[This has been updated from 2023 with new information, additional images, and sources]

December is the 12^th month on the Gregorian calendar. The name derives from the Latin word decem, which means ten. It originally was the tenth and final month of the year on the old Roman calendar which began in March. With the adoption of the Julian calendar, January and February were added but the name remained. Anglo-Saxons used the word Yule for December-January but that now has been changed to mean December and Christmas season.

The December solstice is known as the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is the Summer Solstice in the southern. The solstice generally takes place around 21 -22 December and is the shortest day of the year in the north (the reverse in the south). Depending on how far north you are, sunlight may only be a few hours a day. And in some places, it is either dark or twilight for winter. Many old festivals took place to commemorate this event (and some still do to this day). For Christians, the first four weeks before Christmas is Advent in which they prepare for the birth of Jesus on 25 December. Jews celebrate Chanukah/Hanukkah, the 8-day Festival of Lights in December as well.

The first full moon of December is often called the Cold Moon in some places but has many other names as well depending on the culture and people that observed and followed the lunar schedule. The Geminid Meteor Shower takes place on 13-14 December. The Ursid Meteor Shower is on 22-23 December.

For More Information

Catherine Boeckmann, “The Month of December 2024: Holidays, Fun Facts, Folklore,” Almanac.Com, last modified December 2, 2024, https://www.almanac.com/content/month-of-december-holidays-facts-folklore.

“The Month of December.” https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/months/december.html.

Mariah Thomas, “December Holidays and Observances to Celebrate Year After Year,” Reader’s Digest, last modified November 4, 2024, https://www.rd.com/article/december-holidays/.

December is the 12^th month on the Gregorian calendar. The name derives from the Latin word decem, which means ten. Originally December was the tenth month in an older calendar as it started in March. Apparently the winter days that followed December were not included in a month until much later when January and February were added. December retained its name though. Anglo-Saxons used the term Yule for December-January, but that now that has largely come to mean December and the Christmas season.

December has the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern. Winter traditionally begins on the astronomical calendar around 21 December or the date of the actual solstice.  The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and depending on how far north you live, sunlight may only be for a few hours on that day.  The symbols for December are the narcissus flower and turquoise, zircon and tanzanite as the birthstones.

Most Christians celebrate Advent in preparation for the celebration of Christmas on 25 December. Jews celebrate Chanukah/Hanukkah, the 8-day Festival of Lights in December as well. Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-January 1.