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− | '''December''' | + | '''December''' is the [[twelfth]] and last [[month]] of the [[year]] in the [[Gregorian calendar]] and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 [[day]]s. |
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− | [[December_20|December 20]] | + | December begins (astrologically) with the [[sun]] in the sign of [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]] and ends in the sign of [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]]. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of [[Ophiuchus]], which is the only zodiacal constellation that is not counted as an astrological sign, and ends in the constellation of [[Sagittarius (constellation)|Sagittarius]]. |
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| + | In Latin, ''decem'' means "[[10 (number)|ten]]". December was also the tenth month in the [[Roman calendar]] until a monthless winter period was divided between [[January]] and [[February]]. |
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| + | == Monthlong observances == |
| + | *[[World AIDS Month]] |
| + | *[[Human rights|Human Rights]] Month |
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| + | ==Events in December== |
| + | * [[Hanukkah]] |
| + | * [[World AIDS Day]] ([[December 1]]) |
| + | * [[Sinterklaas]] in [[The Netherlands]] ([[December 5]]) |
| + | * [[Naksi]] in [[Kazakhstan]] ([[December 5]]) |
| + | * [[Independence Day of Finland|Independence Day]] in [[Finland]] ([[December 6]]) |
| + | * [[Pearl Harbor Day]] in the [[United States]] ([[December 7]]) |
| + | * Día de la Madre en Panamá, Mother's day in Panama. ([[December 8]]) |
| + | * [[Human Rights Day]] ([[December 10]]) |
| + | * Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, or Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, in Mexico ([[December 12]]) |
| + | * [[Saint Lucy]] ([[December 13]]) |
| + | * [[Zamenhof Day]] ([[December 15]]) |
| + | * The [[solstice]] called the [[winter]] solstice in the northern hemisphere and the [[summer]] solstice in the southern hemisphere occurs on dates varying from [[20 December]] to [[December 22]] (in UTC). |
| + | * In the pagan wheel of the year the summer solstice is the time of [[Litha]] and the winter [[solstice]] is that of [[Yule]]. |
| + | * Fictional holiday, [[Festivus]] ([[December 23]]) |
| + | * [[Christmas Eve]] ([[December 24]]) |
| + | * [[Christmas]] ([[December 25]]) |
| + | * [[Boxing Day]] ([[December 26]]) |
| + | * [[Kwanzaa]] ([[December 26]] to [[January 1]]) |
| + | * [[Philippines]] - [[José Rizal|Rizal Day]] ([[December 30]]) |
| + | * [[New Year's Eve]] ([[December 31]]) |
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| + | ==Trivia== |
| + | *December always begins with the same day of the week as [[September]]. |
| + | *December's [[flower]] is the [[narcissus (flower)|narcissus]] or [[holly]]. |
| + | *December's [[birthstones]] are [[turquoise]], [[lapis lazuli]], [[zircon]], [[topaz]] (blue), or [[tanzanite]]. |
| + | *December in the [[Northern Hemisphere]] is the seasonal equivalent to [[June]] in the [[Southern Hemisphere]] and vice versa. |
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| + | ==Other names== |
| + | *In [[Albanian language|Albanian]], December is called ''Dhjetor'' |
| + | *In [[Finnish language|Finnish]], December is called ''joulukuu'', meaning "month of Christmas", since about the 18th century. Earlier it was called ''talvikuu'', meaning "month of winter". |
| + | *In [[Georgian language|Georgian]], December is called ''დეკემბერი''. |
| + | *In [[Irish language|Irish]], December is called ''Mí na Nollaig'', meaning "month of Christmas". |
| + | *In [[Japanese calendar|the old Japanese calendar]], the month is called ''Shiwasu'' meaning "priests run"; it is named so because priests are busy making end of the year prayers and blessings. |
| + | *In [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], December is known as ''ngeyomNga'', meaning "month of the mimosa thorn tree". |