CARICOM–Cuba Day (Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba)
Day of Finnish Music (Finland)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (public holiday in several countries, a holy day of obligation in others), and its related observances:
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Anglican Communion), lesser commemoration
Mother's Day (Panama)
Festa da Conceição da Praia, celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean (Salvador, Bahia)
Anna's Day (Sweden and Finland)
Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by St. Anne (Eastern Orthodox)
Human Rights and Peace Day (Kiribati)
Indiana Day (Indiana, United States)
National Have a Bagel Day (United States)
National Noodle Ring Day (United States)
National Tango Day (Argentina)
Pampanga Day (Pampanga province, Philippines)
Constitution Day (Russia)
Croatian Air Force Day (Croatia)
Day of Neutrality (Turkmenistan)
Feast of Masá'il Baháʼí calendar (only if Baháʼí Naw-Rúz falls on March 21, which it does for 2015)
Kanji Day (Japan)
Jamhuri Day (Kenya)
Sailor's Day (Brazil)
Saint Lucy's Day (mainly Scandinavia, some regions of Italy)
Alabama Day (Alabama)
Martyred Intellectuals Day (Bangladesh)
Bill of Rights Day (United States)
2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina)
National Cupcake Day (United States)
Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty (Russia)
National Day (Kingdom of Bahrain)
Day of Reconciliation in South Africa
National Maple Syrup Day (United States)
Pan American Aviation Day (United States)
Wright Brothers Day (United States)
International Migrants Day (United Nations)
National Muffin Day (Brazil)
Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana)
Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau)
National Sangria Day (United States)
First day of winter (some cultures)
Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States)
National Hamburger Day (United States)
The first day of Pancha Ganapati, celebrated until December 25 (Saiva Siddhanta Church)
Mother's Day (Indonesia)
National Date Nut Bread Day (United States)
National Mathematics Day (India)
Teachers' Day (Cuba)
Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lad arrives to towns. (Iceland)
Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy)
Nittel Nacht (certain Orthodox Jewish denominations)
Nochebuena (Spain and Spanish-speaking countries)
The Declaration of Christmas Peace (Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City)
Quviasukvik (Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Chukchi, Iñupiat and NunatuKavummiut people of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, NunatuKavut, Alaska, Greenland and Chukotka), a new year celebration held until January 7th.
National Eggnog Day (United States)
Children's Day (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo)
Good Governance Day (India)
Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan)
Takanakuy (Chumbivilcas Province, Peru)
National Pumpkin Pie Day (United States)
Independence Day in Slovenia – Independence and Unity Day
Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1) (African-American community, United States)
Wren Day (Ireland and the Isle of Man)
Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia)
Saint Stephen's Day (public holiday in Alsace, Austria, Catalonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland)
Father's Day (Bulgaria)
The first day of Junkanoo street parade, the second day is on the New Year's Day (The Bahamas)
National Fruitcake Day (United States)
Day of the Declaration of Slovakia as an Independent Ecclesiastic Province (Slovakia)
National Bicarbonate of Soda Day (United States)
Rizal Day (Philippines)
International Solidarity Day (Azerbaijan)
National Champagne Day (United States)
See also
References
External links