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 1is theFirst Sunday of Advent, marking the beginning of the Adventseason.
- December 6isSaint Nicholas Day.The patron saint of children is the model for Santa Claus andgift-giving.
- December 7isNational Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
- December 8is 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 JesusChrist.
- December 13isSt. 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 longestnight”).
- December 15isBill of Rights Day.
- December 17isWright Brothers Day.
- December 21is theWinter 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 throughYule.
- December 25isChristmas Day, a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Learn more aboutAmerican Christmas traditions.
- December 25also marks the beginning of Hanukkahthis year, the 8-day Jewish festival oflights.
- December 26isBoxing Day(Canada,UK) and the first day ofKwanzaa.
- On the last evening of the year,December 31, kiss the person you hope to keep kissing! DiscoverNew Year’s traditions from around the world.
“Just for Fun” Holidays
Celebrate these fun holidays this month:
- Dec. 11:International MountainDay
- Dec. 13:National ViolinDay
- Dec. 13:National Day of theHorse
- Dec. 16:UnderdogDay
- Dec. 26:National Candy CaneDay
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).