December

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December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.

Contents

December, from the Tres Riches Heures du duc de Berry Les Tres Riches Heures du duc de Berry decembre.jpg
December, from the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry

December's name derives from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the calendar of Romulus c.750 BC, 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. [1] [2]

In Ancient Rome, as one of the four Agonalia, this day in honour 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

Month December depicted in Hans Bol's and Adriaen Collart's Emblematica Evangelica. Hans Bol - Adriaen Collaert - Emblemata evangelica - Erfgoedfonds Koning Boudewijnstichting - Fonds du Patrimoine Fondation Roi Baudouin - 12.jpg
Month December depicted in Hans Bol's and Adriaen Collart's Emblematica Evangelica.

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 25 – 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). [3] [4]

Symbols

Yellow narcissus flower Yellow Narcissus.JPG
Yellow narcissus flower

December's birth flower is the narcissus. Its birthstones are turquoise, zircon and tanzanite.

A slab of turquoise Turquoise polie 1 (USA).jpg
A slab of turquoise
Zircons Zircon-rlkg001a (cropped).JPG
Zircons
Rough and polished tanzanite Zoisite (Tanzanite).jpg
Rough and polished tanzanite

Observances

A Christmas tree at the Eaton Centre in Toronto. Eaton Centre Christmas Tree.JPG
A Christmas tree at the Eaton Centre in Toronto.

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

Movable

Tuesday immediately following fourth Thursday of November

First Friday

First Sunday

Second Monday

December 15, unless the date falls on a Sunday, then December 16

Winter Solstice

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

Fixed

A Christmas market in Dresden Weihnachtsmarktindresden.jpg
A Christmas market in Dresden

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiday</span> Festive day set aside by custom or by law

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">June</span> Sixth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars

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July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honour of Roman general Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., being the month of his birth. Before then it was called Quintilis, being the fifth month of the calendar that started with March.

March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox on the 20 or 21 marks the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where September is the seasonal equivalent of the Northern Hemisphere's March.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">May</span> Fifth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars

May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.

November is the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 30 days. November was the ninth month of the calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC. November retained its name when January and February were added to the Roman calendar. November is a month of late spring in the Southern Hemisphere and late autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, November in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of May in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa. In Ancient Rome, Ludi Plebeii was held from November 4–17, Epulum Jovis was held on November 13 and Brumalia celebrations began on November 24. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">October</span> Tenth month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars

October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The eighth month in the old calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, October retained its name after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans. In Ancient Rome, one of three Mundus patet would take place on October 5, Meditrinalia October 11, Augustalia on October 12, October Horse on October 15, and Armilustrium on October 19. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar. Among the Anglo-Saxons, it was known as Winterfylleth (Ƿinterfylleþ), because at this full moon, winter was supposed to begin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September</span> Ninth month in the Gregorian and Julian calendars

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public holidays in Russia</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">September equinox</span> When sun appears directly over equator

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">March equinox</span> When sun appears directly over equator

The March equinox or northward equinox is the equinox on the Earth when the subsolar point appears to leave the Southern Hemisphere and cross the celestial equator, heading northward as seen from Earth. The March equinox is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and as the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.

Lists of holidays by various categorizations.

The following are 11 public holidays in Ukraine.

References

  1. Macrobius, Saturnalia , tr. Percival Vaughan Davies (New York: Columbia University Press, 1969), book I, chapters 12–13, pp. 89–95.
  2. "December"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. VII (9th ed.). 1878. p. 19.
  3. The Earth passes the junction of the signs at 10:02 UT/GMT December 21, 2020, and will pass it again at 15:59 UT/GMT December 21, 2021.
  4. "Astrology Calendar", yourzodiacsign. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.