The Month of December: Holidays, Fun Facts
How many holidays are in December? More than you might imagine! Learn about feasts, festivals of lights, and shooting stars! Also, find out why December is no longer the 10th month of the year.
Why December’s Not the 10th Month
December is the 12th month (and last month) in our modern-day Gregorian calendar (as it was in the preceding Julian calendar).
However, it was initially the 10th month of the Roman calendar (until 153 BC). Hence, “December” comes from the Latin decem, meaning “ten.”
In Roman times, the calendar only had ten months and began with March! The winter period was not even assigned months because it was not an active time for military, agriculture, or civil life.
The month of December originally consisted of 30 days. After January and February were added to the calendar (around 700 BCE), December was shortened to 29 days. Then, two days were added to December in the subsequent Julian calendar, making it 31 days long.
December Holidays
- December 1 is the First Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the Advent season.
- December 6 is Saint Nicholas Day. The patron saint of children is the model for Santa Claus and gift-giving.
- December 7 is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
- December 8 is Bodhi Day in the Buddhist calendar, celebrating Buddha’s enlightenment; it’s celebrated in a way that’s similar to how Christians celebrate Christmas to honor Jesus Christ.
- December 13 is St. Lucia’s Day, which has long been associated with festivals of light. Before the Gregorian calendar reform in 1752, her feast day occurred on the shortest day of the year (hence the saying “Lucy light, Lucy light, shortest day and longest night”).
- December 15 is Bill of Rights Day.
- December 17 is Wright Brothers Day.
- December 21 is the Winter Solstice—the astronomical day when the hemisphere is tilted as far away from the Sun as possible. Starting in ancient times, people celebrated the rebirth of the Sun event through Yule.
- December 25 is Christmas Day, a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Learn more about American Christmas traditions.
- December 25 also marks the beginning of Hanukkah this year, the 8-day Jewish festival of lights.
- December 26 is Boxing Day (Canada, UK) and the first day of Kwanzaa.
- On the last evening of the year, December 31, kiss the person you hope to keep kissing! Discover New Year’s traditions from around the world.
“Just for Fun” Holidays
Celebrate these fun holidays this month:
- Dec. 11: International Mountain Day
- Dec. 13: National Violin Day
- Dec. 13: National Day of the Horse
- Dec. 16: Underdog Day
- Dec. 26: National Candy Cane Day
Winter Solstice
The month of December brings the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the shortest day of the year (the day with the least amount of daylight).